homebound. (earinor & akira)

"You don't have to tell me!", Logan laughed. He always was the confident one and he always told Rhys to believe in himself more. He wondered if that idiot would still be alive if Logan would have left him, or when he would have gone as soon as he was able to move again. Given that took quite some time. "Breakfast?" Damn, Logan didn't plan on doing something like that. It wasn't nice, but he would have left when Rhys was asleep. He should get up soon enough anyway, who knew when the prince and his knight wanted to leave. "Is there any room to negotiate?", Logan asked with his most charming voice. "Anything you always wanted to do? Anything we were too young back then?" He could flirt and try at least, right? "Huh, I guess if you hadn't have a room a barn would have been our last option. Or the beach alone? I have a tent after all." Logan wanted to say they grew up, but Logan wasn't below sleeping in a barn, even now. He just lived in the moment and if a barn was everything he got, that was fine too. Of course he treated himself to lots of booze and a fancy armor too. "A special place huh? I suppose I can get behind that." It was still silly. Logan looked down at the broken ankle. Then he softly brushed further up, even though Rhys pants were too tight to smuggle his fingers between the fabric. Was he done with his wrist? "Do you want more to drink?", he asked his old friend. "It sounds like you still want to be a knight. Giving the poor? I told you you haven't changed."

Edward smiled at his prince as he always did. He didn't like big crowds much, but the prince loved to see festivities of the commoners like that. It was worth it as long as he heard the princes laugh. "Who knows. Maybe we'll find something.", Edward smiled. He wanted to believe that, he wanted Cecil to get everything he ever wanted and maybe it was possible somehow. Maybe if the prince wanted to go back home and Edward couldn't come with him, maybe instead of being executed he should run and travel the world to find a cure. He slowly stood up and secured the princes position on his shoulders. They left the cups there and Edward slowly started moving to find dessert for the prince. Then they could walk at the shore, maybe a bit away from all the noise. "They all call me Ed often enough, but Francis calls me Eedi sometimes, though my father doesn't like it when he does." It sounded kind of like a girls name. William was the one giving everyone nicknames. Edward didn't give his siblings much reason to talk about him though. Well, now that was a different story obviously.

“I don’t? Oh, c’mon! You’re usually the type of guy that loves hearing that!”, Rhys teased. Many things had changed in the past few years, and yet, Logan was hardly one of them - not even his appearance had changed much, even if he had only matured, and Rhys was sure that he hadn’t changed all that much either. A sly grin lay on his lips as he gave his bandages a good pat and agreed that they were a great fit, and then, much like a cat, he kicked his bag off of his bed and looked at his attendee, almost expectantly. “I’m a merchant, not by trade but by heart. If you can make a good counteroffer, I might take you up on it; I’m sure your current sire wouldn’t mind if you had breakfast with me, though. Why not invite the two of them?”, he suggested. Normally, Logan was secretive about whom he attended and therefore an useful anonymous service, but to Rhys, it was but a thorn in his side that itched, terribly. Repeatedly, he shook his head and simply grinned as he picked up a few strands of Logans hair and, one by one, let them fall from his fingers. “I’m sure you would have been able to worm your way into someones pants and I would have been able to cheat someone out of their room. But either way, I wouldn’t mind, you know? Luxury is often only temporary.”, Rhys mused and, as if to help Logan, undid most of his own pants, now that curious hands were trying to feel him up. He crouched over, slightly downward, to at least undo some buttons of the blondes shirt. A cold shiver forced its way up his spine as slow touches started to arrive on skin that was used to the opposite, if anything. “I’m slightly more selfish and attractive, though.”, he admitted. Before long, he cupped Logans face. “Though, you’ve hardly changed as well. I’m sort of glad.”

Now that Edward had mentioned it, his childlike imagination was carrying his thoughts to unknown lands. If the thrians truly knew magic, maybe he’d finally be the person he had always been supposed to be - someone that didn’t need to rely on his own retainer, someone that wasn’t locked up all day and someone that didn’t consider himself to be a monster. None of this would be gone in a breeze, he knew as much, but at the same time it was his only shot at a glance of freedom and thus, also the only thing he wanted to daydream about. What if it was all a lie, still? Cecil shook his head and forced himself back into reality. “And if not, that’s not that bad either. We tried!” That they did, and right now, Cecil was happy with what he had, touring a festival and being able to see so much more than he would have had at home. It was, in a sense, almost frustrating to think about - at home, he’d be back to spending most of his time in his room, or around the castle, and not out here, where all the fun was. “Eedi? How did he even come up with that? I like Eddie! Ed just seems so short and it doesn’t fit. It sounds weird but Eddie is the perfect mix of cute and still respectful, you know?”

