(Jacob, 16)

"Your Highness," Geoffrey bows lightly. "They are coming."

"Thank you," I say. "Ensure they're shown in."

"Yes, Your Highness," Geoffrey says, then exits.

I look down at the paper in front of me. Ekeli moved quickly, their ambassador arriving at the fort yesterday, only five days after my arrival. They sent me a notice informing me they wished to speak with me today. That gave them a day to prepare for our meeting.

What concerns me is that the letter is marked with what I believe to be the crest of their prince. According to our intelligence agents, he supports Nelem, so speaking with him will likely yield no results.

After fifteen minutes of waiting, three men are shown into the tent. One of them is around five or six years older than me and wearing a gold circlet, one of them is Captain Wesley, and the other is the jittery guard from before. All three of them stop moving and turn their heads to face the trio sitting to my right, and it is then that I remember I have other guests as well. They were silent because I was musing over the meeting, but here nonetheless.

"Hello," I say. "Welcome to our camp. Please, make yourselves comfortable."

I indicate for them to sit as Geoffrey translates, and the party looks uncertain for a moment before doing so. Their prince does not look comfortable here.

"As you no doubt know," I touch my chest. "I am Jacob Varil, Crown Heir of Varil. You have no doubt met Geoffrey, who will act as translator for us."

Geoffrey translates for me as he takes his seat to my left, another soldier of mine sitting there as well. This meeting takes place with a group of three from each party at a square table, though one of my guest party was not intended on being present.

"And this," I indicate the leader of the fourth party. "Is Eirual, the matriarch and wife of the patriarch of the nearby griffin pride. She showed up to discuss a few things, then decided to stay when she heard you were coming."

"I would like to air a grievance," Eirual spoke, startling the trio of Ekelians. "Regarding the efforts of Ekelian people attempting to mine our mountains. It is irritating to constantly need to chase them off. You have mines of your own. It is not our concern whether or not you depleted their reserves."

"We can move to your grievance shortly," I tell Eirual. "For now, let us hear out their reason for coming."

The prince introduces himself first, confirming that he is Wendell Ekeli, then states that he wants to know why we are camping at their border.

"We," I say once Geoffrey finishes his translation. "As I said to Captain Wesley here, are not within your border, and a safe distance from it. We came here to speak with the griffins, and knew that we could not travel too far into the mountains before doing so or it might draw their ire. So we chose to camp in a place where we could be seen, rather than hiding ourselves. Had we hidden ourselves instead, then no doubt you would have wondered if we were up to something suspicious. It was merely a courtesy on our part. I had even intended on sending a notice to the fortress informing them of this, though Eirual came sooner than I had expected and delayed my notice."

I have to stop several times as I speak so that Geoffrey can translate without forgetting what I said, and when he finishes, Wendell does not seem happy.

"We would rather you camped nowhere near our border," he tells me. "We are not on friendly terms, and our nations do not interact with each other. We can see this as a hostile action."

"I have forgotten," Eirual says. "How stupid some humans can be, Jacob. They know you are here to speak with us griffins, yet decide that you camping where it is safe and not in a way that would draw suspicion of sneaky activities should be considered a hostile action. Are you sure I cannot destroy their fort."

"This again," I mutter, rubbing my temples. "No, Eirual, you cannot destroy their fort. We have been over this."

"Hmph," she turns her gaze to Wendell. "Consider yourself fortunate Jacob has said 'no'. It has been quite awhile since I tasted fresh human."

"Please stop with the intimidation attempts," I say.

The griffin pride is willing to allow Ekeli to mine some of their mines under some conditions. However, that also means the 'annoying humans' have to appease her first. It seems the pride is really annoyed by their attempts, and has only chosen not to attack before because they are trying to take an approach where they simply stick to their own land.

That was not fun to discover.

"Wendell," I say. "If you wish, I can negotiate a deal between you and the griffins which does not involve them eating half of your people over the next year."

Yes, that was an actual thing she wanted.

"However," I say once Geoffrey translates that. "It will require some concessions on your side, to appease them for your own military actions on their land."

Wendell responds, and I wait for Geoffrey to translate.

"He says. "Geoffrey tells me. "That he is here to tell us to leave. They are already discussing joining the war against Varil with Nelem, a nation they are already on good terms with."

"Can I eat them now?" Eikual asks.

"No," I tell her, then return my attention to the other prince. "Wendell, we are not on Ekelian territory. You cannot order us to leave, and we are here to discuss something with a different foreign power."

Geoffrey translates, then Wendell looks at my smugly.

