Hounds Rising

The sun rose lazily into the sky, stretching oranges and reds over the sky, which had finally been let through, the storms finally having stopped. Light pushed through the high-placed windows of Myla and Lyla’s room, landing on Lyla’s empty bed. Myla wasn’t sure when she had woken up, but Lyla had already gotten up and left the tower.

It had been a busy couple of days for the party. Leaf and Mr. Muffins spent almost their entire time working on various pieces of the sapphire dragon that they harvested. Ana had been in her room most of the time as well, but Myla did see her leave and come back with a lyre, which she didn’t remember her having previously. Rhokhishi and Myla had spent different times with the new pet, trying to understand its needs, feed it, and see what it could do.

Myla felt that her time had been the busiest. She had to go to the messenger services to pay her guild dues, and she managed to sell the anatomy charts she made for the dragon, but most of her time had been spent on sketches. Lyla had asked her to make some for Nix, Ramona, and Meg, but also for the people at The Jaded Tavern.

She thought back on the night before, using the sketches of her now-gone troupe to perform a grieving ceremony based on Lyla’s training at the monastery. It had only been a couple of weeks since the fight at the carnival, but there was still some freshness, and it felt good to handle the emotions.

Lost in thought, she was snapped back to reality as the door opened to her room. Lyla walked in, carrying a small sack of items. Lyla placed the items on the foot of the bed and then walked over to Myla’s work.

These look amazing!

Thanks. It’s hard to remember what they looked like, considering how much I drank, but I’m glad I was able to take your description and make something of a replica.

As always, a master of art, sister.

Myla smiled at the compliment, then turned to see the new items on her sister’s forearms.

“Are those the bracers you ordered from Nes?”

“Yeah!” Lyla held her arms out before her, giving Myla a better look. “These feel amazing, and he did a great job.”

The moment seemed to hang in the air a little longer than Myla was used to from her sister. She sensed a weird tension in the air.

You okay?

“Umm… Can I ask a favor?”

“What do you need?”

“Well,” Lyla looked down at the sack of items on the bed. “I bought the new supplies for another ritual, but I’m having difficulty going to Ana’s door and asking.”

“You need my help talking to her?”

“Please?”

Myla stood up, set her charcoal on the table next to her, and moved to the basin to wash her hands.

I just feel bad about how things went. I want to, what do you call it? “Olive Branch”?

I think she would like that.

“But first, let’s get some coffee. I’m still tired,” Lyla said as she opened the door, looking for the main hall’s drinking cart.

Myla walked over to Ana’s door and knocked. After a moment, she heard the slight clicking sound of a lock, and the door opened barely enough to shine a sliver of light into the room. Music from a lyre echoed outward, blocked initially by the door’s closing. She tried to guess the song but couldn’t place it with anything she had heard before. It was slower, but the song raised the hair on her neck as she listened.

The song stopped abruptly, and she walked in, knocking again on the door to make sure her arrival was known.

“Good morning, Ana.”

“Morning, Myla,” Ana responded as she set her lyre down, placing it on the floor and leaning it against the desk she was sitting next to.

“Working on a new piece?” Myla asked.

“Yeah. Just trying to get things out there. What can I do for ya?”

“Well, my sister and I were talking this morning, and she has some steps that have been helpful for her in processing difficult times in the past. Considering everything that happened, she would like to try and offer an olive branch.”

“I’ve had some time to think, and yeah. That would be nice. I don’t hate her. The moment was just…”

“Overwhelming?”

“Yeah.”

Ana stood up and stretched.

“Is she in the kitchen or the main hall? She asked Myla.

“She mentioned coffee, so I assume she made it to the kitchen.”

“Well, let’s go this way then.”

Ana walked over to another door near her desk and gestured for Myla to follow her. Myla stepped into this small stone space. On the other side of the hall, Ana opened the door, revealing that she had immediate access to the kitchen whenever she wanted. Myla had wondered how Ana had been getting around, and this must have been one of those ways.

Lyla was not in the kitchen, though. Maybe she had stayed in the main room, Myla wondered. Over the next few minutes, Myla watched Ana make coffee, using various utensils in the cabinets. She even made the milk bubble up, which she used to create multiple designs over the coffee. Carefully, she placed them on a tray, and they walked out into the main hall.

Her sister was sitting at the table, a cup of hot coffee already in her hand, and the rolling dining cart, full of various drinks, sat beside her. Myla sat down near Lyla, and Ana gently placed the coffees in front of them, then took a seat for herself. She waited a moment, and then Lyla spoke.

“I don’t know what Myla explained up to this point, but I’d like to share an experience with you. It’s meaningful to me, and I think it would help you too.”

“Okay?”

“Come with me.”

Myla watched as Lyla took Ana to their bedroom. Lyla turned at the last moment before closing the door and looked at her sister.

Thank you.