"What I'm saying is, that's my text.", Logan answered. "I always told you you should have more confidence in yourself. It seems you have changed in that regard." Though Rhys had always been a bit more outspoken with Logan than with anyone else. But even then, it seemed like he didn't want to be left with the noble Logan had found, but he never said anything. "I like to keep private and business matters separate from eachother. Besides, you tried to steal from me, I'm not sure I can trust you." Logan didn't know what else Rhys could want, but maybe Logan should simply let it go. His friend was awfully interested in his current employer and Logan didn't quite know why, still he felt like it was better to not tell for multiple reasons. "What if I showed you what I have learned as well?", he asked suggestively while his blonde hair fell back into his face. "Would you call that room luxurious?", Logan asked amused, though compared to when they travelled together it was very much so. Logan smiled and helped Rhys completely out of his pants, dropping them on the floor next to himself. At the same time some buttons of Logans shirt were undone. He felt Rhys feeble fingers on his face and let his own calloused ones trace over the dark skin. "Let me be the judge of the latter.", Logan chuckled. "I'll always be the same." With that Logan slowly got up from the floor. He kissed Rhys and softly forced his back on the mattress, now that his wrist was taken care of. leaning over Rhys he placed his knee between his friends legs and the long blonde hair fell around him like a curtain. "Though I'm taller now and stronger." And his new scars were only partly hidden by the fabric of his shirt by now.

"Even if you want to go back home, you know you can send me to find something that helps you.", Edward told his prince. He wasn't sure if he wanted to part ways and send his knight away to another country, but if Edward couldn't go back home at least he'd be able to do something. He knew that the castle would feel even more like a prison now that the prince had seen what he missed out on all these years. Even if he went back home, he'd demand to see more and be let go for at least a day. "He mainly called me that when we were younger. He was a kid too back then.", Edward quickly explained, leaving his train of thought where it was for now. All the while he carried the prince through the crowd, searching for some nice dessert. The prince could call him by any name he wanted, so he didn't quite know what to say to that. He didn't prefer either, after all Edward was pretty content with almost everything. All he did was nod and eventually he approached another booth, buying his prince a candied apple and giving it to him to eat on his shoulders, while Edward searched for a way to the beach.

"Oh, did I steal it from you? Whatever are you going to do?", Rhys laughed, amused as he was. Not once had he thought about the possibility of offending Logan, or imitating him, but it had happened, like a bunch of other things in his life had just happened. Was there a reason for any of that? No, but it became painfully apparent how feeble-minded he still was. "You need confidence if you want to convince others of your capabilities.", he grimaced. Rhys knew his stuff, better than anyone else at this point, and he'd never shy away from a challenge after all that had happened, no. Right now, as it stood, he wanted to keep ample distance between himself and his old career choices, at least as long as someone like the blonde was watching and driving him nuts. "Aw, I guess I'm not business, I'm stuff. And you can do stuff, right? Doesn't matter if you can trust it or not, for now.", Rhys cooed. What did it matter if Logan trusted him or not? Not a lot, but it still hurt, despite him knowing fully well that those things were merely consequences of actions he'd undertaken without a second thought. Bemused, he hummed as he fell back onto the bed, pressed against the rather hard mattress. "I'd like a demonstration." But there was no way he'd be able to make demands like that, let alone get himself agitated by a blonde idiot that, for the lack of a better word, was robbing him of his senses. "Not as luxurious as a night with you.", he hummed, content with the strong hands that were grasping his barely toned, but still worn body. Scar after scar marred his skin, and yet, he was less than impressed. Rhys let it happen, surrendered his body and accepted the touches he received - Logan knew all there was to know, and before long, he reached forward, plastering his lips onto the blondes, to undo the last buttons of his shirt. "Are you?", he chuckled, forcing himself onto Logans knee. "Any chance you'd like to give me a demonstration of that strength?"

"Nothing, Idiot." Rhys was too excited and wanted loads of things of his former friend as it seemed. Logan had to admit that meeting him made him feel like he was a young boy again. They both barely knew who they were back then. Logan knew who he didn't want to be, but not where he was headed and why. Rhys was... Logan never met a person so feeble yet strong. Maybe he needed Logan to leave to find his own strength. He would have always relied on him, like the little prince relied on his knight and always would. Was he comparing them now? That was a bit odd and nothing he should be thinking off now. "You're right. With everything. I at least trust that you're not trying to kill me and I have nothing much you can keep stealing from me.", he told Rhys. Why not have a fun evening with an old friend? Nothing bad would come from it and the knight could hopefully take care of his prince alone for a few hours. "I don't buy all your flattering.", he then laughed, but the only answer he got was a kiss and Rhys coming closer. "How should I show you? Lift you up? I already did that before.", he reminded him, but he'd also been able to do that when they both were younger. Arguably it had been a bit harder though, especially after carrying Rhys for weeks.

"I know. But you'd be fine on your own. You don't need me to live your life." Edward didn't want to be apart from his prince either, it was all he knew and all he was, but the truth was, that Cecil was very well capable of living his own life, if only he'd have the courage to part from his knight. In the end Edward just wanted him safe and happy. Both things didn't seem to be able at the same time. Edward chose happy for now, because the prince threatened him to leave on his own, which he probably wouldn't have done. He was happy though, Edward could see it and he saw him change and take all in. There were moments in which even the prince wanted to go home, or everything was just too much for someone who never left the castle before, but overall he loved it here and finally felt like he did something on his own, even when Edward was helping him with it. "No, I assume he just came up with it and my father just didn't like it.", Edward eventually answered with a shrug, then followed the princes pointing. He moved through the crowed to bring the prince to his desired place to eat his apple and heaved him off his shoulders there.

