Earline
For the second year and a row, Anyanka and Mikhail weren't home to celebrate Hogcock. They'd left a few days ago, at the arrival of Danico. She was admittedly disappointed to go, but she knew it wasn't something she could delay for her own sake. Having Mikhail in Astoria for the holiday was one thing, it was another entirely to know it was forced and the boy was miserable the entire time. There would be Hogcock's in the years to come. Missing Eric and Angelica's wedding was another regret, but they knew she wished she could be in attendance. 

So far the journey hadn't been much more than time in a carriage. Danico traveled in his own, while the Astorian party traveled in one of their own. It was unmarked, and the coach was ordered to keep them within sight of Danico's the entire journey. Night had fallen, and the trio were more than antsy with their confinement. An inn was found, and the party booked two rooms for the evening. 

Anyanka had just shed her coat in the room her and Mikhail were to share, draping it over the coat hook by the door before doing the same with Mikhail's. The fire was already lit, and the room was a pleasant temperature as Mikhail stretched his legs, pacing back and forth before the fire. 

"Do you want to do for a walk, if you need more room I can accompany you." Anya offered, her fingers lingering over the collar of the coat she'd just put up in case he wanted it.

"No, mama." The boy answered with a shake of his head. Suddenly, he stopped and turned to her. "Mama, is Yaggm real?" He questioned, and the woman blinked. 

It was a difficult thing to answer, and she pressed her lips together. "Most parents tell their children the story of Yaggm with the belief that it's just a story." She finally answered.

"So he's not real." 

"I didn't say that." 

"So he _is_ real?"

Anya smiled softly. "I also didn't say that." She pointed out, and moved to take a seat on the trunk that the porter had brought up for them. "He's a story, same as Cleburn, and same as we will be one day. It doesn't mean he wasn't real, but it's most likely his story is a little... Embellished." She mused, and continued on. "Why, do you fear him?"

"I fear demons." Mikhail said, as if that was answer enough. 

"You have no reason to, Mikhail."

"I wasn't exactly _good_ this year, Mama."

The disappointment in his voice was upsetting, and Anya pressed her lips together before standing. "You have not made the world a worse place for having been here. In my eyes, that's pretty good."

Mikhail's frown persisted though, and she turned, lifting the lid of the trunk. From it, she produced a box, and turned to show it to the boy. It was wrapped in silver, with a red bow adorning it's top with ribbons that curled down it's side. 

"You're a good person, Mikhail. I know you don't feel it at the moment. And I know you're struggling. But struggling doesn't mean you're in the wrong. Life isn't always easy. We have to get through the rough times in order to grow. You're growing. And will continue to grow. As a person, as a Prince, and one day, as a King." She held the box out to him, and urged him to step forward and take it. 

When he did, she took a seat once more, and folded her hands in her lap. When he pulled the length of ribbon to release it, and the silver paper was carefully torn from the box, he examined the deep brown wood of it. Tempted to shake it like he had as a child, he looked to Anya, who normally gave the signal as to whether or not that was okay. This time, she shook her head 'no'. 

With it, unhooked the latch, and lifted the lid. Within, lay a crown. A soft gold color that complimented his hair, with sculpted poppies that bore deep red rubies as their centers. He glanced up at her, unsure what to say. 

"Happy Hogcock, Prince Mikhail." She said simply, and he smiled, not caring if Yaggm came to visit them that night.
Ronald
Dayveth was silent as he exited the Astorian travel line. He had remained silent for most of the time while they were traveling and was glad to finally be there. The mage was tired as he head into the inn and picked a room. 

Dayveth pushed open his door and stepped in, swiftly putting down his things and hanging his cloak on a hook by the door. The mage stretched and sat down, groaning as he finally relieved his aching feet. In the back of his head, Dayveth wondered if he'd end up seeing his queen that night.
Earline
Anyanka left the room when Mikhail fell asleep. His breathing slowed, and though she doubted he was truly asleep, she wasn't going to press the matter. Originally, she had moved towards Danico's room. She wanted to pester the man about how much longer they'd have on the journey before they reached his lab. But when she knocked, no answer came, and she rolled her eyes in annoyance before heading down the hall of the inn in the opposite direction. Dayveth's room was booked with her coin, so she didn't feel bad knocking on the Doctor's door late at night.
Ronald
"Coming," Dayveth announced, loud enough to be heard but still considerate of the inn's other occupants. He moves to the door and unbolted it, pulling it back to reveal Anyanka. 

"Good evening, Your Highness. Please, come in." Dayveth stepped back to make room for her, as well as making a slightly theatrical welcoming gesture. His smile was tired, but inviting, as greeted his liege.
Earline
He ushered her inside, and she didn't protest the gesture. She was tired, but couldn't quite find the will to make her mind stop whirling. "I hope you don't mind the intrusion, I know we should both be getting some sleep, however I can't shake the feeling something strange is about to happen." She admitted, and moved to sit on the edge of his bed, pulling her knee up to rest along it. 

"Are you feeling that sting in the air too, or am I just overworked and losing it?"
Ronald
He moved to sit beside her on his bed, keeping his smile upon his face. "I'm tired, so I'm not feeling much at all. But you're in a foreign place on unusual circumstances. It's normal to feel strange. It'd be strange to not be on edge, especially someone in your position." 

Dayveth kicked off his boots and was glad that he had ridden instead of walked, so that his feet didn't smell like the wrong end of a swamp creature. He leaned against her, putting his arm behind her.
Earline
"I hate the north. This place gives me the creeps and is _seeping_ with dark magics." She muttered, and when he leaned against her, wrapping his arm around her she exhaled, letting her eyes close for a moment. 

"We're too close to the Witherlands. If word gets out that Mikhail and I are here, Vivayn's men will be headed this way. I didn't want to stop, but Mikhail was restless and you looked like you needed a break as well. Danico... Well, he seems like he could go for weeks unhindered by sleep or hunger." She mused softly. 

Her fingers reached up to her hair, it was dark at the moment, a deep brunette that almost looked black in the dim lighting. She'd glamored herself and Mikhail for the trip, they both sported dark locks and brown eyes at the moment. The sigils she hadn't been able to hide away, so she'd just made sure to stay layered. Theoretically, no one knew they were headed North, and no one knew Mikhail was on the mainland either. Still, she was uneasy.