"You misunderstand," he says in broken Varilan. "We have already supplied Nelem with resources for the war. Their intelligence agents learned more than two weeks ago that there were plans to put students from the royal universities near the Nelem border for a training mission and wyvern hunting. One of them was to include Jason Jeshema, and the other, Niko Mar. With what we gave them combined with their own artifacts, the two princes are sure to be captured. And once they are, Jeshema will be forced to stay out, and even your own papa will become hesitant with the love of your sister having his life on the line."

Surprisingly a lot of Varilan there for someone who never interacts with us. I suppose it should not surprise me that there are some spies in the upper ranks, but it does surprise me that they were able to find out that Jason and Niko would be there.

"What artifacts?" I ask.

"Artifacts from the Lost Era," he uses one of the terms for the time where there are almost no records of any history – everything older than a millennium and a half ago. "An orb which exacts a perfect defense, a spear which releases a chaotic copy of itself, an amulet which absorbs all magic, and other things. We loaned them a phantasmal dagger which can be summoned and banished by the owner's will and an amulet which summons a great beast, one which can hold its own against a young dragon."

Oh, no.

"That is right," Wendell's smugness increases. "Your precious friends now belong to Nelem. The attack was supposed to commence three hours ago."

Those poor soldiers. Jason probably toyed with them, especially if the spear is the one I am thinking of. Nolan used it to cause chaos during the war using a different function it holds. He also probably used the beast against a nearby fort just for good measure.

I pull out my comm plate and call Jason.

"Hello, Jacob!" Jason cheerfully answers immediately. "How goes your negotiations?"

"Did the forces which attacked you," I say as Wendell gives the comm plate a curious look. "Use a dagger which did not always exist? Or an amulet which summoned a powerful beast."

"Sort of," he answers. "Their general had the dagger, he summoned it once he woke back up after the sleep spell wore off."

That is confirmation he used the spear against them. Probably took it right from whoever was wielding it.

"And the amulet?"

"That old thing?" Jason asks. "I'm surprised it still works, to be honest. Sadly, the beast isn't as powerful as he was when I made the amulet, so I'm going to tinker around with it a bit. I don't remember the process I used to make it, but maybe it'll come back to me. Once it does, I'll restore the amulet back to full power. He's currently playing Tag with Zenevas."

Of course he decided to use a beast of war as a playmate for a baby dragon.

"I'm surprised, to be honest," Jason tells me. "They had a dozen artifacts, and tried to used all of them against me, but only managed to use a few. Zenevas ruined my fun, though. He decided to up and eat the spear's copies, which made him sick, so I had to reveal myself early."

"How is Niko?" I ask as Wendell's expression begins to shift to one of fear as he realizes I am speaking with Jason and that the attack failed.

"They caught him off-guard," Jason answers. "He says they got lucky with that, that it was only a brief moment where they could when they did. Because of that, they did a number to him, but he's already recovered. I called Jarenidis to patch him up."

"Your brother?" I ask.

"Yep!" Jason answers. "He's right here, actually."

"Hello, Jacob," Jarenidis says.

"Hello, Jarenidis."

Wendell's face is now one of shock, as whatever they heard probably said Jason was an only child.

"What is the Dragon Clans's stance on this war?" I ask.

"They attacked my brother," Jarenidis responds. "And they knew who he was. As such, that is considered an attack on the Delvarkari. We will assist Varil against the war Vel has decided to cause."

"My mamas and papas will as well," Jason says. "They've given me full permission to act in their place when necessary. Zenevas! Stop eating that! Sorry to cut this short, but I need to go restrain Zenevas. Baby dragons are a handful."

The call ends suddenly, and Eikual gives me a curious look.

"Baby dragons?" She asks.

"Jason has a pet dragon."

"The Great Dragon is a strange being, indeed," she says. "Do you think you could introduce us one day?"

"I am sure he would be happy to meet you," I tell her, then turn my attention to Wendell. "Wendell, as things are now, Ekeli has two options. The first is to continue to assist Nelem. You have already done enough to warrant us attacking Ekeli, and I assure you, war with Varil directly assaulting you is not something your kingdom can handle.

"The second option," I say. "Is to step out of the war and make amends to Varil, Jeshema, and the Dragon Clans – yes, they exist, and Jason is one of their two living princes. The actions of your nation have caused injury to our people and is considered an act of war. I am more than willing to discuss amends with you for Varil."

Wendell now looks terrified, and I know that he does not believe this to be a trick. He believes that the attack really has failed, and when his gaze travels to the trio of griffins, I know what his choice will be.

He has realized that Ekeli will stand no chance of a war against Varil, the Sages, and a mythical nation. Especially not if my griffin allies join in the battle.