His heart had been aching for an encounter like this for way too long, yet, he didn't even recall having a heart - in the end, it was his fault that he'd bee-lined his life through one heist after the other, becoming a wary pickpocket and nothing else. It hurt to assume that he could have been someone entirely else if he'd only persisted in his quest to knighthood, and yet, he was rather glad that he hadn't. "Idiot? You are the idiot, pft!", Rhys rebelled. If he'd touched Logans heart with such feeble words, he was rather glad to know that, no matter what, he still had some sort of authority over this man. It was rather perplexing, maybe even reassuring to know that nothing much had changed in so many years, and yet, he could cardly come up with a reason as to why he'd even do any of this. Rhys had lost his mind, it seemed. "What about your heart?", he chuckled. There was no way he'd be able to do so; wrapping a man around his finger, a man like Logan no less, was an impossible act that he'd have tried many times before, if he'd been given the chance. The truth, however, was, that he was not wizard, no alchemist capable of brewing some sort of love potion - he simply knew his way with words, and sometimes with an ounce of magic that throbbed from his fingertips in cold, yet definitely burning flames. "Oh, any way you'd like. I'd gladly submit to you any other way, however.", he mouthed. Was there anything he could truly do for someone like Logan, though? "And don't be shy, you can admit you love the way I flatter you."

Cecil was comfortable with sitting on Edwards shoulders, much like a child would on their fathers, but even then, he still felt like there was more than he could do, aside from enjoying a candied apple and being trotted around like a puppet, one that was too weak to walk on those very own stilts of his, but ... he was glad to have Edward, someone that looked out for him. "Do I? I mean, it's not like a third prince has many obligations.", he mumbled, unsure if he could simply say what was on his mind, just like that. He'd had a slight crush on Eddie for the longest time, yes, but even then, he figured that his knight had been too dense to get that the appreciation he had for him wasn't something like, say, a platonic feeling. Not once had he tried to speak those words, however, as appalled as the man had been by the suggestion to simply be friends. "I could simply marry you and we could live this life together, you know!", he suggested upon being led down and having swallowed that bit of apple that had been stuck in his mouth and lodged between his teeth for a bit too long. Caramel apples were a feast, if only because they were a rare occurence to him - he should have been much more prone to sneaking out, and yet, forfeited the idea to simply give Edward amicable evenings during their time in the castle. Books had told him much about the world he wanted to live in, though, not enough in his opinion. "Might be. It does sound cute, however." Cecil patted the place next to him, as some sort of 'come sit down' and happily chewed away on his apple.

"Where you always out to fight this much?", Logan asked Rhys. It was odd, he'd been such a shy guy, though once he warmed up with Logan, all of that demeanor left him soon enough. He'd still send Logan to talk to people, buy stuff for them and do any other task that involved talking to people. Logan didn't mind, he liked talking, it didn't matter to him if the other person was a stranger or not. Now however Rhys seemed to have much more courage and confidence and Logan wondered where that came from. Well, if he blamed Logan for how his life went, then he did a good job, didn't he? Rhys did well on his own. "Pff... I think you drank too much.", Logan laughed, he didn't take Rhys flirting seriously. They spent a lot of time together, but that was about it, they never were a couple or anything of that sorts and he doubted Rhys wanted to date a guy he hadn't seen for years. Besides, Logan preferred being single. "I really don't.", Logan grinned. "I'm used to being the one doing the flattering and now shut up already." With those words Logan kissed Rhys again. They didn't come up here to talk, did they?

"You might not hunt fabled beasts, but nobody expects you to. You are smart and kind and as the youngest you have more freedom to choose what you want to do with your life. Maybe not... running away from home, but everyone is just worried about you... I am too.", Edward answered his prince and he too wished Cecil would have just stayed at home and found something that pleased him there. His knight wasn't sure what he was missing in his life, what truly led him to go on this trip, but he wished he could provide it somehow. The following words however took him by surprise, yet he was sure that the prince was just fooling around. "I uh... am sure there are more suitable candidates.", he answered unsure what the right response was to this. Even if it was a joke, he always had a bad time playing along. Even if he didn't mean it, he couldn't just say whatever went into his head to his prince. Truth be told however, nothing un-knightly even popped into that mind of his. He sat down next to his prince however, but he didn't quite relax. There were less people around here, which was good and bad at the same time. "It does?"

"What do you mean? Not a fan of a bit of resistance?", Rhys asked with a treacherous chuckle. The two of them, oh, how well they fit together, almost as if they were molded to be two parts of the same thing, forced apart but inevitably connected by fate - it happened, to the best of them, and now they had met once again, painstakingly aware of all that interconnected them, ever since they first met. To someone like Rhys, Logan could be many things - a stepping stone, an emotion, a pawn, or a lover. There were infinite possibilities, but currently, he had definitely lost his mind and was inching ever closer to the man he desired, someone he was still toying with, someone he never could forget in the first place. "Me? Of all people? I doubt it. You know me. Too much is my second name at worst.", the redhead chuckled with vigor, not in the slightest impressed by the defiance he experienced from the blockhead that he so chose to entertain; was it even any use to combat this man? No, they were having their very own kind of fun and frankly, not once did Rhys think he could blame him for anything he'd ever done, aside from the obvious that, much like the frost in his heart, was ripping through his body. Despite the fact that they were so close, it felt somewhat cold, almost incredibly so. "Never.", he teased once more, but he did keep his mouth shut the moment their lips met - he leaned in, and enjoyed the little moment that they shared, only to demand more not a second later; Rhys was desperate to not let go of Logan again, even with a broken arm. Sure, it was easy to kiss him back, but putting his good arm around Logan and scratch his back with it, well, that was more for the desperate kind; luckily, Rhys was one of them.

