The shrilling squawking of a highly annoying bird yanked Lydie to consciousness. There the black creature sat on the sill all puffed up like a child's ball. With bulging eyes, it raised its beak to the cloudless morning heaven to screech its broken and garbling cry. It most likely called to usher in the new day or attract a mate, yet to her it looked more like the bird was begging to be put out of its misery.

"Shoo off, you bizarre thing." Lydie groggily swatted it away.

It, at the very least, had the decency to obey orders. Off it soared in a zig-zagging pattern before dipping down below a distant roof on an eastern horizon dominated by blank blues, cold violets, and just a hint of pale gold that was the rising sun. Kenth fussed and squirmed at the animal's intrusion, and he did even more so from Lydie smelling that he needed to be changed. That matter was taken care of before Kenth easily drifted back into slumberland. Despite the heaviness of her eyes, Lydie found she could not do the same. Each muscle sat stiff as a rock. No amount of tossing and turning granted her a comfortable position. The undesired weight and shifting on her wrist didn't help either. With a pout, Lydie glared at the bright metal shining translucently in the dim light. Only now was she able to see the faint shimmer that the citizens of Darshal recognized as a signifier of an object infused with magic. The jeweler she'd gone to had noticed it instantly and offered an entire wuln for the bracelet. One of those would buy her another ten days at the inn. Unfortunately, no matter how much tugging and pulling Lydie did the item would not slip over her wrist as it should. The jeweler then took a closer look to reveal the item had been attuned to her. The person who infused the object controlled the attunement, and only that person could release or change it. Until it was lifted, on her wrist the bracelet would stay.

"There's no way that crazy woman would release it given how cursed she believes I am." Lydie mumbled as she twirled the offending object around and around.

Ignoring as best she could the anger at someone forcing something onto her body that she could not control, Lydie continued to earn whatever rest possible in the remaining early hours. A semblance of sleep washed over her through sheer willpower before the sounds of others waking in the nearby rooms prompted her up. She and Kenth enjoyed their breakfast―Lydie saving half the bread for lunch―by the window while watching the first people on the streets meander about their way. Pulling on the third of her six dresses allowed the day to start off with renewed hope. She didn't need all those outfits. Kenth also didn't need all the clothes Adina gifted. They merely required enough to switch out while the others were washed. Fashion could come later. It didn't take long for Lydie to place into the dresser what would be kept and what could be sold into her bag. Such a simple solution to her stressed money problem should have come sooner. The worn boy's clothes most likely wouldn't go for much, but her nicer outfits should fetch a higher price. A smile sat on her face as placing Kenth in the sling she now easily wrapped without thinking sent pangs of pain up and down her spine. He kicked his feet merrily against her back as the two almost made it out the inn before...

"Lass, can you come here for a minute?"

The empty bar she'd passed now contained Vertinac. He stood less gruff in demeanor, and his voice spoke gently. However, Lydie felt little other than a desire to walk out the door. Rationality fought a hard fight to get her obeying the request. She and Kenth would be living in the Lavenmore for an unknown period of time. Dealing with the owner would be unavoidable. Better to get on a neutral standing than deal with the current tension in the air for the rest of her days.

"Yes?" Lydie wondered coolly as she moved before the muscled giant.

"I have something for ya before you leave. If you don't mind takin' a seat."

Lydie slowly obeyed again. She took a place on one of the cushioned bar stools as Vertinac slipped into the kitchen before returning a brief moment later with a plate of eggs, two slices of ham, and crispy toast with jam. Off to the side he set a glass of water.

"I already ate." Lydie explained, although her eyes and stomach lusted for the food.

"You said that yesterday too, but if ya haven't spent even a single kyne on anything else than your payment here I can't see how you have other food ta eat." the owner challenged.

"I..." Lydie struggled, unable despite her wishes to avoid admitting defeat, "The healer who helped me gave me food for Kenth. I've been having the leftovers of my dinners here for breakfast."

"Which is what?"

"T-The bread mostly, although I had some pie this morning."

