---For anyone who didn't want to read the last few paragraphs, basically the Nokken informs Rán about his sister, her cause of death and some slight, barely there crumb of intel on the Highkin, Vervain who had known her as well as it was through her that the two met.---

“You remind me a lot of her.” He said after our lesson, the water lapped at his waist where he stood, fingers cradling a blooming lily. “A lot of people said she was sweet like an angel, until you pissed her off.” An angel? The wind rustled the trees around us, leaves sprinkling the water's surface with ripples as the waterfalls roared,

“I thought angels were part of a different sect of religious beings?” He grinned, showing the razor-sharp teeth.

“I was human once upon a time.” He flopped back into the water, within seconds the surface looked as if it was never disturbed, even the leaves were missing.

I hurried back, freezing at the sight of the armored horse drinking from the trough that Alex had helped set up with Belgio and Hans for guests. The multi-pointed star engraved in the metal armor had me tense and quickly counted seven. I entered, seeing Gretchen and Hans frowning at the sight of Rogen sitting with their grandmother. She was laughing at something, a hint of tears in her eyes. His armor was off, showing he was relatively lean for a man his size, the armor making him deceptively bulky.

“Rán, come meet Edgren Warrer, he had been engaged to my other granddaughter before she passed away.” I moved towards him a bit, slightly perplexed, I thought his name was Rogen. His brows shot up, a strange smile on his lips as he lowered the cup of diluted alcohol to the table.

“Rán? So, I finally get to know your name, princess?” Hans stepped away, face red in anger. I swallowed my nerves, signing slowly.

“Stop calling me ‘princess’, besides you were engaged, I don’t think you should be giving nicknames to random women you’ve just met.” I moved past him, taking out the herbs I had found. I ignored the slightly saddened look from the old woman as Gretchen followed me inside.

“False strawberries?” Gretchen asked, distracting me thankfully. I nodded. “I didn’t know it was in season already.” She froze in reaching for one, looking between the two piles I was sorting before directing her gaze onto my fingers, taking one in her hands as she inspected the tips.

“Your fingers, were you with the Nokken again?” I nodded. I looked at them, most of the tips were now calloused but parts were red and swollen from me attempting a new song. A hand appeared, startling me as Edgren grabbed my hand.

“What do you do with him?” I yanked my hand away, angry that he would touch me so casually when I barely gave him permission.

“They teach her to play the violin, oh! You should play at the festival!” Gretchen beamed, I could feel my social anxiety rise at the thought and shook my head rapidly.

“A monster teaches you to play music?” Anger zapped through me and I turned to face him.

“He’s not a monster!” I signed angrily. His eyes were wide as he stared at my hands, I followed his gaze and saw I was holding one of the other knives from the rack nearby.

“Rán, please don’t threaten our guest. He just has different views then you.” The knife clattered loudly on the counter, I could feel my cheeks reddening in anger, what he had told me still fresh in my mind.

“I, need a few minutes.” I grabbed my bag and walked out the door. Dusk was surprisingly still warm, I guess spring was finally catching up with the night. I headed into the pasture, dodging a few patties left by the cows and found a rock to sit on to mentally cool off.

I heard grass crunching and silently growled, turning to see Edgren.

“What part of ‘I need a few minutes’ do you not understand?”

“I’m not letting a young girl be this close to the forest alone.” I gritted my teeth, I’m not a girl, I’m a woman. “If I wanted help, I would ask.” I jerked my hands through the words. Gretchen was teaching me different positions for my hands to help encapsulate emotions and even the speed I go through the words as well.

“How can a mute girl ask for help?” I stiffened, touching my throat, feeling the cord holding the bit of antler from Vervain. I wasn’t that helpless…

“I can protect myself.” I signed, I've got the basics of magic circles down. I could attempt a fire ball if need be, though the most I've done is light the stove and wound up exhausted after my first couple of tries.

“Against a grown man?” My body chilled at the implication.

“Men have their weak points.” I argued back.

“Still a little girl, princess, you don’t have the strength to go against multiple men.” Again with the girl comment, and calling me princess.

My fists clenched.

“Stop, calling me that.” I stood, eyeing him down.

“My name is Rán, no one gets to give me a nickname unless I allow it.” Edgren looked me over.

