BOOK 2: Princess Alena's Adventure
Part 3: Acceptance
Written By Christian A. Ciccone AKA: Sykonee (~)
Based on events from Dragon Warrior IV
Prologue
Stepan, King of Santeem, gazed longingly outside his bedroom window. He paid no attention to his countrymen attending their daily chores far below, nor to flocks of birds passing by the lazy, floating clouds against the darkening sky. His focus was trained on the distant horizon, a thin line illuminated by the setting sun's red glare.
He turned away, the view from the window too painful for his heart. Every evening, he would gaze out at the horizon with the hope of seeing one of his scouting parties returning with his daughter safe in their hands. Every evening, his hopes would dwindle like a dying candle. Stepan held a vast landscape under his power of influence, yet he could not control his only child. For all of his accomplished duties and responsibilities as the King of Santeem, he failed as a father.
He knew his daughter was somewhere beyond that line, somewhere in that forbidding and treacherous world he worked so hard to protect her from. Stepan had made it an effort to inform her of the dangers lurking outside, to deter any notions of exploring despite her consistent prodding and poking of the subject. Perhaps it was his over-bearing protective nature that caused her to break the line between sensibility and irresponsibility.
No, he thought bitterly as a hand clenched into a fist. If that was the case, Stepan knew he could not be the sole culprit. As the only heir, it was everyone's duty to see his daughter would be well protected from any and all outside influences. And surely he'd raised her with enough common sense to not be so reckless.
Deep in his heart, Stepan had come to realize the reason for her behavior. If anything, every misfortune that ever seriously affected him came down to one man. Ever since he was invited in the castle to become a scholar, that man was a constant thorn in his side. He'd made two mistakes with him now. Should he ever get is hands on him again, Stepan swore he would not make a third.
A knock came from his door. "Yes, what is it?" he asked.
Paul, Stepan's royal advisor, slowly stepped in. "Your Majesty?" he timidly asked, sensing the uneasiness in his king's demeanor.
"Don't worry about me, Paul," Stepan said with a sigh, several straight restless nights taking its toll. The king trudged the few steps to his advisor and asked, "You needed something of me?"
"An ambassador from Keeleon requests to see you, Sire."
"Keeleon? Aren't they still in the middle of a civil war?"
"Apparently their conflict has been settled," Paul replied, "and they have sent their ambassador to talk about new negotiations."
Again, Stepan sighed wearily. Politics with other countries were never enjoyable. Most of the time neither side could come to any mutual agreement, a terrible headache the only thing anyone would leave with. Keeleon's ambassadors were generally the worst of them, often blinded by ancient customs to accept progressive thinking.
"Can't it wait until tomorrow, Paul?" Stepan asked. "I'm rather tired this evening."
"I've already tried to delay them, Sire," the advisor replied. A guilty look formed on his face. "Believe me, I would not be bothering you right now if it could be helped. I understand how much turmoil you must be going through since your daughter disappeared."
The king sighed again, shaking his head. No, I'm afraid you couldn't, he thought. Nor did Stepan want his friend to either, Paul himself the father of a few sons.
"Very well," Stepan finally stated as he walked to the door. "I have no idea what he could-"
"She," Paul politely corrected.
The king's eyes widened with surprise. "She?"
"Yes, Sire. The ambassador is a woman. I was surprised as well, given Keeleon's somewhat… sexist customs."
"Alright," he stated, his weary tone of voice back. "Let's go find out what she so urgently needs to speak to us about at this hour." Paul nodded and began walking down the hall from the king's chamber.
Stepan paused at his doorway, his gaze focused on the cold, gray stones of the floor.
Why was he doing this? Why was he forced to remain inside this castle, to attend meetings and ceremonies as a figurehead? He did not want to be here right now. He wanted to be out with his searching parties, to be an active participant in finding Alena. He wanted to make sure she was safe, not just within the castle but also within his loving arms. Losing his wife was crushing enough. If he lost his daughter as well…
Again, all of his anguish would come down to that one man, the one who'd poisoned the queen with insidious thoughts and had no doubt done the same to the princess. Well, never again. If he was brought back alive, Stepan swore by the Master he would die by his own-
"Sire?" Paul's voice called out from down the dark hallway.
"Yes, Paul, I'm coming." The king hurried forward, anxious to get the meeting done and over with.
