"You did what now?" said Rose with a scowl.
"She didn't leave me a choice!" protested Dart, hands up in hopeless surrender. "She's remarkably annoying when she starts talking."
"And that didn't deter you any more than the fact that she knows nothing about us dragoons and has no business following us into a bandit hovel?"
"She could handle three bandits by herself—"
"That is not good enough." Rose crossed her arms with a revolted look on her face.
"Maybe you should have at least run it by us first," inserted Shana from next to her.
Dart rolled his eyes and turned to her. "I told you: she didn't give me a choice."
"You always have a choice, Dart," she replied with a meaningful stare.
"If I may…" interrupted Albert as he leaned forward on the couch. While Haschel rested next to him, content to derisively giggle at the interaction before him, Albert felt compelled to assist. As a result of his words, all eyes fell on him. Of all the expressions aimed at him, Dart's was certainly the least hostile.
The hotel lobby was populated by several groups, each chatting amongst themselves, but theirs was by far the most animated. Hopefully, his intervention could quiet them so that their identity as dragoons did not become known.
"Dart has spoken the truth," he said. "The girl was insistent almost to the point of belligerence. And beyond this, she gave us valuable information that we could not have otherwise ascertained."
"That's true!" said Dart animatedly, clearly grateful for Albert's intrusion. "She told us where the bandits come from, and that we need to talk to the king before we can get through."
"That's the king of Tiberoa, by the way," said Haschel. "Not Serdio. Just… feel like we should specify."
"Thank you, Haschel," remarked Albert with a false smile.
"Always here to help." Albert flinched as Haschel swatted his back firmly.
"So now we have to go back through the barrens?" asked Shana carefully.
Albert nodded. "That is the fate that has befallen us." As Shana's eyes darted worriedly to Dart, he added, "And we will be much better prepared this time, knowing what awaits us."
"That doesn't mean we should be having a purely human child travelling with us," said Rose, irritated.
"Perhaps that will aid us," said Albert. "In catering to this girl, we can also help Dart. We can move more slowly and be more mindful of what affects those without dragoon spirits."
"She's also not a child," offered Haschel. "She's at least eighteen. Probably older than Shana."
"Of course, you would be sure to make that known," said Dart, shaking his head.
Haschel shrugged. "It's an important distinction."
"What's probably more important," said Shana, "is that we are dragoons and this girl is not. What's her name again?"
"Meru," said Dart.
"Should we tell Meru about us? Or try to keep it hidden?"
Rose shook her head and said, "Nothing good can come from us revealing ourselves now."
"Agreed," said Dart. "Lloyd might not know where we are right now, but if anyone found out that we were dragoons, the word would spread fast, and he'd know almost immediately."
"And if he was here only two weeks ago…" said Shana.
"The danger is even more profound," finished Albert. "There is no reason to assume that he is not already trailing us."
"All the more reason to get out of here," added Rose. "Preferably without a dancer who can't seem to keep her mouth shut."
"Well, she's coming," said Dart with pursed lips. "She's meeting us here tomorrow morning."
Rose's dark eyes flitted up to meet Dart's, and they pulsated with rage. Even Albert was slightly alarmed, and he glanced around to discover any possible tendrils of darkness reaching out to them to elicit this fear, but found none.
"Good night," said Rose curtly before standing up and walking toward the stairs. Her footsteps were surprisingly quiet despite her wrath.
When she was beyond earshot, Dart asked, "Why is she so upset? I expected her to be a little mad, but this is a bit much."
Shana sighed. "She's mostly just worried about your dragoon spirit, I think."
At the mention of his dragoon spirit, Dart's shoulders fell, and he retreated into his seat's cushion slightly. They were nearly imperceptible shifts in his demeanor, but Albert took note.
"Shouldn't I be the one most worried about that?" Dart said in a small voice.
"Perhaps…" replied Shana. "But I think that Rose feels a little responsible for it. She was the one who dragged you into all this, after all. Without her, you wouldn't have been able to use your dragoon spirit, and you wouldn't have gone through the barrens."
"Not to mention," added Albert, "that she fought to defend it that night but was unsuccessful in her attempt to recover it."
"I guess you're right," said Dart.
After a pause, Shana said, "I'm going to go check on her. I'll see you all tomorrow."
And with that, she stood and made her way toward her room.
"You know what's funny?" asked Haschel, breaking the silence.
Albert and Dart turned to face him.
"That Rose hates Meru, just like you said, but before she even met her."
Wholly unamused, Dart stared at Haschel with an irritated expression.
"Just wait until tomorrow," added Haschel.
Reaching a hand to his brow, Dart said, "I'm going to bed now."
"Perhaps it is best that we do the same," agreed Albert, casting a forceful glance to Haschel. His levity was welcome in many situations, but this did not seem a proper one.
"Noted," said Haschel with a nod, and the three climbed the stairs, leaving the lively lobby for their serene slumber.
Albert rose early the next morning to begin preparations for their journey. The intense Tiberoan heat combined with the brutal and unforgiving landscape that awaited them weighed heavily on his mind. Mostly, however, his worry was for Dart. No doubt each of the king's companions felt a similar trepidation, given the events of their last trek through the barrens, but Albert felt somewhat responsible, though for what reason, he could not identify. He had not been responsible for the deadly climate, the bandit ambush, or the length of the journey.
Nevertheless, the sun was hardly over the horizon when he sat ready and waiting in the hotel lobby. Several bags lay in organized piles next to him, and he had already arranged for the horses to be brought about as soon as the others were ready to depart.
It occurred to him in this moment that they had no steed for their newest companion, and his worry began to build. Although he wagered that they had enough coin to purchase another, he felt a great discomfort at the thought of their funds running that low. Perhaps their five would be sufficient; he prayed that they would be.
After a time, the king's companions began to trickle down the stairs with their belongings, each taking a place on the lobby sofas to await the others. Rose and Shana came first, followed by Dart and Haschel, and before long, the five exercised a strained silence as they awaited the newest addition to their party. And coming as a great relief to Albert, she arrived shortly thereafter.