This was not an outcome I was expecting, but they were the ones who created it by supplying Nelem with the artifacts.

(Alex, 17)

Why on Midlaris is Jarenidis here?

I stepped through the gate to return to the university, now that the training mission is over, and Jason is taking with his brother. One of the last things I wished to see after hunting bandits for a day and a half was Jason's brother.

Deciding to ignore that, I approach the pair of them, and their conversation stops before I can make out what they were saying.

"Hey, Jason," I say.

"Hey, Alex," Jason says.

"Hey, Alex," Jarenidis says, then looks at Jason. "I'll inform Fael Mira about the decision. Are you sure you don't want to come to the clans to prepare for the battle?"

"No," Jason shakes his head. "I'll leave that stuff to you."

"Battle?" I ask as Jarenidis opens a gate and steps through it.

"Yeah," Jason answers. "Nelem has officially joined the war. They attacked both my group and Niko's yesterday using some of my enchanted items from our last lives here. I retrieved my property and stored them safely away."

"Oh," I say, then look around. "Where's Zenevas?"

"Around," Jason answers mysteriously. "Once you do your debriefing, you'll be dismissed. I have some business to take care of, but meet me at the house for dinner, okay?"

"Okay," I tell him, then Jason leaves, making me wonder what is going on.

At least I know he'll be safe if he does participate in the war, but I doubt he'll actually personally do much unless it involves something from the past.

Shaking my head, I make my way to where we're to debrief and go through it, then leave. My crew is waiting at the gates, so I join up with them, and we go for a walk.

"Word is spreading through the city," Peter tells me. "That Nelem attacked a couple of the groups."

"The ones containing Jason and Niko," I nod. "Jason just told me that, but that's all I know on it."

"Damn," Sarah says. "That sucks."

"Ya are okay though, right?" Jeddy asks.

"Yep," I answer. "My group just hunted bandits down in the Meti Duchy. It wasn't particularly dangerous."

"Sounds like fun," Barry says. "My group was hunting monsters to the west."

"Same with mine," Sarah says. "After Jason's training camp, that was boring."

"Yeah, mine was boring, too," I say. "Let's head to the market and get something to snack on. I'm starved."

"Same here," Barry and Sarah say, so we all head to the nearest market and look for a stall to get something to snack on.

Is the war going to be an issue, now that the Dragon Clans and Jeshema are apparently involved now?

We much on our sweet rolls, then return to the apartment. Barry, Sarah, and I take turns showering, then the crew and I play games until it's time for me to head to Jason's.

"See ya," I tell the crew, then leave.

As I walk to Jason's, I notice a quartet following me, my scanning spell picking them up. It seems like they each have a sword, so I'm guessing they ain't following me for fun.

Intentionally, I walk into an empty alley and walk halfway down it, then stop and turn to face the group, which stares at me as they realize they were spotted. A couple of them look familiar to me, but I ain't quite able to place their faces.

"Alex," they decided to approach, one of the familiar ones speaking. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you and your friend got us into?"

"I ain't even sure who ya are," I say. "But if I and a friend got ya in trouble, it was probably your own fault."

"Doesn't remember us, he says," the guy laughs, his friends laughing as well. "Let me remind me, street scum."

He throws a punch, but with my training the last several months, I'm a lot faster than someone like him. Slapping his fist to the side is relatively easy and takes almost no effort from me at all. As I do, his face comes back to me.

"I think I remember ya know," I deliver a kick to his stomach, knocking the breath out of him. "Ya are one of the assholes who beat the crap out of me back when I went to apply for university. Didn't ya get banished from the city? Forbidden from entering it with that pompous ass of yours?"

"What isn't known, can't hurt," one of the others says. "And we'll be sure to take you down, Alex. Take you down and teach you a lesson about challenge nobility."

The two I ain't recognizing hold up their hands, and I realize then that they're both indigo-level magicians. This might prove a little tricky, now.

I begin to cast a layered enhancement spell on myself to allow me better evasion, but I ain't even halfway done with that when all four of them are suddenly pinned to the ground as if a great weight is pressed upon them. A gravity spell. But only violet-level mages and above can cast it, and I doubt someone put an enchantment down here just randomly.

Then, a violet gate opens up behind them, and all four of them are sucked into it, the gate then completely vanishing.

"There we go!" A small voice says, and I look down to find the white fox stuffie Jason made to guard me at my house standing beside me, completely invisible to my scanning spell. "Four bullies, dealt with! Hrm."

He looks up at me.

"Do you think Boss will be mad I threw them in a lake?"

"Aren't you supposed to only watch the house?"

