As spring came, the white blanket slowly melted away, a female red-winged blackbird hopped on the newly defrosted grass, her deep brown legs matching the soil below. She has feathers the colors of every tree, of every wisp of wood that promised life to come. There was something in the way she moves, a joy, as she relished the season change. Eireen watched it excitedly, there was infectious joy brought by the bird also the fact that the big day was going to come in a few more days. The day where Goddess Aine would descend to select her chosen warrior; to lead them to victory; to end the war.

The palace ground never been this busy and crowded. The gathering of six kingdoms; Ursa, TreeOaks, Marama, Bridland, Haeban and Niji Kingdom. Stilla and Arriosa already succumbed under Ursa long before the war. So was Lenimore, that has become one with Bridland. Each kingdom sent out their best warriors and a group of royal guards to protect their nobles at the same time. Jace made sure that the palace was prepared to its best. He demanded the servants to have each tower, turrets, stone steps, massive oak doors, steeply twisting spiral staircases, rooms and the great hall spotless clean. Rich tapestries of emerald green and gold hung on the wall with each of the clans’ crests flags. He also has the guards to work extra hard and careful to stop any possible chance of spies in this big event.

People from all around the country came, excited to see the Goddess herself also the chance of seeing the chosen one first hand. Some people started to guess who would be the one, each has their own candidate to be and even started to make a bet on who would be the chosen one. Of course, the highest bet was on Jace Ursa, the young king.

Eireen duty for today was to feed and wash the mounts at one of the nobles stables. It was different compared when she was still in the elite troops. Before all she did was going to the battlefield, dungeons run, the council of war; where she barely said anything and just stood watching; and of course training with Jace; which she didn’t miss much. Today she went super early to the stable overflowing with positive energy. The energy she got while watching the red-winged blackbird, the fresh air of spring and excitement of the big day.

The water was cold, she shivered a bit while filling a bucket, carefully she carried the bucket toward Midnight Unicorn's stable door. She whispered as soft sing-song to the beautiful black mare and got her nickered happily. Eireen opened the stable door and slipped in with her bucket of cold water and quickly closed the door. She kept on humming a happy tune while she started her routine to wash the mare. When suddenly she heard a rustle somewhere near the pile of hays behind the mare. She stopped her activity and anxiously move towards the noise direction, her left hand grabbed the rake that lay on the side of the wall and prepared for anything that might jump on her.

As she came closer to the spot, she saw a man was curling on the pile of hays. His long wavy gradient blue-purple hair fell covering half of his face, his creamy skin cheeks tinted with rose color, and his steady breathing showed that he wasn’t dead. Some strong liquor scent hit Eireen’s nose as she got closer that she couldn’t help to scrunch her nose; this man must have been really drunk to fell asleep in a stable. Eireen contemplating on waking him up or not. His outfit obviously showed that he was one of the nobles. He might not like the idea to be found drunk and sleeping in a barn by some random commoner. After thinking about it she decided to quietly leave the stable after she finished her work. She tiptoed carefully, returned to her work and started washing the unicorn at a faster pace.

She was so focused on doing her job. She didn’t realize that the man has awakened and watched her with interest. His amber eyes gazing her; evaluating. His lips quivered a loop side grin and his finger tapped on them thoughtfully.

---

“Great job, for inviting your cousin Amiera,” Jace pat her shoulder with a satisfied smile. They were having their morning breakfast.

“With such a long war we need all the help we could get. We need his strength also resources,” he added.

“Inviting him to such a huge banquet is easy. He is always interested in alcohol and pretty girls. And I doubt he would miss the chance on seeing the Goddess up and personal,” Amiera said solemnly, “to actually interest him to be a part of the elites to fight the battle … that’s a different story. Besides, to be honest, it has been years since I saw him. I don’t know how much has he changed. ”

“Is he that impartial over the whole situation?” Jace surprised, “I mean, If our side loses, he would have to face lots of trouble too.”

Amiera shrugged, “He is the laziest man I ever know. He has everything in his hand from a young age; talent, power, skill, looks, and richness. He is not interested in lifting his finger more over to actually battling.”

“There should be something that we can offer him? Something that he really wanted,” Jace pondered.

“What that could be?” a honeyed voice suddenly entering the room, “what’s this? Are you two talking about me behind my back?”

“Scry!” Amiera smiled gently as soon as she saw him and approached her cousin, “Did you have a nice sleep?”

The man with blue-purple gradient long wavy hair smiled back and pull her to his embrace, “My my you have grown so much my dear cousin. I should have asked your hand in marriage if I knew you would be this beautiful.”

“What are you saying, you know I am betrothed to Jace already,” Amiera broke the hug and laughed shyly.

Scry turned his attention towards Jace and he bowed down, “oh good morning, my liege, forgive my ignorance. I am just blinded by this beautiful cousin of mine”

“Good morning, Scry TreeOaks,” Jace nodded sourly. Scry obviously ignoring his presence when he was supposed to pay him respect first then saying his to Amiera, “ are you joining us for breakfast?”

“That would be my pleasure, “Scry as he sauntered towards the dining table.