The first thing Albert noticed was Meru's bright silver hair as the sun struck it, livening it in its bushy ponytail that bounced and swayed with each of her steps. Though it was tied back rather than being free to move, as when she was dancing, it was still a striking color that would stand out in any crowded area. Once again, the king was reminded of Lloyd's hair of the same hue.
And yet… he thought. There can be no mistake. The two are anything but alike.
But the striking similarity plagued his inner reasoning and begged for an explanation. An explanation that he could not give.
As she approached, he studied her features, searching for any resemblance or hint of familial connection. And yet, he could find none.
"There she is," muttered Dart, rubbing his knees in preparation.
All at once, Meru made her entrance, dropping several bags by the door and bursting through to the lobby.
"Good morning, Dart and company!" she called loudly into the room. Albert glanced toward the clerk, who seemed lightly offended but wholly disinterested in involving himself.
Meru skipped forward and stopped when she saw the two women seated, one glowering and one with a soft grin.
"You must be Meru," said Shana, standing and offering a hand.
Nodding and grinning, Meru said, "You betcha!" before shaking Shana's hand enthusiastically.
"I'm Shana."
"Nice to meet you! And this is?" Meru turned to Rose.
Of all the expressions that Albert expected to find adorning Rose's face, the one he discovered was the least expected and utterly inexplicable. She was not wrathful or merely somber, but rather troubled and curious. She showed no interest in answering Meru's question, although Albert could not discern whether this originated from a desire to be aloof or from an inability to collect her thoughts.
"Rose," answered Shana.
And with the sound of her name, Rose snapped to attention, and the peculiar look faded into her scowl.
Meru pursed her lips. "Okay…" she said cautiously. "Well then, it's nice to meet each of you." She turned to look at each of them in turn, eyes settling finally on Dart. "Who's ready for an adventure?"
"I guess… we are?" said Dart in an uneasy reply.
She scoffed and said, "That's no adventurous spirit! You have to be excited! The world awaits us! Anything is possible now!" She twirled in one fluid movement and then marched for the door. "It's time to depart! Meru and her posse are prepared for whatever awaits us, no matter how dangerous the terrain."
And a moment later, she was outside retrieving her items from the ground and heading toward the stables. Albert breathed a small sigh of relief; she must have her own horse.
"She has silver hair," remarked Rose.
"Yeah, I'm surprised you didn't mention that last night," added Shana.
"There was a lot to cover," muttered Dart through gritted teeth.
"Perhaps we should join her?" interrupted Albert.
"Yes, let's do that," said Shana, and with a sideways glance cast to Dart, she moved forward and let herself out. Rose followed, and then Haschel, Dart, and Albert.
The king sighed again. This new dynamic was sure to rattle the group, but he only hoped that they would grow closer because of it. Perhaps someone like Meru was a change they needed. He hoped that it was.
The first day of their journey back to Fletz was one of adaptation and investigation. Meru seemed to challenge them each in a unique way as she made her rounds around the column of horses asking endless questions about their occupations, origins, and personal histories. The reception of this barrage of inquiry was received differently by each in their group, Haschel being the most receptive and Rose the least, as the king would have expected. As she led her horse around the companions, Albert watched and listened carefully to everything that was being said within his earshot.
Perhaps the most notable observation was the aversion to any information regarding dragoons, dragons, or his own kingly rank. Most of their time in Serdio was completely omitted. Some, like Shana and Haschel, were easily able to dismiss the substantial holes in their stories and somehow make them nigh unnoticeable. Dart, however, struggled to generate a cohesive narrative. More than once, someone else felt a need to step in and divert Meru's attention from the missing information, Albert being one of them.
Eventually, the new traveler made her way up to the king, eager to glean any information that she could. He decided to return the intent, and decipher any possible connection to Lloyd.
"What's up, Albert?" she said as soon as she was within range.
He shook his head. "Simply watching the road ahead."
"There isn't much road, though."
"There is one if you know how to find it."
A pause ensued, and he could sense her eyes watching him closely; he did not meet her gaze.
"You're a pretty sensible dude, aren't you?" she asked.
"Sensible?" he replied, this time turning to greet her with a smile. "Whatever do you mean?"
"I mean, you're important. You hold a rank." He opened his mouth to speak, but she interrupted him. "You hold your head high, you talk well, and you're just really smart."
"You can see all this from a few hours in which you have barely spoken to me?"
Albert was impressed. Though Meru masked it with extensive chatter and a loud personality, she was innately keen and intuitive. No doubt, part of her motive in speaking to each of them with such intensity was to glean important information and not just make conversation.
She shrugged in reply. "Not that difficult. Where are you from?"
"I hail from Serdio," he said simply.
"No duh," she said. "You're almost as pale as me. What part of Serdio?"
"Basil. Up north. I… grew up in Bale."
"So you know the king?"
"What makes you think that?" Her discernment was off-putting.
"You're important enough to act and talk like you do, which means you know important people. In Bale, the only important people would be in the castle, which is where the king lives. So, if you know important people in the castle, you must know the king."
Albert shifted in his saddle, most uncomfortable at the sound logic being presented to him. As confident as he had been in his abilities to divert Meru from this topic, he clearly had not been prepared. He was reminded of several conversations that he had had with Lloyd in the past.
"Not all men of the state are acquainted with the king. Some are appointed to watch over other parts of the realm."
"Wait a minute…" said Meru suddenly, her eyes aflicker with a thousand thoughts. Her eyes peered at him with a mild recognition that he did not like. "What's the name of the king of Serdio?"
The king scrambled for an answer that was not his own name. But how could he lie? He spat out the first name that came to his mind that was not technically a falsehood.
"Carlo," he said.
"No, that guy died a long time ago. It's something else."
