A PSL of Brotherly Love

[lieutenant_lineface]

[In which the Lhant brothers are sent to fetch medicine that's not even actually needed and accidentally stumble upon a conspiracy or two that could threaten the fragile political peace between the three nations of Ephinea.

Along the way, they -- perhaps -- learn to be brothers again, sort of.]

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[lieutenant_lineface]

[The capital city of Barona is as beautiful as ever, with weather to match, but the skyline evokes ugly memories for Hubert even now, seven years after he was first sold to Garrett Oswell.

(Before Hubert had learned to excise his Windorian ties like rot from a tree, he had stood at the railing of the ferry deck like an inmate behind bars, tiny hands clutching at the sun-warmed metal. He watched for what seemed like a clear eternity as the city skyline slowly seemed to sink into the azure waters, until even the highest crest of Barona Castle disappeared beneath the waves. And then he watched some more, waiting -- hoping against all hope -- for it to surface again, as though its disappearance were merely a game of peekaboo. Or a prank, like his brother Asbel might pull.

His...former brother...

There had been saltwater on his cheeks, and it hadn't been from the sea.)

As the ferry makes its steady approach to Barona's port, Hubert distracts himself by looking down at the creased piece of paper in his hand, reviewing its contents for the umpteenth time. It's a list of ingredients, both common and exotic, given to them by Frederic for the purpose of making the elixir that can treat Lady Kerri's sudden, mysterious sickness. Hubert recognizes the medicinal value of some of the herbs, having learned the basics of field healing in his military training, but others are wholly unfamiliar to him. And of the herbs he does recognize, some of their known uses don't match the symptoms Kerri had been exhibiting (he doesn't remember her complaining about joint pain, for instance). But given the history of illness in Frederic's family, Hubert supposes the old butler knows more than he does about this sort of thing.

All he can do...all he and Asbel can do...is hope that they can get what they need and get back to Lhant before it's too late.]