It was the fourth day of cloudy skies, and Beau began to think that he would not feel the warmth of the sun again. A gust of cold wind blew across the Holdfast, followed by a drizzle of rain. He preferred a full downpour of rain because maybe the bad weather would pass quicker. The rain clouds lingered over Mount Hope, and it felt like there would be no end to the darkness flowing down from the northern mountains.

Beau picked up his scrolls—documents given to him by scholar Corin. Today he was reviewing tax collection and how the money was applied to benefit society. Beau sat on a tall backed chair, writing at a large wooden desk. He was in the scholar’s chambers, a neat nook upon the second floor of his uncles Holdfast. Like the weather outside, the walls and floors were all gray and made of stone. The room had one window that looked out over the central yard. Though it was mid-morning, he worked by candlelight.

Sitting next to him was his cousin Julius. At eleven years old, Julius was one year older than Beau. He was similar in height, and both were light brown in complexion and kept their hair cut the same. A short tuft on the top with the sides cleanly shaved toward a sharp point to the back. Beau’s Uncle made sure to keep them well-groomed. He insisted on the traditional Middle Island military haircut.

“Did you hear me, Beaumont?” scholar Corin asked. The scholar was an older man, with pale, wrinkled skin and a balding head of black hair with a bushy beard and bright blue eyes.

Beau was not listening, being distracted by the foul weather and brooding over having to work on his lessons. Glancing at the books on the shelf, he realized that he would spend a vast majority of his time reading.

Corin followed his gaze to the shelf and sighed before sitting down on the table. “Many more hours of reading to come. I know how overwhelming that must feel. You should have seen the collection before the fire. What we have here are the only books I could save before Rancine sacked the capital.”

“Must we read them all?” Julius asked as he yawned. He was standing in the back to peek out the window. Beau did not know why he cared so much; there was nothing to see but a muddy yard.

“No, not all of them,” Corin said. “But most. A diligent man would read everything he could get his hands on but in good time. Remember, if you ever have questions that go unanswered—“

“Always refer to books,” The boys replied in unison.

“Yes, we will see,” Corin replied, smiling as he began slowly pacing the room. “We can complete your writing at a later time, let us continue to review the current state of affairs in the Middle Islands.”

“Rancine secures power by fueling a civil war,” Julius blurted out, still looking out of the window.

“The war is important, but there is more to it than that,” Corin replied. “He cannot fight the entire nation on his own, can he? Beaumont, you wish to add to this?”

“He secures his power by building strong alliances with the most wealthy families,” Beau said.

Corin smiled at Beau, his eyes sparkling with an accepting warmness. “That is right. Everyone needs allies, even Rancine. So, as distasteful as it may seem to him, he must court some of his enemies. Several influential families are being raised high by Rancine, and as long as they benefit under his rule, they will never oppose him.”

“How long will his reign last?” Beau asked.

“If the families remain loyal, likely for a very long time,” Corin said sadly. “You will secure victory by breaking his alliances. If you can successfully eradicate the trust between him and his allies, you will greatly weaken his military advantage and strengthen your own at the same time.”

“But how can Beau do that?” Julius asked, turning to Corin. “How do we even begin to negotiate with them if we know they are friendly to our enemy?”

“By forming alliances of your own.”

“You expect us to befriend the people who support Rancine?” Julius scoffed. “They cannot be trusted. They betrayed Uncle Bohemond, and they will do the same thing to us the first chance they get. No, they have to be defeated and punished.” Beau knew his cousin’s mind before he spoke the words; he sounded like his father. Fighting was his answer to all their problems in the Middle Islands. His uncle Milton was a soldier before they came to Mount Hope, and Julius had aspirations to be a warrior as well. Beau wished he could care as much as Julius did about the war, but he did not.

He had only seen maps of the Middle Islands and everything he knew he learned from Corin and Milton. He heard endlessly about the cities near the ocean and the black sand beaches. His uncle would go on about the lush jungles and boast about the exotic fruits only found in the Middle Islands.