“You’re levitating.” I stiffened and looked down, my feet were still flat on the rock I had been sitting on and had quickly slid when I tilted myself. I landed face-down; thankfully in just a puddle of mud.

I wiped it from my eyes, flicking my wrist to get it off my fingers before sighing. “I won't tell anyone. I've seen too many lives destroyed by my homeland.” I blinked to further dislodge the dirt from my eyes as well as studying him.

“Your fiancée.” I stated. He stared at me before turning his head to cough, I saw him smile a bit though there seemed to be a bit of pain in his face when he turned back.

“You’re surprisingly cute, Rán.” Why did it feel like he was dancing around that subject? I wiped more of the mud off, hopeful that my cheeks were still hidden and he wouldn’t see the blush on them. “Weren't you engaged?" I jerkily motioned through the words and letters of my earlier question, flinging off whatever mud I could between them.

“She’s been gone for a while now, I do need to move on, sides, never hurts to flirt with someone to give them a bit of a cheer-up.” I sat up fully. I did not like flirting since I wasn't any good at it.

“Don’t do that with me, it makes me uncomfortable.” He gave a toothy grin. “Whatever you say, princess.” I groaned, rolling my eyes so hard I swore I saw the interior of my eye socket. “I’m washing my face off, go back to doing whatever guardsmen do.” I made a shooing motion with my hand afterwards.

Edgren or Rogen, whatever, didn’t, instead following me into the woods. There was a stream close by and I used a slower, shallower looking part of the stream to dunk my face and hands in. I used the edge of my apron to wipe at stray drops after cleaning off my face completely, being subtle in using magic to disinfect the water.

“Do you have anyone for the festival?” I turned to face him. “No, why?”

“Would you like one?” I frowned, standing and dusting my knees of invisible dirt. “I see no reason to need someone to go with, there’s nothing wrong with going by ones’ self.” There’s lots of things to do by yourself, like take yourself out on a date, go to the bookstore, get some coffee…I miss coffee. That tea Vervain gave me was wonderful, maybe I could ask him about it the next time I see him.

“Still, be more fun if you had someone.” I scoffed, heading back to the cabin.

“I like being by myself sometimes.” I stated. “Sides, I want to experience it without anyone pestering me first, I only got to experience a festival once but it was rainy. I’m hoping it doesn’t rain again.” Edgren slowed, taking the time to bridle his horse. The large head looked up, slightly offended.

“But if I see you there, save me a dance?” I crossed my arms before brushing back some hair strands. It wouldn’t be rude to say no.

“One. Dance.” I paused between the words in hopes he got the message. Rogen-I'm tempted to call him Roger-only smiled so apparently not. He turned his horse, hopping into the saddle. I cracked my knuckles, fighting the urge to slap his horse on the hind quarters but didn’t want to risk spooking him and causing him to get bucked off, though it would be funny.

“What’s your actual name?” I asked. He paused, readjusting himself to look at me better as the horse did a bit of a dance, eager to go home I imagine.

“How will I know you won’t tell that Fae my name and give him control over me?” I glared at him, the way he said 'Fae' sounded like an insult. Did he think I was that much of a jer-thoughtless person? I know names are powerful, even some gods back home could not have their name uttered for the risk of invoking them and were given titles instead. I huffed out a breath through my nose to clear my thoughts, while Edgren or whatever seemed to be sweet with Hans’ and Gretchen’s grandmother, I don’t like his attitude about someone who has shown me nothing but kindness so far.

He seemed to have noticed my expression as he gave his scalp a light rub while brushing back some hair. “Sorry, when you grow up with tales of creatures that will steal you from your bed, it’s hard to separate fact from fiction at times.” Was he working on it?

“Have a nice ride.” I wrote out instead. He gave that stupid grin.

“It’s a date.” I shook my head. He squeezed the sides with his calves and the horse twisted as it eyed the barn with a certain uneasiness, standing still. 

Haha, bet he wanted to ride off all cool and mysterious-like.

“Mind giving her some encouragement?” I slapped the horse near her tail with a bendy stick I found and she bolted into a canter, the growing shadows of the forest eagerly enveloping the horse and rider like how dirt muddies snow. I headed inside when the sound of hooves faded.