When morning came, Dart awoke to the sound of voices; Shana and Lavitz were already conversing. The sun shone down into the little dale to warm the spent travelers, and Dart took time to appreciate its glow. But as he tuned in to his friends' conversation, he was frustrated to learn that it was not regarding yesterday's events. Perhaps he'd missed an unspoken agreement that it was not to be discussed.

With mild frustration, Dart made ready to leave, though there was little to do. Only one of the three horses remained, and so one-third of their supplies were available. After an appropriately rationed breakfast and sparse preparations, the three began traveling west.

For a time, they followed the slope of the valley until the mountains yielded to a young forest. Lavitz guided them northwest all morning and then turned farther north after their lunch break, when the trees began to thin, and the brush turned to wildflowers. And despite everything, they still did not speak of Shana's curious power.

Just past sundown, they made camp, and they sat and ate in silence before settling in for sleep, and the next morning was no different than the one before. They gathered their things in silence and began their trek north without words.

By noon, however, Lavitz's attitude had changed. As they approached Bale, his excitement grew and grew until he was overflowing with conversation regarding his home. He told them of his favorite places in the city, of his childhood home where his mother still stayed, and the stately Indels Castle that kept watch over its people. For the next three hours, he did not stop, and it was with Lavitz's joy in their hearts that Dart and Shana beheld the capital city of Bale for the first time.

They had joined the main road an hour before cresting the last hill of their journey that revealed Bale at its base. The walled city was nestled in the crook of the Serdian Mountains that curved down to meet the northern sea, and the farthest northern tip of the Western Mountains could be seen on the far side beyond a sizable lake. From their vantage point, it seemed that they could see every corner of Bale, from the large wooden gate at the entrance to the houses nestled up against the mountains nearly five miles away. The glistening of a waterfall was visible cascading down the Western Mountains to feed the lake on which sat Indels Castle.

"Wow," said Shana with a smile.

The picturesque city was certainly impressive, and Dart had the feeling that they would be right at home here. Even the buildings radiated a sense of warmth and unity in their universal façades of tan stone.

"It's good to be home," agreed Lavitz, and his voice wavered.

Dart placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Then let's go," he smiled.

Lavitz clapped him on the back before charging down the hill, and Dart and Shana were quick to follow. A few minutes later, they approached the gate, which was guarded by two men in blue Basilian armor. Above the gate watched four more, and from a hundred yards out, they'd eyed their approach cautiously. But as they came close, somber expressions turned to laughter, and one of the guards shouted something to another, who disappeared behind the wall. The sound of hooves on stone followed as the guard galloped toward the castle.

"Sir, is that you?" asked one of the men on the ground.

"Sir Lavitz!" cried one above. "You've come home!"

"We were right worried about you!"

"Your worries were warranted," replied Lavitz. "But they're no longer necessary!"

"Open the gate already! Sir Lavitz has returned!"

A cranking mechanism sounded, and the gate grinded open to invite them in. Head held high, Lavitz marched ahead of them into the city as eight guards stood at attention and saluted.

"At ease," dismissed Lavitz. "This fanfare isn't necessary, you know."

"We're just happy that you're back, sir," said one as they all relaxed.

"As am I."

The gate had opened into a large town square with a fountain bubbling in the center, and four cobblestone roads shot out into the city. After leaving their horse with the men at the gate, Lavitz led them down the second road, and Dart and Shana took in their surroundings with wide eyes. Aged trees stretched out their branches to shield the streets from the sun while gentle breezes strengthened the fragile, new leaves. Though people milled about, Bale was anything but crowded, and each home had enough space for a yard of its own. Almost every yard had a small garden, and tiny sprouts of early spring crops could be seen here and there. The people were friendly, smiling and waving at them, although over time, Dart suspected that it was Lavitz who had drawn their attention and not the strangers from Seles.

As they continued winding their way through the city, Lavitz regaled them with trivia regarding the various districts but was often interrupted by a passing citizen who expressed joy to see him or concern at his visible ailments. He smiled and waved appropriately to each person, dismissing them when necessary, and after the third, Dart and Shana began to exchange amused glances every time it happened. After the seventh incident, they quietly agreed to count, and when at last they had arrived at the castle on the western side of the city, they'd finalized at twenty-three. As a guard made twenty-four, Dart and Shana suppressed giggles and turned to face the imposing castle and its outer wall.

