Chapter Twenty

Foolish Hearts

So I would like to suggest

Christian scratched out the sentence.

Therefore, I would like to suggest

He groaned, spotting his error.

Therefore, the Council of Calor

"Of Ignis!" Christian chastised himself, crossing out the line once more. "It's the Council of Ignis. How could I forget that?"

"Troubles?"

Christian looked up from the desk to see Richard lingering in the doorway.

"No," Christian lied unconvincingly, "none at all."

"Uh huh," Richard slowly nodded, eyeing the room.

William had given Christian and Richard their own offices in which to work on their negotiation proposals. Having finished up his latest amendment, the King of Lignum had gone down the hallway only to find the Ignisian office a complete disaster.

A wastebasket to Christian's right was overflowing with scrunched up balls of parchment. Books and papers were piled haphazardly over the large pine desk. Richard could count at least three broken quills, and one shattered ink pot that had stained the expensive carpet. The Prince himself looked flustered, his hair dishevelled even more than normal, and his hands and face was spotted with ink.

"What?" Christian shifted under Richard's critical gaze.

"Nothing," Richard crossed towards the desk. "I'm just trying to figure out if you're doing paperwork, or if it's doing you."

Christian flushed, embarrassed at the King's joke, "I'm working on my amendment."

"Good, I've just completed mine," Richard held out his proposal.

Christian nodded, and began shifting aside some books to make room. Richard began to help after lying his parchment on top "Lignumi Laws – 741 AC – Vol 3". Christian gave the King a gracious smile as he carefully transferred the broken glass of the inkpot into the wastebasket.

"Sadly, this is clean compared to my office at home," Christian confessed checking his hands to make sure he hadn't been cut by the glass.

"Don't worry," Richard chuckled, glancing over Christian's work in progress, "I used to be like this for years, until my eldest daughter put her foot down and organized my study. After that, it was just a matter of training myself to put things in their proper place. You shouldn't use the word 'suggest' in a proposal. It makes the other party dismiss the importance of your idea."

"Okay," Christian settled back in his chair. "What word should I use then?"

"Well, that depends," Richard took the seat across from Christian, "if it's important to the agreement, make it a demand, if it's inconsequential, use suggest, and if it's somewhere in between, say that you put forth the idea."

"Thanks," Christian wrote out the new line. "How's that?"

"Good for a beginner. These things get easier the more you do them, but you seem to have a satisfactory handle on them at this moment. To be honest political documents are ninety percent formal language saying the same thing over and over again. Just make sure you cover your bases."

"I'll keep that in mind. There!" Christian dramatically stabbed the last period and pushed forward the paper. "What do you think?"

"I think I know why you keep breaking quills," Richard looked over the page. "Also, you should remember to never submit your rough copy to the other party. It's technically offensive for you to give me a page filled with cross outs. As for your actual proposal, there's a couple minutia we still need to settle on, but it should only take a few more days to negotiate. What do you think of mine?"

"Good as always. Wait, what's this about another representative?"

"The details are in the proposal, but basically another one of my sons wants to come to Calor. To be honest, it's mostly to get away from his siblings. Any further questions you have, you can submit in your next proposal."

"This is ridiculous. Why can't we just do this?" Christian gestured between the two,
"You and me sitting down and having a conversation, working through all the terms?"

"A multitude of reasons," Richard answered with a shrug, "the least of which being the fact that since you're not actually King yet, you have to run through all proposals with a member of your Council, your Uncle in this case. Plus, we need a record of what was said when and by who in case in the future it goes under debate."

"There has to be a better way."

Richard chuckled, "You sound like one of my children."

Christian looked up in interest, "Who? The one you're sending me?"

"One?" Richard raised a brow. "Sounds like you've already made up your mind about my other son."

"Let's be honest, you're sending me a fifteen year old. It's a purely symbolic position, and I doubt my Council is willing to provide room and board for another symbol, especially since we're not sending anyone to Lignum in return."

"You don't even have anyone to send. All of your relatives are on the Council. Well… except Victor."

