I dont want to be the villain here, Tori said as she cornered her brothers on their way back to their rooms. But which one of you took it?
Took what? Sebastian had a pleasant look on his face despite his ruffled hair and dust coated clothing. As soon as the war gas party had returned, they went to eat at a large grilling celebration. They all slled like marinade.
Kasen tilted his head to the side and gave her a questioning look. What are you talking about Tori?
Her lips pulled down into a frown. She didnt want to bring it up when they arrived, and she didnt bring it up when they were grilling in the garden outside of the dining hall to celebrate the brides sides triumph. If it weren't a small matter, she wouldnt go out of her way to intercept her brothers at all.
But no one else would get justice for Piers.
Piers is very sad, and Axton said that he cant find the good luck handkerchief I gave him, Tori told them. The hall was wide enough for them to walk around her, but knowing her brothers, they wouldnt brush her off so easily. Especially when she appeared serious.
Sebastians eyes widened just enough for Tori to suspect him further. He told you hes sad?
Of course, he didnt tell . I can tell, Tori told them. He barely spoke when he arrived, when hes on the winning side and should be telling how they won, then he skipped the garden party, and when Axton went to check on him, he didnt want to answer the door. Hes clearly upset.
Kasen narrowed his eyes. You seem very attentive to his moods.
I have worked closely with Piers for so ti now. I would be negligent if I couldnt even notice he was upset at this point. So, tell , which one of you took it? She put her hands on her hips and fixed her critical eyes on them.
The brothers exchanged looks. Tori, what makes you think we took it?
Guevera intuition. Her eyes bore into them with both accusation and disappointnt.
Kasen crossed his arms over his chest. And why do you think wed take it? There were dozens of us present and there were many monts of chaos. It couldve fallen and been lost at any ti.
Do you think Im stupid? Piers showed off the violet handkerchief. You two are smart. You mustve realized that was the only one I embroidered that was colored. All the other ones, even yours and Papas, were white. To make him suffer a bit, you probably took it. Why didnt you give it back?
They seed satisfied that she ntioned they were smart. It wasnt so much a complint as it was a fact. Despite it, they still didnt waver.
Tori-
I spent a lot of ti working on those handkerchiefs and each one was made with a lot of care in between all my work and school. I dont like you taking away a gift I worked so hard on. My brothers are good n. Theyre not an. Toris eyes moistened and she put a slight, sad tremble in her voice. She didnt want to have to do this, but she was going to have to pull the pitiful and sad little sister card.
Imdiately, Kasen uncrossed his arms and looked a bit panicked as Sebastian grew flustered. The words I dont like you seed to hit them hard.
Seeing their little sister lose faith in them, they quickly surrounded her. It was an accident. We were going to give it back, Sebastian said quickly.
Tori froze. Her frown deepened and she looked at them with even more disappointnt and accusation. What happened to it?
Kasen grimaced and he let out a heavy breath. He reached into his dusty tunic and took out a stained violet piece of cloth. He held it out and Tori sucked in a sharp breath. There was tear along one side and frayed edges. It looked like it was either snagged or pulled and ripped.
What happened to it? Tori snatched it from Kasens hand and examined the piece. Because it took a long ti to embroider the figure of Alexander on it, as well as all the Old Sulfae along the edges, Piers handkerchief took her the longest to make. Her hard work...gone. She glared at her brothers. What did you do to it?
It wasnt us who ripped it! Sebastian said at once. It mustve gotten dirty sohow, as Piers washed it himself and was drying it. When we were infiltrating their fort that night, we grabbed it when there was confusion in the fort.
We had planned to give it back after the gas, but there was a struggle defending our fort. The handkerchief was with so of our supplies and...the next thing we knew, one of the knights horses was chewing it and wouldnt let it go. Sir Herrera tried to pull it out and it ripped, Kasen told her with so distress in his voice. It seed that they knew they ssed up.
Sebastian ran a hand down his face. We couldnt give it back to him like this. Hed be devastated.
I doubt Piers would forgive us. Not that it matters-
Kasen. Sebastian pushed his shoulder to shut him up before looking back at Tori, apologetic. We thought we could take it back and have soone nd it, but you found us first.
Tori was glad that it wasnt her brothers who destroyed her hard work and was relieved that their prank wasnt as malicious as it couldve been; the horse chewing the handkerchief wasnt planned, after all. However, she was still disappointed that it had co to this.
Why didnt you bring it to ?
Youd be mad, Sebastian said.
You are mad, Kasen confird. Tori held on to the handkerchief and frowned.
Dont do this again. You know hes extrely sensitive and things like this are particularly important to him.
We wont, Sebastian told her, looking serious. We didnt an for this to happen. It was only supposed to be missing for a night.
Im going to tell Piers what happened to it and youre going to apologize.
Apologize? Sebastians shoulders fell. Why-
Well apologize. Kasen cut him off and gave him a firm look. Tori was sure that they were apologizing not because they were sorry, they swiped the handkerchief in the first place, but apologizing because she made them.
It was the best she could get from them.
Im going to try to fix this. Tori turned around and marched towards her room. She had a few hours until dinner and her embroidery was quite fast now. She was hopeful that she could salvage the handkerchief.
The first thing she did was wash the cloth and then use crystals to speed up its drying. As it dried, she dug out her embroidery needles and thread. She still had plenty of the silver she used on Piers handkerchief.
She was supposed to spend the ti between lunch and dinner practicing, but a small vindictive part of her decided to sit and try to nd the handkerchief instead, as if she were sohow getting back at Sebastian for his prank gone awry. She had two more days before the wedding to practice, anyway.
