Princess Lisa's chambers were near the base of the right tower, a short flight of stairs curling around the back to lead to the main door. A second door connected the room to the balcony adjoining the two towers, linking the princesses' chambers in a private manner.
Upon their entrance, Libria presented them as "the king of Serdio and his companions," and Albert led them warily into the room. Large windows allowed swaths of light to sweep the round room, illuminating a large four-poster bed on the far wall, a seating area to their left, and a table and chairs in the center. Multiple pieces of parchment were scattered across, and Albert spied various mathematical processes on those most visible.
The most striking object in the room, however, was Princess Lisa herself. Her yellow dress shimmered in the sunlight, contrasting her darkened skin in an attractive way. Her black hair was tightly braided against her scalp, forming two long tails that ended near her waist.
"I apologize for the urgency, Your Majesty," she said with a curtsy and bowed head. "But I had to meet with you."
"Princess Lisa," replied the king with a bow. She offered her hand, and he kissed it graciously. "It is no trouble, my lady. Merely to see the vision of your beauty is payment enough for even the greatest of inconveniences, and this is but a trifle. But I must ask, to what do we owe this tremendous honor?"
She smiled. "You are just as courteous as they say, Your Majesty." Then turning her eyes to the group behind him, she added, "Far be it from me to ignore my own responsibilities. Before we begin, may I meet your companions?"
"Of course!" He shook his head slightly at his haste. "Yes, these are my friends."
Turning to look at them, he almost laughed at their visible discomfort. A realization came to him that they had not seen him engage with anyone of such high rank that he had not met before, at least when his identity was known. Such introductions as this called for an elevated level of kindness and flattery that his friends had never witnessed in him. Albert was amused to find them more out of place here than in the throne room.
As they filed into the room, they lined up awkwardly along the wall, Rose and Meru the only ones not supremely uncomfortable.
Albert moved down the line: "Dart, Haschel, Rose, Shana, and Meru."
"I am very pleased to meet each of you," said Lisa warmly as she shook the hands of each of them.
"You're beautiful!" exclaimed Meru as she accepted the outstretched hand, as if she could no longer contain herself.
Lisa grinned widely. "Thank you! You are stunning as well. Your hair is just lovely."
Somehow, Meru smiled even more widely before replying, "Thanks!"
Lisa stepped back to admire the group and said, "Yes, King Albert, you have a most handsome group of friends."
"I am inclined to agree with you, my lady," he said.
"But the reason why I called you here…" Lisa's voice trailed off as she moved back to the table.
"Yes," encouraged Albert. "I am at a loss as to why you should call us here and not simply meet us in the throne room."
"The reason for that is part of my tale." She gestured to the sofa and loveseat. "Please, sit. We may be here a while."
While the princess sat at the table, Albert joined her, and his companions settled into the seating area.
She sighed before she began.
"The stars foretold your coming around a month ago. 'The king of the east will come to aid you,' they said. 'With five companions.' I had heard that you had left on a journey, but I could scarcely imagine that you would actually come here. But when Fester told me of your presence in the castle, I acted quickly and sent Libria to fetch you before you left."
Taken aback, Albert interrupted, "Fester knew of my kingship?"
Lisa chuckled. "No, although I believe he suspected. He told me that his friends from Serdio had come to meet with my father, and I knew that it was you with your five companions." She gestured vaguely to them, then paused and searched his eyes. "I need your help."
"With the bandits?" asked Dart. "Your father—I mean, King Zior already asked us to kill the leader of the gang."
"That may be involved," she replied. "But it is not my focus. I need you to help my sister."
"Princess Emille," said Albert quietly.
"Yes," Lisa nodded. "Something has happened to her, and I believe that somehow the Gehrich Gang is involved. You see, the bandits had never been any sort of problem in Tiberoa until about five months ago. They arose, seemingly out of the woodwork, only two weeks after my sister began behaving… differently."
"That explains her rudeness to that pregnant lady," inserted Haschel. "I would've been surprised to see any princess so negligent."
"I am sure she was. Such a thing has been happening more often than I'd care to admit," affirmed the princess. Then she resumed, "My sister and I are very close. Growing up, we did everything together, including getting into trouble and escaping the castle to run around the city. Once Emille was old enough to understand the danger of such an act for two young princesses, she began to arrange more organized outings for us. Horseback riding was always one of my favorites, and nearly every month, we would take our favorite horses out into the countryside. Sometimes we would travel slowly, taking in the landscape, and sometimes we would race."
Lisa's expression turned sour as she continued. "Five months ago, we took our horses all the way to the barrens. A foolish mistake, I now see. We decided to race through the tight canyons, but Emille was always a much more adept rider than I. She pulled far ahead until I could not see her, and then I heard her horse whinny, and Emille screamed. I rode forward quickly, but found her several minutes later, off the path, unconscious, her head bleeding on the rocks. Her horse was gone. I quickly brought her back to the castle, and she was in a coma for eight days. When she awoke, she was different. Harsher. Ruder. Brash, even. So very unlike my sister."
Upon hearing the tale, Albert felt relief wash over him. Emille's behavior that day in Fletz had not been normal.
"What did the rest of the kingdom think of this change?" he asked.
