Gale sighed as they walked into Vailrose. Zephyr stared across the fields as she scanned the area, she noticed Kana talking to one of the villagers before seeing them. She waved at them with a smile but stopped when she could see only the two of them. Gale walked over as he and Zephyr could not look at each other. Kana ran up to them, hoping for answers.
"Gale, Zephyr, why are you here? Where are Lovell and the others?" Kana asked.
Gale turned away as Zephyr clenched her fist close to her chest. "Lovell…Lovell is dead, and the others had split off since we all could not see Hunter as our new leader of the Ren-Ky…" Her voice soft-spoken answered Kana.
Kana's face went dark as she heard Zephyr's words, "Oh, I see…well, why don't you come in, and I will make some tea?" Kana suggested.
Gale nodded as Zephyr smiled sheepishly, "Thank you, Kana, that would be appreciated." Zephyr turned to Gale, who has said nothing since the beginning of their journey.
Kana smiled as she led them to her home. Once they were inside, she started the kettle. Kana glanced over and stared at Gale and Zephyr and sighed.
"Do you two want to hear a story?" SHe asked calmly as she readied the teapot for the water.
Gale looked up at her, "What kind of story?" he asked.
Kana smiled as she turned to them. "On about Lovell and much he was a pain in our asses?" Kana answered. "Plus one about Hunter when he was in my care almost eight-ten months ago?"
Gale became curious as Kana talked. Zephyr shifted herself to see Kana, "Wait, Hunter was here at one point after his fall out."
Kana nodded. "Yes, he was a mess, but let us start with Lovell's," She answered as the kettle whistled. She turned to finish making the tea. "Lovell was a prankster will another child, mine to be precise. Her name was Grailia." Kana smiled as she brought the drink over.
"Wait, Lovell was a prankster?" Zephyr asked quietly.
Kana nodded. "Yes, but how we met was another story. You see, we kidnapped Lovell from some folk that had lost their child, the Humbly's." Kana began her story.
Gale almost gagged as he heard their name. "Wait, the same people that raised Luna? was going to raise Lovell?"
Kana smiled, "Yes, the one and the same. But thanks to Lovell catching Morris, and Ark in the act of searching for evidence of the Faremin innovation. Morris took Lovell—mind you, he knocked him out first—back to camp." Kana stared at her tea.
Zephyr stared at Kana in disbelief as she asked a question. "Why take Lovell? They surely could have just erased his memory of seeing them?"
Kana snicked softly be for turning to them. "Morris noticed a note from Ulva, a dear friend of ours when Terrance was still part of our group. He made a promise that he would raise their son if anything were to happen to Kaya. Ulva's handmaid was to raise Lovell until he was twelve before sending him to us to train."
Gale sat in shock as he listened to Kana, "So, Lovell was to join you no matter what? And her death and their encounter just sped up the process?"
Kana nodded once more as she looked at both of them. "Yes, but Lovell was not happy at first as we kept it a secret until his fifteenth birthday—yet we did not tell him everything. As it was hard for us to say to him that his father was some alive." Kana's voice grew distant.
Gale leaned forward, "What do you mean? Isn't Azoth his father?"
Kana nodded at Gale's question. "Yes, but that is his alter ego, Terrance was his original name before the curse took hold of him. Ark loved Lovell as his own even if he never showed it outright towards him."
Zephyr began to tear up as she looked at Gale, "I think Lovell said something at Ark's funeral about that? Did he not?"
Gale nodded as Kana smiled. "So, he finally told him after all this time. I am glad he did." Tears started to well up in her eyes. "Sorry, its just Ark, was a dear enough that it hurts to talk about him." Kana took a deep breath before returning to her story. "I am guessing you know about how Hunter killed Morris, the man who was like Lovell's first father figure and mentor?"
Gale and Zephyr nodded. While Zephyr wiped tears away. "Yes, Lovell had told us when we were in Evermore."
Kana nodded as she took a sip before speaking again. "Well, Morris gave his life to try and save Hunter from Azoth. After a gruelling fight with his friend. Lovell was there at the time and saw everything. I watched from a distance as Hunters blade pierced Morris's heart, and he gripped him close and saying something." Kana could not hold her tear back as they streamed down her face.
"Then what Lovell did was the same as Morris, but he succeeded where Morris failed?" Zephyr told Kana.
Kana smiled, "I see he fell back into their hands after I found him wandering aimlessly. Hunter was in a dark place, and once he came too, I sent him to the Famrein resistance, hoping they could further help him with becoming his own person." Kana explained to them.
"So, Hunter just landed in your lap after the battle that killed Ark?" Gale promptly asked.
"yes," Kana answered. "Yes, he did. Mind you, I had no idea who he was at first until I brought him home and cleaned him up. After that, I watched him recover and noticed how much he and Lovell belittled themselves."
Gale turned away, grabbing his arm. "Oh, and now we are here. We left him without getting to know him and let our comparison of Lovell influence our judgement of Hunter."
Kana smiled as she leaned over to touch his hand. "Gale, you and the others were distressed, and now you are all trying to find your ways. It might not have ended well, but think of it means to learn from your mistakes. I know I have as now I know not to ever return." Kana expressed as she leaned back.
Zephyr noticed something about her tone. "What do you mean, Kana?"
Kana gritted her teeth, "Morris and Ark's death was planned by Lau, and he plans to do the same to me. If he can find me. Besides, I am safer here as the Faremin cannot enter. And I leave for the capital in six months'. As I am to help train the men for war."
Gale raised his brow at her. "Wait, war, what do you mean?"
Kana looked at him, her expression stiff, "The Kingdoms of Evermore, Grand Dale, and here, Gold Heart are in an alliance. As to stop Demora. This was established just before Lovell's death by the request of Luna." Kana turned to her window. "I am guessing Luna is going to search for more allies while everything is going on. It makes the most sense to me."
Gale looked deep into his tea. "Oh, I see…"
Kana looked at Gale, "You're the prince to Grand Dale, are you not? And Zephyr is to become Zero's adviser after he ascends to the throne here in Gold Heart?"
Zephyr nodded as she looked at her own tea. "Yes, that is true, but we are scared of the fact we failed at Ren-Ky warriors and as Lovell's friends. If we do anything, it will—"
Kana threw a knife at them. "Enough of that, Lovell is probably rolling in his grave, wanting to kick you two in you asses hard." Kana barked at them, "Now, I am going to make some food, you two go get settled in the spare rooms as I have two. I will see about getting you some work around the village, so you are probably are not going to be leaving any time soon?"
Kana got up and walked over to the kitchen as Gale and Zephyr made their way to the rooms. Thinking about Kana's words, as they settled themselves in.