"Hey, if you want to take Victor off my hands, be my guest."

"I don't think so," Richard chuckled.

"It was a long shot," Christian laughed with the King. "So, is it your son I remind you of?"

"Arvid? No, you actually remind me of my eldest daughter. The wheels of politics have always ground too slowly for her."

Christian down in shame, "I try my best, but let's be honest, I'm not good at this political thing?"

"Are you kidding?" Richard asked, taking on his fatherly tone of voice. "You're very good at this Christian. Usually these kinds of negotiations would take months, but it's what, the sixth? And we're almost done."

"That just makes me sound like a pushover."

"I'm not going to lie, you are a little bit, but I also don't like to end a negotiation with the other party feeling forced or cheated. You're very agreeable, Christian, but you're like me, you want to find a compromise. Plus, I've noticed that when you really what want something, you can be stubborn as hell."

Christian flushed, "I got it from my mother."

"It's a good quality in a King," Richard assured him. "Plus it's another similarity you have with my daughter, Odette. I think you two would get along very well."

"She sounds like an interesting person," Christian kindly said.

"Oh, she is, but that girl really needs to sort some things out." Richard sighed heavily, his mind far away, "I just wish she would had come here with me. She would have liked you."

"Was she not able to come?" Christian found himself curious about the daughter Richard spoke about so much. The conversation they were having certainly wasn't the first time Christian had heard Richard utter the name Odette.

"I asked her to, but she's been wary of princes after Prince Rayhan."

"What happened?"

Richard hesitated, "It's not really my place to tell, but there was a bit of an incident. It's my fault really. I let Princes Rayhan and Jamal abuse the hospitality customs and things went downhill from there."

Christian frowned, fury boiling deep inside.

"It's not your fault!" Christian cried. "How dare they abuse the hospitality customs! They were set in place for the benefit of guests against unjust hosts!"

Richard smiled, "You're very wise for your age, Prince Christian. Not many people would immediately jump to my defense."

"I'm not wise," Christian looked down in embarrassed. "I'm a pushover, who is very naïve and far too trusting."

"A wise man knows his faults, Christian, and it's better to be naïve from a sense of loyalty, than that of foolish ignorance."

"I just trust people a lot, and maybe I expect too much loyalty in return."

Richard chuckled, "You're going to be King, Christian. Your subjects should be loyal. Trusting people is no sin, but just be careful you don't let it become a weakness."

"Well, I trust you," Christian admitted. His tone was light, but honesty radiated out of his word. "So, I hope that's no folly."

"Let's hope not," Richard smiled brightly. Then an idea occurred to him, "You have a point about Ignis not sending anyone in return. Maybe we can sort something out. Arvid would return to us in May, correct?"

"Correct," Christian nodded.

"My family is planning a trip to Abies in May. Maybe you should accompany us."

"I would be most honoured, King Richard. I'll have to run it by the Council, but I would love to come. Could I bring a guest or two? I would love to bring Larissa along, and maybe my friend Felicity? She the daughter of Lord Sebastian."

"Is this Felicity your girlfriend?"

"Absolutely not," Christian pulled a face, "she's like a sister to me. Dating her would be weird."

"My mistake. Do you have someone back home?"

Christian reddened, "No one's quite caught my eye yet… At least, who hasn't publically rejected me for my cousin."

Richard looked at the Prince curiously.

"Long story," Christian looked away in embarrassment.

Richard chortled. He had to admit, he really did like the kid… which made his pangs of guilt ache deep inside of him.

"Christian?"

The boy looked up curiously, "Yes?"

Richard took a deep breath, "There's something I have to tell you."

"CHRISTIAN!"

The duo turned to see Larissa race into the room.

"Your Majesty," Larissa gave a quick bow, surprised to see him. She was out of breath, looking like she had run a great distance. "Good, you're both here. You have to come quick!"

"What's going on?" Christian asked as the men rose to their feet.

"A Metallite is here," Larissa said, "and she wants to see Richard."

The trio strode purposefully through the stone palace toward the front steps where the commotion was.

