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My head, my hands, my mind throbbed as though I had not slept. The contents of my brain seemed to knock against my skull like the wheels of a chariot thundering across rocky paths. As my room had no view, I was unsure of the time or even the day. I did know, however, where the clinic was located. I could not let anyone examine my hands, but even these people should know how to relieve a head-ache.

The windows that I walked past showed me that the storms had ended. Mid-morning light cascaded down the halls, reflected off the soldiers' armor, and penetrated every corner of the castle. A normally welcome greeting to the day felt like lasers to my eyes.

The clinic was a jumble of different rooms that had been re-purposed as the civil war lingered for longer than any Basillian had anticipated. A healer advised me to rest and take two tinctures. One for the pain and another for the vision problems. The fool sent me to a window-side bed rather than a dark, cool area.

At least the space was quiet and the bed was more comfortable than the one in which I had slept. As my body rested my mind tossed. I had the Dragon Buster, but my mission in Serdio was little closer to being achieved. I knew that the Serdian moon object was likely housed near the royal family, but I only suspected it lay in the Duchy of Basil rather than the Empire of Sandora.

I could not expect a solution to simply present itself. The gem would not appear under my pillow nor the knife in my hand nor would I see my reflection in a moon mirror on a wall. I had to find a way to discover what would surely be among the most guarded secrets of Serdio. I ingested the first tincture then passed a hand across my forehead as I looked to the floor to avoid the sunlight. A hazy blob of shadow appeared on the wooden planks of the floor.

A flurry of ebony feathers flapped outside of the window. A crow observed me with avid eyes while it perched on a decorative outcropping. Despite the ubiquity of the species, I knew it at once as Doel's stealthy messenger. I snapped my head around to see if any bystanders were watching. No one was. A throbbing headache was my only companion. The bird had no letter tied to its feet nor grasped in its beak. It never did. Doel's message always summoned, beckaned to his fortress. I was not un-used to Doel's mistaken belief that I was his to call at will, but I was unsettled by this appearance. How had he known that I was infiltrating Basil? He must have spies in the castle. What if the Duchy also employed such talent and they saw me treat with the enemy?

Whatever Doel's desire was, it could hardly be more pressing than my own mission. As I pondered Doel, his nephew walked in. The infernal bird pecked at the window. The king looked quizzically at it, but as he stepped toward the window the crow flew away.

When he turned to me he said, "I am sorry to see that you are not feeling well, Councilor."

"Thank you for your concern Sire, but it is not serious."

His eyes, deep pools that reflected the sun's brightness, lay upon me for a moment before he spoke again.

"I hope that you have found nothing in our home to be lacking."

I wished that it were appropriate to tell him not to worry so much, "Serdio is a blessed country. I only look forward to the day when it is whole."

"This country, is it much like your own?" He sat upon a bench near the foot of the bed.

"I am used to a warmer clime."

His brows approached one another in an expression of confusion. "Did you not speak of Mille Seseau?"

"I've lived in many places, Your Majesty and, I have learned a great deal from all of them."

"I would be honored if you would describe your home country to me. I too have traveled throughout many lands, but there are still cultures with which I am utterly unfamiliar.

"As am I," I said pointedly. His face had years of practice in being unreadable, but I felt certain that he understood me. "The finer points of Serdian etiquette seem to elude me."

"Minister Noish can help you with that. He is well versed in all aspects of our culture and his years of experience have helped him become a fine teacher."

"I imagine that my misunderstandings may be rooted in Serdian history." This was truthful but, of course, I sought to learn much more than I could explain to him.

If there is any confusion about Serdian customs or history or values, you will find no better source than the Minister. I always tell him that this is due to the fact that he has lived through it all."

"I can scarcely imagine how that must please him."

The faintest shadow of a smile slid across the king's lips.

"You will be king of all of Serdio. I will…" I swallowed the words that I had thought of saying. "I know where to strike."

"There will be time for us all to discuss these things during our next council meeting." King Albert rose from the seat. "For now, just rest."

So much concern over nothing? Perhaps I should take leave of the castle in order to avoid becoming as soft as they were.

I watched as the king walked to bed of an injured knight and spoke with the man. He stayed by the soldier's side as though this replaceable footman were worthy to speak with royalty. He acted as though he did not mind the smell of the man's festering wounds. In time, King Albert's gentle words flowed from one room to another as he visited each soldier. He knew them all by name.

I would not be able to avoid Doel's entreaty forever. If his first hint was ignored he would send a louder message next time.

My known illness would make a disappearance understandable. The healers would think I had chosen to leave unannounced, and anyone else would not be surprised if they did not see me for a while.

Although a tiny, rebellious part of me wanted to witness what this remarkable king would do next, I did not stay. I had another ruler to see. I vanished with the noise of a feather falling.

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Thank you, Mars, Dinogrrl, and gamergirl for reviewing the earlier chapters.