Secrets & Broken Souls

The King's Hand rush to the healers to find their uncle Raynere Falkrest in a great deal of pain. His jaw is busted and showing bone, and has even lost one of his arms. The magic inside his wound seems to be claiming him, and the healers ask for the heirs to reach out and try to bring him back, to give him the strength to resist. Each heir does something different, using their talents or experiences with Raynere to draw him closer, some of these techniques being more questionable than others. However, Raynere is saved, though collapses from exhaustion.

Talon soon arrives and thanks the heirs for saving his brother. He councils all official business for the next week, wanting to spend time helping Raynere recover.

Cailynn goes to visit Nan, to inform her of what happened. Nan warns Cailynn about drinking the potion she used to try and bring Raynere back, saying that whatever had a hold of Raynere likely knew of Cailynn in great detail too, and might seek her out again. Cailynn promises to be careful.

As the King's Hand goes to rest, we are treated to a flashback several years earlier. Talon is on a royal hunt with Garen Veltaris, the Lord Paramount of Kraken's Reach. They hunt together though Talon soon breaks off and encounters Garen's daughter: Sharn Veltaris. She leads the tracking and before Talon takes the shot, he offers it to her. She takes it but questions his decision, wondering if such an act would make him look weak in the eyes of others. Talon ends up inviting her to dinner, which she accepts.

In the morning Marik invites Cailynn with him to visit the dragon eggs. They enter into the pocket dimension created by the archmage and see the eggs are being protected. Marik speaks to the green egg again, learning that the dragon can choose who to speak with. The dragon starts to speak to Cailynn as they share thoughts. Marik promises to do what he can to help before voicing his concerns with the eggs.

Marik fears that the kingdom will allow fear to overrule their reasoning and end up treating the eggs terribly. He recalls his own life, saying that being stuck between two noble houses has been difficult for him growing, as he believes each parent sees the worst elements of the other within Marik. Cailynn encourages Marik that this is his time to prove to everyone who he is, that him fighting for the dragons was that first step.

Later in the day, Edwinn and Xanthe speak, reflecting on the tensions of the last mission and how the siblings' bonds seem more strained than ever. Edwinn longs for them to be a loving family again, rather than them all being loyal out of duty. He offers Xanthe a poem, though lines it by saying once she reads it that it must be destroyed. Xanthe takes the poem, uncertain of Edwinn's concerns.

Via goes to visit the archmage, who seems particularly curious about the eggs. Morgana pushes Via to explain why she isn't, causing Via to soon break down and explain that one of her visions showed the dragons causing destruction, along with five corpses nearby. Morgana apologizes for her intensity but encourages Via to continue a ritual that Via has been performing nightly since her time at the academy. Via agrees, though dislikes the idea of keeping more secrets from her family.

Meanwhile, Marik meets up with Elyndra Maelis for his requested meeting. They are near the harbor when she escorts him into the Harbor Master's office. However, Sharn Veltaris is waiting for him. Marik sits down and the two discuss the King's Hand, with her eventually questioning what took place. Marik opens up about the dragon eggs and how they are safely in the capital. Sharn encourages him to create a bond with him, believing that a prince with a dragon was hard to say no to. Marik agreed, saying that he would do his best to make her proud. Sharn soon leaves, leaving Marik along with the weight of her words.

Later that evening, Xanthe awakens Edwinn from his bed and confronts him about the poem he left. They speak cryptically, but Edwinn opens up about the spymaster threatening him and others. Xanthe promises to do all she can to help and support him, believing that they should get the others involved so they can help as well. If the spymaster is willing to harm Edwinn, then how far away is he from being willing to harm the king directly?

Cailynn goes to speak to Lord Gareth Thornefield, who openly admits to supporting her for the throne. He opens up about his own status as a bastard and believes that Cailynn would be perfect in truly unifying the Kingdom with the Serpent's Grove, allowing there to be peace for generations to come. Cailynn thanks him for his words, sensing no intent to deceive behind them.

Xanthe meets with Sir Otis, who requests for the Ederian Watch to be expanded along the roads, particularly that near the Serpent's Grove, as their have been more marauders and raiders recently. He even suggests letting several of them being out of uniform for their work, allowing them to move more freely. He also requests the money needed to train and provide the gear needed. Xanthe promises her support, though acknowledges that he will need to speak before the entirety of the King's Hand and gain their support, but she agrees to argue on his behalf as she sees the need for it.