Cecil looked at Eddie like a kid would look at the stars, but in the end, even that wasn't enough and a heavy sigh was all that he could manage furthermore. It was stupid to think he'd be misunderstood by his closest aide, but of course, Edward simply cared about one thing: His safety. They were friends, well, should be, and he expected more enthusiasm, but Cecil already knew it was no use to beg for something that simply wasn't there. Blaming Edward wasn't what he wanted, let alone what truthfully annoyed him, but sometimes, it was hard, wasn't it? Even now that he confessed his feelings to this guy, he hadn't gotten anything out of it. "But you are here and I am fine. What's going to happen? I can survive hundreds of sunburns and bleeding a bit never killed anybody ... except me, almost, I guess. Look, Eddie, I get you, but sometimes I just wish I wasn't ... this. I wasn't me. But that's enough for today. I, too, have a purpose.", he mused eventually and seemed to calm down a bit - or at least seethe on the inside, all by his lonesome; but Cecil wasn't like that, he was upbeat and sweet, and tired, like a little kid would be, because everyone always treated him as such and travelling was hard on him and his inexperienced body. "I don't think so! Actually, you might be the best choice.", Cecil waffled on with a sly smile on his lips, as he leaned inward a bit and used his puppy eyes in Eddie's direction. This wasn't going to work, he already knew, but at least he could have his fun with it - and admire his knight, while he was at it. "It's different, sure, but I like it. Eedi ... cute."

Logan decided not to entertain Rhys remarks anymore and instead kept kissing him to shut him up. Rhys was all for it anyways. So much had changed in all those years, they both had been boys the last time they were together. Now they both grew up to be men, Logan was a lot taller and Rhys finally had dome meat on his bones. Logan made sure not to hurt Rhys broken arm when he pressed him further into the matress. Initially he just wanted a place to crash and meeting Rhys was nothing he could ever had seen coming. It was a lucky coincidence he met him, even though it seemed like it would proove hard to leave him in the morning. He wanted to help Rhys eventually, with his father and past, but right now he joined into another adventure and the fact that Rhys stole from him initially, lead to Logan unsure if he could trust Rhys with keeping a secret that was worth a whole lot of money. Either way, the fewer people knew the better. Thus Logan wanted to enjoy this night with no strings attached, nothing more.

Cecil was again feeling like what and who he was wasn't enough and however many times Edward told him that wasn't true, of course the prince didn't want to hear it, not from his knight at least. Edward wanted him to be happy, but he also wanted him to be save, two things that didn't seem to align. He kept his thoughts to himself and should probably stop talking about going back, yet Cecil seemed to grow homesick after all. Maybe it wasn't that at all however. Still, what more could he want to see before he was satisfied? Instead of asking Edward looked at the tired prince finishing his dessert and before he got his clothes all dirty, his knight pulled out a cloth to wipe his fingers and then hanf it to him, so Cecil could clean his mouth as well. "Maybe you meet someone on your journey.", Edward proposed and then looked at the sky for a bit, wondering how late it was. "What do you want to do next?"

He couldn't say if this was all he had ever enivisioned for himself; in the end, Cecil thought, his own happiness was something he couldn't just force into existence, something that he couldn't take for granted. Being by Edwards side, spending every waking hour with him, that was, what he had enjoyed for the past years and, honestly, it was something that he couldn't claim to be a mere coincidence. When had he fallen for Eddie? He couldn't say. This wasn't something that anyone was able to decipher, or to truthfully take apart in mere seconds. Cecil was an idiot for believing that, whatever the case, his dream would be realized and no matter the circumstances, he was definitely in the right. No one would take him seriously, not when his one and only person of interest was a man his age who denied him every waking moment by his side. It hurt, truthfully and agreeably so, but that wasn't what tonight should be about - these festivals were mere fun, for little children and adults, and Cecil wanted nothing more than to enjoy it, alongside Edward, whatever he wanted to spend time with him or not, he had no other choice. A smile, michevious as always, sat atop his curled lips and he let Eddie do his worst - or best - in mere seconds. Was he that messy?
"And what if I don't? Actually, I'm not even sure I genuinely want to. I've already met you, isn't that enough?", he questioned furthermore, knowing that it was futile to get into Eddies head like this. Logan would have been way easier to deal with, but he also wasn't the guy that Cecil had had feelings for for most of his life and it showed; currently, there was nothing that would stop him from feeling the way he did about Edward, but maybe, he needed to get a grip, too, and relinquish himself from all those misguided thoughts. Utter stupidity was all that was left, at least in a way, and happiness would come for them both, whether they wanted it to or not.
He took the cloth and cleaned his face with vigor, appreciating the kind gesture he'd just received - instead of words, he smiled once more and then, quite a bit afterwards, he finally grabbed that hand that wasn't his to begin with, as his own body couldn't halt itself from doing stupid things around the person that made his heart beat for him, even if he failed to announce that to him, at least in a proper way. Cecil was no flirt, oh gods no, not by a long shot, but he knew what he wanted, even if he was rather childish about it often enough. How long until that would mean his end, then? Only time would tell, but for now, his sorrow and joy would be his alone, while he walked the same path with others that decided to join him; be it for the right coin like Logan, or out of a knightly obligation, like Eddie. "Hmm, I'm feeling tired. But what about you? There has to be something you want to do, right?"