Indels Castle had been built on the lake, perhaps fifty yards separate from the boardwalk that ran the length of the western edge of the city. Here where they now stood, a mighty drawbridge lay, ready to be retracted upon any sudden attack. Just beyond the bridge was a large courtyard with new flowers sprouting up on either side of the main path that met the castle at the base of a tall staircase.

As he gazed at the courtyard, Dart now saw the reason for Lavitz's pause: four men and a woman, each dressed in forest green, were beaming to see their guest on the far side of the drawbridge.

With purpose and a smile, Lavitz charged across, and Dart and Shana followed with careful steps.

"I had doubts that it was true," said the man in the middle, who stepped up and embraced Lavitz tightly. "But here you are."

Lavitz pulled away and held the man's shoulders.

"Here I am," he grinned.

Then he knelt and placed a fist over his chest.

"Your Majesty," he said. "I have returned with urgent news."

Dart looked at Shana to hear such an address. He had not expected the king to appear so common. He wore no crown and held no scepter, and the only indication of his status was his intricately embroidered clothing, only slightly more regal than his companions'. The green and brown garments were fringed with gold thread, and a similarly decorated cape rested on his shoulders. Had Lavitz not reacted this way, Dart would have supposed him to be some other ranked official.

"Lavitz, there is no need for this," chuckled King Albert. "Besides, I am not the only one who wishes to greet you."

"Forgive me, but the matter is pressing."

"And you are injured," noted the king, eyeing Lavitz's arm as he gently lifted him to his feet. "It seems more than conversation is needed. But first, please introduce us to your companions."

"Yes, sir," answered Lavitz. "These two are citizens of Seles. They helped me escape Hellena Prison."

"Seles?" said King Albert thoughtfully, but he dismissed this thought as he approached them and offered his hand. "Please receive my sincere gratitude in helping Sir Lavitz. He is most dear to us here in Bale."

Dart nodded awkwardly while he shook the king's hand.

"Thank you for receiving us so kindly," smiled Shana.

"It is no more than my duty," smiled the king. "Please, come with us, as I am sure we have much to discuss. Lavitz seems especially eager." Humor danced in his eye as he turned back to Lavitz, who merely nodded. "My captains, please excuse us. I must harbor Lavitz's attention for a while, and afterward, I am sure that he will be more accommodating to your own. And please send a medic to the second sitting room."

The others nodded as the king, Lavitz, Dart, and Shana strode past them and toward the stairs. On the first landing, they turned right and followed the king down the hallway until he entered a room with three couches facing a low table. King Albert sat on one, Lavitz on another, and Dart and Shana awkwardly eased themselves onto the third.

As they settled, Dart glanced over to see Shana fidgeting with her fingernails and was grateful that he was not the only one ill at ease. A week ago, Dart would never have supposed that he'd be sitting in the same room as a king, much less dressed so poorly. His and Shana's clothes were filthy and torn from their travels, and Lavitz wore little more than rags. Still, King Albert seemed almost not to notice, and Dart eyed him closely as they settled.

The man was grinning broadly as he took in the sum of them, and his long, well-kept, sandy hair was tied back in a simple tail. His appearance was wholly normal, but Dart could not deny that he held some regality about him. The way he held his head and his shoulders, and even now as he sat with a straight back unlike the three travelers, spoke of a cordiality unneeded from those who fell below him.

"You must tell me what has happened," urged the king, eyes flitting to Dart and Shana but eventually resting on Lavitz. "I would know of your capture, your escape, your travels, your injuries – all of it."

"I have dire news, Your Majesty," resisted Lavitz. "It's regarding the dragon."

King Albert frowned but nodded. "Very well. If it will satisfy you, we can begin there and then dive into your tale."

"The first part involves Dart here. Let him begin the story."

All eyes turned to Dart, and he froze. He looked to Shana, then Lavitz, and at last to King Albert, and he felt that he'd forgotten every moment of his past until this one. All at once, he was grasping for words.