Beau would faint interest the best he could. However, in his heart, he did not care. He was happy in Mount Hope. It was peaceful, and everyone got along. He liked the food and the people here. The thought of leaving always left him with a feeling of dread. Why would anyone want to leave a serene life and go into a place where war was the least of the dangers to fear?

Besides all the talk of fruits, lush forest, clear blue seas, and endless summer, he was the one who would have to wear the crown. He would have to face Rancine, a seasoned warrior and politician. The man who murdered his father and mother. Why didn’t he care more, he wondered. Why could he not make himself angry like his cousin and his uncle? He looked at Julius, watching the fire that burned within his eyes, that lust he had for battle, and knew he could never speak his thoughts out loud. He was the heir to the throne, but how could he tell them he did not want to be king. He wanted to be Beaumont of Mount Hope, not Beaumont, son of the great warrior King Bohemond.

“You will find justice and punishment a lot more complicated on such a scale,” Corin said. “Without the support of the families, there is no crown. We need their men, and we need their wealth. It is this unique bond that makes a nation. A king cannot isolate himself upon the throne. He must always open his heart and mind to his people.”

“Even if the people do not want him as their king?” Beau asked in an attempt to mask his true feelings within the question. Corin looked at him, and Beau thought he saw what looked like sadness in his eyes, though he smiled. He felt Corin suspected his doubt, but he never confronted Beau about it.

“The people do not choose the King, Beaumont,” Corin said. “God chooses the king for the better of the people.”

“But it was Amost the High Priest of the Paladins who appointed my father to the throne,” Beau replied. “He had mystical power, but he was not a God.”

“There was no man in the world closer to God than Amost,” Corin replied. “He chose your father because it was his destiny. If it were not by the decree of the High Priest, then it would have come to pass by your father’s determination. He was the man leading the slave revolt in the Middle Islands months before the Paladins arrived to help us. It was inevitable.”

Now the burden of the crown fell on Beau’s shoulders. He could not find it in himself to thank a father he never knew. Being the king and leading a nation was his father’s dream, not his. The crown should have died with him. Beau noticed his cousin giving him a curious look, and he feared that maybe he showed his feelings too plainly. He quickly returned to the original point of their discussion.

Beau cleared his throat loudly before addressing Corin. “In any case, I don’t see why they would follow me over Rancine. Though I am the son of the true king, they did not oppose Rancine. He appointed himself through murder and took control by force. Am I expected to do the same in return?”

“It was not simple murder, Beaumont,” Corin said. “It was a carefully planned execution that took some years. Rancine, through carefully laid traps, made your father look weak and undermined his policies, while at the same time feigning friendship and loyalty. One by one, he began losing his support until he was all alone. When the time was right, Rancine convinced the clans that a change was needed, so some let it happen, others actively participated. This is an important distinction that you should remember, to avoid falling into the same trap. It is the sword that you don’t see that is the deadliest.

“The families care only for wealth and power. It would be best if you convinced them that their status and power would remain, and even flourish under your rule. It is about gaining their confidence; you cannot approach them with threats of retribution. That will play out in due time. However, you two must know that in life, not all get the justice we think they deserve. Be comforted in the fact that God will always balance the scales, and all wrongs will be made right in the end.”

At that moment, there was a single knock, the door swung open, and Milton entered the room. He was brown of complexion and stood at average height. He had a broad figure and bright brown eyes. Unlike most of the men Beau knew in Mount Hope, his uncle always kept his face clean of hair and his head shaved in the same military cut Beau and Julius wore.

“Corin. Boys,” Milton said. “I thought I would find you here.”

“Hello, father,” Julius said with a bright smile.

“Hello, Uncle,” Beau said as he stood up to take Milton’s forearm in greeting.

“I am sorry to interrupt you,” Milton said to Corin. “But we must speak right away.” Beau noticed a lack of his Uncle’s usual cheerfulness. He was concerned about something, and it was critical. Corin seemed to pick up on it as well, as he nodded silently.