"Weren't you excited to meet Logan?", Edward asked his prince. Even though he didn't trust him still and even though he was too energetic for his liking, Cecil seemed to do good around another person that wasn't Edward and Logan also pushed the knight to let loose at least a little bit and let Cecil take a sip of some beer or try other things. Edward worried too much and Logan not enough, if the two of them would find a middle ground it would be perfect, but nobody changed that drastically. In a way Edward admired Logans carefree nature and his open way of approaching people, that was something Edward could never do.

For now he took the cloth back from his prince and put it in his pockets, only for the prince to take his hand. He let him, gave him the support he needed and was quick to answer. "Going back to the inn sounds good to me.", Edward smiled with a nod. The truth was, he wanted to go back anyway. It was saver there for the prince and the chance of having someone recognize them was gone. Furthermore was this place probably crawling with thiefs, if not pickpockets, then those who found an abandoned room to relief the owners of their belongings. Edward would feel much better as soon as they were back and he could have a better eye on the prince and their valuables.

"Yes, but ... I was excited because he isn't either of us, because he has stories to tell that we may never experience. Seeing the world through a different lens is something we both could use sometimes, don't you agree?", Cecil nudged Eddie with sincerity in his voice. It was stupid, yes, he knew that well enough, but he had set his heart on a singular goal; he loved a man he apparently couldn't have, or maybe he was right and he was simply loved because Cecil had never clung to anyone else. Still, and regardless of factors like those, he left rather invigorated tonight, and much more open and susceptible to ideas like that. Would Edward even appreciate it if he ever had a lover? He couldn't picture it, not one bit, not with this man - his best friend - glued to his side like that. At best, it would hurt him, too and at worst, he'd suffer for it, Cecil was sure of it, there was no way around it and no way to convince him of anything else. What would happen if he just left it at that, then?
He didn't want to drag this out or make Edward more uncomfortable than he was already, oh no, but what else could he do for the two of them that made all of this just feel right? At this moment in time, confessing his feelings was probably the most stale and idiotic thing he could be doing, Cecil had to agree, but that didn't mean that all that Eddie had ever done for him didn't affect him. In fact, he wished for him to be more than just his knight, which might seem like some sort of noble aspiration, even if it wasn't. There was no need for him to get worked up about schematics like that, yet, he didn't understand that and Cecil had to admit, even holding that hand felt the slightest bit wrong. "Then let's not waste anymore time.", he complied with his knights wishes and strutted back to the inn, together with him. Was Logan having fun? Hopefully, maybe even more than Cecil himself, but he wasn't supposed to be mad about it, insted, he yawned and tried to think about his little predicament. Was he too much like a child? That had to be it - no wonder Eddie didn't love him, but that was something he could change! Tomorrow, though ... now, he wanted nothing more than to fall into his bed and be done and over with today.

Cecil was right, but Edward didn't trust Logan. Whereas his prince seemingly trusted everybody almost instantly, Edward needed to stay vigilant and he thought about leaving Logan behind tomorrow, but also knew that Cecil would never do that. He didn't voice that thought instead he nodded and smiled at Cecil and shortly after they made their way to their room for the night. All their stuff was still there and untouched and a new big plush toy was amongst them now as well. Maybe Cecil wanted to write in his journal, or simply sleep, Edward went ahead and prepared some water for him to wash with in any case. Their nightly routine remained the same as always, but today it was rather loud outside their window, nothing Cecil was familiar with form the castle. Edward in turn had his rooms close to the barracks and training grounds, it was always loud there and he was used to it. Otherwise the night was uneventful and Logan didn't return as he promised. Edward got some sleep and he hoped the prince did too. The next morning he helped him get ready, packed their things and used some rope to tie the teddy to one of their bags.

It was still early and Edward didn't want to eat downstairs or anywhere in town. There were still plenty of people around and he didn't want to take any chances. Someone, like Logan did before could recognize them. That was why he suggested to Cecil they'd ready their horses and wait for Logan in the stables. Once they arrived the blonde was already there waving towards them and taking his bags off Edward who carried all his stuff with him. "Good morning!", the blonde grinned and threw a small bag in Cecils direction. Edward didn't have a free hand to catch it for him and Logan knew that, grinning at him with this look that told Edward he knew and wanted to have the prince do some things for himself. "It's only breakfast, relax Sir knight.", he told him and Edward only now noticed that Logan already readied their horses, minus their luggage. It seemed he wanted to get out of here fast too. Maybe he found a woman for the night he rather hadn't found, because she had a husband, or a caring father, but Edward knew he shouldn't think like that. Either way, they had the same goal.