"Most didn't notice it for a long time," she replied. "The change was very subtle, in reality. Only my father and I could see the difference. It was little things at first. She didn't seem interested in spending time with either of us, but stayed locked in her room most of the day. Her walk didn't have the same grace, her manners at dinner were poor, and she stopped paying close attention to the people in the city. It was as if she simply didn't have time for them anymore. She used to go visit them and take personal requests, but I don't think she has left the castle since that horseback ride."
"Or in other words," said Haschel, "since the bandits came."
"Precisely," nodded Lisa. "The timing is uncanny. There must be a connection between these two events."
"And you want us to find out what it is," concluded Dart.
"Yes. I cannot believe that there is no way to recover who my sister was."
Albert stirred in his seat. Perhaps there was a way to bring back the old Emille, the one he had been wanting to meet for so long. The kind one. The one who would smile at him and be courteous, not just because he was a king, but because he was a person. The one who wrote him that beautiful letter.
"We will do whatever we can," he said suddenly, before he could stop himself. "If there is a way to restore her, we will find it."
Lisa smiled sullenly. "Thank you, Your Majesty. But there is one more thing you should know. Emille's birthday is in two weeks. More specifically, sixteen days from now. She will be twenty-five, and as is the custom in our country, we will have a coming-of-age ceremony in her favor, followed by a lavish party. I can only imagine what will happen at a party with so many nobles if my sister is not restored before then. With being confined to the castle, many have not been able to bear witness of her ill behavior, but I fear for the future of Tiberoa should they see her as she is. She is next in line; the people could disapprove of the decision. And at worst, a revolt could arise when she is coronated."
Recalling the discord within his own country over two possible monarchs, Albert sighed in frustration.
"Meru, can we get there and back in sixteen days?" asked Dart.
Mutterings came from Meru as she counted days on her fingers, and Albert called up a mental map of Tiberoa to check the distances. According to his calculations, they need only take ten days for the entire journey, even if they should be slowed. But he waited patiently for Meru's answer.
"I'm pretty sure!" she said finally. "Eight days of sure travel, which means we have eight days to work with. Easy peasy!"
With a grin, Princess Lisa said, "Then that settles it. You all must stay at the castle tonight, and you can depart in the morning with all the good wishes of the kingdom behind you."
"Is your father aware of my presence here?" asked Albert.
"Not beyond that of a traveler," smiled the princess. "I had not spoken to him of your coming, as the stars warned me against revealing this information before its time. But I will send him word, and I can promise that he will not send away the king of Serdio. Perhaps even Emille will come out of hiding to meet you."
His heart skipped a beat at the thought.
"We would be delighted to stay, my lady," he said hastily, ignoring the frustrated look Dart threw his way.
"Then it is settled. I will send word to my father, and meanwhile, Libria can take you to where you will be staying."
"Thank you for your kindness, Princess Lisa," said Albert.
A few moments later, they were being escorted away from the mountain and toward the castle proper. After reaching the entrance hall, they turned right and followed Libria down the corridor, then turned left and eventually came to a large wooden door on their right. Libria opened it, and the guests filed in and took in the lavish room around them.
An open balcony sat opposite them, and through the three archways, they could see endless ocean butting up against the mountains on their right. The middle of the room contained a square seating area recessed into the floor with red sofas and a square wood table in the middle. A small cookstove and kitchen area sat to their left, and in each corner of the room was another door, each leading to its own bedroom.
"This is amazing!" Meru called into the lavish room before running forward and jumping onto the nearest sofa.
"Wow," agreed Shana.
"Such gracious lodgings," remarked Albert. "Please give our regards to Princess Lisa. We are most appreciative."
"Of course, Your Majesty," nodded Libria. "Please make yourselves at home. Your belongings will be fetched from the city within the hour."
She curtsied and left, shutting the door behind her.
"Now this is what I'm talking about!" laughed Haschel as he ran into one of the bedrooms and gasped. "Guys, these beds are huge!"
A loud poof followed by creaking echoed out of the room as he leapt onto a bed.
Albert laughed as Shana drifted toward the other side of the room to check a bedroom.
"Oh, wow, he's not joking," she called back.
Overcome with curiosity, Albert followed her to peer into the room and was surprised to see two beds larger than his own lined up next to each other on the opposite wall. A window sat between them and a small table below it, upon which was a small candle. Chests of drawers, mirrors, and shelves adorned the wall next to him, and many lavish decorations hung on the walls. The beds themselves had decorative comforters with the symbol of Tiberoa emblazoned on them. He supposed that three people could sleep relatively comfortably next to each other in these beds.
"They're so comfy!" came Haschel's muffled voice from the other room.
"And the balcony is so high!" shouted Meru, now leaning out on the railing.
"Whoa, don't lean out that far," warned Dart. "That would be a long way to fall."
Albert smiled as Meru pouted at him. "I'm not afraid of heights," she said.
"But I am," he insisted. "So calm down a little."
"How can you ask anyone to calm down in a room like this?" called Haschel. "Albert, you should build some rooms like this in Indels Castle."
"I daresay that will not happen any time soon," the king grinned, happy to see his companions enjoying themselves. He moved to sit on a sofa, and Shana soon joined him.