How do you tell a story to a king? he asked himself.

"I was… Um…" He paused. "Your Majesty," he added quickly with a slight bow of his head.

"There is no need for such pleasantries," assured the king with a kind smile. "Speak as you see fit."

Dart swallowed, and with broken words and many pauses for remembrance, he told the tale of his encounter with the dragon east of Seles. His mention of the disembodied voice seemed especially troubling to King Albert, but he said nothing before turning to Lavitz for the remainder of the story.

Just then, a knock came, and the king invited in a healer who began tending to Lavitz's and Shana's wounds. Lavitz and King Albert immediately shifted into more casual conversation, and they continued this way until the healer left. The instant the door shut, the two grew serious again, and Lavitz began his tale.

He spoke first of the soldier killed in Hellena Prison as they escaped.

"So, the dragon lies in the Serdian Mountains…" said King Albert.

"It appears so," nodded Lavitz. "At least for now. An attack could come at any moment. We must prepare."

"That is clear. We only have five knighthoods remaining in the city. The rest are spread across Serdio, many of them in the old forts near the mountains. Perhaps one of them will send word if they see the beast."

"And the scouts?"

The king nodded. "Also disseminated. But most are focused on the border region and less on the mountains. And if the dragon travels farther south, it may escape their attention altogether."

"Sir, send us out to one of the knighthoods. We can reinforce the ranks."

"Just the three of you?"

Lavitz nodded. "I've seen their combat skills, and they are substantial. And after all, I… don't have a knighthood anymore. We don't have time to rally another. Dart and Shana will be my knighthood, for the time being."

The king sighed. "I admit that I am hesitant to yield to this request, but I will discuss it with others and come to a decision. For now, I must ask that you tell me of your travels."

At long last, Lavitz submitted to the king's entreaty and began to tell of all that had happened to him over the past month. Dart and Shana were especially interested in the tale of his capture, which brought more than one tear to Lavitz's eyes.

His knighthood – a contingent of a hundred fifty soldiers – had pressed to the southern border of Basil to dissuade Sandora from attacking any outlying villages, but the fourth night of their encampment, they'd been surprised while they'd slept. A force of a hundred men and a mighty giganto had appeared and overwhelmed the knighthood, slaughtering each soldier until Lavitz was the only one alive. Then they'd stripped him of his armor and weapons and carted him off to Hellena Prison.

At this point, Dart and Shana joined in to fill in their parts of the attack on Seles and the rescue from Hellena. Artfully circumventing the incident with the snake, they fulfilled their story to current.

"This is quite a tale," said King Albert, speaking for the first time in half an hour. "Again, I must thank you for your help in freeing Lavitz, even if it was not your original intention. And Shana, I applaud your fortitude in surviving such a place as Hellena Prison. Not everyone would have come this far."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," she said quietly.

King Albert shot a look over at Lavitz, who shook his head just slightly, and Dart narrowed his eyes. But the king smiled, accepting Lavitz's response, and turned to Dart and Shana.

"I see that you are tired and in need of rest. As duty and curiosity have both been fulfilled, I will relieve you of any further demands. Please, take your leave and seek rest. Would you like to stay in the castle?"

"Us?" asked Dart. "In a castle?"

King Albert nodded. "If you would like, I would gladly offer it. It is the least I can do for those who have helped one of my own."

With a chuckle, Lavitz inserted, "I think they might be more comfortable with me. Besides, Mom would love to host some new people, I'm sure."

"A fair point," grinned King Albert. "I could not rob her of that delight. In that case, I will take my leave. Lavitz, once you are rested, I would request that you visit the castle tomorrow so that we may discuss some things."

"Of course."

Everyone stood, and Lavitz bowed his head to the king. They exchanged their farewells, and King Albert escorted them to the courtyard, where Lavitz offered one more goodbye before leading them back into the city.

"So, we're staying with your mom?" said Dart.

"Yes, and she will be so excited to meet the both of you! She loves having guests."

"Are you sure we won't be imposing?" asked Shana.