Tori sat by her window, embroidering a sword that acted to keep the torn sides together. To try to even out the placent, she embroidered another sword to mirror it. She then went along the edges to cover up the frayed parts.
The sun was setting by the ti she snipped off the last of the thread. Tori held out the handkerchief. It was much busier than it was previously, but it wasnt very obvious that a horse had chewed it and caused a tear. Satisfied, she rushed to her desk and called Piers.
He didnt answer at first, so she called again. If he didnt answer, she decided she would go to his room, but after three pulses, his voice reached her. Tori?
Why didnt you tell youre missing your handkerchief?
She heard his breath hitch. I dont know where it is. He sounded more pitiful than Fiona when she was forced to go ho after playing in Viclya.
Tori looked at the handkerchief in her lap. I have it.
Why do you have it? She didnt know if he sounded doubtful or hopeful.
Its a long story. Ill tell you-
Where are you? She heard a door close and then the muffled mumbles of knights greeting Piers.
Im in my room.
Ill be right there. The call ended and Tori wrinkled her nose. She stared at the comcry and shook her head before going to collect the handkerchief and heading towards the door. She lifted the piece of cloth once more to inspect it and paused beneath one of the light crystals to run her fingers over the nded edges.
A bit of the edges had been taken in, so it wasnt exactly a perfect square anymore, but unless one spread it out and really looked, they couldnt tell. Knowing Piers, since she was the one who nded it, he wouldnt be too upset. Tori opened the door and saw Piers standing several paces outside.
She furrowed her brows and took a step out, noticing that just to the right of her door wasnt the usual knight, but her brothers. Their eyes were fixed on Piers and none of the three n talked.
Piers eyes flickered towards her and for a mont, he looked pitiful. Tori....
I got it! She lifted up the handkerchief, pinching the corners with each hand, and held it out as she walked towards him. A horse got to it, and it was ripped, so I embroidered swords to hide the tear. I also fixed the edges.
His brows knit together just a bit as he reached out and gently took the small handkerchief from her hands. He furrowed his brows as he ran his fingers over the new silver thread.
It was ripped? he asked in a tight voice. He swallowed. I didnt rip it. He lifted his eyes to et hers, as if silently hoping for her to believe him.
She sighed. I know, but when I got it, it was damaged, so I tried to nd it. The hem was frayed, so I took it in a bit. Its not even and I know you like things symtrical, she told him as she pointed out the slightly off edge. If you want, I can replace it.
Piers shook his head and clutched the piece of cloth against him. No, you gave this.
I can give you another one.
No, this one is lucky.
How is it lucky if you lost it? Sebastian snorted behind Tori. She narrowed her eyes and slowly turned around to face her brothers.
Sebby...Kasey...are you going to explain what happened to Piers handkerchief? She gave him an expectant look, but both were tight lipped. The intensity of her staring rose as the silence stretched on.
Sebastian was the first to give in and break eye contact with her. Piers, during the second nights raid of your fort, we saw your handkerchief drying and-
Sebastian stole it. Kasen imdiately took a step away from his brother and Sebastian sucked in a sharp breath. He looked at Kasen with betrayal.
Youre the one who pointed it out!
I didnt tell you to steal it.
You didnt tell not to, either.
Okay, the point is that you took it, Tori said in a firm voice. Tell him what happened next.
Sebastian took a deep breath and told Piers about the horse and how it was torn. Tori watched Piers face to assess how upset he was by this. His eyes narrowed a bit and his lips tightened, but he didnt say a word. His hands seed to clench the handkerchief tighter.
Sebastian finished, and he and Kasen seed to look at Piers, waiting for him to answer. Tori looked back at her brothers and let out a small cough, drawing their attention and then motioning her head towards Piers.
Kasen pursed his lips and then stepped forward. Im sorry about this, Piers. We only ant it as a prank and were planning to return it to you-
But then it got lost during the raid on our fort. We were going to return it to you after the gas, we swear it, Sebastian said. Im sorry, as well. We did not damage your handkerchief on purpose. We know how you are with your things.
They looked sincere and Tori actually felt so of the guilt. She gave them a nod of approval and turned back to Piers.
They really didnt an to ruin your handkerchief, Piers.
He didnt say anything. His eyes were fixed on her brothers, but she couldnt read his face. After what seed like a minute of silence, Piers lowered his arms at his side, one hand still holding the piece of cloth tight. He took a step towards her and opened his arms.
Tori. Her heart tightened at his pitiful voice. As if instigated by his brief ntion of her na, she raised her arms and walked right into him. My handkerchief....
I know and they wont do it again, she told him in a reassuring voice. And if they do, Ill make you more, all right?
His arms tightened around her, and she felt his head against the top of hers. Promise.
I promise. She patted his back a bit longer before finally stepping out of his embrace. She placed her palms against his chest and looked up at him with concern. Put your handkerchief away and et back here. Well go downstairs for dinner.
Piers gave her an obedient nod. He grasped her hands and squeezed them before heading back to his guest room.
Tori turned around and saw Sebastian with a pale hand on Kasens shoulder as the two wore tense smiles that didnt reach their eyes. She raised a brow and Kasen spoke with gritted teeth.
Tori-
I trust you wont do this to him again.
We wont. We didnt an for it to go this far, Sebastian reaffird their stance and Kasen nodded his head.
Good. Now, Idunn and the kids are waiting for you both downstairs, she said in a calm voice. I will see you both there. She gave them a firm look and walked back into her room, shutting the door behind her.
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