"I love watching them," she said to him quietly.
"As do I," he replied in kind, just as Dart placed his hands on his hips and raised an eyebrow at Meru. Albert chuckled.
"I miss him," muttered Shana, suddenly somber.
"How so?" prodded Albert, watching her carefully.
She hesitated, as if weighing her words, and said, "We used to be close. Now it feels like he's miles away, even though he's right here."
He turned his attention to Dart, who was now throwing his hands in the air as he marched off to discipline Haschel for jumping on the beds. Rose soon joined them on the sofa, arms folded and face scowling as she looked to the ocean.
"And what would you do," began Albert, "if he approached you now and said everything you wanted to hear?"
Shana dropped her gaze to the table before them as she considered the question.
"I don't know," she finally conceded. "I'm not even sure if he's the same person I fell in love with."
"That may be," said Albert slowly. "But something to consider is that none of us is the same as we were six months ago. Experiences have the power to change us, and I believe we have had our fair share of experiences. Perhaps change is the desired outcome for all of us. If so, the question then becomes, will you choose to see the merits of Dart's transformation?"
Shana did not respond, and she remained pensive.
Try as he might to focus on Shana, Albert could not keep his mind from diverting to Princess Emille in the silence that followed. The possibility of meeting her weighed heavily on his mind. Despite knowing her current disposition, as detailed by Lisa, he could not help but envision the Emille of his previous imaginings. What if their coming to the castle somehow stirred up within her the old Emille that Lisa missed so dearly? What if the presence of dragoons could have an effect on her?
But he was foolish to think this. Even Shana's healing magic could not change a person so drastically.
"Hey, Haschel and I have an idea," said Meru suddenly, plopping onto the sofa opposite him. Haschel immediately fell next to her.
"To fix Emille," explained Haschel.
"And that would be?" asked Dart skeptically from behind Rose.
"This all happened because she hit her head really hard, right?" said Meru animatedly.
"What if," interrupted Haschel, "I just… punched her in the head again?" He thrust forward a fist to demonstrate.
Albert scowled at him.
"What?" asked Haschel innocently.
"You can't be serious," said Shana derisively.
"I think it's worth a shot," offered Meru.
"That would never work," scolded Shana.
"Then I could hit her with my hammer!"
"That would literally kill her," said Dart incredulously. "That does not solve the problem."
"Indeed," remarked Albert coldly.
"Ah, well," shrugged Haschel. "Worth a shot."
He grinned at Meru, and they exchanged a high five.
Several hours later, a servant came to fetch them for dinner. They had each dressed in their best attire, although Albert's was decidedly more formal than the rest. An embroidered vest sat over his white tunic, and his forest green cape sat atop his shoulders once more. For the first time since leaving Bale, he felt himself a king once again. He strode down the corridors in outward confidence, though his inner trepidation at meeting the princess had not dissipated.
They were led to the dining hall, which lay on the far side of the castle, and paused when they reached the closed doors. Albert's fears rose to his throat, and he swallowed in an effort to push them back down. It did not work.
Two guards opened the double doors, and as they swung wide, someone inside announced their presence.
"His Majesty King Albert of Serdio and his five companions: Dart, Haschel, Shana, Meru, and Rose."
Before them was a splendid dining hall with a kingly table running the length of the room. Multiple candles lit the space, and each place was decorated with the proper setting. At the far end of the table, their hosts awaited them. King Zior stood regally at the head, each of his daughters at his sides. Fester was there also, grinning softly next to Lisa. But on Zior's left was the princess that immediately captivated Albert's full attention.
Emille was a spectacle. Her dark, curly hair bounced with each movement of her head as she turned to them and smiled. High cheekbones framed her face, and Albert found himself unable to breathe as her deep, brown eyes locked with his. He hardly noticed her flowing dress as he studied Emille's features and committed them to memory.
"Your Majesty," boomed Zior's deep voice. Albert's attention snapped to him immediately. "Allow me to apologize for not addressing you properly earlier today. We are pleased to have you and to share a meal with you this evening. These are my lovely daughters, Emille and Lisa. And you already know our friend Fester." He gestured to each in turn.
As Emille nodded to him in greeting, Albert inwardly recoiled at her awkward movement. Lisa's concerns became vividly clear with this small motion, especially when contrasted with the absolute grace of Lisa's that immediately followed.
Fester nodded as well, and Albert grinned back at him.
"It is a great pleasure to be here with you, King Zior," said Albert formally. "You received us most graciously this morning, despite my anonymity, and for this I am grateful. Allow me also to introduce my friends." He turned and pointed to each of them, and each nodded in greeting, except for Meru, who curtsied in her short, billowy dress.
Several servants came to usher them to their seats, and it appeared that their places had been already chosen. Albert sat at the head, facing Zior, with Haschel and Shana at his left, and Dart and Rose on his right, placing Meru uncomfortably between Rose and Princess Emille.
Fester leaned over and whispered something to Shana, to which she responded with a shy smile, and Meru focused tightly on her empty plate, lips pursed as her hands fidgeted in her lap. Dart squirmed in his seat, Haschel seemed surprisingly at ease, and Rose surprisingly in place.