Inadvertently, Albert recoiled at hearing his father referred to so casually. Something about him being called that guy stirred a deep defensiveness that he fought to quell. This was, after all, how most of the world saw their leaders.
"You are the king, aren't you?" asked Meru quietly, eyes narrowed to see his reaction.
"Do not be silly." Albert waved her off.
"No, there's no getting out of this one!"
Her excitement was building as she pointed at him, and Albert closed his eyes in defeat.
"Oh my gods, I'm traveling with the king of Serdio! But wait, what are you doing in Tiberoa?"
"It is a long story."
"We have a long way to go," she replied with a wide grin.
"Very well," he conceded. "There is a man that we are pursuing. He manipulated the war in my country and murdered one of my dear friends. We have come to stop whatever schemes may be hatching here."
"That's the Lloyd guy you were asking about."
"Yes. Your mention of him is the only guide we have had thus far. But we have no choice but to go find the bandits. Lloyd's schemes must wait a little while longer."
"But…" said Meru, "if he's such a bad guy, why did he help that girl?"
"This is an excellent question," replied Albert. "And one to which I do not have an answer. Perhaps we understand far too little of Lloyd."
A long pause followed, and Albert supposed that Meru was imagining all the implications of knowing his true identity. Her discovery was not a proceeding that brought him much joy beyond a comfort that they would have less information to falsify around her. If Meru were attached to their enemy, her knowledge could present a problem. And yet… so much of her was so disparate from Lloyd's habits. Narcissism had always been less than subtle in Lloyd's behavior, but it was not completely baseless, either. Whenever Albert had spoken with Lloyd, his keen mind had been constantly evident. In addition, Albert had never been truly comfortable in Lloyd's presence, now cursing himself for not heeding that peculiar aura that was displayed every time he had entered a room. No, Meru was much different. He felt a secure desire to be open with her, though his mind understood their reasons for secrecy. As their time together continued, he felt lighter and lighter, content to believe that her hair was a mere happenstance of heredity and provided her no more connection with Lloyd than his blond hair would to the First Sacred Sister of Mille Seseau.
"And where are you from?" he asked suddenly.
"Oh," she said, surprised. He believed it to be the first inquiry someone had put to her. He had been the first to be given an opportunity. "Up north. Not Tiberoa."
"So you are from Mille Seseau?"
How intriguing! he thought. Perhaps if they ever made a journey to the northern country, Meru would be able to direct them to the capital. He had always wanted to meet the queen, whom many a rumor described as keen and benevolent, and he had heard tell of a royal library there of special magnificence. The tales made his own library seem terribly insignificant.
"Yeah… Just a small village though. I didn't get out much."
"And what brought you to Tiberoa?"
Meru bowed her head. "I wanted to get away. Fulfill my dream of being a dancer, have lots of people watch me. That village was just… stuffy."
"I see," replied the king. An understanding of this girl was beginning for form in his mind.
"Being from Mille Seseau, the heat of Tiberoa must have been difficult for you to grow accustomed to," he said. "Are you prepared for the harsh sunlight on this journey?"
"I'm not wearing my dancer's outfit, am I?"
Taking a glance at her clothing, Albert noticed for the first time that she was properly dressed for just such an excursion. Her clothes were loose and light, similar to the clothes a merchant might wear in such climates, though not quite as colorful. Her tunic was white and her pants a light gray. Albert also glanced to her pack and noticed a sizeable hat dangling from the side, and now wondered why she had not been wearing it since they left Donau.
"Is that a war hammer?" asked the king suddenly. On the other side of her saddle, he could see the head of a massive hammer, decorated beautifully with blue and white patterns to match her dancer's outfit, the handle of which dangled down and bounced against her horse's leg.
"Oh, Your Majesty," she said with exaggerated courtesy. "Thou art a blind fool for not seeing this thing a long, long time ago."
He chuckled. "Perhaps you are right. I should spend less time rummaging through my own thoughts and more time attending to my companions."
"You know, with you being a king and all, which I've known for five minutes, I kind of expected you to be all uptight and broody. But you're not that bad. You're kind of cool."
He furrowed his brow as he considered these words.
"Thank you, Meru."
She grinned widely. "No problem!"
And immediately, she slowed her horse to fall behind with the others before loudly shouting, "Why didn't anyone tell me he's the actual king of Serdio?"
The next several days brought tension back among the travelers. Not only were the bandits still widespread throughout the barrens – their tracks left haphazardly at every turn –, but the memory of their last encounter had each of them stiff and alert. They lit no fire on any of the nights they spent among the endless rocks and sand, though Albert worried for Dart and Meru, neither of whom had any natural defense against the elements like the dragoons in the party did. Though heat and sweat were a constant irritation for them all, Albert, Shana, Haschel, and Rose held a notable resistance to the destructive capabilities of the sun's rays, as well as a lesser need to consume water. Repeatedly, Albert thanked the gods for the gift of the emerald gem that rested in his pocket and prayed that they would be able to retrieve Dart's soon.
With Meru now present at all times, Shana's magical healing of the intense burns bestowed by the sun was much more sparing. Albert noticed several times that Shana would cast light over them while Meru was turned away in an effort to lessen the effects of the heat, and he knew that Dart, at least, was grateful. Multiple times, the king noticed Dart's eyes lingering on Shana's hand as she used it to focus her magic. In so doing, though Dart's and Meru's skin darkened from exposure, they never suffered pain.
Albert himself also tried to lessen their struggle by bringing in light breezes when the air was hot and stale. Though it required nearly all his concentration, he reached out to more humid air from the north whenever he noticed that it was particularly dry. This particular feat was difficult to accomplish, and the change was subtle, if at all noticeable. However, any time Meru focused her attention on him, he was less able to aid the group with this ability as he could not focus, a fact that Haschel discerned after only a few occurrences. As a result, the old man spent much of his time distracting Meru from the king for the rest of the journey.