"Bread and pie. Your stomach will be grumblin' before the hour's up. It's as much as I thought. Eat. You'll need it more than ya'll need your pride."

Ever so slowly, Lydie's gaze fell and she picked up the provided fork. Vertinac watched her place a small helping into her mouth before he nodded and wandered off into the back once more. She ate without hesitation then even as she discovered for the first time something she didn’t like. The eggs were beautifully cooked and seasoned, but the taste and texture of them set off a feeling of disgust in her mouth. However, her preference meant nothing when it came to starving or not. Free food was free food. Something Vertinac provided more of when his third appearance had him stepping out with another box, this time of wood, that he placed on the counter.

"Your lunch."

"You don't have-"

"I am more than aware of my responsibilities or lack thereof. I did ya wrong when the world is already doing ya wrong enough, so the least I can do is make sure you don't walk out of here hungry. You're honest and putting in the effort, which is a lot more than I can say of the amount of drunkards and asses that come in here and throw away their money. The food today is my apology, and any food ya need later we can find a way to have you earn. Besides, you've made Petrin a damn happy idiot by liking that weird dish of his. Boy's been workin' harder than he has in a year. That's already a service you've done ta me."

Heat found its way to her cheeks for some reason. Swallowing her last bite of ham, Lydie set down the fork and gave a noncommittal half-shrug. Vertinac stared sympathetically when she willed herself to meet his gaze.

"You lose your husband?" he asked with a softness she didn't think him capable.

"I've lost everything," she sighed in both bitterness and sadness, "And it's not even that the people in my life have died or I no longer have a home. I just can't remember anything. The attack left me without any memories of my life, and the search the officials are doing have turned up nothing so far. I'm living off a borrowed name, borrowed money, borrowed clothes, borrowed everything. I'm merely assuming Kenth is my adopted son, but his relationship to me could be nothing other than the child I was hired to watch during the day."

Lydie bit her lip before she spilled out more. Few people were up, and those few people lazily eating their own breakfast in the dining area paid the two of them no attention. It didn't mean she could go blabbing out her situation. The last thing Lydie needed was for someone to learn of her ignorance and take advantage of it. So far, she'd blindly believed everything everyone told her.

"I'm sorry," Vertinac spoke kindly, "That's somethin' terrible. I hope they at least caught the bastard who hurt ya."

"That's the thing, we don't know for sure how I was hurt. I was found in the woods late at night with Kenth with a deep head wound. All the signs point towards an attacker though. Nothing else makes sense. And so, no, there's no clue as to who that person might be. He or she could have been stalking me the entire day yesterday waiting for a moment to finish off whatever his or her wishes were, and I could have had no idea. The official I spoke to yesterday said there was nothing she could do to help until such a threat becomes more obvious. I'm completely on my own." Lydie revealed much more softly so only he could hear.

"That's bullshit. Last I knew of the laws, they should be keepin' you at a safe location till the threat is properly judged, especially if you were injured so greatly."

"The war is taking up too many of Darshal's resources, apparently. Miss Everson said the usual paths for help are closed to me now."

"Well, damn this shit war. It's doing nothin' other than sending our people ta slaughter and causing problems like this. If sad King Alvias wants more land to play with, he should get out of his polished castle 'n earn it instead of throwing lives at an impenetrable wall. Mescaria could conquer all of fucking Lidai if they really wanted. Might be better for everyone if they just go ahead and do it. Not that I think the northern kingdoms perfect, ya know, but they got smarter heads on their thrones than we do on ours right now."

"I'll take your word for it." Lydie smiled lightly.

Vertinac chuckled in return.

"I could complain for days. You need to get off and get goin' though. I won't hold you up. Just make sure ya keep an eye about you and come back before sundown today, alright? No one will be able to hurt you here."

"I promise. Thank you."

With a night of rest, a full belly, and Vertinac's agreeable expression facing her now, Lydie reasoned she could give the inn owner a third chance. The government of Darshal wasn't doing much for her, but the people were. She stood, readjusted Kenth, and strode out the door after saying her goodbye on her quest with confidence brimming anew.