Stunned, I sank into my seat, my eyes fixated on the dancing shadows that the lamps cast upon the walls. In an instant, I recalled every piece of information I had ever heard about these children and their parents.

Tomar’s father, Leander, and Riala’s mother, Terissa, had worked together as carpenters, their fates were intertwined by a savage beast that claimed their lives on the same night, late at night, hours after they should’ve been home with their loved ones. And despite their close relationship, living in close proximity to each other, and having children of similar ages, the two families never spent any time with each other. Perhaps because they wanted to separate their personal lives and their... “work.” Thinking back on when Tomar briefly told me of his father once, I recognized that I had overlooked this very classical setup entirely.

It seemed plausible that Zara had discovered such an affair between Leander and Terissa, which led to Riala’s birth. As a child at the time, it was reasonable to assume that Zara harbored ill feelings towards Leander Remor, and his family by extension. It would’ve been difficult for her to differentiate between the two. However, Riala had grown attached to Tomar for unknown reasons. Despite her mixed emotions, adult Zara might have seen fit to allow Riala to connect with her brother. That was until fate took its course, and he appeared to reveal his true colors, as a lying, manipulating, and power-hungry individual.

It wasn’t a perfect conclusion, but everything fit together seamlessly, and Zara’s reaction spoke volumes. As she squirmed in her seat, desperately trying to backpedal, her facade of superiority crumbled before our eyes, leaving her stuttering and grasping for excuses.

“I misspoke, obviously,” she croaked.

“I don’t believe you did,” I concluded. “You ‘misspoke’ once before, after he had just returned to Alarna. You corrected yourself in time back then, but now...”

My eyes darted around the room, contemplating this new information. I could feel Lait’s unease, having been kept in the dark about this family drama, and I heard Zara make up more excuses, but I didn’t pay her much attention.

It was Riala’s reaction that truly broke my heart. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell agape as she came to understand the truth—she had a brother she would never meet again. Large tears streamed down her face as she struggled to hold back her emotions, but they overwhelmed her in the end. Zara, caught off-guard by her sister's outburst, attempted to console her, but was rebuffed as Riala instinctively sought comfort in Berla’s embrace instead.

The room fell silent, the weight of this revelation heavy in the air. Zara stood on the other side of the desk, quietly whimpering her sister’s name as she watched Riala grieve, unable to comprehend what had brought forth this tidal wave of emotions. Naturally, none of them understood. They couldn’t have. I was sitting right here, but Tomar was gone.

Seeing Riala like this, my stomach twisted into a knot. After three months of trials and tribulations, something had finally broken Riala. It pained me to see her like this, and I knew that the knowledge of what had been withheld from Tomar gnawed at me just as much as it did her. But as I looked up at Berla, her compassionate nod gave me strength. We would get through this, as we had with every other challenge.

With a deep breath, I turned to Zara and Lait, my eyes locking onto Zara’s. She was still focused on her sister, trying to comfort and reassure her. “Zara,” I said, my voice firm but gentle.

Ripped out of her trance-like state, she looked up at me, her expression a mix of confusion and sadness. “What is wrong, Tomar?” she asked, her voice pleading for someone to explain Riala’s state to her.

I could sympathize with her. A natural reaction might’ve been anger—even joy could’ve been appropriate, and either would’ve suited Riala. But not the overwhelming sorrow that now possessed her. In her current state, Zara even turned to me for help. However, I knew that revealing the truth would put us at a disadvantageous position in these negotiations, so I carefully considered my words before speaking. The irony was not lost on me that my immediate instinct was to keep secrets from her.

“Riala... lost something,” I said, my tone measured. “I know it sounds cryptic, but I cannot reveal more. She will be alright in due time. I would say sorry for keeping information from you, but... You know.”

Zara grimaced, mixing displeasure into her expression. “You won’t tell me why she’s crying?” she demanded, anger lacing her words.

Annoyance rippled through me, and my eyebrow arched in irritation. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t accuse me of keeping secrets, Zara,” I said sharply. “And before you compare me to my father again, think carefully about what you did. I always tried to do what was best, even if that meant keeping information from people. Why did you keep this secret for so long?”