Cecil wished for Edward to let down his guard just a tiny bit - it didn't help that he always seemed to be so uptight, and it also didn't help that the two of them sometimes had very different ideas of what was best for him. Trusting his knight was important, Cecil was aware of that, but Eddie had the capability to act like Cecil would only ever make the most cursed of decisions, no matter what it was that he truly came up with. Was there any way to get him to relent? Probably not. It was fine, he was happy that he had Eddie by his side, even if he made him struggle from time to time. The moment they laid their eyes on Logan, everything changed anyway - he was struggling to catch what was thrown his way immediately; he had to hunker down and then looked at Logan all weird. What was that about? "Good morning!" Wasn't this guy too happy to be awake? Cecil had so many questions for him, but he felt as if he couldn't ask them, not out here, or Logan would tell him a tall tale about all the women he had found yesterday. Did Cecil want to hear that? Maybe!

Breakfast? Jackpot! Cecil unpacked it, partially, and started nibbling on their reward, offering some to Edward as well. "How come you're in that good of a mood already?", the prince wanted to know of Logan. In a way, he could guess what it meant, but otherwise, Cecil did actually want to hear a tale from the blondes mouth. Had he gone through trials and tribulations? Did he win her heart with nothing but his skills? A worthy question, one after the other and yet, he couldn't get himself to actually spit it out, or even get on the horses before he hadn't eaten something and heard everything there was to know. Why was he so curious? That was almost shameful, and yet, he longed for some entertainment. At least at first. For a moment, everything was fine, and then, that changed - Cecil couldn't help but laugh at the display, though. Someone had thrown a piece of fabric at Logan? "Logan!", the voice was more than quick to complain - another man their age walked up and reached for the blonde, his ear to specific, and pulled on it, much like a worried or rather annoyed parent. What had happened here? Had he slept with that man? Even now, the prince was looking at them in awe. "Sneaking off again, so soon, too? How about you take all of your damn clothing with you if you do." Rhys hit Logan across the face with his flat hand and then looked over at Edward and Cecil. "Are you two travelling with this knight?" His expression darkened, he seemed less amused to find bystanders in this situation.

Logan grinned at the little prince and shook his head. "What do you mean? I'm always in a good mood!", he laughed and made room for Edward who walked past him to secure the rest of their belongings on their horses. "You should eat something too, big guy." Edward shook his head. "Later." And he also refused Cecils offerings for now. He seemed like he wanted to leave right now and Logan didn't disagree. it was nice to see Rhys again, but he needn't be pulled into this and Logans employers wanted to remain descrete. Logan wanted to fulfill this requirement as best he could, but before he could get onto his horse, he had something darken his vision and a shrill voice echoed through the stable. He pulled the fabric he identified as a sock from his head, shortly after he already was pulled by his ear. "Ow ow ow! Maybe I thought you wanted something to remember me by!", he answered Rhys who'd run out here and looked a bit disheveled.

A moment later he felt and heard a fat slap. Not the first time this happened, and Logan held his burning cheek. "I'm not a knight.", Logan butted in and he would have lied to him, telling Rhys he didn't know those two, but they introduced eachother yesterday night, so that wasn't really an option. "Don't bother them.", Logan sighed. "Excuse us, we're in a hurry.", Edward told Rhys, while having pulled Cecil close and currently shielding him from the man that just slapped Logan across his face. Then, he was already helping Cecil up the horse to get him out of here. Logan meanwhile pulled Rhys away from them. "They are my clients. We have to leave. Sorry we didn't have more time to talk. How did you even find me here? Well, it doesn't matter."

Cecil was happy to hear that, really, as he was sure that the night could have gone completely differently. Either way, it didn't turn out to be that way and the moment he heard that Logan was having a grand old time, he was happy, too. "If you say that, that makes me happy to hear.", the prince waffled about. Was he truly happy? Apparently so, but worse than that, he even enjoyed the food that he had gotten out of that interaction - Eddie didn't feel like eating, which was okay, but the next thing that happened, well, Cecil couldn't help but gawk and stare at the stranger. Who was he? Was that the person that Logan had spent the night with? It seemed to be, otherwise nobody would cause that much of a ruckus over something so little, or was he mistaken? It left a few questions that plopped into his mind, surely, but it seemed as if the two of them weren't done harking at each other yet. That was a sight to behold, for both Logan and Cecil for sure, and even as Eddie shielded him from it, he tried to look at what was happening, yet again.