Lavitz laughed. "Definitely not. Trust me. Sometimes, she invites people to spend the night just so that she can host them. She loves sharing the space. It's too big for her, honestly, and sometimes I try to convince her to sell the place and get something smaller. But I think she's attached to it because my dad bought it for her years ago."

Shana smiled, and they fell back into a rhythm of light discussion amid the endless greetings that Lavitz received. Dart and Shana had counted to fifty-one when they arrived at Lavitz's home.

The two-story building was an estate all its own, nestled on the outskirts of the city. A fence ran the perimeter of the large yard, and a porch ran the length of the building. Without breaking stride, Lavitz approached the front door and knocked, and a few moments later, it opened.

When Lavitz's mother beheld her son, her hands flew to her mouth as she gasped, and she enveloped him in a tight hug. Tears streamed as she held him close and cradled the back of his head.

"You're home," she said over and over. "I can't believe you're home."

"I made it," he returned, his voice muffled as he buried his face in her neck.

Eventually, she pulled away and took in the sight of her son. She frowned to see his bandaged arm and calf but did her best to dismiss it.

"Please come in," she said. "Oh, and you've brought guests! How lovely!"

"Think you can put us up for a couple days?"

"Of course. Now please, come inside and make yourselves at home."

Dart muttered his gratitude as he was ushered inside a foyer where he was encouraged to remove his shoes. Then they were led into a sitting room just beyond with couches and sitting chairs rounding a great fireplace. The ceiling reached to the roof, leaving the second floor visible beyond a balcony at the top of a staircase. After inviting the three to sit, Lavitz's mother rushed into another room to fetch them refreshments, and the clinking of glasses filled the silence as they waited. Before long, she returned and handed them each a glass of water with ice, and they drank happily. It had been many moons since Dart had had cold water that had not come directly from a mountain stream. More delightful than this, however, were the snack cakes that she brought out afterward, and Dart could not help but eat five of the dozen over the span of their initial conversation.

After general introductions, Dart, Lavitz, and Shana were forced to recount their tale once again, though this version was much abbreviated from the first. It became clear from the beginning that Lavitz did not want to worry his mother with sordid details of his capture and imprisonment, and Dart and Shana were happy to follow along this direction. When all had been said, Mrs. Slambert, like King Albert, offered her thanks in their aid of Lavitz and offered her home as recompense.

"And I am so happy that you'll be staying here tonight," she said. "The spare rooms are always ready for company, and I can draw baths for each of you whenever you desire. I want you to make yourselves at home. Think of this house as your own, and I will be whole and satisfied, especially knowing that my dear boy is home and well."

"A bath sounds amazing," admitted Shana.

"Well, as they say, ladies first," grinned Mrs. Slambert. "I'll go draw one. We can get you three all clean before dinner!"

An hour later, Dart and Shana sat before the fireplace, both refreshed and wearing clean clothes, though Dart's pants were a bit loose around his waist. As Lavitz took his turn in the bathtub, they awaited his return while his mother rustled around the kitchen on the other side of the dining room.

"I think I was starting to forget what clean clothes feel like," said Shana as she hugged her knees in one of the armchairs.

"Tell me about it," chuckled Dart. "I'd bet money that I've gone longer without a bath than you."

"I do not need to take you up on that bet," she laughed. "I know that it's true."

"Could have come before meeting the king, though."

"That would've been nice, but I shouldn't complain too much. Meeting a king isn't something I'd ever imagine I'd do."

Dart grunted his agreement. How did they get here? What had changed so drastically that they now sat before a fire in the sitting room of a fine estate in the capital of Serdio?

All these things, of course, could be traced back to the attack on Seles and Shana's capture.

He peered at her. Light streamed in the windows, but a shadow had fallen over her face, illuminated only by the dancing flames before her. Her eyes glistened with its reddish hue, and he frowned. Two days ago, in the depths of a cave, he'd seen her in a much different circumstance. He wasn't sure that he could keep ignoring what had happened there.

"Can we talk?" he whispered.

She turned surprised eyes to him and nodded slowly.

"What happened, Shana? Why haven't we talked about it?"

Her face fell as she grasped his purpose, and her eyes turned back to the fire.

"I don't know," she replied.

