Jeplin entered Kari's bed-chamber.

"I'm sorry to bother you,"

he said,

"you are being summoned to the throne room."

"I'll be right down. I need a few minutes."

He bowed and closed the door as he left. Kari looked around her room. She wasn't sure where to put the journal; she didn't want to lose it or risk its theft. She decided on the drawer where she stored her undergarments.

Kari and her advisors were trying to put the government back together like it had been decades before. They laid out the desire for a supreme council and a specific hierarchy for advisors and knights.

When her father was young, and many decades before that, Asiroth was held in check with the supreme council. The council was a group of appointed representatives that were fair and intelligent. They weighed in on royal decisions and tough cases throughout the kingdom.

The entity was not affiliated royally, so it was the end all be all hand of justice. That day Kari learned about the former members of the council and what she needed to look for in order to craft her own collective. They sat at the table for a few hours and laid everything out. She was focused; she knew how vital resetting the government was, but occasionally the thought of her father's journal slipped into her mind. When they retired for the day, she grabbed food and ran back to her bedroom. She b-lined from the door to the dresser, grabbed the book, and hopped into bed.

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

We abandoned our horses with the stable hands and walked through the front door, Henry and I. Our advisors followed us, and just as we crossed the threshold, they fled. It was funny to watch, and Henry and I often joked about them.

Their quick departure led to some attendants approaching us to take our gear. I remember very clearly what the hall felt like. It was odd. We had been out in the cold all day and night with icy hail assaulting our skin, but it felt even colder in the castle. I'm not saying that it wasn't warm there. The lights were of an orange hue, and the warmth from the firepits scattered around the hall, but despite all of that, something felt odd. Usually, when I felt the warmth in the entry hall on a cold winter's day, it would be such a comfort. A comfort in which I could fall asleep. I couldn't figure it out; I brushed the thought away and chalked it up to missing my own home. A high official approached us; he whispered something to Henry. I exited and walked up the stairs to the shadow-flanked hallway that led to my room. That is something our families did for each other. They have designated rooms for us, and we for them in Asiroth. My room is very lavish, and like the rest of the castle, the walls are stone along with the floor.

My bed faces the door and is flanked by two tall and narrow windows. The drapes that hang from them were burgundy and very thick. I remember wanting to pass out in my armor, but I knew better. I ate and then stripped off some of my gear. I stripped, then put on a silk robe and summoned a server to draw my bath. Right now, that's what I miss the most, hot water. I've been traveling for so long. They keep a Stockpile of water heated just in case anyone important wanted a bath. It was important that a royal not wait for those amenities. I laugh at that now—what a silly notion.

Jason was in charge of filling the baths that day, and he made sure it was the perfect temperature for me. I loved the days that Jason worked because he was the most thorough and took his job very seriously. I poured some drops of orange extract oil, which was made in the castle. The aroma wafted through the room. Jason lit the bedroom fireplace so that the water stayed warmer longer. The tub was close to the fireplace, and even if the water did get cold, the flame's heat would make it comfortable. Jason personally loved a tepid bath near a warm fire. I stepped into the steaming hot water that was ruminating with oil. My muscles relaxed as I sunk. Only my head and neck were exposed, and the hot water began to heal my pain. I closed my eyes and breathed in the overwhelming scent of oranges.

I don't remember how long I was in the bath; that wasn't ever important except for contrasting the following events and how sudden they were.

I was out of the bath when Henry banged heavily on my door. He called my name. There was distress in his voice. I opened the door quickly. I asked him what was wrong. Henry's face was pale, paler than it had ever been. I could see his veins under his skin. I looked into his eyes and saw they were pink. He had been crying and looked very distraught.

"What's wrong!"

I asked, grabbing his shoulders to steady him.

"My father....is dead."

Those words, there were only four, but they moved mountains and changed worlds.

I let my hands fall from Henry's shoulders. I was unmovably shocked. Thousands of thoughts were running through my head. I wondered how his death would affect the war and what would happen to the alliance.

I finally spoke and told him how sorry I was and hugged him. We held each other for quite a while. I told him I would do whatever he needed, and he told me I had to leave. I was utterly shocked and confused by his words. He explained. Henry told me that an assassin killed his father, and they were most likely after my family.

I did not want to leave his side or his mother's, but my blood family was in danger, and they always came first. Henry was in the same boat on the opposite end. I would've loved it if they came home with me, but that was an irrational thought. I Hopped on my horse again and left Asiroth.

The sky was dark, and I realized in my tired yet energized stupor that I had only slept an hour at most that day. The only things keeping me from falling asleep were the energizing smell of oranges and the cold air.

The icy wind plagued my cheeks and nose. I was freezing under winter's darkness. I stopped to eat and then continued riding.

The war was dying, but that meant the most brutal moves were being made. Helam was on his last legs in the war. The assassination was a last-ditch effort to cut the most powerful kingdoms off at the knees before he disappeared.

Helam planned to disappear with his remaining troops.

They planned on fleeing the continent so they could rebuild and return later. Because he was planning to leave, this meant the other kingdoms would be able to build up their strength, too, so he tried to inflict as much damage as he could before he left.

