Chapter 842: Cost Of Leaving

Trafalgar was back in Euclid, sitting with Aaron in his arms while Mayla, Aubrelle, and Cynthia remained with him in the room. He hadn't said anything yet, but judging by their expressions, they already knew whatever had brought him there wasn't going to be good news.

Mayla was the first to break the silence. "What happened this time? You know you can trust us, Trafalgar. Whatever it is, we'll be here for you, so you don't need to keep it to yourself."

"I know." Trafalgar adjusted Aaron carefully against his chest before looking at the three of them. "You know I went to Velkaris because I had to meet someone. What I didn't tell you was that the person who called me there was from one of the Eight Great Families."

That was enough to surprise all three of them. Cynthia's expression sharpened immediately, while Aubrelle turned her attention fully toward him through Pipin, who was resting beside Mayla on the bed.

"More specifically, it was Lyren di Myrrhvale," Trafalgar continued. "He wanted to see me badly enough that Caelum came here personally to deliver the message. You already knew about that part, but this was the reason."

Cynthia crossed one leg over the other. "Can we know what he wanted from you? Because if someone from Myrrhvale went through that much trouble, I doubt it was only to have a conversation."

"If we know what's happening, we might at least be able to help you prepare for it," Aubrelle added, her tone calmer.

"You can know." Trafalgar exhaled through his nose. "But there isn't much you can do for me this time besides wait. You already know the situation House Myrrhvale is in. From what Lyren told me, they're finally getting close to choosing the next head of the family, and he wants me there as an observer."

Mayla's expression changed first, though she said nothing.

Aubrelle tilted her head slightly. "Observer?"

"It's part of their succession customs. When House Myrrhvale chooses a new head, outsiders can be invited to stand as witnesses. Their purpose is to make sure the succession follows Myrrhvale law and that another Great Family isn't interfering with the process."

Trafalgar continued before they could ask anything else. "An observer has no vote, can't bring soldiers to influence the succession, and has no authority to decide who takes the position. Lyren is an heir with enough standing to invite one, and he chose me."

Cynthia understood the problem immediately. "Which means you have to go to Myrrhvale territory."

"Yes."

Mayla lowered her eyes.

That hurt Trafalgar considerably more than if she'd started arguing with him.

Aaron had only recently been born. Mayla was still recovering, and Trafalgar had barely been given any time to settle into the idea that he was a father before another problem had appeared thousands of kilometres away.

He searched for Mayla's eyes, but she kept them on the blanket across her legs.

Cynthia looked between the two of them before asking, "Do you really have to go?"

"Unfortunately, yes." Trafalgar didn't try to pretend otherwise. "If I help Lyren, he promised he'll help me when I need it in the future. If everything goes well, that gives us the support of another Great Family when the time comes."

He shifted Aaron again as the baby moved slightly in his arms. "It wouldn't be some public alliance announced to the world, but having that kind of relationship with Myrrhvale is a huge gain. Especially with everything that's coming."

Aubrelle remained quiet for a while, her attention lowered toward the floor even though Pipin was the one giving her sight of the room. When she finally spoke, her voice was measured.

"I think you should go. I don't like the timing at all, and I don't think any of us wants you leaving now, but the advantage is too important to ignore." She paused briefly. "Although Mayla is the one I think you should listen to most before deciding anything."

Trafalgar looked toward Mayla again.

He stood, crossed the room, and sat beside her on the bed. Then he carefully placed Aaron into her arms, and Mayla accepted him without hesitation, immediately adjusting the blanket around his tiny body.

For a few seconds she said nothing.

Then she finally looked at Trafalgar. "How long will you be gone?"

"I don't know exactly. Most likely a few weeks, but I can't promise that. It depends on how quickly everything moves once the succession begins."

Mayla's fingers moved gently across Aaron's blanket. "And we'll be able to speak to you?"

"All the time. Caelum gave me another Shadowlink Echo when Aaron was born so I could keep direct contact with you whenever I'm away." Trafalgar glanced between all three of them. "I'll leave it here before I go. That way you won't need to go through Caelum or anyone else to reach me."

Mayla nodded slowly. "And you'll answer when we call."

Trafalgar almost smiled. "I'll answer."

This time Cynthia was the one who spoke. "Because if we're stuck here worrying while you're on the other side of the world, you don't get to disappear for three days and then tell us you were busy."

"I wasn't planning to."

"That's what you always say."

Trafalgar chose not to argue with that.

Mayla looked down at Aaron again before asking the next question. "Are you going alone?"

"I was thinking of bringing Rhosyn with me, assuming there's no issue with her being part of my personal group." Trafalgar rested one hand against the edge of the bed. "If she's with me, I should be safe enough."

Aubrelle gave a small nod. "I'd feel better knowing she's there."

"So would I," Cynthia admitted. "I still don't like you going, but Rhosyn being beside you makes it easier."

Mayla was the last to speak. "And you'll be careful?"

Trafalgar knew better than to give her some empty promise that nothing could happen to him. She'd known him too long for that, and after everything they'd already lived through, neither of them would believe it.

"I'll be careful. As careful as I can be."

Mayla studied him for a few seconds and then gave a tired sigh. "I know why you're doing it. That's what makes it difficult."

Trafalgar remained quiet.

"I don't want you to go," she admitted. Her voice stayed gentle, without anger behind it. "Aaron has only just arrived, and I wanted you here with us for a while. I wanted you to have that time too."

"I know."

"But I also know you wouldn't leave now unless you thought it was important." Mayla looked down at their son. "I've known you long enough to understand that much."

Trafalgar placed his hand over hers.

Mayla didn't argue with his decision. Somehow, that made the weight in his chest worse.

Cynthia leaned back slightly in her chair. "None of us likes it, but we knew what being beside you meant. Things aren't suddenly going to become peaceful because we want a few quiet months."

Aubrelle gave a faint nod. "We'll handle things here. What matters is that you come back when it's finished."

Trafalgar looked toward her. "I will."

"Then that's enough for me."

They remained together for a while longer, talking about the trip and the few things Trafalgar still needed to arrange before leaving. There was no argument, no attempt to convince him to change his mind, although the disappointment in Mayla never completely disappeared.

Eventually, Aaron fell asleep against her chest.

Trafalgar watched him quietly.

His son was still so small that even the blankets around him seemed too large. Every day since his birth had brought something slightly different, little changes Trafalgar wouldn't have thought worth noticing until they belonged to his own child.

A few weeks didn't sound like much.

But Aaron had only been alive for days.

By the time Trafalgar came back, there would already be things he'd missed. Small things nobody else would think important enough to tell him about, because they couldn't know how much they mattered until they were gone.

Trafalgar reached over and touched one of Aaron's tiny hands with his finger.

His son closed around it even in his sleep.

Trafalgar stayed there looking at him, and for the first time since accepting Lyren's request, leaving Myrrhvale wasn't the part of the trip he was worried about.

It was everything he would miss while he was there.