"You don't know anything about it?"

She shook her head, and Dart sighed.

"You know what it means, though. This all is… Sandora…"

"I know," she said. "All that time, I couldn't help but wonder why me. I have nothing to offer them. And then… I guess I found my answer."

"And it's never happened before?"

She shook her head again. Tears glistened in her eyes, but she did not wipe them as they fell.

"You should stay here," offered Dart.

"What?" Her voice turned sharp as she snapped her head up. "I thought you wanted me to come with you."

"Things have changed," he explained. "Whatever is going on, we can't let Sandora take you again. You'd end up back there, in Hellena, and who knows what would happen then? Who knows what Doel would do with you? What if he found a way to access whatever that was? If you stay here, you'll have entire knighthoods to protect you."

"What if I don't want knighthoods to protect me?" she challenged.

"What else could be safer?"

"I'm going with you, wherever it is you go," she huffed. "I don't know what's inside me, but I know that I can make a difference if I go out there. I can help keep them from doing to another town what they did to Seles."

"But you don't have any training."

"You don't, either," she snapped. "You don't have any idea what we're getting ourselves into, any more than I do."

"But I know how to fight," replied Dart, growing indignant. "I've been fighting for years, Shana."

"So have I! The only difference is that I didn't have a sword to fight my battles for me."

"War is different!"

"I am not staying here, hiding in false peace and comfort, while you go out and leave me again!"

Her words cut Dart's ire, and he fell back onto the couch as if he'd been struck.

"I didn't…" He closed his eyes. "I don't want to leave you."

"Then don't."

Shana's gaze had become fierce, and Dart could not withstand it. Turning to the fire, he sank into a swirl of guilt that no amount of distraction seemed to dispel. He had not meant to hurt Shana when leaving Seles. He had not even realized that it had been a possibility. Ever since he'd turned fifteen, their worlds had been torn apart by age and duty, and he'd assumed that she'd preferred it that way.

For five years, he'd buried Shana in his past, teaching himself to forget her, and yet, he hadn't. For five years, he'd wanted to return to see her, and yet, he hadn't. Now that he was here, next to her, it felt like all the thirteen years of friendship that they'd built together had been destroyed in one moment when he'd decided that his fate had lain outside Seles.

"This feels like a fun atmosphere," remarked Lavitz to announce his arrival in the sitting room. Dart did not look up as the knight plopped down next to him. "What are we talking about?"

Neither of them responded.

"That good, huh?"

They said nothing.

"Well then… I'm going to go talk to my mother, who will be happy to oblige my desire for conversation, as I have not seen her for eight months or so."

Dart nodded, and Lavitz left them. A few seconds later, the joyous musings of his mother drifted from the kitchen, and Dart and Shana sat in staunch resistance to the laughter as the sun descended behind the mountains, and its rays scurried from the windows. It was not long after that Lavitz began shifting between the kitchen and the dining room, ladening the table with various dishes and utensils. Then Dart and Shana were summoned, and they took their places at the table across from Lavitz and his mother.

"It is so good to be able to cook for more than just me," said Mrs. Slambert with a wide grin. "Please, dig in. Eat your fill. I know you all have been traveling for so long."

It had been several months since Dart had had much to eat besides wild game or dried fruits. Even the food offered by the people of Seles had been less than decadent thanks to their difficult situation. As such, facing the magnificent feast before him, he had to fight especially hard to make sure that he didn't inhale his food so quickly that he insulted his host. Rabbit and venison served their purposes in the wild, but Dart had nearly forgotten what it was like to have smoked beef and carrots. Surely, such a meal should have been reserved for kings.

Little discussion was to be had over the meal as the three travelers filled their stomachs properly for the first time in days. Then as appetite began to wane, conversation took its place. Lavitz's mother began by asking after King Albert, and soon after, she and Lavitz were telling tales of days long gone when the king had once frequented their home for dinners. Ever since his youth, the king had come to visit once a month, but the recent years had drawn him away to the castle as the unease of the Basilian people grew.

"We needed each other," explained Lavitz. "Especially after my father died. Albert was the only one who could really empathize with that, and I always looked forward to those monthly dinners. We've tried to keep up other traditions, of course, but it's gotten a bit more difficult lately."