"Remember you by? A sock? You're just as useless as that fucking sock! And you never clean up after yourself either!", Rhys bickered and was close to rip Logans head off. Surely, he had a better excuse than the one he'd used, but even then, it seemed almost as if there was no way of finding out anything. Had he closed himself off? "Well, excuse you, Logan of Farley. I can't wait to kiss your noble ass the next time we meet!" Cecil was still looking at them and barely registered what was being said. It seemed almost as if he was enamored by the happenings around him and he wouldn't be deterred from hearing the end of it. "We aren't, don't stress it Eddie!", the prince was quick to reply and actually, to struggle against Eddie to get off the horse again. He wanted to hear the end of this - it was like in some sort of romance book and he ought to hear the end of it. "Logan, I don't care who they are and I don't care what you have to do. You think you can just leave me behind like that? Oh, I beg to differ." Rhys also would find them, whether Logan wanted him or not, but there was someone that was quite inquisitive and he actually shoved himself between the two. This poor bastard was even smaller than Rhys, and he looked as if one wrong move would break fifty of his bones at once. "Um, please stop fighting, alright? I think we can reach an agreement that we're all happy with.", Cecil interjected himself, having already taken off out of Eddies vicinity - unfortunately, the knight was behind him at all times anyway. "Uh, I don't know what's going on between you two, but if you'd like, you can come with us? At least part of the way, so you can talk it out with Logan! If you have nothing else planned, that is.", Cecil suggested to Rhys, who simply smirked. "Oh, that is generous. I actually don't have anything planned, or anywhere to go - I would love to tag along." The tall, lanky man smiled as he looked down at the much smaller one and then back up at Logan. "I'm sure Logan wouldn't mind, either."

"Well then you can be glad you don't have to see me anymore.", Logan tried to turn Rhys argument around. This was... not going well and Logan took his job and the secracy that came with it very seriously. Rhys however made way too big of a deal of all of this. When he dropped his name he shushed at him. "Can you... tone it down?", he sighed furrowing his brows, maybe the first time around his clients. "Farley?", Edward questioned, he definetly heard and he had his eyebrow raised. So much for Logans secret. "Don't worry about it.", Logan responded to the knight with a wavering grin. "That's none of our business, we should go..." Edward was busy with keeping the prince from being too nosy, but this ruse was about to be over very soon at this rate. "Rhys what do you want? It was just a night, some catch up. When I'm done with this job, we can meet if it's so important to you. I-" Cecil seemed to have won against his knight and was now shoving Logan aside so he could step between him and Rhys. "What?", Logan asked, looking back at Edward for some support in this. This was the one time they shared an opinion, but Edward was too loyal to say anything, so he averted his gaze with crossed arms, knowing his place. Logan ought to too in front of his employer it seemed. "I'm not sure what there is to talk out, but whatever, if it is what you want." Cecil that was. Logan sighed and Edward now butted in again too. "Can we leave now? We are kind of in a hurry." He grabbed Cecil and pulled him out of between the two, back to his horse. Logan got on his and... that left Rhys. "Do you have a horse?", Logan asked. Theoretically they had one spare since Edward and Cecil shared one from time to time, so the prince could sleep or whatever, but in turn one of the horses always carried their luggage. One fully grown man more would tire them out.

A devious smirk spread across Rhys smirk, like a match lit aflame and dropped on the forest floor during summertime - and as soon as it had crept on those loving features' that Rhys sported, it had dissipated into nothingness. Logan's little employer seemed to be almost ever-eager to please everyone around him, and even if it visibly soured Logan's mood, Rhys was more than overjoyed for the opportunity to stick closer, for now. "Hm? Oh, yes we can!", Cecil answered, letting himself be dragged along by Eddie much like a ragdoll would, only that he had some sort of free will, still, and he was using it to go places with, for now. Rhys, on the other hand, looked at their ensemble and the fact that, why, they could use somebody that was well-versed in the arts of forbidden spells - the little twig that had invited him along was merely carried by a breeze, with not a single defensive talent to call his own; Rhys would have felt the spark otherwise, the shift in the air surrounding them as he came closer to someone else that was capable of wielding what he called his own, but ... no, there was nothing, and that, in turn, was much more saddening than he thought it would be. He scoffed.

"Horse?", he asked Logan, almost sounding like he hadn't ever heard of the word that had been uttered just now. "Yes, I'll get it - give me two minutes, will you? And no cheating." Rhys didn't have a horse, but he had nimble legs and a tongue made of silver, not yet of gold, and some people that would kill to have the confidence he exuded at times, even when he took things that weren't quite his own just yet. Striding along the cobblestone streets, he waltzed over to where some people had left their horses, tied up to dine and drink for the night; right now, it was so early that hardly any of the riders had risen from their slumber yet, and Rhys, ever the one with an eye for beauty, took the best horse that he could find himself at a moments notice, untying its reins from the wooden fence and saddling it with the first best and yet least shabby thing he could spot. Afterward, he got on the horse and brought it to where the others were waiting, still. "See? Got everything. We can leave." Rhys preferred to travel light, and with light, well, he meant nothing but the clothes on his back and undisclosed sums of stolen money. Well, at least the horse that he'd just taken didn't react too badly to its new rider, which was a relief in the first place. "Thank you for letting me tag along.", he expressed, a candid smile crimping the edges of his mouth. "Don't mention it! I hope you can Logan can make up!", Cecil chuckled. "Onward, Eddie!"

