In his queen's absence, Dameon spent his days either in the throne room or conferring with the Chancellor and ministers. Nights had him hunched over seemingly endless paperwork — bills of law to go over, infrastructure proposals, defense strategies — all to rebuild a kingdom that has been razed to the ground. Still, he squeezes what time he could to spend with his daughter.

When he receives Rhen's letters, he would not read them immediately. He would head to the nursery and read them to his daughter. It was the only way he felt they could be with Rhen while she's away.

In her last letter from the Eastern Isle, Rhen talked about seeing Te'ijal and Galahad again. "Te'ijal was surprised when I told her it has been over four years," Rhen wrote. "She thought it's only been a month or two. I guess it's hard to keep count of days when you cannot see the sun." This made Dameon smile to himself, recalling how time passes differently for immortals. "But Galahad kept count. The poor man has been counting the hours since he last saw the sun, and so it was not difficult to convince them to come adventuring again.

"I spoke to them about abolishing slavery in the Eastern Isle, but they both took a serious and surprisingly unified tone with me. They said that I should give it up. 'WE will see the day the Eastern slaves are freed, but YOU will not, sword singer,' is what Te'ijal said. When asked how she can be so sure, her husband answered by relaying the history of Sedona and how banning slavery in the Western Isle was a work of multiple generations of monarchs with some help from the elves. Even after the end of slavery there, the former slaves simply became the poorest class of people, with the most desperate becoming thieves.

"Galahad also warned me against meddling with the affairs of other kingdoms now that I am a ruler myself. It will be seen as an act of intrusion or even invasion at worst, and Telin De'Baron is known for her temper. I realize now I cannot risk the amicable relations we have with her – not while Thais is still finding its footing after its fall, and we are new to the throne. I have so much to learn as a ruler, and I will try to learn as much as I could henceforth. For now, I trust your capabilities, my love."

Dameon heaved a sigh. This is part of why he thought Rhen's adventuring would be a good idea. She was not raised nor grew up as a ruler. As she goes out into the world again, Dameon hopes she would not only see the world from the eyes of a peasant, slave and sword singer, but as a monarch, as well.

Rhen's visit to Halloween Hills also led her to Rashnu. "He bemoaned the unnecessary staking of the citizens, saying he'll relocate the entire town if needed," Rhen wrote. "The witches would probably not follow, however, as they are keen to be somewhere with a little more light and a lot more swamp. When Te'ijal said she's coming with me, he begrudgingly provided some sunscreen, while chiding her for being uninterested in learning magic like her brother, who is Rashnu's pupil."

Perhaps it was due to the opposing natures of their elements, but Dameon favored Rashnu least among the Druids. Dameon witnessed firsthand the abilities of Te'ijal, who is not even a magic user, and it made him shudder to think she has a mage brother training under Rashnu. "It's not for me to worry anymore though," Dameon muttered to himself. "Only the Oracle and Vata will tell."

Looking over at the cot, Dameon found his daughter has fallen asleep to Rhen's stories about Halloween Hills. Knowing her own grandmother looks after her dreams, he placed a gentle kiss on his child's head and went on to read Rhen's letters in silence.

After leaving Halloween Hills, Rhen, Te'ijal, and Galahad went on a short visit to Land's End Temple where Vohu Manah asked to see his prized Sleep Flute again and taught them how to play it better, enough to silence spellcasters. They went back to Veldarah to gather supplies, and were surprised to find Lars waiting for them.

"His mother has died," Rhen wrote. "And he would like to join us to prevent himself from wallowing in the academy and his cousin's court. It was a sombre conversation. As a necromancer himself, Lars is deeply familiar with death, but his mother's death seems to have shaken him still.

"We did not talk about it back in Ghalarah, but he asked why I'm pressed on adventuring again. If I'm making good with my vow as a student to abolish slavery. I was honest and told him I considered it, but after talking with Galahad and Te'ijal, I shy more away from it. Lars said I am thinking more like a politician and rightfully so. He said he'll be walking a similar path, as the Empress wanted him as her court mage now that he is a High Sorcerer.

"We went back to Ghalarah to settle some matters regarding the Tenobor estate. Lars decided he is entrusting the mansion to Sanna while he's away. It seems the other nobles turn their noses up at him for his treatment of the woman whom they still view as a slave. I have half a mind to buy their slaves to set them free and watch how these nobles scoff and squirm in discomfort. But I know that as long as this system is in place, they will simply buy more slaves – more people who will suffer."

Rhen went on to say how the Ghalaran nobles are spreading rumors that Lars fancied their slave, hence why the Tenobors freed Sanna. It holds little water though, as Terlin informed Rhen that Lars has spent the most time at Veldarah and only returned to Ghalarah when his mother was closest to death's door. Terlin surmises that the rumors originated from Ylitta, a noble girl whose family wanted her to marry Lars to increase their social standing.

The next letter was penned from Veldarah, a few days after Rhen's last letter from Ghalarah.

"My dearest Dameon,

"I have written to Elini before I headed south for Halloween Hills. I'd just returned to Shadwood Academy to find her response. She is pregnant! It is unclear who among her husbands is the father, but it does not matter in Veldt after all. She seems happy and content in her life right now, and expressed high hopes to have a strong daughter like us. I am very happy for her and wrote back to say so, as well. As such, however, I won't be inviting her or John to come with us.

"We've decided to head over to the Western Isle, as Galahad is keen to see his old king again. I wish to visit my parents, too, and invite them to live with us in Thais. They're getting on in years, and I very much want to make sure they are comfortable.

"You might need to address your next letters to me to our estate in Sedona.

"All my love to you, dearest king, and our Little Princess.

"Yours,
Rhen"

Dameon made a mental note to send a letter and gift to Veldt as well-wishes for Elini's pregnancy. He thought that perhaps, Elini's child can be a friend to his daughter, just as Elini was to them. This train of thought led him further – thinking of his daughter adventuring like her mother. Would she be a mage like himself? Or would she take to the blade like her mother?

Either way, Dameon knows that Rhen will agree with him that their child should also go out and explore the world to prepare her for the throne. Just as Rhen did and Queen Alicia before her. Still, he worries. Looking at the sleeping princess, he fears that the expectations and responsibilities already set on her by birth would someday crush her. Being the Sun Druid prepared him to be king, but not as much to be a husband, let alone a father.


Author's note: Took long to update again. At least this didn't take 7 years like the last chapter. I also made some minor edits to the first chapter. Just spacing, grammar and punctuation and nothing major about the story.

I'm re-playing Rhen's Quest again on mobile to keep the Aveyond universe fresh in my mind, and to remind myself to finish this fanfic before it turns 10 years old.