"Not that we spite him," interjected Mrs. Slambert. "Albert is a good king, and a good friend. He's almost as much a son to me as Lavitz."

"How old was the king when his father died?" asked Shana.

"Ten," replied Lavitz. "I still remember that day. Just a child, and yet they put a crown on his head anyway."

"He rose to the task handsomely," chastised Mrs. Slambert.

"That's true, but it was still too much for him, in my opinion. They should have appointed a regent and waited for him to grow up a little. I was very protective, but I was only fourteen at the time. Not old enough for anyone to listen to me."

"Your father tried."

"He did, didn't he?"

"What was your father like?" asked Dart.

A grin spread over Lavitz's face. "Oh, where do I start? He was a knight from eighteen and rose so quickly in the ranks that he was the head of a knighthood by age twenty-four. First guy to ever do it. Became a counselor to King Carlo at twenty-seven. They were practically best friends." He looked to his mother for more.

"The best comparison of Servi is Lavitz himself," she added. "Lavitz inherited his father's strength and compassion, and his desire to do what is good. Both very driven and focused."

"I don't know that I'd say Dad was focused," said Lavitz, and the two laughed. "He had too many hobbies. He'd start one and get really excited about it for two months, and then he was bored with it and would find something else."

"I still have his smithing tools upstairs."

"Mom, I've been telling you to sell those. Nobody's going to use them anymore."

"I know, but you know me."

Mrs. Slambert placed a hand on Lavitz's arm, and he smiled.

"He sounds like a great man," remarked Shana.

"He most certainly was," nodded Mrs. Slambert sadly. She paused, and Lavitz squeezed her hand. Then she put on another smile and looked at Shana and Dart. "But what about you two? Any plans for the future?"

Dart and Shana exchanged a glance.

"We were thinking about joining Lavitz, wherever King Albert decides to send him," said Dart.

"Oh, good! Then you can take care of my boy while he's gone."

"We'll do our best," assured Dart.

"Anything else?"

"Ma'am?"

"Anything else for the two of you? What will you do when all this is over?"

Dart hadn't considered such a question, and he was grateful when Shana offered a response.

"I suppose we'll just go home," she said with a shrug.

"Together?"

"Um, yes, probably. I don't really want to go all that way by myself."

"I see," said Mrs. Slambert with a sly grin, and Dart looked at Lavitz, who was now hiding his face with his hand and stifling laughter. "I suppose it's time to clean up." Then she stood and began gathering dishes.

As soon as she was out of the room, Dart turned to Lavitz.

"What was that about?" he demanded.

Lavitz chuckled. "Well, while Mom and I were cooking, I was talking to her about the two of you, and she asked about you, Shana. She has this thing where any woman I meet must be my soulmate, so I simply corrected her."

"How so?" Dart narrowed his eyes.

"I told her the truth. I said that Shana isn't my sweetheart. She's Dart's."

"Now hang on a second," began Dart as Shana's cheeks shone bright red. "Where did you—"

Mrs. Slambert reappeared, and Shana quickly stood.

"Let me help you," she said as she snatched up several dishes and followed Lavitz's mother back into the kitchen.

"Why would you say that?" whispered Dart furiously.

"That is a question you should ask yourself," replied Lavitz with an entertained eye.

"She was asking if we were getting married, wasn't she?"

Lavitz nodded slowly, flashing his teeth.

"Unbelievable."

"You're the one who's unbelievable," laughed Lavitz. "You know that, right?"

Dart sat in silent frustration until the women returned, and this time Lavitz urged him to get up and help clear the table. Cheeks burning, Dart obliged, though he was now very conscious of his proximity to Shana. He knew that Mrs. Slambert was watching them and waiting for some show of affection that did not exist. Once, they bumped into each other, and both muttered a weak apology before fleeing into the other room, cheeks ablaze. In the end, Shana decided to seek early solitude in her room, and Mrs. Slambert insisted that Dart and Lavitz relax while she did the dishes.

"Tomorrow's the big day," said Lavitz as they took seats by the fire that had begun to dwindle. "Ready to see where we'll be stationed?"