Corin turned to Beau and Julius. “Continue reading while we speak. I will be only a moment.” Milton held the door open for Corin as he walked outside and with a curt nod to the boys, he pulled it shut behind him.

“Something is wrong,” Julius said after a moment. He walked over to the window and pushed open one of the shutters.

“He seemed more serious than usual. I hope that everyone is well.” Beau said as he joined his cousin.

“It’s just a little rain,” Julius said. “I am sure we will not hear of anyone drowning in the river. Like all the rain that fell before, it will pass.” Julius leaned against the windowpane and stuck his arm out to feel the droplets.

“I know that,” Beau replied. “I have been feeling uneasy these last few days, is all. It’s like—“Julius slapped him softly on his arm.

“Hold on, look down by the shed,” Julius said, pointing. “Who are those men?” Beau leaned on the ledge and peered out. He saw two tall men in green hooded cloaks. He could see their faces clearly, but he did not recognize them. They had ruddy skin with thick black beards. They were also wearing leather armor and carrying weapons. One had a longbow, and both had swords hanging from their belts.

“Maybe they are soldiers,” Beau said in wonder. “Look at how they are armed. No one walks about Mount Hope like that.”

“But why would soldiers be in our yard?” Julius asked. It was not unheard of them to have guests, but armed guest was a rarity. They welcomed visitors at the keep, and he was curious to learn more about these men in the yard. News from outside of Mount Hope was appreciated, though it was mostly conflict and drama. At times it felt like all of Dayconis was at war and remaining in Mount Hope was the safer choice.

Corin returned, but Milton did not look pleased. He avoided making eye contact with Beau and Julius as he stood in the doorway.

“Listen, gentlemen,” Corin said. “We have some unexpected guests. They have arrived to see our prince. They come to see you, Beaumont.” Beau was speechless, though many questions swirled about in his mind. They did not discuss his title openly. No one in Mount Hope knew his secret, and he was curious at who would have such secret knowledge.

“We should not keep them waiting,” Corin said as he began putting books away. Beau and Julius started helping him tidy up. Milton grumbled to himself impatiently. Beau wondered what had his Uncle in such a mood. His Uncle suddenly left, his boots echoing down the hallway.

“Do not mind him,” Corin said. “He is very protective of you and Julius, and only wants to keep you safe.”

“Are we in trouble?” Beau asked.

“No, you are not in any trouble,” Corin said, though Beau felt he sounded unsure. “Let us not assume anything. We shall meet the guest and ask some questions. Remember you two, watch your manners, we have been over how you are expected to conduct yourself in meetings, yes?” Beau nodded.

“Well, Julius?” Corin said as he saw the boy looking out of the window. “Did you hear me? What are you looking at?”

“The visitors,” Julius said. “Are they soldiers? Are we meeting those two men in the yard?” Corin walked over and looked out. The two men slowly looked up. Beau thought they had cold and empty eyes. They were not hostile, but they were not welcoming. He shivered and stepped away from the window.

“No…not those men,” Corin said. “But they came with the guest we are meeting. They escorted her here.”

“We are meeting a woman?” Beau asked.

“Yes, come, let us go down to the hall and make introductions.” Corin shuffled the boys out of the room and locked his study. They walked down a narrow staircase that led directly to the feasting hall. The room was once a barrack, but Milton had everything cleared out once they arrived in Mount Hope and purchased the land.

Milton named the Holdfast after himself and to Beau it was home. He liked to think of it as his castle in the mountains. The main building did not have majestic guard towers, and most of the original outer walls were gone, yet it was the only Holdfast in the region that remained from Mount Hopes long-forgotten past. He was not entirely clear why the original inhabitants abandoned the place, but he was happy to live there now. Julius said it was a dragon that drove them away. It was clear that fire destroyed many of the Mount Hope ruins. Beau was sure it was merely the result of men fighting one another, just like they did in the Middle Islands and every other country in the known world of Dayconis.