"What?" Fox Alpha asks. "Well, it got lonely without you or Connor there, so I decided to go for a walk. Then I got lost, and we happened to coincidentally run into each other while you were being bullied. So no, I most definitely was not stalking you and making sure you were safe now that you were back."

That's exactly what you were doing.

"Alright," I chuckle. "I'm heading to Jason's right now, you can head back to the mansion."

"Nah," he says. "Since I'm already with you, I'll stay with you. Chances of getting lost and all that."

I roll my eyes, then continue heading to Jason's home. When I arrive, Fox Alpha follows me into the house, then immediately charges Tiger Alpha and enters into a wrestling match with his 'brother'. Jason is seated in the dining room, Sages Alyssa and Elena in the family room.

"Hello, Sages," I dip my head to them, then join Jason in the dining room, sitting beside him. "I got attacked on the way here, those bullies from when we first met were back."

"I know," Jason answers. "Fox Alpha reported it. I've already informed the necessary people that a violation has occurred. Anyway, let's head out."

"Out?" I ask as Jason stands.

"Yeah," he stretches. "On a proper date. There's a nice restaurant I want to try, and I have tickets to the amphitheater. We'll be a bit tired for lessons in the morning, but who cares about that?"

"I ain't dressed for a date," I say.

"That doesn't matter," Jason walks over and kisses me. "You're fine just the way you are, Alex. Come on."

He grabs my hand and leads me out of the house, and we take his carriage to the restaurant rather than walking. When we arrive, it is definitely the sort of place I'd normally avoid. Fancy, with no peeling paint, all of the wood and metal is polished, and just expensive in general. I bet the tablecloths cost hundreds of varru each.

We're seated by a man in formal clothes, and served by a woman in a simple, yet no doubt expensive dress. Wine and water are our drinks, and the wine changes with every dish. It's a seven-course meal, and it's good. It's also expensive, and while I know Jason is paying for it… it still makes me uncomfortable.

I probably watch Jason more than I pay attention to my meal. We never really do 'just dates', so this worries me. Watching him is easier than focusing on the fancy food we're being served. He's really handsome, and all of his movements look fluid, natural.

I'd rather go back to the mansion and snuggle against him on the couch as we read a story together. Or go to his workroom and watch as he made some new invention, or just worked on making another of something he and his papas and mamas already invented.

After we finish our meals, Jason pays for the food, then we leave and start walking to the amphitheater, holding hands as we go.

"Jason," I say, and he looks at me, those grey eyes of his deep and beautiful. "Can we not go to the amphitheater?"

"Sure," he says, worry suddenly filling his eyes. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," I answer. "It's just… we never go on dates like this. And when we do, it's a group thing, usually with Niko and Princess Lina. It makes me worried, especially with the war going on, that ya ain't gonna be around for awhile, and this kind of date ain't feeling like us anyway."

Jason looks forward as he scratches the back of his neck, and I return to watching him as we walk. His hairpins today are grey with violet tips. He must have changed them when he took a shower, I remember them being dark blue when I saw him talking with his brother.

"I'm not going away," Jason finally speaks again, looking at me once more. "I wanted to take you on a more proper date than we usually go on. I didn't mean to worry you, Alex. It was mostly meant as an apology for abandoning you at the dance."

"Jason, ya goof," I pull him against me, planting my lips on his and engaging him in a short, but sweet, kiss. "Ya are already forgiven for that."

He steps back now that our kiss is over, though we're still holding hands. He's blushing a little, and looking away. He feels embarrassed over the reason for his attempt at a proper date.

"Our dates ain't like this," I tell him as we resume walking. "I like how we normally do it, Jason. Those feel more like us."

"Alright," he says. "Let's head back to the mansion, then."

We do, walking the entire way. The sun sets awhile before we arrive, and the walk is quite peaceful and silent. When we arrive at the house, I sit on one of the couches while Jason heads to the library. The Sages are gone for now, it seems, and Tiger Alpha is 'napping' on an armchair, Fox Alpha gone.

Cecilia brings us out tea, setting Jason's on the low table in here after handing me mine, then she returns to the kitchen, probably to prepare a light snack for us as well. Jason returns with a book and sits beside me.

"Imaeura," I read the title as I move beside him, ignoring Tiger Alpha's throat-clear at our closeness. "I haven't heard of this one."

"I had to return to the other house to grab it," Jason tells me. "I thought we had it in the library here, but we didn't. It's about a mage named Christopher who goes on a quest to slay the mage who cast a curse over his village. On the journey, he meets another mage, Esmeralda, and she helps him on his quest. It was one of the first books I read in this life. It's pretty good."