"We might not be stationed anywhere," replied Dart sourly.

"Oh, come on, Albert won't leave me hanging like that. I'm one of his best soldiers, and he needs me out in the field."

"How are you so calm about the idea of rushing into the unknown where a dragon might be waiting for you? Doesn't that seem a bit foolish? You could die!"

Lavitz chuckled. "I've been risking my life for this country for a long time now. This feels a little different from before, sure. But I'd gladly fight a dragon, even if I died, if it meant protecting the people that I love. You have that drive, too. It just might not be as obvious yet."

"How could you know that? You've only known me for a week."

"But we've been through a lot together in that time. I like to think we're friends at this point, so, I'll be frank with you. I've been watching you. Say what you will about whatever happened in that cave, but I know that you would have gladly died to protect Shana from that snake. However you want to define it, you love her, and you protect the things you love. You feel guilty about Seles because you love those people, too, and you weren't there to defend it. That drive to protect burns brightly inside you, Dart. And that drive is what's pushing us to our futures. Always remember that the only fight worth fighting is a fight to protect."

"I don't have much left to protect," whispered Dart as he watched his hands.

"But you have Shana. Cling to that. She's coming with us, after all. Who else will protect her, if not you?"

Dart nodded slowly, although he wasn't sure if he believed Lavitz. How could one man have such depths of wisdom?

"Did your father teach you all this?"

"Yes, and others. I like to think that who you are is piecemeal. Some of you comes from one person, another part from someone else. A lot of my dad is in me, but so is my mother. So is King Albert. And I could list a lot of other people, too."

Dart considered this. He wondered how much of his own parents resided in him now. Had he been with them long enough for them to impart themselves? His hand fidgeted with the trinket around his neck; at least he had something from them. He looked up at Lavitz, who now waited patiently for Dart to process his words. And for a small moment, he felt a pang of jealousy that Lavitz had been allowed a full seventeen years with his father.

"How did your father die?" he asked suddenly.

A grim look came over Lavitz at the question.

"He was murdered," he replied. "By one of his subordinates."

"Why? What happened?"

"It's a complicated story," sighed Lavitz. "I still don't know every detail, but there was this man, only a few years older than me, who was placed under my father. He looked up to him, practically idolized him. But my dad always saw the best in people. So, he kept him on as an assistant of sorts while advising King Carlo. When the king died and Albert was crowned, he helped my dad through that difficult transition. Then a few years later, he just snapped. Went crazy. I think that Sandora offered him something, because he killed my father and ran to them."

"That's awful," muttered Dart. "I'm sorry."

All at once, he felt guilty to have been jealous. Although Lavitz hadn't lost both parents or his home, he had lost much at the hands of another. They shared more than Dart had realized.

"Do you ever get angry?" whispered Dart.

"Yes," nodded Lavitz. "For a year after his death, I thought of ways to find him and get revenge. But I never did."

"Do you think you would, if you ever found him now?"

"I don't know. I don't know what I would do."

"I get that," replied Dart as he hung his head.

"You don't think you'd kill the Black Monster if you could?"

Dart shrugged. "I go back and forth."

"Speaking of, I had an idea this morning!" announced Lavitz with sudden fervor. "I'm going back to the castle tomorrow. You should come with me, and I'll bet I could get you a meeting with Minister Noish."

"Who?"

"He's one of the king's advisors, old guy who everyone thinks of as the castle's 'dad.' His official role is to guide the people of Bale in spiritual matters, but he kind of morphed into being a counselor. People come to him with moral problems all the time. But that's not the point. The point is that he's also an avid historian and loves lore and legends and all that. He might know something about the Black Monster. If anything is to be known, anyway."

"You think so?"

"Yeah! Wouldn't hurt to try."

"Okay. Let's do it."

"Excellent." Lavitz smiled and clapped him on the back. "I'm heading in early, though, so be up and ready by eight."

"I can do that. And we should invite Shana. She'd want to hear it, too."

"Seconded. Tomorrow, our fates will be decided."

Dart laughed and shook his head. He certainly hoped that the king's decision would not lead where he feared it would.