The feasting hall had two long tables lined with chairs. There was a large double door leading directly to the yard with two shutters along the same wall, now open to let in what little light was available from the overcast skies. As Beau stepped into the Hall, he saw his uncle standing toward the front with his arms crossed. There was also a tall man with sun-tanned skin and long brown hair, and a woman. Her head was at shoulder height with the two men standing next to her. She was dark of skin with jet black hair in a tight ponytail. She wore a travel-worn cloak tossed back over her slender shoulders. She was the prettiest woman Beau had ever seen. He noticed a short sword at her hips, a weapon he hardly saw and never on a woman.

Beau followed closely behind Julius and Corin as they made their way toward Milton and the strangers. It was at that moment he noticed another man sitting quietly upon a stool near the window. He looked directly at Beau as he drank from a mug. His skin complexion was dark with a glistening bald head and a salt and pepper beard. Beau did not like the look of him. His eyes were piercing, though he only locked eyes with the man for only a moment. The man had a dirty green cloak draped over his shoulders, and dark clothes, which combined with the poor light in the Hall made him a frightening looking figure.

As they approached the front of the Hall, Corin and Julius stepped aside to let Beau come to the forefront. The woman looked down at him, and she seemed to be struck dumb. Beau thought he could see her hands tremble, but he was not sure. As Corin had explained to him many times before, tradition dictated that the visitors present themselves. The woman looked at Beau in silence, and it felt like he was standing there for a long time under her piercing gaze.

An audible sigh from Milton broke her out of her momentary paralysis, and she finally took a knee to address Beau. “My apologies, Prince Beaumont, I am truly in awe to be within your presence. I am, Nisila of Rudel, a village on the main island of Aiti.”

Beau looked to Corin, as he felt unsure of himself. He had never actually had anyone bow before him or address him as a prince. He took a deep breath and recited his practiced manners. “Greetings, Nasila of Rudel. Rudel is a large province that has remained friendly to my family. For that, I thank you.” Beau extended his hand toward Nasila with his palm facing up. Nasila gently held him by his wrist and forearm as she leaned forward and touched his palm with her forehead. Her fingers felt rough, and though she only laid a light touch upon Beau’s arm, he felt the strength in her hands. This woman was a warrior, a thing he had heard of but never seen in person. It was thrilling and strange all at once.

Nisila stood and presented her companion. “This is Adore Hamhas of the New Brotherhood. Without him and his men, I would not have found my way to you. I only hope I come in time.”

“Your arrival is questionable,” Milton said unkindly. “You are unannounced, and you ride armed, and with sell-swords. What is the meaning of this? You risk much coming here in this fashion.” Nisila glared at Milton, her lip twitching as she struggled to control her tongue.

“Shall we sit down,” Corin said nervously. “I will have some wine prepared.”

“That would be much appreciated,” Adore replied.

“We are fine,” Nisila snapped as she sat down. Adore looked visibly disappointed as he remained standing at her side. He gave Beau a good-spirited nod with a smile, and Beau instantly liked the man. He reminded Beau of his uncle when he was in better spirits.

Corin was uncomfortable, and Beau could feel it as he sat next to him. The old scholar cleared his throat and addressed Nisila. “Milton has justification in his concerns, though I would have expressed it differently. Please, tell us why you are here.”

“Are you sure you want the boy present for this?” Milton asked Corin.

“Why do you address the Prince so disrespectfully?” Nisila snapped at Milton. “You cannot call him a boy, he is the prince of the Middle Islands, son of King Bohemond, and he should be addressed with the proper respect his stature commands.”

“What are you talking about?” Milton replied. “He is my nephew, and we are family. That’s how we get along here. We don’t need any of your title rubbish.”

“Titles matter, Milton,” Nisila said standing up to meet the old knight. “You of all people should know that. If Prince Beaumont cannot command respect from those closest to him, how will he command respect from the clans in the Middle Islands?”

