“I’ll have to strike quickly if I am to get in before the Keepers become defensive. I’ve spent a week to develop this plan and I have but a week to put it into action.”

Madia

The early morning light filled the red carpet with life as Madia sat across from the Dragonkind man in the grand hall. She watched as the castle’s unexpected guest tilted his head back and guzzled a full glass of water in one sip. He let out a sigh, wiping his mouth as he put the cup down on the table with a clap.

“How long were you traveling to get here?” Madia asked.

The disheveled man looked up at her as he swallowed again. “A-about three days. I came from the mountains straight east of here and followed the river.”

“On foot?” Madia raised her voice a bit in surprise.

“Well, I flew when I needed to,” he said flexing his wings a little bit as he kept them folded close to his back.

“Is flying tiring?” Madia asked.

“Yes, it’s why I tried to avoid it, not to mention I’d rather not draw attention to myself.”

Madia leaned back in her chair within the spacious council hall. The curtains, which matched the crimson floor, swayed lightly in the early breeze, causing the sunbeams resting on the floor to drift.

The man across from her cleared his throat. “M’lady, if I may… why are these the questions you’re asking me?”

Madia blinked and leaned forward on the table. “What should I be asking you?”

The man seemed taken aback as he brushed his mottled hair away from his face. “Well, I was expecting much more suspicion.”

Madia smiled a little bit as she sat up straight again. “I am suspicious, yes. But at the same time, it’s clear to me that you’ve undergone a lot of suffering. Am I correct?”

The man looked away and did not respond. Madia reached across the table to take his cup and filled it with water again from a pitcher. The man looked back over and nodded his thanks, taking the cup in his hand and giving it a sip.

Madia smiled again before taking a sip from her own drink. “So… you had something you wished to speak with us about,” she began.

“Yes, of course. I came to tell you that our people need help…” he said after a pause.

Madia placed a hand to her chin. “So this is not news you are delivering, but a request.”

The man winced, before sighing and nodding. “Yes m’lady…” He appeared defeated, slouched in his chair.

“I understand…” Madia consoled.

The man looked up, his mouth hanging open the slightest bit as he narrowed his eyes. “Pardon?”

Madia smiled and stood up. “I have worried for your people recently. They are confused in this new world. You need help finding direction, is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s exactly correct,” the Dragonkind responded, seeming to sit tall again in disbelief.

“I am going to bring Aevum in here. He’s the Keeper of Time, and our leader,” Madia explained. “I’m sure he would be more than willing to hear the struggles of your people.”

The man bit his lip, looking around nervously, before giving Madia a nod. “Understood.”

Madia gave him a slight bow. “I’ll be right back.”

The silence in the room returned as she walked towards the door, the only sound being that of her sandals sliding against the carpet. She stepped out and let out a sigh, shutting the door behind her. A pair of guards glanced at her as she stepped out.

“Keep watch, but be considerate if he comes to the door,” Madia instructed. “Something has him quite shaken. It would be wrong to give him further reason to worry.”

“Yes ma’am,” the guards replied simultaneously.

Madia continued on her way, walking down the now emptied hall. Everyone must be having breakfast by now. I hate to pull Aevum away, but this is important, she decided.

It wasn’t long before she rounded the corner of the hall and heard the clattering of dishes and murmuring of morning talks. She let out a satisfied sigh as she entered the private dining hall. “Good morning, everyone!” she said happily.

Simultaneously the people present at the long table turned and said “good morning!”

Madia scanned the room for a moment before recognizing Aevum’s light brown hair, still a little rough as though he’d just woken up.

“Aevum! There you are, sleepyhead!” she exclaimed as she strode across the room, stopping behind him.

The young man's mouth was full as he turned to look at her. “H-hmph-?” his eyes were wide in confusion as he held a glass of water in one hand and an apple in the other.

Madia giggled and sat down beside him for a moment, scooching her chair up close to him. “You slept in today! Were you up late?” she asked as she took a handkerchief and dabbed at his chin with it, where some of his food was still on his face.

Aevum tilted his head back and swallowed audibly. The epitome of grace as always… Madia chuckled to herself.

“Mph. No actually. Just felt like getting some extra shuteye,” he replied, still with a partially full mouth as he smiled a little at her.

Cael laughed from the opposite side of the table. “That’s odd for you. You have got the most rigid schedule in all the castle, even more so than Flain!”

“I’m not that rigid,” Flain muttered beside Cael as he plopped a strawberry into his mouth.

“What’s got you here so late, anyway?” Aevum asked, looking Madia in the eye.

