Chapter 13 (T) - The Lost Whistle

I sprint through the front gate, and stumble to a stop. Standing a ways away is a heavily scarred wyvern with dull green scales and badly torn wings. She glances up at me, noticing me arrive. In front of her, Dad kneels on the ground, clutching something. He’s not making any sound, but his heartbeat is way faster than normal. His hands are shaking, and a broken string drapes from one of them.

“...Dad?” I take a few tentative steps forward, before running over. “Dad, are you okay?!”

He looks up. He looks seriously shaken by something. It looks like he’s on the verge of tears “O-oh. Tessa. Don’t mind me, it’s… It’s nothing.”

“Like hell it is! What’s-”

Before I have a chance to ask my question, loud wingbeats fill the air, and I hear the guards stumble back and draw their swords. I spin around just in time to see a large black wyvern land a distance away. Some tall person in bright red armor with a whistle around their neck jumps off its back and draws a sword. The black wyvern growls, and Greta lowers her head, almost like a bow.

The armored figure steps towards us and speaks. “Councillor Aranae! What happened here?!”

Dad turns further to look at her. “Hm? Oh, it’s you. Not to worry, I’m alright. I’ve just… received some news.”

The person relaxes slightly and removes their helmet. She’s got short, pale blond hair and a face like thunder. “And that news would be?”

Dad shakily gets to his feet. “It’s… It’s just something personal. Nothing you need to concern yourself with. Greta brought to me something I thought had been lost long ago.” The woman glares at him for a moment, before her face softens. Barely. Or at least I think so. Maybe it was a trick of the light, or something.

“...I see. Forgive my intrusion then, Councillor. After recent events, upon seeing a Councillor motionless before a clearly injured wyvern, the possibility your life was in danger crossed my mind. But it appears you have things under control.”

“Your concern is unnecessary in this instance, but appreciated nonetheless.”

The woman looks over at me. It feels like she’s trying to stare into my soul, or something. “I take it this is your daughter, then?”

“Yes, that’s right. Tessa, allow me to introduce you to Regina Silvath.” I stumble back as she bows stiffly.

“I- Wait, you’re the princess?!”

“I am.”

“...Whoa.”

“I hear you slew the fire beast that attacked the town.”

“Uh- Y-yeah, that was me! Um- Wait, that was your sword in its eye, right…?”

“It was. It’s completely ruined now, though.”

“It- It is?”

“The blade’s partially melted, and the hilt is burnt to ashes.”

“Oh. I’m- I’m sorry! I-”

“How many would have died if you hadn’t? The sword served its purpose. And unlike people, it can be replaced. So don’t bother apologizing.”

“Oh! Uh- Alright…?”

She turns back to Dad, and I feel like I can breathe again. “By the way, Aranae. Are you aware of what else happened on the night the beast attacked?”

Dad nods. “I am. But we’re in a public place, out in broad daylight. This is no place to discuss such matters.”

The princess nods. “Very well. We’ll discuss these matters later, then. Good day.” Without another word, or waiting for any sort of response, she puts her helmet back on and jumps onto the back of her wyvern.

“Ailezar, we’re going to Stormhall Citadel to meet father. Let’s go.” Her wyvern screeches, rears up on its hind legs while spreading its wings, and takes off at an incredible speed. Barely a moment later, they’ve vanished over the trees of the forest.

“...So, Dad.”

He glances over at me. “Yes? What is it?”

“Don’t think you’re getting out of telling me what the hell happened before I got here. I can tell you’re holding something.”

He hesitates for a moment, then sighs. “Very well. You deserve to know. ...Greta brought me this.” He holds out his hand and opens it. Sitting on his palm is a whistle, which immediately gets pulled off his hand by the weight of the string dangling over the side. I snatch it out of the air and examine it. It’s made of wood, and looks a lot like the one the princess had. Then, I notice something, and gasp.

“I- Isn’t this- ?!”

He nods. “Alice’s emblem. This is the whistle Alice used to give Greta commands while in flight. It went missing along with her.”

“Just like Jay’s sword…”

“Indeed. If there’s more than one of this whistle, there’s very few of them. And both it and a sword bearing the same emblem returning at almost the same time is too strange to be a coincidence.”

“But… What’s this mean?”

“It means that swordsman you found in the forest has quite a lot to answer for.”

“Well, if Greta found the whistle, she must’ve made contact with him, right? Should we check out her lair?”

Dad starts. “That’s… a good idea. But you’re staying here in town.”

“What?! But Dad- “

“Tessa, you’re still recovering. We don’t know if this man would hurt us, but we know he’s dangerous. If a fight broke out, you wouldn’t be able to rely on your magic.”

“But I- I- “ Dad’s right. I really can’t stand admitting it, though. “...Ugh, fine. You deal with it, then. I’m going to Xander’s.” I turn to stalk off, but I look back one more time. “...You don’t do anything stupid either, okay?”

“I’ll do my best.”

“You’d better.”