"Okay," I lean my head on his shoulder. "Start reading, yeah?"

"Yeah," Jason opens up the book, turning his gaze down to it as I watch him. "In the village of Varinas…"

(Niko, 16)

"Join me," I pat the blanket I spread out on the ground. "This area has been cleared for us by the Royal Guard, who are making sure no one comes upon our date."

The Royal Guard are watching us, though, as is their duty. Lina's guards are nearby as well, but a 'safe' distance away. We are currently near a cliff with a few trees, the area popular for dates according to my research.

Lina joins me on the blanket as I sit down, then lie back as she removes her boots, sets them on the grass, and lies back as well, the two of us making sure to not be too close. Otherwise, Bear Alpha will appear out of nowhere and force us to be 'me distance apart', as he would say.

I move my hand between us, and Lina's hand meets it a moment later. Her hand is so soft. For awhile, we just lie here and stare up at the stars, enjoying the cool spring night and the silence all around us. I'm also enjoying being with Lina, and I wish we could hurry through the next four and a half years so that we can graduate university and marry already. I do not like being distanced from her so much.

Part of the reason for this is probably because of what Sage Elena told me the other day. She says that I have formed strong emotional attachments to the first people who have shown genuine interest and friendship to me, to the first person to show love for me.

That does not matter to me, though. Jason is my closest friend, and Lina is the woman I love. But maybe she is right, and it comes from a longing to feel loved, to fill the gap formed by my family's neglect and shunning of me.

Clearing the negative thoughts from my head, I focus back to the here and now. This is enough for me, even with my wish for us to not have to distance ourselves so much. Feeling the softness of her hand, remembering the smell of her perfume when I kissed her after dinner, just being near her.

I love Lina.

"Lina," I say after awhile, making sure my voice is soft and not too loud.

"Yes?" She asks, her voice soft as well.

"Your birthday is next month, yes?" I ask.

"It is," she answers. "Jacob and I will turn seventeen on the equinox, on the twenty-fourth of next month."

"So a little more than a month from now," I say, and she gives my hand a light squeeze.

"You do not need to give me a present," Lina tells me. "I know you are attempting to think of what you should have made for or given to me."

"It would be discourteous of me not to," I tell her. "And it is best to begin preparations in advance. I will also need to have an outfit made for the feast and dance your papa will throw."

Hopefully, Jason will be willing to make it for me. Or I could ask Sage Elizabeth for a formal outfit for the event.

"Niko," Lina says. "We are not like Jacob and Tasha, where we have not known each other nearly our entire lives and know almost everything about the other. I know you well enough to know you will worry and stress over what to give me for my birthday because of that. If you insist on giving me a present for my birthday, Niko, then give me a dress."

"A dress?" I ask.

"Yes," she answers. "A dress to wear to the celebrations. It would make it easier to coordinate our outfits as well if you did that, as you would know what I am wearing in advance."

A dress could work. Would Sage Elizabeth be willing to make an outfit for each of us? Or should I look into someone else? There are not many authorized to take Lina's measurements, though, so if I do not go through one of the four, it will need to be adjusted on the day of her birthday. That is not something I would like.

Lina squeezes my hand, reminding me that we are on our date and pulling me out of my thoughts. I return to simply focusing on the stars and the sky above, and the presence of my betrothed beside me.

"The stars are beautiful, are they not?" I ask Lina.

"They are," she chuckles. "Thank you for arranging this, Niko. It is not often I am able to simply enjoy a nice evening stargazing."

"I had to negotiate with your papa for a week," I tell her. "I wanted only ten Royal Guards watching us, but he wanted forty. We managed to compromise at the twenty-three who are protecting us now."

Zachary is quite protective of his children, and wanted to ensure that if there was an attack, then Lina would be safe. I suppose the reason he added six more guards today was because of the attack on Jason and me during training. He never informed me that we were at twenty-nine guards, and I will probably not inform him I know about the other six.

"That is part of why it is difficult," she tells me.

"That is why I wanted to arrange this," I give her hand a squeeze. "I know your times like this are rare and far between."

Especially after her mama's death when she was younger, but I am not to bring that up. Jacob and Lina both grow quite depressed when thinking about her death, especially as the one behind it was never caught.

We fall silent again, and I contemplate telling Lina about my leg. In the end, though, I decide not to, so that we can enjoy this date together, before we must return to our respective homes and sleep so that we are rested for university tomorrow.

Despite that, I am still happy. Happy and content. Dates like this are hard to manage because of Zachary's paranoia, but they are the kind Lina prefers, and seeing her happy makes me happy.