As the discomfort of unfamiliarity worked its way around the table, Albert drew himself up and mustered every bit of kingly training that he had experienced, constantly painfully aware of the breathtakingly beautiful but less than elegant princess on the far side of the table.
Servants entered from a door on Albert's left and brought bowls of soup for each of the attendees, and he dared speak as they circulated the room.
"Your Highness, Princess Emille," he said, making every effort not to appear anxious. Her eyes turned to him, and she quirked her brow. "I have had the pleasure of conversing with your father and sister, but not the honor of doing so with the elder princess. You are just as lovely as they say."
A glance to Lisa showed her watching avidly for Emille's response.
"Oh, thank you," replied Emille nonchalantly. "You're handsome, too."
Despite the crass nature of the phrase, Albert felt blood rush to his cheeks, and he glanced down at the soup before him.
"How ki—"
"Onion soup, my favorite!" exclaimed Emille suddenly.
Snapping his head up, he saw her face lit up with a smile, and she quickly snatched a spoon and began taking sips, slurping with each quaff. Albert turned to see Zior's reaction, the one who should have been the first to take of each course of the meal, and found a grinning face masking a deep grief and shame.
"Isn't she hearty?" he laughed, though Albert perceived it as forced joy. "The past few months, my Emille has been turning heads with how much she's changed!"
"Thank you, daddy," smiled Emille from over her soup bowl; she had hunched forward to better reach the liquid.
Every eye was turned on the princess in discomfort until King Zior said loudly, "Please, eat!" and took a small sip of his own.
Everyone now reached for a spoon to follow suit, each of their movements more refined than Emille's – even Haschel's and Meru's. In the near silence, the only thing audible was the sound of Emille's sips.
The attraction that Albert had felt was now waning.
"So, Albert," inserted Fester. "Oh, I mean… King Albert. Your Majesty…?"
Laughing, Albert said, "Fester, do not be silly. You are my friend! You may simply call me Albert."
"Thank you, sir, but I should feel more comfortable addressing you by your title! I had suspected something of your nobility after your first visit to Fletz, but I had dismissed the idea. I couldn't convince myself that a king would come to visit me."
"I am only surprised that it took you until after our first visit to suspect something! You have a keen mind, my friend."
"You know, I've been thinking about that," said Haschel. Albert turned to him with a mild level of fear of what he would say. "If you really want to stay under the radar for the rest of your time out and about, maybe you should go by a different name. Everyone knows the king of Serdio is named Albert."
Inwardly rejoicing at the relatively normal statement, Albert replied, "That is a fair observation. And I have considered it many times. But I simply cannot stand to be called anything other than my own name."
"Well said," said King Zior. "I would feel the same, were I in your shoes."
Having finished her soup, Emille sat up straighter and said, "If I may interrupt, King Albert, what brings you here?"
Meeting Emille's gaze was a captivating experience, though her slouched posture and folded arms quickly released him from the spell.
"Oh, Your Highness, of course," he said hastily. "My companions and I are In Tiberoa seeking someone who caused a crisis in my country and killed one of my friends. We came here to the castle to seek your father's permission to enter the Valley of Corrupted Gravity so that we may entreat with the bandits about an item they stole from us while we were in the barrens."
Emille's brow furrowed. "Why would you do a silly thing like that? The bandits will kill you."
"It is simply something we must do."
"And someone from Donau was captured," interrupted Meru with a small voice, glancing carefully at Emille beside her and looking down again.
"Yes," added Albert. "Lynn of Donau was also taken by the bandits, and we hope to rescue him while we are there."
Meru cast him a small smile of thanks, and he returned it.
"Who is this man you are pursuing?" asked Lisa.
As she spoke, servants returned and collected the empty bowls, replacing them with small salads. Emille began eating heartily once again before her father had a chance, and he frowned at his salad dismally before taking the first bite.
"His name is Lloyd," replied Albert, ready to make headway on his own dish now that the king had begun.
But just as he finished speaking, Emille began coughing violently, interrupting his course of thought, and there was a clang as her fork fell to the floor. Meru began slapping her back in an effort to help, but a stern word from Shana stopped her mid-swing, and a moment later, a servant appeared and rushed to the princess's side. Waving them away, she reached the end of her coughs and used a napkin to dab at her mouth before bending down to retrieve her utensil.
"My lady, are you okay?" asked Fester concernedly.
After a couple more sputters, Princess Emille replied, "Yes, Fester, thanks. Everyone, go back to your food and chatting! I am alright!"
"We are grateful for your wellness, Your Highness," offered Albert, once again taken aback by her behavior.
"You will have to forgive my sister," said Lisa with a small smile. "It has been quite a while since she has been able to dine with us, as her schedule has kept her very busy."
As Albert watched them carefully, he noticed a knowing glance be exchanged among Lisa, Fester, and the king. With a subtle eye roll, Emille kept her head bowed.
"I'm sorry," apologized Lisa, "but what were you saying before, Your Majesty?"
"Ah, yes," recalled Albert. "We came to Tiberoa in search of a man named Lloyd, who has a dangerous array of skills. We first went to Donau in search of him, but found nothing but a passing reference."
"He must be a real danger if you left your homeland to find him," observed King Zior.