"Do you think it's a trick?" asked Elton, who had joined them with Kennard along the way.

"We'll have to wait and see," Richard murmured, eyeing the others. "Stay on your guard."

"I always am," Elton smirked as they passed the entrance threshold.

It was nice to be out of the stone structure and breathe the fresh mountain air, but there would be a time for relaxation later. First they had to deal with the Metallite.

Richard was surprised at the sight of her. He had expected some soldier, or even a messenger, not this petite figure who could not be older than Cayden and Caye.

She was dirty, her raven hair covering her face, and she was desperately clutching onto the reins of a palomino mare. Marcus and Penelope were there, the man eyeing the girl suspiciously as his wife attempted to coax the girl to calm down.

"No! I have to see, King Richard! You don't understand!" the girl did her best to cry out, but her voice was shaky and cracked like it had been a while since she had drunk anything.

It also must have been a long time since she properly ate or even sleep. Richard could only see her left eye, but it was puffy and bloodshot. The girl was trembling so much that Richard feared she was half a second away from collapsing into Penelope's arms. She was struggling to keep a messenger bag on her shoulder.

"We're not going to get the King unless you tell us who you are, and why you need to see him," there was no patience in Marcus's voice. "We don't just let commoners meet royalty whenever they please."

"I'm not a commoner," the girl objected. "Please. I'm a Princess of Metallum."

Marcus rolled his eyes, "Metallum only has one Princess. Lady Princess Tahira."

But at the girl's words, Richard remembered the story that Jamal had told.

"I'm her daughter," the girl cried.

"Tahira doesn't have a daughter," Marcus shot.

"Yes, she does," Richard loudly announced his presence, reaching the final step. He met the quaking girl's eyes, and gently crossed over to her. "Prince Jamal told us about her. Princess Adara. I'm surprised you've never heard about her."

Marcus glared at Richard, displeased by the Lignumi's interference, "We don't actually exchange in pleasantries with Tahira. She's sworn off all contact with us after an incident involving my brother. Besides, even if there is a daughter, there's no way to prove this girl is the Princess."

"Actually, there's a very simple way," Richard gently turned to Adara and carefully lifted a hand.

Adara flinched and pulled back. Richard stopped his hand as Adara moved so her back was against the reassuring safety of Kismet's strong body. The horse gave a menacing snort, and whinnied a warning to Richard.

"Please don't," Adara whispered clinging onto Kismet's neck, who Richard was fairly certain was glaring at him. "I am who I say I am. I have a letter you need to see."

"I'm sorry, but we need to confirm your identity," Elton replied aggressively, instinctually protecting the King. Getting a look from Richard, Elton calmed his tone, "After that we'll listen to every word you want to say."

"May I?" Richard gently lifted his hand, his tone making it fully clear that if she said no, he wouldn't.

Adara and Kismet shared a look, and after a moment the mare nudged her owner encouragingly. Kismet had always been a rather good judge of character. The first time she encountered Jamal, Kismet had kicked him in the chest to get him away from Adara. He had broken four ribs in that encounter. So if Kismet approved of Richard, she really could trust him.

Adara took a deep breath and nodded. She flinched when his hand hooked under the hair covering her scars, but she did not stop him. Simply, she closed her eyes and withheld tears as he pulled back her protective covering and revealed the scars beneath.

"Fireface," Richard couldn't help but recall the horrible name.

After what seemed an eternity of the King holding her hair, Adara dared to open her eyes and see the King's reaction. To her surprise, he was smiling warmly at her in a fatherly sort of way. Rather than gawking at her scars, Richard was staring straight into her copper eyes as if nothing was out of order.

"What a pretty face," Richard said, and Adara couldn't find a trace of falsehood in her tone.

With a deliberate hand, he gently dropped her hair so that it was not covering her scars, nor intentionally tucking it out of the way. Richard let her decide what to do with it.

And for the first time, Adara didn't automatically move her hair.

"By the Stars," Christian couldn't stop himself from blurting out, "how did you get those scars? Ow! Larissa!"