“What the prince does is none of your concern,” Milton said as he glared at Nisila. “We have taken good care of the boy, and I kept him safe. However, you coming here puts his safety at risk. You must have been the village fool as a child.” Beau thought they would come to blows. He had never seen his uncle argue with another person as he did now.

Corin leaped between the two of them. “Come now, not like this. It is true, Nisila, we do not address Beaumont with his proper title. You see it was a matter of habit, to keep him safe. Not everyone here is from the old country, and as you know, one cannot be too careful. Come, tell us why you have come.”

“If only I could have come sooner.” Nisila sighed. She looked at Beau and slowly sat back down. “A high-ranking member of the resistance was captured by Rancine’s men. His name was Denali, and he was one of the few who knew of Prince Beaumont’s location. We feared that it was only a matter of time before Rancine’s warlocks broke him and learned the truth.”

Beau read about the warlocks in several of the old histories Corin assigned him. They were men and women who channeled dark magic and used blood sacrifice to control spells. His mother shared ancestry with the customs, but not his father, and at the request of High Priest Amost, the practices were forbidden. Hearing Nisila speak of them now and how they broke a man frightened him.

“Rancine’s warlocks would need only to learn the name of Mount Hope,” Nisila continued. “With that name alone they would search far and wide and eventually find him. The prince is no longer safe here.”

“No, thanks to you, and your band of fools, he may already be exposed,” Milton said.

Nisila ignored him and went on. “After meeting with the leaders of the resistance, it was decided that our original plan would not work. We cannot wait for the prince to be a man grown before returning him to the Middle Islands. He faces grave danger, and we alone have the strength to keep him safe.”

Milton looked confused. “What does that mean? Will you remain here with these sell-swords?”

“No, that was not the plan we had in mind,” Nisila said. She took a breath and looked directly at Beau. “My Prince, you must return to the Middle Islands with me. With the help of the New Brotherhood—“

“Absolutely not!” Milton shouted cutting her off. “You are insane if you think I would allow you to take Beaumont to the Middle Islands.”

Corin again stood between Milton and Nisila as they both began to shout over one another. “Calm yourselves. Nisila, the decision would ultimately have to be finalized by the Strategist, I would be interested in learning the reasoning behind such a drastic decision.”

Beau looked at Milton and Corin, finding it hard to believe what he was hearing. “I must leave Mount Hope? Why do I have to leave? Who is the Strategist?” Beau felt a sudden panic at the thought of having to travel to the Middle Islands.

“The Prince does not know of the Strategist?” Nisila asked.

“I was waiting for the right time to tell him,” Corin said quickly. “There is so much that he must learn. I do not think he is ready to leave Mount Hope.”

“Of all the things he should learn, that is the most important,” Nisila replied. “The Strategist saved his life. If it were not for those efforts, none of you would be alive. The Strategist leads the resistance against Rancine and will be his number one advisor in the struggles to come.” Beau had thought Corin and Milton were the ones who saved him. He wondered now about this mysterious person. However, he was not curious enough to want to leave Mount Hope.

“We will speak more about that when the time is right,” Corin said. “But first tell me, what will be his fate if he returns to the Middle Islands now? How would they keep him safe?”

“I will not lie to you, I do not have all the answers,” Nisila said. “But I can say this. With my life, I will see the prince safely home. Once he is in the care of the Strategist, I am confident he will be safe enough to continue his training.”

Milton laughed out loud. “You are mad. You cannot keep him safe in the Middle Islands. Will you take him to Aiti? Where he will be set upon by hordes of soldiers and dark magicians? Or maybe he will flee among the lesser Islands like some homeless wanderer, with no home, no family, and in constant fear of his life?”

Hearing his Uncles words made Beau even more afraid. He glanced back at his cousin, who was standing quietly and listening. Julius only looked at him and shrugged, and whatever encouragement or answers he hoped his cousin would have was gone. Beau did not know what to do, but it did not feel right that everyone around him was discussing his fate.