It did not appear as much of a chore for him, however, as Haschel's demeanor matched Meru's quite well. The two shared a love of laughter that quickly brought them together in a manner unforeseen by Albert, but he was much pleased to watch it unfold. After a few days, the two began to plan minor pranks to pull on the other party members, much to everyone's irritation. Suddenly it became common to find sand or rocks in countless places they should not be. Albert feared what might happen once they reached a city with more valuable resources.
The only one wholly unamused by Meru was, of course, Rose. Her natural irritability had been exacerbated by the theft of Dart's dragoon spirit, but this was only worsened by the perpetual joy and laughter of their new companion. Albert pitied Rose, in a way, as he knew that she took time to grow accustomed to new people, even under normal circumstances. He had heard many stories of the early days of Haschel's presence in the group, and had even had the pleasure himself of witnessing several situations that had shown her disdain for his lack of decency and solemnity. It seemed that those feelings, now directed toward Meru, arose again within her, only much more intensified. It was not uncommon that Meru would approach her with the best of intentions only to be met with little more than a scowl.
"Try not to hate her so completely," Albert said to Rose once. "She only means to befriend you."
"I don't need any more friends," replied Rose curtly.
"You may not be fond of her now," he answered carefully, "but the time may come that she surprises you. I believe that she may be able to aid us in ways that none of us yet understand."
Her jaw tightened, but she did not reply. Albert saw fit to continue in silence, but to his surprise, Rose broke it.
"Does it not concern you that she has the same color hair as Lloyd?"
"For a time, yes, it did," replied Albert. "But over the past few days, she has more than proven that the two are nothing alike. Lloyd is a manipulative murderer. Meru is far from that. Even if, perhaps, they were far distant cousins, their differences are clear enough to me."
"I hope so," muttered Rose.
"Even if you do not trust her, trust our judgment of her," said the king. "After learning of my rank, she has done nothing to treat me differently, and this brings about some comfort for me. I believe that to be of some substance."
Rose deigned not to reply to this comment, and Albert let it be. He knew that Rose was not one for such conversation, and he respected her wishes for silence.
Whenever he was not lost in thought or watching Meru interact with the others, Albert kept a close eye focused on Dart. Sweat dripped from his brow often whenever the sun was high, and each time that Dart reached up to swipe the liquid from his forehead, Albert fancied seeing a look of irritation on his face.
Despite all attempted appearances, Albert knew that Dart was vulnerable. He had gone several months being impervious to any negative effects of heat, and no doubt this journey was a frustrating challenge for him. In addition to this, he still bore the wound from Rose's magic. It still brought him pain, evident in his face whenever he used his arm for anything more than picking up a piece of parchment.
The king worried about Dart, but he always attempted not to seem too far involved, as he expected that this would be counterintuitive to the help that he wanted to give. Since Dart's cry for help in Donau, Albert had wanted nothing more than to aid Dart in his quest for wholeness. He was always prepared to intervene and distract Dart should his anger burn too hot, and he aimed to have light conversation with him occasionally so that their bond might strengthen.
Time wore on, and the days passed, each as hot as the last. On the sixth day, only a day and a half from Fletz, the heat became utterly unbearable. They were forced to stop more frequently, and more than once were forced to find refuge in the shade of a rocky outcrop. Few words were spoken that day, as each of them carried a constant disdain for their situation. Everyone yearned for the cool shade of the city.
On the seventh day, as brush and other foliage began to appear more frequently, they came upon a strange scene. The distant sight on the horizon had them curious, and though they had to turn aside from their intended path, the group agreed to investigate the dark shapes contrasting the sandy landscape. Only a short time later, they came across their quarry: an abandoned campsite.
"What is this doing out here?" asked Haschel.
"Maybe it's from a long time ago," offered Meru with a shrug.
"No," replied Dart. "This site is fresh. From last night, I think."
Albert dismounted, followed by Dart and Shana, and held a hand above the charred cinders arrayed in a small circle. A light smolder still brewed deep within, emanating a powerful heat.
"He is right," the king affirmed. "The coals still burn."
Dart swore, and Albert turned to him. Pointing to the ground, Dart said, "Look at this. Tracks."
"Big tracks," muttered Shana.
"They almost appear human, but…" remarked Albert, and all at once, realization met him. He met Dart's gaze, the understanding mirrored in his eyes.
"Kongol," they said together.
"That's impossible," protested Haschel.
"No other footprint looks like this, though," replied Dart. "My foot is barely half this size." He pressed his foot into the sandy ground to demonstrate.
"Wait," inserted Meru. "Who's this Kongol person?"
"A giganto," answered Dart. "Someone we fought in Serdio."
"But giganto are extinct, aren't they?"
"At least one yet lives," informed Albert.
"Wow," said Meru. "Where do you think he's going?"
With a sigh, Dart replied, "Most likely, he's coming for us. We kind of… humiliated him a couple times."
"We did, didn't we?" added Haschel pensively.
"But we didn't try to kill him, either," offered Shana. "Maybe he's just wandering."
Promptly, Albert swung up on his horse and said, "There is no sure way to tell. It appears that the tracks continue north, and we are headed due west. I do not think it likely that he is aware of our position, if we are his goal. No doubt we will be safe in the city."
"And besides," offered Shana as she and Dart mounted their steeds, "we already beat him once. We can do it again." She cast a small smile to Dart, which he weakly returned.
No one spoke of the lost dragoon spirit and how that might affect their odds against such a mighty warrior, but Dart's trepidation at the idea was clear on his face. Albert sensed his fear and hoped that they might retrieve it soon, so that Dart might regain his confidence. Though their company was still comprised of four dragoons – the same number that had fought Kongol in Kazas – Dart had not yet experienced real battle as a human. And as one taking on such a leadership role, somehow Dart's power seemed to be a representation of their own.
They trekked on through the day and well into the next. Evening neared before they were at last able to make out Fletz on the horizon, which prompted each of them to begin shouts and calls of excitement as the thought of cooled air and genuine beds resurfaced in their minds. They left the threat of the giganto behind them and charged forward toward their goal.