Zara shot back, her words heavy with emotion. “Can you blame me? After everything that happened? Why don’t you think carefully about what you did?"

I could feel the tension building between us as we continued to blame each other for what we perceived as wrong turns. It was clear that if we continued down this path, we would end up running in circles. That wouldn’t benefit anyone.

With a heavy sigh, I decided to take a different approach. “You're right,” I said, surprising Zara. She stared at me in shock as I continued, “Regardless of our reasons, we didn’t do right by you. You deserved to be included in our decision-making process regarding Riala’s future, and for that, I offer my sincere apologies. I’m truly sorry.”

While we had our reasons for excluding Zara, it didn’t change the fact that I didn’t feel great about it. As Riala’s sister and legal guardian, Zara was the closest thing Riala had to a parent. She had every right to be involved in decisions that impacted her sister’s life, and it was natural that she wasn’t thrilled with how things had played out.

My apology seemed to catch her off guard. To my knowledge, this was the first time Tomar had ever apologized to her without making excuses. My words hit Zara like a bombshell, leaving her stunned into silence. She looked down at the ground, processing what I had said.

Though it didn’t take long for her to speak again, her suspicion clear in her gaze. “Are you serious?” she asked.

“I am,” I replied. “No matter our disagreements, and even in cases where we didn’t have a choice, you deserved an apology and as much of an explanation as possible.”

Zara’s gaze shifted to Riala, her reddened, puffy eyes studying her sister. She let go of Berla and turned back around. Sniffling, she hastily wiped away her tears as if ashamed of them.

Conflicting emotions swirling within her, Zara spoke hesitantly. “I won’t say that I was in the wrong... All I ever wanted was to protect Riala... But maybe... you two deserved to know the truth.” Her tone then turned resolute again, but calmer than before. “However, if you truly wish to protect her, then you should be agreeing with me, Tomar. This life you’re leading... the dangers that surround you... Even if I were to believe that you never meant to harm anyone, it’s not a life suitable for a young girl. She’s being pulled deeper and deeper into this world, isn’t she?”

“She is,” I acquiesced, “but we have different views on what’s best for her. You admitted to Lilly that this won’t simply disappear, and that it’s better for Riala to learn how to protect herself. Moreover, there are larger forces at work that threaten Alarna and its people. We not only need to keep an eye on her, but we also require her help. Some of us wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for her aid. Finally, I believe that Riala should have a say in her future... Riala?”

Surprised at being asked to speak up, Riala looked at me before nodding and turning to Zara. “Sis,” she said, sniffing slightly. “I want to stay and help Miles and the others. I want to learn more and become even stronger, so nobody needs to fear the beasts anymore.”

Zara listened patiently, but her disgust at the thought of Riala living far from her was evident. Riala sensed this as well and spoke up quickly. “But I also want to see you,” she exclaimed. “I liked how it was before, when I worked for Lilly. I could do what I loved... and also see everyone I loved whenever I wanted... Can’t it be like that again?”

Frowning, Zara took a moment to find the right words. “How is that supposed to work, Riala?” she asked, letting out a sigh. “Because of your actions, you were all banished. You can’t just come over.”

“You could stay here!” Riala suggested eagerly. “Or you could come visit! It’s really safe!”

Zara’s expression softened. “No, Riala,” she replied gently. “I understand your wishes, but that’s simply not an option. Lait and I need to go back, and even if I were to entertain the idea, I can’t come and go as I please. You know that.”

I couldn’t help but interject with a curious undertone in my voice. “Unless the Rulers change their minds about letting people travel the Wildlands freely,” I suggested.

That was of course not something they would do voluntarily, but I very much expected it to happen in the foreseeable future. It was just a matter of time. Lait was of a different opinion, stating dismissively that it was not going to happen.

Zara on the other hand appeared to have a thought pass through her mind before focusing on Riala again. “Regardless,” she continued, “for now I want you to come with us, Riala. We can talk about everything else at a later time. We are your guardians, so there’s no room for arguments. Understood?”

Riala hung her head, clearly unhappy with the decision. We had told her in the past that Zara had to have the last word. Despite everything that happened, we had always respected her position in theory, hence the deal with Lilly. However, something very important had changed.

