Contents
Chapter Thirty-One
Overview
Aeri and Royo stop in Vashney, forced by a language mix-up to share a single room. Exhausted, Aeri apologizes for lying about her identity, and Royo reveals he never harmed his former lover—contradicting what Aeri was told. The confession defuses their rift, restoring fragile trust before they depart for the Light Mountains to seek an amarth egg.
Summary
Aeri and Royo arrive in Vashney at night, choosing rest before pushing on to the Light Mountains. A language barrier at a small inn results in a single room for both, aggravating Royo’s silence and Aeri’s fatigue as they settle in with limited supplies and borrowed clothes.
Inside the cramped room, tension peaks. Royo admits he is angry because Aeri lied about being the king’s daughter. Aeri apologizes and explains she hid the truth when she thought Royo was only a guard, then accuses him of lying about killing his former lover.
Royo denies harming the woman, and Aeri recognizes that her father and Bay Chin must have lied to turn her against Royo. The realization makes Aeri fully apologize. Royo confirms she didn’t know of the setup and, after gauging her sincerity, accepts her apology while warning her not to lie again.
Exhausted, Aeri explains she rode through the night after seeing a dead zaybear, needing to confirm Royo’s safety. His irritation softens into concern, and the two share uneasy but genuine peace as they fall asleep. Their trust tentatively restored, they prepare to leave in the morning for the Light Mountains to pursue an amarth egg.
Who Appears
- AeriExhausted princess; apologizes for lying about her identity; realizes Royo was framed; reconciles with him.
- RoyoGuard and companion; angry over Aeri’s deception; reveals he never hurt his former lover; accepts apology.
- InnkeeperOlder Khitanese woman; language barrier leads her to give Aeri and Royo one room.