"I've never been to Fletz!" said Meru excitedly. "Is it nice?"
"As far as cities go," replied Dart.
"It is getting late," interrupted Albert. "Perhaps we could request lodgings from Fester."
"Who's Fester?" asked Meru immediately.
"An astronomer who lives in the city," answered Haschel. "You'll love him. Does research, writes papers, has stacks of stuff all over his living room."
"That sounds super boring," she replied skeptically.
"Do not be so hasty to judge," scolded Albert. "Fester is a man of keen mind, and a friend to us."
Albert glanced over to see Haschel mouth the word boring over to Meru, who then began to giggle quietly.
"Maybe he can help us get in the castle," said Dart.
"How so?" asked the king.
"Ooh, is Fester a prince or something?" asked Meru.
"No, a governor," said Dart. "He teaches the younger princess, I think. Wouldn't that be enough to get us in?"
"Surely the king would grant us an audience without such a connection," reasoned Albert. "A king must see to the needs of his people." Albert recalled many days of personal audiences with the commonfolk, without which he would never have been informed enough to make wise decisions.
"Not with the threat of bandits," said Shana. "I'm sure they've locked the castle up completely."
"You're a king, though, Al!" called Meru. "Can't you get us in?"
"I… would prefer to keep that secret," he said.
"Why?"
"It would bring about a heavy load of unwanted attention," replied Albert.
Meru shrugged. "Suit yourself. You better hope this Fester guy can get you in, 'cause they won't let anyone unknown into the castle, I bet."
Haschel sighed. "It's too bad. I miss staying in a castle."
Memories of his home resurfaced in Albert's mind's eye. Indels castle was so remote in both distance and memory that it grieved him. It had been over a month since he had seen his room, the gardens, or his people. Although he knew that he had left them in the wise and capable hands of Minister Noish, he could not help but wish that he were back there, attending to affairs of state. Such comfort he found in the consistency, far beyond that of the unknowns of their wild and shapeless journey. Should the party be allowed into the Twin Castle in Fletz, he was not sure whether it would make him feel more at home or just more homesick.
The evening passed uneventfully, though Fester was quite thrilled to see them returned and whole. His excited fervor shifted to worry when he heard of their bandit encounter, and even more so as they explained their reason for return to Fletz. Nevertheless, he agreed to help them the following day and proceeded to find spare cushions, mattresses, and bedrolls for them to sleep on.
They slept well that night, each taking the time and effort to enjoy a bed indoors, even if they were not the grandest of accommodations. Haschel and Meru stayed up long past the others, talking and laughing up on the roof almost out of earshot until well past the hours that Albert's dreams met him.
That night, his dreams were filled with images of Indels Castle and apprehensions about meeting King Zior the next day. Once, he appeared in the Twin Castle throne room with little more than undergarments covering him. And then, he was delayed time and again, making him four hours late for his meeting with the king. He was nearly glad to interrupt his uneasy sleep as the light of dawn crept through a window to wake him the next morning.
Surprisingly, Meru and Haschel were alert and aware despite their late-night discussions, and both seemed excited about visiting the Twin Castle. Their mutual free spirits had clearly made them fast friends, and Albert was somewhat relieved that Meru had found someone to match her vivacious energies. While he generally enjoyed communicating with her, he found that her lack of propriety was off-putting and ultimately disengaging. Haschel, on the other hand, paid it no mind, rather enjoying someone with whom he could verbally spar.
This they did for the remainder of their time at Fester's home, and just after breakfast, the group of seven made their way to the entrance to the Twin Castle.
As they approached the narrow bridge, Albert could not help but notice an elevated frequency of heartbeats. He walked alongside Fester, with whom he had been having lively conversation since they woke, and he quickly searched within himself for a reason for his apprehension. His nervous dreams were sure to be playing a part, but he had met with many delegates, nobles, and princes in his time as king; this was sure to be no different. At least, in some ways. As King Zior was not aware of the coming of a king, he would not have prepared as grandly, and likely would not treat Albert with the same pleasantries as otherwise.
Perhaps this was the source: a fear that King Zior would behave rudely and show himself to be a lesser man, unknowing of the true nature of the guest who came calling.
"Greetings!" called out Fester to the guard. "The time has come for me to meet with the princess."
The guard, several inches taller than Albert, glared out at them through his helmet's visor.
"And who are they?" he asked, a rough voice echoing out.
"Dear friends of mine," replied Fester. "And I can vouch for their character. They wish to speak with King Zior."
The guard fidgeted uncomfortably for a moment before saying, "This will have to be cleared with His Majesty. Please wait while I send someone with your message."
"Very well," nodded Fester.
With a wave, the guard summoned another, smaller soldier, who received a whispered message and scampered off toward the distant castle.
Albert's eyes glanced to the small balcony to their left, where Princess Emille had delivered her speech three weeks ago. He recalled his surprise at her blunt mannerisms and harsh tones, where he had heard of nothing but sweetness, poise, and gentility before.
The last time he had come to Fletz, Emille had not yet been born, but he faintly recalled a pregnant queen. For many years now, he had wished to come visit again, his sole purpose – kept hidden – to meet her. Those who knew her had always described her to be kind and fair, wise beyond her years, eclipsing even the beauty of her mother.
Approaching six years ago, she had written him a letter of encouragement upon hearing of the political strain in his country. Her prose was beautiful, a kind of poetry in and of itself, and had enraptured him instantly. He had replied with a letter of gratitude, but that had been the end of their correspondence, much to his melancholy. His mind's eye could still envision the lovely curves of the letters and the smooth ink, as if the words had been drafted by a master calligrapher. The letter was still in his possession, in the bottom left drawer in his desk in Indels Castle, tucked away in the original envelope.
Perhaps this was the source: a fear that meeting the lovely princess in person would dash his hopes and imaginings against the rocks of reality.