“Actually, Zara,” I began, my tone firm, “I’m as much her guardian as you are.”

Zara was taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise. “W-what?” she muttered. “What are you talking about?”

“You just told us that Riala and I are siblings,” I reminded her. “In the grand scheme of things, that might not be a world-changing detail, but don’t think I’m just going to forget about it.”

I explained how I read all of the Alarnan laws when we took over. The thing about custody was that the authorities really couldn’t care less about who tended to orphans. A child that lost their parents was the problem of the remaining family. Should no one be able or willing to take the child in, they would be transferred to the Raising Site until they came of age. Disputes regarding guardianship were rare and figuring out these issues was largely left to the families. As such...

“Even if we follow Alarnan law, you are not the only suitable person to be her guardian,” I finished.

Zara’s mouth gaped open as she struggled to comprehend my words. “B-but... No, that’s...” She turned to her husband for support, but he wore a deep frown. “Lait! Please say something!”

He stole a brief glance at her, his eyes sidelong and cold. “There’s nothing to be said,” Lait said, fixing his gaze upon me once more. “Miles is right. He has a lawful claim on Riala’s guardianship.”

Zara recoiled, trying to defend her position. “But he’s a criminal!” she protested. “He was banished!”

Lait stroked his chin thoughtfully, considering the situation. “I’m afraid our laws have a few loopholes in them,” he admitted, his voice a low murmur. “Criminals and those who were banished don’t typically survive their sentences... There are no explicit laws that restrict their rights. Not yet anyway.”

I saw it in Lait’s eyes the moment Zara misspoke. We both realized that their case was invalidated. They had come here with the hope of forcing us to accept their laws or face the consequences, but now they had nothing.

Riala’s face lit up with sudden joy. “I can stay?” she asked eagerly.

I was mad at Zara, but I feigned a modicum of respect as I responded to Riala. “I leave that decision to you,” I said evenly. “Legally, both of us have the right to raise you.”

“I’ll stay then!” Riala exclaimed, her voice ringing with delight. I nodded, a small smile playing across my lips.

The other party was less thrilled with this turn of events. “Riala!” Zara cried out, her voice tinged with desperation. “If you stay here, we won’t see each other anymore! Is that really what you want?”

The little girl hopped over to her big sister, taking her hands in her hers. “Don’t worry, sis. That will change soon! Right, Miles?” Riala asked, turning her head towards me.

“That’s the plan,” I said confidently.

Lait tried to dissuade Riala from her decision, warning her of the consequences of staying in the Wildlands as a banished criminal. “You're choosing between the king kindly waving your transgressions and you staying a banished criminal out in the... Wildlands,” he said. His eyes wavered at the last part, darting around the room. He didn’t actually believe Alarna to be that much of an upgrade. “And you might very well never see your sister ever again,” he followed up.

Riala, however, was undaunted. “Nah, we’ll definitely make it happen!” she exclaimed, a determined look on her face.

Lait understood that they were beaten, and decided to end the conversation. “In that case, we’re done here. For now, that is. I will have to discuss anything further with His Majesty.”

As Lait rose to leave, Zara protested vehemently. “Wait, Lait! You can’t do this!” she said.

He looked at her in exasperation. “My hands are tied, Zara. We have reached a dead end here, and there’s nothing more to do until we talk to King Hertar again. You might not like it, but I know you understand it.”

Zara was desperate to counter his words, but just the thought caused her noticeable discomfort, and she ended up staying silent. I didn’t know what to think about her becoming part of the Rulers at first, but I now figured this marriage contract she entered might end up an honest to god blessing to us.

“I will assume it is still acceptable that we stay the night?” Lait asked me. “We will depart first thing in the morning.”

“Of course,” I responded. “And you’re welcome back here any time.”

He nodded and walked towards the door. Very reluctantly, Zara stood as well and followed him, while throwing hateful glances my way. After everything she did, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of satisfaction at her retreating form. A dangerous amount of it in fact...

Don’t do it, Miles... I thought. Be the bigger man...

“By the way, Zara,” I said when she was almost out the door, “congratulations on your marriage.”

Dang it.