"Indeed," said Albert. "He manipulated the Serdian War from both sides. I daresay that we would have found peace months sooner but for his involvement."
"Then I hope you find your quarry," nodded King Zior. "I would dread to have this man involved in our stately affairs."
"Our very goal is to keep that from happening."
"I'm grateful that we were able to house you tonight. It sounds like you have been on a long and arduous journey, and now yet another lies before you. Should you need any supplies, we are happy to provide them for you."
"That is most gracious, Your Majesty," said Albert. "And we may require a few items. Though we are not traveling through the barrens, we will still be in the wilderness and accessible to bandits along the way."
"Be careful there," warned Zior. "Skirting the barrens is almost the same as traveling through them. The closer you get to the mountains, the less sand there is; that is almost the only difference."
"I see. We will be wary."
"And by the way, my offer to you still stands. Should you kill the bandit leader, we will hold you all in high honor upon your return."
"Daddy…" said Emille with an unusual smile. She touched Zior's arm lightly. "I'll still get my birthday party, right?"
Despite the flash of discomfort in Zior's eyes, he still grinned and placed his hand over hers. "Of course, my dear. Nothing is more important than my elder daughter coming of age." He turned to the guests, making eye contact with each as he said, "You all must come. It has been more years than I would care to admit since my twenty-fifth birthday, and that was the last coming-of-age party that we've had here in the Twin Castle. Needless to say, we will have a great time."
Emille cast them all a pretentious grin as she retracted her hand and called for the main course, which was promptly delivered, though several of Albert's companions were still eating their salads. Meru opened her mouth in protestation as hers was taken away, and she watched it leave with a forlorn look. Her mouth drew into a pout until a plate with a sizzling steak, mushrooms, carrots, and potatoes was placed before her, at which point her eyes lit up again and she animatedly began carving into the tender beef. One might have been embarrassed to see such behavior at a table headed by two kings, if not for the uncouth princess who sat beside her. Princess Emille was so focused on her meal that her tongue stuck out while she cut a piece and then chewed loudly on the bite that was too big for her mouth.
As the sound of chewing emanated around the table, Meru stopped mid-slice and turned an annoyed and aghast eye on the princess. Then, as if to make a point, she straightened herself and began to cut a smaller piece, which she placed daintily in her mouth and chewed slowly and quietly, casting multiple glances to Emille as she did so to make sure that she was behaving more appropriately.
Watching this charade, Albert fought to contain laughter. Luckily, he succeeded, but his success was nearly short-lived as he turned to his left to see Haschel fighting back snickers, too. A hand on his brow hid Haschel's humorous expression from King Zior, but did nothing to keep King Albert from falling prey to the comedy. He turned desperately to Dart, who had not yet witnessed the spectacle on the other side of Rose, and nonverbally begged him for a distraction.
Slowly, Dart realized what Albert required of him and turned with a grin to Princess Lisa.
"Princess Lisa," he said, forcing away his own laughter. "You mentioned something earlier about how the stars told you we were coming. What exactly did you mean by that?"
"Oh," replied Lisa in mild surprise. "We in Tiberoa worship the stars. They watch over us as they travel across the sky, and if one knows how and develops the skill, one can communicate with them. From their vantage point, they can see past and future, and sometimes, they deign to share some of that information with us. It is rare, and whatever they say is usually vague and indistinct. But sometimes, when a great need arises, they can be more precise."
"I've heard of that before," said Shana. "My parents used to talk about astrology. I didn't ever think it was real."
"Not to be confused with astronomy!" inserted Fester. "Astronomy is a true science, and astrology is more of a religious practice."
"He is right," agreed Lisa. "I have been learning both under Fester's tutelage, although I do believe he prefers astronomy."
"I confess that is true," he agreed. "Astronomy is something I can trust. Something concrete that I can see. Charting star patterns and making my calculations makes sense to me. There is so much we can learn from the stars, and I hope to uncover great things in the future. Astrology is… less concrete."
"Lisa is uniquely gifted in astrology," said King Zior proudly. "Fester is right in that it is not an exact science, but it has already served us several times. Of course, its unpredictability can be frustrating at times."
"It's true," nodded Lisa. "Sometimes the stars are forthcoming, and sometimes they are not. One can only speculate their motives."
"Such a thing is foreign to me," said Albert. "I have never employed any astrologers or even thought to. I must confess that I am like Fester in that I prefer the concrete and the knowable. Such unreachable things perplex me, sometimes to the point of frustration."
"Some say that only the royal bloodline of Tiberoa can have true success with astrology," announced Fester proudly, as if he himself belonged to that bloodline.
"Are you gonna eat that?" came a quiet muttering from Emille.
Albert looked to see her pointing at Meru's half empty plate, and Meru returning an incredulous expression before Emille grinned and whispered something before taking it and scooting her own empty plate away. Meru pouted and folded her arms before scowling at Albert, Haschel, and Shana. Shana shrugged apologetically as Haschel quietly giggled, and Albert pursed his lips as he watched Emille.