The moment he slid into his chair, he was served with an enormous platter of food. Mushroom soup, bitter greens with tomatoes the size of peas, rare roast beef slices as thick as a book, huge platter of fowl stuffed with savory fruit and nuts, ocean creatures drizzled in sauce, cheese that melts on your tongue served with sweet blue grapes. The servers, all young people dressed in white tunics move wordlessly to and from the table, keeping the platters and glasses full.

“So, what are you guys talking about behind my back?” he asked as soon as he sat down, even before he took a bite of the food that has been served.

Amiera flushed and looked at Jace waiting for his response.

Jace gave out his business smile calmly, “well I’ll be straight to the point then. We need you to help us win this battle, will you lend us your strength?”

“Hmm, as you have heard from Amiera. I am pretty much a peace lover. War and fighting not something I would like to participate in. I am not that religious to actually interested in marching out for our Goddess,” his loop side grin rose up, “besides, pretty sure you expect more than just my battling skill.”

Jace cleared his throat, uncomfortable on how straight forward Scry was, “… that’s true.”

“So…,” Scry raised his brows teasingly, “what do you need? You said you going to be straight to the point, but it seems there’s more than just that.”

“Scry?!” Amiera protested

“What’s wrong?” Scry tilted his head, acting innocent, “he is your future husband, right? We just have an open conversation between brothers.”

“But --,” Amiera started again but before she finished her sentence Jace raised his hand stopping her.

“Fine, I’ll be honest. The long war we have been dealing with, have drained most of our resources. We have high hopes with the Goddess plan in choosing her warrior, but…,” Jace took a deep breath in, “we got to admit we need gold and resources.”

“So, besides my body, you wanted my country richness too, my liege?” Scry jeered, “isn’t that a little bit greedy?”

“Scry that’s not the right way to talk to your king!” Amiera barked, “Besides, isn’t that a common sense, to serve your kingdom?”

“Tut tut tut my sweet little cousin, I am from Treeoaks kingdom, even though my kingdom has agreed on alliancing with Ursa, that doesn’t make him as my king,” He calmly interjected at the same time he glanced teasingly at the Jace, “isn’t that true my liege?”

Jace felt the slow fire creeping up to his face but he pulled out a stiff smile in response, “It is true. Which is why I am offering a trade with you.”

“Hmm, a trade?” Scry plucked a grape and rolled it around his fingers for a few times playfully, then when he stopped, his eyes were imposing directly to Jace’s, “What kind of possible trade that would be a benefit for me and also my country? I wonder …”

Jace gulped a bit, it was rare for him to actually felt threatened by something, someone or anything, but this man, there was something malicious about him, his pretty look definitely hide the true darkness inside.

“What do you have in mind?” Jace finally asked.

“What do you think I should ask for a trade?” a sinister smile plastered on Scry face.

“Let me hear it first and I will decide afterward,” Jace put his hand together in front of his chin, there’s cautious air slowly rising.

Scry moved his attention toward his plate, slicing his roast beef leisurely and put the pieces in his mouth, “hmm, this is really high-quality beef, I wonder how could you have them in the ‘drained’ resources situation?”

He took a few more bite, ignoring how red Jace’s face was.

“They are from the royal warehouse, prepared specifically for the coming event,” Jace said through a gritted teeth. He didn’t like on how Scry put an irony on how the royalties still could have their luxuries even in the time of perils.

“Oh I see now, “ Scry chuckled, “I wonder if your citizen knew how well is their young king being fed when it was not for them?”

Jace stood up rashly, “Scry TreeOaks, mind your manner! I might be not your king, but I could still have your head for your irreverence!”

“Calm down my liege, I wasn’t trying to be impolite, forgive me if I sound like one,” Scry put up his hand in a defensive pose, he smiled apologetically, “I am saying this, wasn't because I don’t agree with you. On the contrary, I understand the importance of all this and I am willing to lend a hand.”

Amiera touched Jace stiffed arms, trying to soothe him down. Jace just pulled his arm away in an annoyed huff.

“...of course with a price,” added Scry with a wide grin.

Jace body shook with anger. He felt toyed like a helpless string doll, never been in his life he felt so insulted. His need, his kingdom need, his people, also the importance of winning the battle made him push down his pride to the lowest.

“Name your price and I will provide everything you need.”

“Everything?” Scry eyebrows rose up with interest, “are you sure my liege?”

“Yes! Everything but my life and the kingdom,” said Jace agitated.

“My liege!?” Amiera tried to warn him, but again Jace just brushed her away.

“Oh, don’t worry I am not interested in taking the country. It’s too much of a hassle,” Scry said waving his hand as if he was driving away from an annoying fly, “it won’t be that much honestly. I just want you to give me something of your possession.”

“A land? An artifact?”

“No, I have more than enough of those,” Scry responded nonchalantly, he paused a bit before continuing, “I want you to give me someone. A girl.”

“A girl? That’s easy! I can provide you with any girl you want!” Jace loosens up a bit, “I can even give you more than just one.”

‘… and here I thought he would demand a high price for his help’ Jace thought relieved.

“Not just any girl. One particular and very special girl,” Scry added eerily. His loop grin smile rose up as his amber eyes gleamed wickedly.