Adara instantly pushed her hair back into her face, and lowered her head in shame.

"I have a letter," Adara gestured to the messenger bag on the ground.

Elton picked it up and began searching for the letter.

"She's been shaking so much, she accidentally dropped it," Penelope whispered to Richard.

The King nodded and turned back to Adara, "Who told you to come?"

Adara obediently kept her head down, "No one. I came of my own violation because you have to know what they've done."

Richard eyes widened and he looked sharply to Elton who by then was holding the coveted letter.

"Please don't let this be what I think it is," Richard murmured ripping open the envelope.

"What is going on here?" William's voice boomed as he came barrelling down the steps with Patrick on his heels.

"Princess Adara had a letter for King Richard," Christian answered as Richard was far too consumed in reading said letter.

"No!" Richard cried out. He instantly turned to Elton, "Elton, we're leaving now!"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Elton bowed and headed straight for the stables. He needed no explanation as to why.

"I'm sorry, everyone," Richard apologized ever mindful of formalities, "but I have to leave."

"What about the treaty?" Christian looked fearful and at a complete loss of what to do.

"It's going to have to wait," Richard passed by Patrick who was looking at Adara in interest. "Will, I'll send for my items later."

As the Lignumi attempted to pass, William reached out and firmly grabbed Richard by the arm.

"Stagheart! For the love of Hesperus, what is going on?" William demanded.

Richard looked him dead in the eye, "Maeveen has attacked Silvus."

The reaction to his statement was great. There were many gasps, and even a scream. The questions of many voices lapped over each other in a confusing and ever increasingly louder mess. Richard tried to reply, but the noise was too great to silence.

It was at that moment, the glass of every palace window shattered.

Silence fell as the group turned in shocked unison to look at Larissa.

For the many years Christian had known Larissa, she had never looked so pale, so frozen, and so horrified as she did it that moment.

"Maeveen?" Larissa asked breathing heavily. "She's made her move? Why? How?"

Richard shared a look with Christian. The Prince was ready to move in to comfort the Star if she began to panic even more. To be honest, Christian was a little scared of the situation. Larissa had never been very good with her magic, but it was clear that her outburst at been the cause of the shattered windows.

"Rayhan and Jamal teamed up with her," Adara explained, surprising everyone. They hadn't expected her to speak again. "Rayhan got a hold of Lignumi military information and gave it to her."

"How?" Richard frowned. "He watched every moment of the day. How could he have written any of it down."

"He doesn't need to. Rayhan has an eidetic memory. He only needed to see it once."

And then Richard remembered the audience with Samson.

"This is my fault," Richard whispered. He looked up at his friend, who still had him by the arm, "Will, I have to go. Now."

"Of course," William released Richard. "Give me a few hours to get some troops together-"

"No!" Richard snapped. "When Elton has the horses ready, we're leaving, and only we will be leaving."

"What?" William cried out. "Richard you cannot be serious! Let me get you an army to back you up."

"William, this war between myself and Maeveen has already cost too many Terran lives. I can't ask your people to die at her hand again."

"That is utter rubbish and you know that. What happened with Maeveen and Terra is my fault. Not yours, not Elizabeth's, not your Dwarves, mine. They suffered because of my stubbornness, don't let your people suffer the same fate."

"Will," Richard lowered his voice. "What if she gets to my family?"

William frowned and glanced briefly around. He couldn't help but notice that Christian and Kennard were whispering about something. The Prince nodded, and suddenly the duo ran back inside the palace.

"I can't wait a few hours," Richard's voice drew William back. "It's already been six days. It'll take another three to get there. I can't wait any longer."

"This doesn't make sense," Penelope interrupted. "If Silvus has been attacked, why haven't we heard about it?"

"They're probably stopping any falcons from leaving the palace," Marcus replied. "It's Military 101. I do have to agree with Richard, William can't send Terran troops with him. Legally it's an act of war, and since it's Maeveen you're dealing with, who knows when it could get sorted out."

"But it's Metallite soldiers they'd deal with. Not Lignumi," Adara said.