Her beauty, even now, was striking. He believed that he had never before encountered such a lovely creature. And yet, his attraction to her had waned into a thin existence because of her actions. With sadness, he recalled the lovely and uplifting words of the letter she had sent him so many years ago and felt deep within him a compassion for Lisa's and Zior's plight. The best qualities of Emille had been all but destroyed by that fateful day.
The rest of the course and the dessert that followed unfolded in a similar way as those prior. Light discussion was had from those among the table, most often excluding Rose and Emille. Meru also was much too scared to talk with Emille next to her, and instead kept a watchful eye on her plate.
When dessert was finally over, they stood ceremoniously as King Zior prepared to dismiss everyone.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for such a lovely meal," said Albert. "It has been long since we have been able to enjoy such delicacies. Your generosity is humbling."
"And you have been gracious guests," returned Zior. "It has been a joy to see our countries entreating with one another once more. Please enjoy your night in the castle."
And with that, the group headed out, Albert casting one more saddened glance to Emille, and they made their way back to their suite.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Meru let out a dramatic and angry sigh.
"That was awful!" she exclaimed as she pouted her way to the sofas and fell onto one face first.
"It was certainly enlightening," agreed Albert.
"Emille is the worst," came Meru's muffled voice through the cushion. "Don't ever make me talk to her again."
Removing his cloak, Albert stepped into the far left bedroom and draped it over the bed. Removing his boots, he stretched his ankles as Dart entered and did the same.
"She really was something else," said Haschel. He unbuttoned his vest and tossed it to the floor before taking his place on the sofa.
"I didn't even get to eat all my food. She stole my food. I hate everyone who steals my food."
"It just goes to show how important our mission is," said Shana before disappearing into her room to change out of her dress.
"Shana's right," agreed Dart as he walked out with Albert. "We have to find out the link between her and the bandits."
"What intrigues me most," interrupted Albert, "is the lack of Lloyd's presence. I would have expected him to be involved somehow."
Meru sat up on the couch and watched them with a sad face.
"Lloyd didn't steal my food," she whined.
"Maybe he's behind Emille's behavior somehow," said Haschel.
"But how could he possibly have that much influence over someone?" asked Dart. "It would almost make sense that he were involved, but there's no way one person can make someone act that differently."
Standing, Meru huffed and said dismally, "I'm going to go change," before stomping toward her room.
"Rose?" said Albert, looking to the near silent woman keeping her distance in the shadows. "Do you have any explanation? Have you ever seen anything like this?"
She hesitated, then said, "No. I haven't. Even dragoon magic isn't powerful enough to rewrite someone like that."
Shana returned in more casual clothing, her hair down and free from its previous confines, and she sat next to Haschel. Instantly, Albert noticed that Dart's attention was fully enraptured, and his eyes focused on her without wavering. Such adoration dwelt there in his eyes, and Albert and Haschel exchanged a knowing glance.
"But I do feel like Lloyd is involved somehow," added Rose. "If he could manipulate Emille, that would give him a lot of power over the country. She's next in line if her father dies."
"Do you think he'll try to assassinate King Zior?" asked Shana worriedly.
"Surely not," said Albert. "That seems too… visible."
"He attacked you, a king," offered Dart. "That was pretty visible. And he might have killed you had Lavitz not intervened."
Closing his eyes, Albert relived that harsh, distant memory in a flash before opening them again, his heart filled with sadness once more. He thought it funny how quickly such a powerful emotion could return.
"I guess…" he said carefully. "We cannot truly know his motives or his mechanisms until we confront him directly. We can only hope to encounter him soon."
"Let's just hope it's not too soon," muttered Dart, eyes unfocused as he rubbed his hands together anxiously.
"I'm back now!" announced Meru, emerging loudly from her room. "You can now go on ignoring me and my plight of hunger."
Suddenly there was a knock on the door, causing each of them to jump slightly. Glances were cast among them, and Meru whispered loudly, "What if it's her?" She backed up quickly to the wall where any guests would not be able to see her easily.
"Nonsense," snapped Albert as he stood to answer the door. "Royalty does not make personal calls to guests' rooms." He swung open the door, all at once aware of his bare feet.
A servant stood in the hall, one that Albert did not recognize, and she curtsied with a shy smile.
"Your Majesty, your presence is requested," she said, glancing down. "Perhaps you might consider shoes, sir, as the stones can be cold during the evening."
"Allow me to grab them," he replied nervously before doing so, ignoring the diverse looks that his companions gave. Quickly, he exited the room and closed the door behind him.
"This way, Highness."
She led him to a remote part of the castle until she deposited him in a small room with one open window facing west. As he glanced around, he wondered at the purpose of this room, with little but a couple couches and end tables to fill its space. Moving toward the window, he watched the waves far below as possibilities of who might have called him flitted through his mind. And yet, he found himself entranced by the rhythmic motion of the water. He found that each wave came at a particular cadence, and he longed to study the reasons for such a phenomenon. But his reverie was broken by the loud door creaking open behind him.
"Albert," said Zior quietly as he entered.
"Your Majesty," replied Albert in a rush to bow. "I did not expect—"
"We can put formality on hold for a little while, I think." He motioned toward one of the sofas.
Seating himself slowly, Albert studied Zior's features. He was crownless, though that did nothing to diminish his regal presence. "Very well. Why have you summoned me?"