“Didn’t Cael tell you? We’ve got a very… special guest that I’ve been talking to,” Madia responded.

“Oh yeah! I might have neglected to tell him that.” Cael said, only in part to herself.

Madia sighed. “Aevum, I hate to drag you away from breakfast but I think you should meet this man.”

Aevum tilted his head, swallowing again. “It can’t wait till after breakfast?” he pleaded.

“I’m afraid not,” Madia said.

Aevum echoed her earlier sigh and nodded. “Alright. Council room?”

“Yes, come with me.”

“Madia?” Rell suddenly spoke up from a few chairs down.

Madia faced the princess. “Yes?”

“Aren’t you going to eat something?” she asked.

“Ah. I’ll just take an apple and have something more later…” she said glancing at Cael, who obliged and grabbed an apple from the basket. She tossed it Madia’s way and she leaned backwards a bit to catch it comfortably. “Ask the cooks to save some bread for me!” she called as she began to make her way out the door.

“Okay!” Rell said with a wave.

With that, Aevum and Madia stepped outside the dining hall and began their return to the council room. “Alright Madia, this must be important if it can’t wait for breakfast.”

“Yes, Aevum. It could be the answer to our worries.” Madia paused and looked around. Aevum had taken a great interest already, now looking at her with his undivided attention. Madia leaned in and spoke quietly. “We’ve been visited by a Dragonkind man.”

Aevum leaned back, his mouth opening a smidgen, a bit of food still hiding within. “Truly? They came to us? Whatever do they want?” He finished swallowing the last of his food.

“He, Aevum; just one man. He’s in rough shape and traveled here from the Telivon mountain range; says he followed the river.”

Aevum looked up in thought. “So they were in the mountains. What a treacherous place to live, although if he followed the river he may have come from the valley path between the hills...”

“Yes, and that treacherous environment may be why he’s here,” Madia explained.

“He’s here for help, then?” Aevum wondered without taking his gaze off the ceiling.

“It would seem so. Though he is loath to admit it.”

“Who knows how much has happened with his kind over the last year. Do you think he’ll tell us?” Aevum asked.

“I honestly don’t know. They’re a proud people; I doubt he’ll just tell us everything,” Madia reasoned.

“Perhaps we can convince him. We don’t know enough about these Dragonkind, and if they’re going to stay here in our realm, we need to make sure our people feel comfortable with them, and that our otherworldly guests feel at home,” Aevum suggested.

“Maybe we should talk to him first,” she said as they arrived at the doorway, where the guards remained.

Aevum smiled at Madia warmly. “Well, you are the best person to talk to him. You’ve got an excellent way with words. I doubt you’d have managed to whisk me away on this wild adventure we’ve been living since last spring, otherwise.”

Madia blushed a bit and pushed him a little. “Oh come now! You and I had a destiny to fulfill.”

“Don’t kid yourself, neither of us knew of our destinies when you dragged me through the Realm of Dreams for the first time. Besides, I somehow doubt that was the only reason we were brought together, Madia,” Aevum replied.

Madia’s heart skipped as she stared into his hazel eyes, mouth hanging open a bit in a stupor. Aevum just chuckled at her before stepping forward and placing his hand on the door handle. “You’re so easy to fluster, daydreamer,” the young man mused. He opened the door and held it there, gesturing with his hand for Madia to enter first. She cleared her throat as she smiled back awkwardly before she stepped in, shortly after followed by Aevum.

“Welcome back.” The man was right where Madia had left him. His glass was empty again as he looked at the pair nervously.

Aevum nodded with a smile. “Thank you, might I ask your name?”

“Kenta, sir.”

Aevum walked across the room and pulled the chair out across from him, before sitting down. “Two syllables…” Aevum mused. “Are all Dragonkind names like that?”

Kenta blinked. “Dragonkind? I’m sorry… is that what we are being called?”

“We haven’t a name for your race,” Aevum explained, pouring himself a glass. “So the kingdom took to creating one for you. What should we be calling you?”

Madia joined the Keeper of Time and sat down beside him, taking a bite from her apple as she watched Kenta with fascination.

“Where we come from, our kind are called the Arden,” he answered reluctantly. “A-and to answer your other question, no; most Arden names are, in fact, longer.”

“Ahh, I see… I’ll be sure to inform Flain that your people are best referred to as Arden.” Aevum placed a hand to his chin in thought. “So Kenta, what brings you to Castle Elra?”

“My people are struggling to survive in the mountains. The townsfolk at the base of the mountain will not do trade with us. We cannot create farms, and animals to hunt are rare in the rocky terrain,” Kenta went on.

