The sll of fresh bread and roasted ats filled the air, seeping into the warm spaces between them and harassing their noses.
Lyone had to resist the most as he'd never had the chance to such a delicacy back ho. Still, he did well, holding it all in until he got the signal and he did.
Damien didn't wait for a second invitation.
He grabbed a plate and began piling food onto it with asured speed—two slices of herb-roasted at, a buttered roll, so roasted vegetables, and a generous helping of soft cheese.
He stabbed a slice of at with his fork, took a bite, and let out a small hum of approval.
"Eat," Damien said, looking over at Lyone, who was sitting stiffly, hands neatly folded in front of his untouched plate.
Lyone hesitated, glancing toward Lord Ellian.
The Town Lord rely chuckled and gestured toward the spread. "Go on, boy. Guests who starve themselves insult the table."
Lyone blushed faintly and quickly began to fill his plate, though with much more caution than Damien had.
Satisfied, Damien returned his focus to his al.
It was only after they were all properly digging in that Lord Ellian finally spoke.
"So…" he began, his voice steady but laced with curiosity. "Is anyone going to tell who this new addition is?"
His sharp gaze settled on Lyone first, then shifted to Damien.
Arielle set her cup down with a soft clink. "I ntioned earlier that Damien picked soone up along the way."
Lord Ellian nodded. "You did. You left out the details."
Damien wiped his mouth casually with the cloth napkin provided, then leaned back in his chair.
Ti to explain.
"He's from a village near Velthorne," Damien said. "Small place. Poor. Superstitious."
Lord Ellian nodded again, slow and thoughtful. "Go on."
"His mother was accused of witchcraft," Damien continued. "Executed. The boy was next. He fled before they could find out he had abilities and catch him. Followed when I passed overhead on Skylar."
Lord Ellian's brows lifted slightly at that but he said nothing, allowing Damien to continue.
"I found him outside the walls after my job was done. More like he found ."
Ellian steepled his fingers. "The job being?"
"The elimination of Lord Raegon."
Damien said it casually, as if ntioning the weather.
Lord Ellian didn't flinch. But his eyes sharpened considerably.
"No suspicion?" he asked.
"None."
"No survivors?"
"None who knew what happened."
Lord Ellian leaned back with a sigh, pressing two fingers to his forehead for a mont before speaking.
"You're becoming terrifyingly good at this."
Damien gave a humorless smirk. "I was always good at it."
They ate in silence for a few monts after that.
Forks scraping plates. The occasional clink of a glass being set down.
The mood, while not heavy, settled into sothing more serious—more real.
Arielle noticed Damien's shift first—the way his posture stiffened just slightly, the way his hand tightened once around his fork.
She knew him well enough to know when he was preparing for sothing unpleasant.
Damien set his utensils down gently.
"I've got news."
Lord Ellian didn't react outwardly, but his focus sharpened instantly.
"We'll be leaving Westmont," Damien said. "Soon."
The words fell like stones into the quiet.
Lyone froze mid-bite.
Arielle simply watched Damien with calm eyes, letting him lead the conversation.
Lord Ellian leaned back slightly, arms crossing over his chest. "Leaving?"
Damien nodded once. "We have plans."
"Plans that you can't tell about?"
Damien shrugged lightly. "Plans that are better not spoken aloud."
There was another beat of silence.
Then Lord Ellian let out a slow, steady breath.
"And if I forbid it?"
"You won't," Damien said.
The words weren't a threat. They were a truth.
Lord Ellian gave a humorless chuckle. "No, I suppose I wouldn't. Chaining you here would be like tying a wolf to a tree and hoping it never bites through."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, eyeing both Damien and Arielle.
"Demon hunting?"
Damien nodded. "Partly."
Lord Ellian frowned. "You do realize how dangerous that is."
Damien gave a thin smile. "I'm aware but I'm prepared."
"So am I," Arielle said quietly, finally joining the conversation. "But we've been stagnant too long. The demons aren't just random anymore. Sothing bigger is happening. The war is closing in fasting. We need to be ready."
Lord Ellian studied them both for a long ti.
Finally, he sighed and leaned forward.
"I won't stop you," he said. "Westmont owes you too much. And if there's anyone who can survive what's out there, I bet it's you two."
Damien nodded once, grateful for the understanding even if he didn't show it.
But then Lord Ellian's gaze flicked to Lyone.
"And the boy?"
Lyone stiffened.
Damien exhaled through his nose, thinking.
"We haven't decided yet," he said honestly. "If he cos with us, he'll have to pull his weight. If not…"
Lord Ellian smiled slightly. "If not, he'll have a ho here."
Damien t the older man's eyes across the table.
The offer was genuine. Solid. A safety net.
"I'll give you an answer by evening," Damien said.
Lord Ellian inclined his head. "That's fair."
The tension broke after that, the mood easing back into simple conversation. Plates were refilled. Cups topped off with warm tea.
Even Lyone managed to relax a little, finishing the food on his plate with enthusiasm once it was clear no one was about to banish him on the spot.
When they were finally full and the plates sat empty before them, Damien pushed his chair back slightly and stood.
"I think that's our cue."
Arielle followed, brushing crumbs from her tunic as she stood.
Lyone hopped to his feet a little clumsily, clutching the back of his chair for balance.
Damien inclined his head respectfully toward Lord Ellian. "Thank you. For the al. And for understanding."
The Town Lord smiled faintly. "Just stay alive. That's all I ask."
"No promises," Damien said with a smirk, and then they were gone—moving through the corridors once more, the weight of the morning lingering behind them.
Outside, the air was fresh and cool.
They walked down the path toward the city proper, Damien quiet, Arielle thoughtful, and Lyone glancing between them with a thousand questions he didn't dare voice yet.
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