"The king is very agreeable," said Fester, wrenching Albert back to the present. "He will surely meet with you. And if he doesn't, I'll take your request to him myself."
"Thank you," replied Albert clumsily. "Your kindness is most appreciated."
Murmurs and whispers came from behind him as his companions discussed the possibilities of what awaited them in the Twin Castle. With his vague attention, he could discern a conversation between Meru and Shana, and another between Dart and Haschel. The king was pleased with the comforting voices of his companions, and he was reminded that whatever may await them in the castle, he was not alone.
And then he heard his name and focused more astutely.
"What if they recognize him?" he heard Haschel say with a lowered voice. "Do you think we'll get something special?" The old man gasped. "Do you think they'll let us stay in the castle?"
A chuckle came from Dart. "That would be nice. I do miss the comforts of a castle. But remember, Albert doesn't want to be recognized. We have to try to keep that a secret."
Haschel sighed. "I know. I won't say anything to jeopardize it, but if it did happen by happy accident, I wouldn't be upset."
"My friend," said Fester suddenly. Albert turned to him. "Are you alright? You seem anxious."
"But of course!" said the king hastily, adding a smile for good measure. "I am quite excited at the possibility of entering a castle such as this. It has much grandeur; seeing it up close would be invigorating. I have always been interested in architecture, and castles are one of the finest places to observe impressive feats of construction."
"I agree!" replied Fester excitedly. "And churches! Cathedrals are most impressive."
And with that, they delved into their own conversation about the differences between Serdian and Tiberoan structural design. Albert welcomed the change, as it kept his mind off his many stressors while they waited for the return of the courier. And for a time, his mind was filled with the practicalities of supporting a structure so high as the spires of the Twin Castle.
"It is marvelous how the castle was built into the mountainside," observed Albert. "And the marriage of stone and wood for the bridge is attractive in its design as well. The contrast of colors is remarkable. How often must they refinish the wood to keep it so deeply colored?"
"I believe they refinish it once a year, although eventually they will have to replace the planks. But their tending to them has had them last much longer than they would have otherwise. It's quite a sight, seeing them wash, sand, and stain the wood every spring."
"It would be an interesting process to behold, I am sure," agreed Albert.
Just as he was going to add to this, he saw the courier returning from the castle, a piece of parchment in hand. As he drew near, the rest of the party quieted, and the courier handed off the letter with a salute before returning to his post on the balcony.
The gruff guard quickly scanned the note, his eyes veiled behind his helmet, before turning to them once more.
"You are free to enter with your guests, Mr. Fester," he announced.
"Thank you so much!" replied Fester with a grin. "And I praise your vigilance. The royal family is kept much safer thanks to you."
With a curt nod of thanks, the guard stepped aside to allow them passage.
They marched down the bridge in pairs, Albert and Fester taking the lead, Dart and Haschel excitedly pointing out their surroundings next, and Shana and Meru giggling about something in the back. And last in the procession was Rose, keeping to herself, appearing completely aloof to the entire situation. As Albert glanced back at her in the column, he suspected that her foul mood persisted, although discerning Rose's attitude was never simple. Perhaps she was supremely content, and none of them would ever be able to determine it.
The bridge they traversed truly was a marvel to Albert, and he admired it as they crossed. The bridge itself was stone, the same white stone that adorned most of the buildings in Fletz, but dark wooden planks had been inlaid to form a walkway that resounded with each step of his heavy boots. The handrail was capped with polished tiles that matched the bright blue of the city that lay behind them. It led straight and true across a chasm that – to Albert's surprise – was a daunting hundred-foot drop into a sloshing of ocean beating against rock. A cleft had been cut into the mountains, separating the city from the castle, which now stood impressively over them.
Closer to the immense structure, Albert was able to appreciate its construction fully. The castle had been annexed to the mountainside itself, jutting out over the ocean like a monkey clinging to a tree. Two tall spires served as arms, reaching up toward the top of the mountain, a remarkable balcony serving to bind them together at their bases. Across from the towers, stretching toward the ocean, was the main mass of the castle, and Albert could spot countless balconies in various rooms overlooking the city or ocean. Two especially grand ones earmarked what Albert suspected were the king's chambers on the underbelly of the castle, and the throne room near the top.
"What a grand structure," muttered Albert.
"Isn't it?" said Fester with a hint of pride. "It's my great honor to be able to work here."
"Undoubtedly," agreed the king.
It occurred to him that Indels Castle was less than half as opulent as the Twin Castle, and Albert was suddenly grateful that he had never invited King Zior to visit him in Bale.
The party came at last to the main gate of the castle, which was held open for them by two guards. The gate was surprisingly small, only five shoulder-widths apart, but Albert supposed that anything more imposing was not needed thanks to the nature of the defensive landscape around the castle. As they stepped through, Albert noticed the intricate carvings of celestial images in the fronts of the double wooden doors and marveled at the detail and craftsmanship.
Within the castle, they were greeted by an open courtyard with six statues standing proudly along either side. Each showed a stalwart warrior in a different pose. Perhaps they were great kings of old, or maybe renowned knights of the land, but their presence implied strength and unity.
They came to a doorway, which led into the castle proper, and entered a room with several doors and one grand staircase leading to their left. Fester led them up this staircase, each step padded with a lush blue carpet. After the first flight of stairs, they reached a landing where the soft carpet led forward into a hallway that delved into the heart of the castle, a balcony above overlooking them, and two smaller staircases on either side. Fester led them left and up to the balcony, which proved to be almost a ballroom of sorts, and through a short hallway at the other side until they reached a set of double doors, undoubtedly leading to the throne room. Two solemn guards stood on either side.
"And here we are," announced Fester as he stopped and spun to address the group.
"My friends, we have reached the throne room. There are many guards inside, which should incite no issues, so long as we are all kind and courteous to the king. King Zior has a good heart and a wise mind, but he has little patience for teasing or jokes." Fester's eyes rested on Haschel before scanning the group again. "He also will want to make this meeting as short as possible. I suggest you appoint one or two to speak for you so that you do not overwhelm him with requests."