For once Logan and Edward had the same opinion, but both could only watch as both their employer took everyone in without question if only they asked. Edward as his knight didn't dare refuse him, because, and that was Logans opinion, he lacked a spine. Logan himself was only a paid hire, he hardly had any say as to what Cecil did, where he went or who he took with. The only thing he didn't understand was why Rhys was so adamant about this. He always followed him like a lost puppy, always wanted to learn from him and Logan learned things too, but their goals had never aligned. Rhys wanted to be a knight and Logan wanted to be anything but that. He found him a place and left. Was Rhys angry? Logan couldn't have known it wasn't what he expected and if he was honest, he didn't spend many thoughts on Rhys the past couple years. What time they spent together was surely important once, both of them were still growing up and trying to figure out who they were, now however they both had a place, or at least Logan did and he didn't like mixing his work with his private life, not when it was forced like this at least. Rhys changed, he could tell.

Logan rode behind today, keeping an eye on Rhys who chatted a bit with the prince while Edward hardly took his eyes on him either. He shot Logan a few glances as well. Farley, he heard it and the prince too, not that it mattered much. Logan was as much aligned with them as he was a knight like they wanted him to be. Edward and Cecil probably didn't only know the name, they met the family and by now probably also connected the dots as to who he was - the lost son. Well it hardly mattered, what was even more was that Rhys claimed to be nobility as well as if he was left out otherwise. As they had a break Logan talked to Edward making some plans about their journey and it was odd to see that Edward was willing to listen today, apparently he felt like he needed to choose a side and it was Logans. He couldn't say he was flattered or needed the backup but he took it and made a suggestion. There was a town near the border crossing, they should stock up there. Logan also knew someone there, someone who could surely help them, but he kept it for himself for now. Edward was probably not keen on inviting yet another stranger to their party.

As they arrived at the town there wasn't much to see. This town was relatively small, just a couple of wooden huts. It was mostly hunters and traders that lived here, though most were traveling traders, exchanging goods with the foreigners here and then moving out to sell them across the land. Edward seemed to welcome the fact that there were way less people here, even though it probably meant with this size of a group they stuck out more now. Edward pulled Cecils and his hood over their hair as always. Logan didn't need to hide, people here hired him before and nobody knew who Rhys was. As the others approached the small inn that had only one big room with multiple beds stuffed into it, Logan excused himself to the market, telling them he'd care about some food and whatever else they could need. Cecil handed him some gold, way too much, without him even asking. Edward agreed as well, he wanted to keep Cecil out of the spotlight and such rather stuck to the inn with him. Rhys decided to stay with them.

Logan told the truth, partly, as he walked through the small market, he looked out for everything they needed. Some more food, maybe some traps, basic supplies that needed replacing and, for Rhys, another tent and sleeping bag, because he quite obviously didn't carry anything with him. What they also needed he spotted soon though. He smiled as he spotted what, or rather who, he had been searching for. A woman around his age who was currently busy packing up her stuff. "Made some money today?", he greeted her walking up.

This time of year, not a single cold gust blew into the small town of nowhere, situated right next to nothing - Qidao came here ever so often, when her travels wouldn't lead her further and the hungry townsfolk and exasperated merchants ate from her hands whatever her bag could carry. For years now she had been the only constant between them and the world beyond the cold border, the lifeline to a different part of the world, so unlike their own; when Qidao made the trip, across a treacherous expanse, she was sure to bring them all sorts of things, from expensive to cheap, from rare ore to trinkets carved from the same trees that grew around her, too, and yet, to them, it as all like glittering gold. Sometimes, when the villagers wouldn't be able to purchase all of her stock after some weeks, she wandered further inward, into the warmer territories of Ylisse, into - to her - unknown and uncharted territory, lest she'd carry home rotten wares she had spent a pretty dime on and then found that her next trip itself would not be sufficient to make ends meet on either side of the border. Qidao hated such things, but even then, she was told to keep her head up and not let it infect the other parts of her demeanor that often screamed to be put out of their misery.

As she packed up for the day, she counted her coins - her earnings and her change - diligently, foisting all of it into a small leather bag that could hold just about enough of all her money, no matter how much she earned, or how heavy it would be in the end. With most her things put away, she wondered what to do with the rest of her afternoon - a walk would be nice, but a late lunch wouldn’t be something she’d deny herself either. The inn was ill-suited for such escapades, however, even if she was their only guest at the moment - she’d simply vie for the tavern at the corner, enjoy a meal and then go for a walk, leaving half her belongings at the inn. After that, she’d have to sell the rest of her stuff tomorrow and then return home, to some capacity, to restock her already light supplies - she’d been here for a week and a half now, and she was selling most of it pretty fast, which was reassuring at least. Just before she could finish, though, she heard a familiar voice creep up behind her. For a moment, Qidao was startled, then sighed. “Fine amount, I’d say. Good enough to leave now, but I have some unsold stuff I’d rather not take home.”, she explained over her shoulder, throwing her heavy coat over her shoulders - she didn’t need it, in fact, she could have left it in the inn’s closet to begin with. “What brings you here, into the great Lark’s arms, Logan?” To know ones customer was to know their soul - and to know that, one better remembered names and faces. “I’ll guess … another employer, and another adventure somebody is ill-prepared for.”