For the past couple of weeks while Irene was at home, ever lingering were her brother's words about how, because she had to leave, he was therefore forced to stay. It made her feel guilty that she was selfish for following her own path. Never had her brother expressed his desire to go somewhere other than their home.
Besides, he was only fifteen and wouldn't need to take the reins of lord for a long time. He could carve his own path if he wanted to. There were bigger townships he could go to. Even central Hydrogia wasn't out of the realm of possibilities with her mother's family still in the area.
Since Arne hadn't gone to their grandmother's house so he could practice with Irene in the mornings, she decided on a different approach as she spoke to her father and gathered supplies.