“You have such little faith,” Nisila said. “He has the blood of a king within him. He will be the true ruler of the Middle Islands one day. However, our prince cannot do it alone; he needs us. He has it in him to bring unity back to our country, and he is the only one that will bring an end to this civil war.”

Nisila took a knee and addressed Beau directly. “My Prince. Your father was a magnificent king, and I am sure you have heard the stories of his conquest. He has left behind a grand legacy to live up too, but I promise you his strength is in you. The free citizens of the Middle Islands need security, Prince Beaumont. If you stay here, you might lose your chance to save them. Rancine’s agents are coming, and they are likely on their way to Hattan as we speak—“

“That is enough.” Milton grabbed Nisila roughly by her shoulder and pulled her up. She reacted with lightning speed, snapping hold of Milton’s wrist and twisting his arm. He cried out in pain.

Julius jumped forward as he saw his father going down. “You let go of him.”

Beaumont stood clear as Corin was again forced to stop the two from clashing. Adore quickly positioned himself between Nisila and Milton.

“You would draw weapons in my hall?” Milton cried as he stared at Adore. The sell-sword had his hand upon the pommel of his sword, as did his men who suddenly appeared from the yard when they heard Milton cry out.

Adore looked down at his hand and then signaled his men to stand down. “I mean no offense, my lord. It is a natural reaction; I would not dare raise weapons against you, especially before the two boys.”

“Bloody witch,” Milton screamed at Nisila. “You go too far, scaring the boy with your lies. Rancine has not sent anyone, has he? You spin your lies to force his hand. I won’t stand for it.”

“I am loyal to the prince,” Nisila shouted as Adore held her back. “I will give everything for him. I have long forfeit my life for his own, as have other people much greater than me. I tell you no lie. What I say will come to pass if you do nothing.” Beau thought he could hear her voice nearly breaking. He could see that her eyes were tearing up, but she remained resolute.

“Nothing will stop me from keeping him safe,” Nisila said as she stood back, breathing deeply. Beau could hear his uncle shouting, but the words made no sense. They were all angry, and it was because of him. His uncle had doubts, but Beau believed Nisila was telling the truth. It was a truth he did not want to hear, but there was no running from his fate.

If Rancine wanted him dead, what would stop him from bringing the violence in the Middle Islands to Mount Hope? Beau realized that his selfishness would endanger the land he truly loved. He had to make a decision, and he could not do it thinking only of himself. A king belonged to the people, and it was his duty to serve them.

He could not stand the shouting and fighting. They were getting louder and louder until all he could hear was an unyielding roar.

Beau spoke up just loud enough to be heard over the arguing. “I will go.”

“What was that, son?” Milton said. “You want to go to the Middle Islands?”

“Yes, I will go,” Beau replied. He hated saying the words, and even as they left his lips, he felt regret. There was no going back now. Beau could not express his fear; he had to go through with his decision. He sighed deeply and cursed his unfortunate fate, wishing he was the son of a farmer. It would seem the Gods had decreed that he be the son of a king. As the prince, it was his duty to take the crown. There was no separating his life from his service to his country.

Beau noticed that everyone was looking at him. Corin seemed proud, though Beau did not feel any pride in what he was doing. Beau wanted to hide away in his room and end this terrible meeting. He could not imagine experiencing anything worse than this moment.

Milton looked stunned as he addressed his nephew. “Beaumont, do you know what you are saying? If you leave Mount Hope, son, you will never be safe again. You no longer have family in the Middle Islands, only men, and women who are fighting for power. Are you sure you want to enter that life?” Beau could not find the words to express himself as fear gripped his mind.

“He has made his choice,” Corin said. “In any other circumstance, I would agree with you, Milton. In this case, we have the decision from the Strategist. The decision was made to make Prince Beaumont safe. I say we follow Nisila and make our way to the Middle Islands.” Beau felt his stomach churn, and he thought he would throw up. There was no going back now. They were going to leave.