"I will not be foolish and pretend to be ignorant of your earlier conversation with my younger daughter."
Zior seemed uncomfortable, fidgeting with the hem of his tunic. Surprised when Zior did not continue, Albert urged him on.
"Yes, I was of the belief that you share her concerns about Emille."
"Truly," said Zior, finally seating himself opposite Albert. "Something is wrong and has been for a long time, and I sense some kind of subterfuge."
"Lisa seems to think Emille's state is tied to the bandits."
"And I do not doubt her in that. The timing lends itself to this theory. But what makes me uneasy is that I had believed my dear Emille incapable of any of this. You saw how she behaved at dinner. It is almost as though she has forgotten our customs and traditions, things that she has known since infancy." A sense of urgency crept into Zior's voice. "I struggle to believe that this version of her had been merely buried all these years."
"I am sorry, my friend," eased Albert. "But I do not want to misunderstand you. What is it that you are trying to say?"
"I think that someone else is controlling her, and I think they have a very specific reason."
"And what is that?" Albert fought a rising frustration at Zior's hesitancy.
"Tell me, Albert, do the Serdians have any ancient relics?"
He was taken aback by this question. "Many, scattered throughout the castle."
"Any of great importance?"
The Moon Gem.
Of course, this was the object that the king questioned after. But Zior was unaware of the staggeringly painful memories attached to such an object. Even the lightest of recollections brought about both physical and emotional strain, and Albert could nearly feel the berating wind on his dry skin once again. He could almost hear Lavitz's final battle cry.
The Moon Gem had nearly cost him his life and his kingdom, and it had cost him his best friend. It seemed less than worthless now.
Even so, duty to his role overpowered any desire to speak of the wretched thing. Only four people had known of its existence; one now possessed it, and one had fallen. He and Noish were the only two remaining to protect its secret.
And yet, the earnestness of Zior's eyes struck him off balance.
"Yes," he found himself saying. "One that we hand down to each reigning monarch."
"I suspected as much," replied Zior with a quirk of a smile. "Something ancient and magical, dating back to the Dragon Campaign."
Albert blinked. It was a statement, not a question. "How do you know this?" he prodded.
"We have something similar here. An old legend of Tiberoa tells of the aftermath of the Dragon Campaign. It is said that the humans took the continent for their own and split it into three nations: Serdio, Tiberoa, and Mille Seseau. Of course, the names have changed since then, but the end is the same. These kingdoms each took one of the magical objects of the winglies and swore to protect them."
"You have such an artifact as well?" asked Albert incredulously.
"Indeed," nodded Zior. "The Moon Dagger."
Albert's heart made a leap as his mind did the same.
"You think someone is trying to take it," he concluded.
"And why are you now so quick to decide?" pried Zior.
"An artifact with a similar legend attached was stolen from me by Lloyd. It was called the Moon Gem."
Zior sighed. "Then it is as I feared. Perhaps this Lloyd is already involved in my affairs. Maybe he is the one controlling Emille."
"Why did Lisa not speak to us of this?"
Waving a hand, Zior said, "Lisa knows of the dagger, but not the importance. To her, it is merely a family heirloom passed down to denote a coming-of-age."
"Coming-of-age? Does this mean that Emille will inherit the dagger in two weeks?"
"Indeed. And this is why I have called you here. Lisa has already requested that you return before the ceremony, but I will now add a layer to that urgency. The dagger must not be passed down to Emille while she is in this state."
"Of course. She will hand it over to Lloyd," agreed Albert. "But why has she not tried to take it before now?"
"I always carry it with me," replied Zior, peeling back the top lip of his boot to reveal a shiny hilt obscured next to his ankle. "Legend says that whoever wields the dagger cannot be killed. Say what you will about legend, but our lineage has proved this tale true. Despite many assassination attempts, not one of my predecessors has ever been killed before his eldest child's twenty-fifth birthday, when the dagger is passed on to the next monarch. And if this legend has been perceived by your friend, that would also explain why he has not tried to take it from me by force. Having it handed over is the easiest way to retrieve it."
"This is grave," said Albert, rubbing his forehead to relieve some tension. "We will make haste tomorrow to the Valley in hopes that we can return swiftly."
"All haste is welcomed. The sooner we discover the truth, the sooner we can intersect their plans."
"Let us pray that we are not delayed."
Upon returning to their room, Albert immediately told Dart and Haschel everything that Zior had disclosed. Shana, Meru, and Rose had all retired, and the king was somewhat grateful. He was still unsure of how to discuss such a sensitive topic with Meru.
"This is bad," said Haschel when Albert was finished.
"Should we tell the others tomorrow?" asked Dart.
"Shana and Rose should know," nodded Albert.
"And Meru shouldn't?" said Haschel, offended.
Dart shrugged. "She can be… a lot. We don't even know how long she's sticking around."
Folding his arms, Haschel scowled. "I think she'll be here a lot longer than you think she will."
"I thought she was just helping us with the bandits."
"I have to agree with Haschel," inserted Albert. "Meru has taken a liking to us, and I believe that she will be with us for a long while. She deserves to know the truth of our mission."
"But not about dragoons, right?" said Dart carefully.
