Bad News

After looking over the performance reports of all the knights, Heron was quite sure that the twins were the best for the revenge expedition. They were both highly skilled, falling just short of Asrar in capability.

He brought it up to them, giving them the option to go. He was a bit uneasy of sending them – as they were his only link to this club in the knight's ranks that he found himself wanting to make use of. However, none of the other knights were quite right for this sort of thing.

But it seemed to excite the two. Especially when they realized that there would be spell casters going along as well. These two really did seem to be fascinated by magic.

Heron couldn't help but like them. Perhaps due to their enthusiasm. Maybe because he felt he didn't have to hide anything around them. But he certainly felt comfortable around them.

He was set at ease on the topic of getting in touch with their club. Aklane and Kion introduced him to another young knight to function as a go between. The young knight's name was Luth, a somber youth who Heron's first impression of was that he seemed very no nonsense and studious. Luth was very new to the knight order, having been knighted while Heron was away, so Heron really knew even less about him than he did the two twins.

Watching Luth interact with the other two knights though Heron picked up on the fact that Luth seemed to greatly revere Aklane who also from the looks of it had taken the younger knight under his wing so to speak.

Luth seemed to regard Heron with almost distrust. Nothing outright, but something in his eyes spoke of an unwillingness to get close. However he, at Aklane's urging, did start taking on the duty of running as in between from Heron to the K. F. C. P. A.

That was as far as Luth was really willing to do. And while Aklane and Kion was still there, Luth was adamant that they could still do most of it.

The knight's club was not yet willing to fully trust Heron, so he had not been invited to any meetings. But they were willing to send him some info. Not anything that would get any more members in trouble if he turned on them – but some of what they had discussed might be a good way to slowly shift public perception on magic.

Most of these ideas consisted of promoting certain literary works that featured helpful magic users or magic being used to combat dark magic.

It seemed at least like it wouldn't hurt so Heron did begin to secretly support the ones they sent him and a few others he picked out.

He hoped that by listening to their suggestions he might be able to win their trust. Well, he personally thought that Aklane and Kion did trust him a bit, but it was quite obvious their friend Luth did not.

So, time flew until it was two days before the queen of Lumna would be arriving to receive the knights he had offered. And Heron felt moody as he had been growing fond of the two, and was not looking forward to working just with Luth.

He was even more despondent because he had just gotten a letter back from Jarenkul. It was not written by Kur. It had quite startled him to find instead of the graceful writing of his wizard friend, the firm handwriting of Tira.

She did not really mince words or waste much time on pleasantries. She greeted him and then wrote that everyone there was well enough, though Kur had suffered two injuries. One of which was a broken leg. The other was more self-inflicted as he had tried to cast a too powerful spell when his familiar had not been close by. He was unconscious, but Quorpas was fine, so there was no permanent damage done and it seemed he just needed to rest.

She did note it was odd to see a cat so refusing to leave someone's side, but that that was probably behavior that was natural for a familiar with a hurt master.

Heron wrote back that that was. And it was a relief that Kur had not permanently hurt himself.

However, it made him morose knowing his friend had gotten hurt at all. Especially being rendered unconscious. Though it was a relief to know that seemed to be nothing worse than a mental strain.

Serendiah must be distraught though. She adored Kur quite obviously. Even if she teased him as a recluse, she was quite proud of her ward.

And Heron thought that was perfectly natural. Kur was so sweet and kindhearted, even if he was utterly shy. But Heron found his friend delightful and had few people he liked nearly as much.