“How soon can you be prepared to leave?” Nisila asked.

“We will need two days at the very least,” Corin replied.

“I cannot believe you are going to go through with this,” Milton said. “Beaumont leaves Mount Hope, and we play right into Rancine’s hand. You will deliver him right to the bastard. Is that what you want, Corin?”

“What I want is to see the prince claim his throne,” Corin sighed. “Listen to me, Milton. It is not what we planned, but this is our reality now, and we must see it through. “

“You’re a fool,” Milton shouted. “You will kill him. His blood is on your hands, and you, Nisila, you will go down in history as the one who let Rancine win. Come, Julius.” Julius looked at Beau and shook his head sadly before following his father out of the Hall.

Nisila looked at Beau and smiled. “My Prince, I promise you that I will see you home safely. There will be such joy and celebration once your people see you step foot back onto the Islands.” Beau felt his emotions rising, and he could not control it anymore. She stood before him smiling, oblivious to the fact that she shattered his world. He no longer felt afraid; he was now angry. Nisila was the cause of all of this.

“Why did you have to come here,” Beau shouted at her.

Corin stood aghast at the sudden outburst. “Beaumont, you cannot speak to your guest in that fashion, control yourself.” Beau fled from the Hall, his eyes streaming with tears. He ran directly into the New Brotherhood man who was sitting near the window when he first entered. The tall man looked down at him with mean eyes but stepped aside to let him go.

As Beau fled the Hall, he heard Nisila speaking to Corin. “It is all right; he is upset. I understand. He will be better once he takes to the road.”

Beau took the stairs two at a time as he made his way to his quarters. He dashed into the room and swung the door shut, throwing himself upon his bed. He cried and cried, with no end to the sadness that tormented him.

Julius knocked on the door and then let himself in. Beau tried to control himself, not wanting to cry before his cousin. Julius sat on the foot of the bed with his back to him and remained silent. After a few minutes, Beau calmed down.

He sat up next to his cousin and wiped the tears from his face. “I am such a fool. Why did I say I would go? It was a foolish decision, I was trying to be kingly, but all I did was ruin everything.”

“You are going because it is the right thing to do,” Julius said. “If Rancine is looking for you, do you want him coming here?”

“It is how I saw things as well,” Beau said. “Yet, I still hate it. I don’t want to go to the Middle Islands, not yet.”

“When will be the right time, Beau?” Julius said as he turned around to face him. “You are the prince and heir to the throne. You must rule, and to rule, you must go home. You will have an army, allies, and advisors. I will always be with you, as well.”

Julius placed his hand upon Beau’s shoulder and rocked him gently. “Cheer up, cousin. You will see, it will all work out in the end. Don’t you want to go on a grand adventure? We will travel and see so many different places. It is the start of your story, the story of Prince Beaumont.”

“You are the one who cares for traveling,” Beau said. “I like it here just fine. I would live my whole life here if I could.”

“Stop sulking,” Julius replied. “Come, let us go find some treats in the kitchen. It will do you some good.”

“How can you think of treats?” Beau whined. “There is no food in the world that would save this day. I want to stay in my room.”

“Why? So you could cry all day. You are a prince of a nation, with people looking to you to protect them. You are letting the words of that stupid woman and a little bad weather ruin your mood. I won’t let it get me down; I look forward to the journey. You will see, it will be a splendid adventure that you will remember for all your days.” Beau peered out the single window of his room. It faced the back of the Holdfast overlooking a forest laden with golden leaves. In the distance, the northern mountains wore dark clouds on their peaks.

Beau sighed and remained leaning on the window sill, doing his best to ignore his cousin. Julius shook his head and walked out of the room. Maybe his cousin was right. He was nearly a man, and a prince of the Middle Islands, everyone expected more of him. He wished he had the heart to embrace his fate, but the more he tried, the more the burden weighed him down.