Matius hated scrying. It felt too much like getting lost.

There was no original course like the wind, instead he had to just throw himself into the void and hope his picture was enough of a tether to pull him towards something. Luckily there was something. The crown. He'd seen drawings and with Fiona's description he made his way towards it. Praising his luck he found a second thread—the desk.

Sure enough there the king was, sitting at the mahogany desk writing on parchment. He couldn't have been much older than Matius, but his face was lined with worry and dark circles hung under his tired eyes. His fingers, black with ink moved mechanically. Matius felt sorry for him.

Knowing he didn't have much time before Fiona either lost her nerve or grew suspicious, Matius blew forward. Papers fluttered and the King of Valhym looked around.

Matius bade the wind to whisper in his ear, "Don’t be afraid. I have a message from Fiona."

The king stood quickly, pulling a sword from his belt. "Who's there?"

The windows were boarded and seeing himself alone, the king slumped back into the chair, sword clattering onto the floor. "Calm down, Eirik, you're losing it," he muttered to himself.

"You're not mad. Your daughter wants to speak with you. I'm reaching out from the valley where she stays with her uncle."

Eirik sat up and gripped the desk, fingers white. "Who are you?"

"My name is Matius. I'm a mage, I am doing this with great risk because I too have questions. But before I ask them..."

The voice faded and a new one came, "Daddy?"

Eirik closed his eyes, he could picture her so vividly. "Fiona?" he breathed.

"Oh wow, he can hear me! Daddy! It's me, I'm here."

Her voice was shaky and a million warnings told Eirik he shouldn't trust this. This was a trap, a ruse, but his daughter's voice was in his ears.

"If it's really you then I hope you know that I love you and miss you."

"I miss you too...but I'm okay. Really. I..." Her voice paused and although Eirik tried to convince himself not to believe this was really his daughter, he leaned forward eagerly.

On the other side of the spell, Fiona hesitated. There was so much she wanted to say. She wanted to cry and tell him to come take her home but her father looked so sad in the image. She thought about her journal, what she'd wanted to write, what her mother wouldn't care about.

"I made a new friend. Her name's Libby. She's funny and we play in the woods and pretend to be tree spirits. You'd like her, I think."

Her father placed his head in his hands, his face obscured and her voice trembled. "I wish you were here. Daddy..."

Matius gently put an arm out, pushing her away from the pool. He could feel Eirik's anxiety and was afraid he'd lash out, fearing a trick. He stepped between Fiona and the pool.

"Your Majesty, I know this must be a surprise. I'm sure you have questions and doubts. I'll get Fiona home and then I'll do my best to see if I can answer them. If you wish that, stay alone so I can find you again."

He tapped the pool, ending the spell and breathed heavily, scrying was not easy. Fiona cried out as her father disappeared, her face was flushed and Matius knelt down.

"I know you wanted to talk more but think of it from his point of view. A magic voice suddenly appears claiming to be his daughter. I can tell he wanted to talk to you but he's worried it's some sort of trick. He is in a war with mages remember."

Fiona didn't take her eyes off the pool but nodded. She grabbed Matius. "But you'll explain right? You'll let us talk again?"

Her face was set and Matius felt a bit of doubt. If he screwed this up, there was a good chance Fiona would never trust him again.

He gave her an earnest smile. "I'll do everything I can."

Fiona nodded and helped Matius pack up the picnic. He flew her home and gave the suspicious Fenrin a small nod before vanishing again.

He had a king to talk to.