“Of course. The land there is infertile and far from the rivers unless you go further north, and it only gets more hazardous up there,” Aevum acknowledged.

“That’s not all, sir,” Kenta spoke quickly. “The people of Muurin are splitting, which has made trade even between our peoples difficult.”

“Splitting?” Madia entered the conversation. “Splitting over what?”

Kenta’s expression darkened as he looked around. “Well, before I can tell you any more… I need you to promise me something.”

“You want protection,” Aevum interjected.

Kenta’s eyes widened. “Yes, that’s correct. What I’ve come to tell you could result in me being called a traitor to my people.”

“I thought your kind were prepared to make peace with us after we struck down Mennic,” Madia said.

Aevum shook his head. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the split in Kenta’s people has to do with us, Madia,” Aevum said to his fellow Keeper.

Madia frowned and looked at the table.

Kenta nodded. “Correct, sir. There are those that are prepared to follow the Keepers in peace, however there are others that still hold onto their traditional values for our people’s culture.”

Aevum tilted his head. “If it’s a matter of culture, then I’m sure we can find a compromise-”

“The people of Muurin desire a king, sir.”

A silence fell over the room. Aevum leaned forward and placed his hands to his temples in thought.

Madia shook her head slowly. “A king… are you saying that there is a conflict over the next king of the Arden?”

“Do I have your word that I am protected?” Kenta asked.

Aevum and Madia exchanged a glance, before Aevum sat up tall again. “I am afraid we may need more time to discuss and consider this.”

The man of Muurin’s eyes widened and seemed to fill with a bit of fear. “You are the leader of the Keepers, are you not?”

“Yes, however I think it would be wise of me to consult the other Keepers and the members of the council who assist in governing this kingdom in the royal family’s absence,” Aevum reasoned.

“Please, I’ll tell you everything right now if you just promise to keep me safe,” Kenta insisted.

“Kenta, the castle is a safe place. While we make this decision you can stay here,” Madia chimed in.

Aevum looked at Madia uncertainly, but she just smiled. “You are in the presence of the Keepers, Kenta, and the castle is under our protection. We will not be giving you any guards, but by being in the castle you should be plenty safe.”

“You don’t understand, m’lady. Tuulin’s magic is far too powerful. Even in this castle he could surely reach me-”

“Tuulin-?” Madia’s eyes widened as alarm bells rang in her head.

Aevum tilted his head. “Tuulin?”

“Aevum… Tuulin; Mennic’s right-hand man!” Madia said quietly.

Aevum now had a similar reaction to Madia’s as his mouth hung open. “Tuu- him? But he was frozen in time before we took back Castle Elra!”

Madia wracked her brain over this disturbing information. He’s right… how could he be on the loose again? Is this man deceiving us?

Kenta’s face bore the expression of panic as he backed up. “By the stars, I’ve said too much!” he let out a frustrated grunt.

“What is Tuulin doing in the mountains?” Aevum raised his voice, placing his hands on the table and leaning forward.

“Promise you will protect me!” Kenta countered.

“You are safe in the castle, Kenta,” Madia insisted.

“Nobody is safe!” Kenta shouted back. “Tuulin’s magic rivals Mennic himself… he could be listening right now!”

Aevum clenched his teeth and raised a hand. “Control your tongue, Kenta,” Aevum called across the table. “What evidence have you that Tuulin has returned?”

Kenta was breathing heavily as he looked around, terror on his face. He had backed a good distance away from the table now as Aevum walked around to the other side to join him.

“I… I-I cannot say…” the man replied.

Aevum clenched his hand into a fist, but closed his eyes and let out a sigh. “Fine. But we must discuss the situation with the other Keepers and the council members. Madia, call a meeting. Tell everyone to be here as quick as possible,” the Keeper of Time said turning to Madia.

Madia nodded and ran over to the door leading out of the room. Behind her she heard Aevum’s voice, lowered now as he spoke to Kenta. “We will give you a place to stay here in the castle and try to do something about Tuulin, but we must discuss our course of action with the rest of the council.”

Aevum seems convinced. Madia frowned as she stepped out of the room without even acknowledging the guards on the other side of the door initially. As she began walking down the hall, she stopped and looked back at them, seeing the nervous expressions on the soldiers faces.

Madia locked eyes with one, her gaze darting between the two with a mix of intensity and anxiety. “Whatever you heard, keep it to yourself. Do not let word of any of this get out; this information belongs exclusively to the council and the royal family,” she requested.

Simultaneously the guards snapped to attention. “Yes, m’lady!”