"First of all," replied Haschel firmly, "I am offended. Second, Albert and Dart should do it."
The others nodded in affirmation as Albert met Dart's gaze.
"Perhaps, Dart should speak for us," suggested Albert. The fear of being recognized flitted through his mind all too readily. "He is, after all, the primary reason for our request."
Nodding solemnly, Dart said, "Maybe that's a good idea."
Albert felt an uncomfortable pressure as Fester eyed him carefully.
"Shall we?" he said, gesturing for Dart to take the lead.
He did so, planting his feet next to Fester with a half-hearted grin.
"Of course," replied Fester. He nodded to the guards, and they reached forward to pull the doors open.
The throne room was breathtakingly beautiful. The high ceilings were supported by decorative beams running the length of the room, and several red banners depicting Tiberoa's seal were hung from them. On either side, the room was open to the sea air, and a fresh breeze ran across them, carrying the scent of the ocean. Supportive pillars and embellished archways separated the room from two balconies, the left overlooking the city of Fletz, and the right overlooking the endless blue of the ocean. An ornate red and gold carpet led up to a dais upon which sat three thrones, the largest and grandest of which sat in the middle. And on the throne sat King Zior.
Albert found himself slightly disappointed that the others were empty.
King Zior was not quite familiar to Albert, though a faint memory bore some small resemblance to the man now before him. He had grown in strength, and his coffee skin showed signs of aging. His resplendent blue and white tunic was held in place about his waist by a green belt, which sat above embroidered leather pants. His crown, a simple gold band beset with lapis lazuli and sapphires, rested above his brow, and short but thickly coiled black hair poked out the top and on either side. The king sat on the throne with a stony face, judging the party with critical eyes and frowning lips.
Fester strode forward unfazed, though Dart hesitated for a moment before following. As they approached the king, Albert noticed the utter silence of those behind him, but also took note of his own trepidation. Had he been entering this room under other circumstances, arrayed in his own splendor, his head would have been held high, a smile on his lips as he prepared to give extensive cordial greetings. Now, he averted his eyes from the king's, deferring to Dart's presence as the leader of their group.
Just as Fester opened his mouth to give greeting, King Zior spoke.
"Fester! My friend."
He stood and took several steps down the dais in a great show of trust. The four guards before the dais tensed but remained unmoving.
"Welcome back, and what a pleasant surprise to see you before you head off to care for my precious Lisa," said King Zior in a booming voice.
"The pleasure is all mine, Your Majesty," replied Fester. "I should come engage your attentions more often, as it has pleased you so much."
"Ah, but Fester, you are not alone today. There are many Festers!" laughed the king as he gestured widely to the group. "Who have you brought to see me today?"
Haschel threw an irritated glance at Albert as King Zior made jest, and Albert could not resist a smile.
"These are my friends from Serdio," said Fester. "They have come to request entrance into the Valley of Corrupted Gravity."
King Zior's face shifted to skepticism and discernment. "And what could possibly be driving our friends into such danger?" He turned to Dart expectantly.
Suddenly frustrated, Albert furrowed his brow. King Zior was impossible to read. Whatever true emotions lay beneath the surface, he hid them well behind his dark brown eyes. And yet without overt emotion, he still expressed an incredibly subtle and threatening aura. Albert was reminded of the subtleties of Rose's dark magic and wondered for a short moment if the king of Tiberoa had some unknown magical ability. But of course, it was his frame and body language that communicated this power. Albert felt a twinge of jealousy.
"Your Highness," said Dart with a surprising amount of confidence. "We are not bandits, and we have no dealings with them. We are travelers from Serdio, and we were ambushed by bandits in the barrens. They took something from me, something that is very important to me. And we aim to get it back."
"And Lynn!" called Meru from the back.
King Zior's eyes snapped to her, and Albert closed his and sighed. Speaking out of turn in a throne room could turn some kings to quick wrath.
"What's this?" asked King Zior, his expression again unreadable.
"Lynn, the mayor of Donau's son," replied Meru with a small voice. "He disappeared a while back, and I think the bandits took him, and I want to go save him."
"Ah, so we are fueled by both revenge and heroism," nodded King Zior. "My question that I now pose to you is this: what makes you think that you stand any chance against them? Why should I allow you to go into such a dangerous place?"
"We are all capable fighters," answered Dart. "Many of us have fought for years. We're not foolish, but we are determined."
King Zior said nothing but stared into Dart's eyes with a forceful intent. Albert did not envy Dart in that moment. Though he could not see his face, Dart's shoulders showed a willful resistance to Zior's intimidation. His hands, however, betrayed him. Dart's left hand was balled into a tight fist, and his right fidgeted desperately.
"Very well," said King Zior suddenly before turning away at last and sitting on his throne. Dart's shoulders relaxed slightly. "Write up a pass and bring it to me to sign and seal," he ordered, and a guard shuffled off toward the door. "But I grant you this request on one condition."
Albert breathed out a quiet sigh of relief followed almost immediately by a tensing of his body once more.
"You already have two missions, but I grant you a third. Find your trinket and rescue the boy, but while you are there, you must also dispose of the leader of the bandits."
Albert started. Surely this would not be a great challenge, as they were a host of dragoons. More difficult feats had already been achieved by them, but King Zior did not know this. To ask this of them meant that he either wanted to send them to their doom or somehow believed them capable of a challenging feat. Was he aware of their legendary abilities?
"I…" stammered Dart. "Um…"
"Your Majesty," interrupted Albert. "Forgive me, but why do you believe that we have the skill to accomplish such a daunting task?"
As King Zior turned his attention to King Albert, tension arose deep within him. He should not have spoken.
"You all have an air about you," Zior replied. "Something that tells me of your capabilities. I have full faith that you will succeed. After all… you were ambushed by bandits and faced no more than a stolen memento? That is no small triumph."