"It's still foreign soldiers," Patrick pointed out. "The best route would to gather Radix fighters since they hold both Lignumi and Terran nationality, but shifting through the soldiers to find out who's registered and who's not would take forever."

"What if you use Lignumi soldiers?" Larissa asked.

Richard sighed, "I would have to send word ahead of time and meet them on my way. But Maeveen's probably stopping falcons to the major military bases. I wouldn't be able to contact them in time."

"What if you don't use a falcon?" her horrified demeanour had been overtaken with determination.

Richard looked inquisitively at her, "And what would I use?"

"Have you ever seen a Shooting Star?" Larissa asked with a sly smile.

Richard grinned, "How fast can you get there?"

"Twenty minutes to a day. Where am I going?"

"Three places. First, go to Gregory, he lives on the edge of a small town called Picea. Then go to the military base in Pinus, ask for Lothar, and then the base in Ramus and ask for Alvar. Tell them that Maeveen has attacked, and Lothar should meet me with a company in Picea in two days' time. Alvar's should go directly to Silvus, and they need to leave now. Did you get that?"

Larissa repeated the instructions.

"Perfect," Richard nodded. "Now go."

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Larissa announced walking to the center of the group and looking up at the clear sky. "You might want to back up."

Adara frowned as Patrick gently pushed her back, "Wait, what's a Shooting-"

Before Adara could even blink, Larissa suddenly was nothing more than a blinding ball of white light hovering above the group. There was no time to take in the sight as a second later the ball shot up into the sky, hurtling towards Picea until she was out of sight.

"Stars can use their natural form to travel long distances at great speeds in the sky," Patrick answered the unfinished question.

It was then Adara realised she had jumped back into Patrick and he was holding her protectively.

"Sorry," she muttered, pulling away and checking that Kismet was okay.

"That's okay," he chuckled.

"Your Majesty!" everyone looked up to see Elton leading his and Richard's horses across the lawns. Reaching him, Elton handed the reins over to Richard, "We're ready to go."

"And you thought me a fool not to bring anyone other than Elton," Richard chuckled at William.

But the Terran was just scowling, "I still want to send some of my troops."

Richard sighed, "Fine. But wait until I send word. I want to avoid war at all costs, so I'll see if I can get Maeveen out of there by myself."

"Richard-"

"I know I'm being rash, but please, just wait."

William sighed, "Just be careful. I don't want you getting yourself killed."

"I can't guarantee that," Richard said seriously. "Maeveen is dangerous and I could lose my life. If something does happen to me, Andrew and Odette are in charge."

"Odette?"

"Andrew's not ready to be King. He needs all the help he can get, namely his sister's. Promise me you'll take care of my children if something happens."

"I promise. Now go on," William urged. "Go save Silvus, and make sure I don't have to follow through on that promise."

Richard was about to mount his horse when a voice cried out.

"Wait!" Christian came hurrying down the steps holding a paper,

Kennard followed close behind and was carrying ink, and quill.

"Sign before you go," Christian said revealing the page to be the latest copy of the negotiations. "It's what we've agreed on so far."

Richard shook his head, "Christian, there are still some things to work out."

"We can do that when this is over. Please," Christian held out the page. "So if anything happens, Lignum and Ignis will still have an alliance, and we can offer you aid."

Richard took the quill from Kennard.

"You know," Richard signed the page and passed the quill to Christian, "this agreement won't actually be in place until you're crowned King."

"Then Ignis will unofficially honour it until then," Christian added his own name.

Richard watched the Prince as William and Marcus signed as witnesses.

"You'll be a good King, Christian," Richard smiled and patted the boy on the shoulder. "I hope to see you again soon."

"As I do," Christian bowed his head.

"Alright, Elton," Richard mounted his steed. "Let's go show Maeveen what happens when you mess with Lignum!"

As he watched Richard and Elton ride off into the distance, William couldn't shake the feeling that this was a terrible idea.

Coming up next chapter: Sarah discovers the identity of the redhead woman, and Maeveen casts a curse.