"Hopefully, the need to discuss such things will not arise. Should they, we will handle it accordingly."
Haschel and Dart nodded in agreement.
Standing, Albert announced, "Now, I suggest we all retire in preparation for our journey tomorrow. Time is now of the essence."
"I'll be in there in a minute," said Dart quietly.
"Very well."
Albert turned and walked to his room, sitting on the bed. Alone, seeing nothing but by the light of a single candle despite the window behind him, he sighed. He stripped his formal clothing, taking instead his evening attire, and slid under the luxurious covers. On his back he lay, gazing up at the uninteresting ceiling above him.
So many thoughts flitted through his mind that he could not control. He thought back to that morning and his fears of what the day might hold. Such apprehension paled in comparison to the terror now welling within him. All at once, their leisurely journey through Tiberoa had escalated into something of great importance. He wondered what other things awaited them here, and whether they would be able to stop Lloyd before whatever he was scheming came to fruition.
The idea that Lloyd had control of Emille worried him, and yet he could not help but imagine what it would be like should they find a way to rescue her from his clutches. Would she thank him for his help? Would she notice him?
"Hey," said Dart suddenly as he sauntered toward his own bed. "Can I talk to you?" He plopped down with drooping shoulders.
"Yes, what is it?"
"What happens if we find Lloyd before my dragoon spirit?"
"What do you mean?"
"Just…" Tossing away his shirt, he fell on to the bed. "These beds are huge," he whispered to himself. After a pause, he continued, "I don't know if I can face him without it."
"Are you worried you will fail to overcome?"
"Albert, you weren't there at the Hero Competition. He danced circles around me, and that was even with my dragoon spirit."
"I think you misjudge yourself," said Albert. "You are not just a dragoon."
"I'm definitely not one right now. And with this cut on my arm, I don't think I could fight well anyway."
"Have you asked Shana about that? I am sure she would heal it."
"I… I can't ask Shana." Dart's voice turned quiet.
"Why not?"
"I just can't. Not like this."
"And what do you think would change if you had your dragoon spirit?" insisted Albert. "I think you have overlooked your own strength. You are not strong because you are a dragoon. The power of your dragoon comes from within. It is because of your own inner strength and fortitude that you have such ability to control the magic of the dragoon."
"That doesn't mean I can face Lloyd without it," he muttered.
"Then we will do what we can to retrieve it, but do not think that you charge into this battle alone and reliant upon only your own strength. We are all with you, with or without dragoon spirits."
"Thanks, Albert," said Dart quietly after a pause.
With a small smile, Albert continued studying the flat ceiling. After a moment, Dart rolled over, pulling the covers over him, and Albert blew out the candle. Grateful for Dart's openness, he prayed that it would continue in the weeks to come.
Then he moved to the middle of the bed and outstretched both his arms, feeling for the sides of the mattress, which he could not find. Briefly, he tried to imagine his room in Indels Castle and whether such a bed would fit with enough room to walk on either side. Ultimately undecided, he vowed to take some measurements when he returned to Bale. Maybe he would permit himself to splurge on just one item this year.
Kongol grunted in dissatisfaction as he tossed aside the bone he'd just picked clean. One measly desert rabbit was not enough to satiate him.
A fire crackled nearby, responsible for his warm meal, and the moon hung overhead, casting its light on nearly two dozen bandit corpses scattered about. Some were missing limbs, some their heads, and one his right foot. Many of them sported broken bones jutting from their skin. Each of them had been foolish to take on a giganto.
His mighty axe leaned against the large stone that supported his weight, though the blade was stained a dark red along the sharp edge. It had been happy, he thought, to receive blood once again. The axe had been able to have its fill, while he sat here still hungry.
Turning his eyes to the horizon, he saw moonlight bouncing off the foreign landscape. So many rocks in every direction, and so hard to keep your path. So he looked up at the stars instead. Holding a hand up, he measured the distance between the horizon and Namulo, the constellation that marked his goal. Then turning to Ataloi, he marked his direction west.
Tomorrow, he would set out toward the mountains, still beyond his view, in search of the Most Holy Land. If any of his kind still lived, that is where they would be.
He stood up and grabbed the nearest bandit body by the neck and threw it westward before grabbing another by the foot and doing the same. Ignoring the crunching of bones, he gathered up each of the bandits and threw them into a pile, building himself a marker for his morning trek.
As the last of them fell onto the pile, something slid out of the bandit's pocket, shimmering in the firelight. Kongol couldn't help but kneel and take it up to study it. What it was, he could not say, except that maybe it was some kind of gem. Amber, maybe. Just as he was about to pocket it, it flashed brightly at him, and he recoiled at the contrast with the darkness surrounding him. Then all at once, it grew black once more.
He stood, unmoving, staring at the curious gem in disbelief. He had heard of valuable stones, but no one had ever told him that some glowed. Maybe that meant that it was even more valuable. He pocketed it and grunted as he lay down on the sand.
It was softer than normal. More comfortable. Safer. He dug his hand into the sand and felt the grit on his skin. Comforting, somehow. Strong. Stalwart.
Looking to the west, he promised his long-lost family that he would fight for their glory. And that if at all possible, he would restore his people to what they once were.