Nodding, Albert retreated to hide behind Dart's broad shoulders once more.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," said Dart. "Your confidence in us is… inspiring."
The guard returned, his thick leather boots plodding on the floor in the tense silence as he jogged up to the dais. He placed a roll of parchment on the throne's arm and a quill in the king's hand. King Zior signed, handed off the quill, and received a stamp, which he pressed firmly onto the bottom of the page.
As the guard rolled the parchment, bound it with twine, and handed it off to Dart, King Zior said, "Your quest is an important one. As you are aware, Tiberoa is plagued with bandits. If you manage to cut off the head of the Gehrich Gang, they will disperse and lose influence in my country. Should you return victorious, we will hail you as heroes of the land."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," said Dart with a bow. Albert and the others bowed, too, and the king dismissed them with a simple command.
"Thank you for your time and attention, Your Highness," said Fester ceremoniously, bowing once more before turning away toward the door.
The rest of the group followed, but Albert paused to study the king for a moment longer. Their eyes met, and Albert sought within Zior his true character. Again, his mask was thick and opaque, but for a small crack that opened as Zior saw Albert's determined eye. Behind the façade of power, Albert saw wisdom supported by pillars of kindness.
No doubt the king that sat before Albert was a battered and damaged one forced to throw up walls of fortitude. He had been through a harrowing stretch of experiences as bandits slowly overtook his nation, he himself helpless to stop it. Albert remembered how powerless he had felt as Doel had attacked his people, and even more so during the siege of Bale. Perhaps King Zior's front was presented so that his people kept confidence in him despite their unstable circumstances. Albert felt a twinge of sadness; were he in a different situation, he would have been able to advise and aid King Zior and perhaps come to some version of a solution.
Albert gave a slight nod with a small smile before following Dart and Fester out of the throne room.
"That went surprisingly well," said Fester as they reached the entrance hall.
"Indeed," agreed Albert. "King Zior seems very agreeable."
"He's terrifying," shuddered Meru. "He gave me the creeps, staring at us like that."
"But I think that he has good intentions," offered Shana. "He only means to protect his people."
"Maybe he asked us for help out of desperation," thought Dart aloud. "I don't know why he would think we could do anything as we are."
"I'm just glad to be out of there," inserted Haschel. "I'm with Meru on this one. The guy was intensely terrifying."
"There are times when a king needs to be," said Albert. "At times, diplomacy cannot take you to your intended destination, and other means must be investigated. Intimidation is a necessary skill."
"One that you might need to work on," replied Haschel with a humorous eye.
Albert was about to reply in defense of himself before reminding himself that Fester stood nearby. He changed his intended sentence.
"But we have what we came for." He gestured to Dart's hand, which grasped the pass to the Valley of Corrupted Gravity. "We can now continue on our journey."
"But you mustn't leave just yet," protested Fester. "You have to stay the night with me once more, despite the early hour. I've missed having friends around."
"I'm not so sure we should," said Dart tentatively. "We have a long way to go, and the extra day would put us ahead."
Fester sighed. "So it must be," he conceded. He rubbed his hands together. "I will miss you all, and I hope to see you on a triumphal return in just a couple weeks. You are welcome in my house anytime."
"Thank you," said Albert. "We will most assuredly come visit the next time we are in town. Enjoy your educational trials with Princess Lisa."
"Always!" replied Fester cheerfully before heading down the stairs and toward a door on the far end of the hall.
"We'll have to prepare a little bit," said Dart, "but we should be able to be on the road before noon. Albert, do you know how to get to the Valley?"
Just as Albert opened his mouth to reply, another voice shouted over his own.
"Excuse me!" called Meru in irritation. "You forget that you have me with you! Someone who's lived in this country for years, and you want to ask this guy?" She waved in Albert's direction. "I know exactly how to get you where you want to go. Do you forget that that's why I'm here?"
Dart's face conveyed perfectly the extent of the forgetting that he had done, and he quickly moved to apologies.
"Sorry, Meru…" His hands fidgeted with the roll of parchment. "I'm just used to asking Albert about these things because he knows everything."
"Well, he may be a king and all, but he doesn't know everything. No offense, Al. But you should let me guide you."
Albert nodded and held his hands up in surrender. "I submit to your lead, Meru."
"Great!" Meru grinned widely and turned to overlook the stairs. Then planting her feet, she thrust a fist into the air as she said, "Adventure awaits us in the east! We have nothing to fear! Let's go!" And she turned and marched toward the stairs.
Leaning close to Albert, Dart whispered, "Aren't we going west?"
"Yes, I am afraid we are," replied Albert.
They sighed as the group moved to follow the determined dancer.
They had nearly come to the castle gate when a voice called from behind them.
"Your Majesty!"
Instinctively, Albert turned toward the sound. A woman was chasing after them, a lady-in-waiting he surmised. She was quite young, scarcely older than Shana and Meru, and her dress was white and lavender.
"Your Majesty, forgive me," she said, panting lightly as she neared and then curtsied. "Princess Lisa sent me to fetch you. I feared that I might not be able to stop you before you left."
"Princess Lisa?" replied Albert in confusion. The formal address had him shaken, and now he wondered if King Zior had known his identity from the beginning. "How would she know that I am here?"
"Yeah, how do you know he's a king?" said Meru crassly. Albert threw her a stern look, which she did not notice.
"The stars teach us many things, my lord," replied the maid.
An odd answer, to be sure, but Albert's interest had been piqued. For the princess to know of his kingship was no small thing to dismiss, especially if her father did not.
"Very well," he said. He paused, then added, "Pray, what is your name?"
"Libria, sir," she said with a smile. "Follow me. Your companions are free to join us."
Albert shot a confused expression to Dart, who responded in kind. Dart shrugged, and Albert nodded before following Libria back into the castle. The uncertainty that awaited them gnawed at him.
Would this discovery bring about benefit or detriment?