The relief I got from seeing the castle gates in the distance was incalculable. I whipped around and steered the horse to the back garden.

When I travel alone, I always dress in a disguise, but since I was returning from leading my first army into battle, I had all of my royal paraphernalia displayed openly. I needed to keep my identity inconspicuous.

I rode straight through the back garden to the porch platform. I yanked the door to the library open and stopped when I saw my parents sitting at the table talking and having tea. My mom was excited to see me; well, she seemed like she was.

My dad turned around. What are you doing here?"

He asked.

"Haven't you heard?"

I asked.

He shook his head.

"King James is dead,"

I said.

"What!?"

He jumped to his feet.

"How has no one told me before this?"

"It just happened, I think; I'm not sure. We came back from battle, and Henry found out then told me. I assumed they sent someone to alert you."

My father tried to leave, but I stopped him. "

I must go,"

he said. I stopped him. I told him James didn't die of natural causes, and they sent me home because we weren't safe.

My father sounded the warning bell.

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Kari was enthralled. Her father was a strong, quiet man who rarely shared a thought with her. She couldn't believe he had a whole journal where she could read everything in his words. She closed the book, slipped it under her pillow, and fell asleep.

Another phalanx was spotted crossing the plains. Kari was alerted to the incoming raid. She sat in the war room with Robert, Jeplin, and Gerry as they discussed a plan of action. She sometimes felt like she was taking the easy way out by not controlling her armies even though she knew Robert was the perfect person to do so.

They halted the castle repair and sent the workers to build up the defensive walls. They hadn't planned on letting the army as far as the walls, but there was never a guarantee that they wouldn't reach them. They were slowly losing soldiers with each battle, as was expected, but they no longer had the support of Redponn, so they needed other cities' aid. There were about twelve cities within the kingdom of Asiroth, and the principal municipality of Asiroth was where most of the soldiers originated. Since the castle was in disarray, they hadn't bothered asking for help from anywhere else; they also hadn't needed it. Robert delegated the recruitment task to some of his higher-level soldiers, Greg, Joven, and Mael.

"We need to know how many soldiers they have,"

Kari said.

"I mean, if this is the last-ditch effort, it's manageable, but if it's one attack of many, we have to reconsider some things."

Robert nodded.

Jeplin watched Kari. He noticed how comfortable she was ruling and wondered whether he should revive Edegear.

"I have an idea,"

he said.

They all looked at him.

"What about Edegear?

He said,

"what if I restore the glory of the realm?"

They all remained silent. Robert smiled a bit. He and Charles talked about that exact scenario many times in private. Charles thought Jeplin's claiming the throne would bring an influx of citizens back into the fold and create the grand alliance of the era of the golden kings.

"I think it's a lovely idea,"

Kari said.

The others agreed.

"I have had such a great time supporting all of you and lying low, but I think it's time I took my place in history." As Jeplin planned his return to Edegear, Kari learned about the steps her father took to become king.

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

My parents decided to send me away. The threats of assassins floated in the air. They felt the heir and reigning king shouldn't be in the same place, so they decided to send me on my coronation journey. The coronation journey is a year-long trip that the heir to the throne has to take before he is allowed to become king. There wasn't a set location to travel; the participant could pick anywhere but their own kingdom. The point of the expulsion from their kingdom was for them to learn about other cultures, other cities, and how to live without the royal title or amenities. My fate was sealed, and I was presented with the rules of the task.

I sat before the council and my parents, and they read the guidelines.

"Prince George, on this vital journey deemed necessary by the former lineage and council, you are required to abide by the following rules. You must leave the kingdom of Asiroth for an entire year. You may not return unless the council declares an exemption for an unforeseen circumstance. Asiroth applies to the castle grounds and all its city and territory. On this journey, you are not allowed to reveal your lineage or heritage. You must travel without any royal effects or symbols of your lineage. Before you leave, we will supply you with essential supplies and money that will be the basis of your future for the year abroad. You may keep in contact with anyone during this time, but you may not intentionally declare your location and suggest a meeting. This excursion aims to expose you to a world you have never seen before and people that you have never met.

This is the final trial you must complete to secure your coronation and acceptance of the throne of Asiroth when that day comes. This also is a way to keep you out of harm's way for the moment while there are assassins about. Do you promise to uphold these rules and requirements?"

I agreed.

My departure was planned for the day after King James' funeral, but the council and my parents decided on a sooner departure. I wasn't supposed to let anyone know I was leaving, but I couldn't depart without seeing Henry. I rode into Edegear with my gear and unmarked clothing, but my parents had foreseen my actions, and they kept me from entering. Technically, Edegear was a different kingdom than Asiroth; the royal nature of my visit was disparaged.

I camped out at the edge of the castle grounds to show support to Henry during the funeral. I blended in with the crowds and sat on the wall like an outsider. Henry seemed sad as they walked the procession, so I thought on my feet and started a chant so he would know I was there. It was something that he knew only would've come from me. The word

"Edegoth."

I started chanting, and everyone around me did too. I'm pretty sure they knew who I was. When the chant began, I watched Henry's face; he smiled and looked around as soon as he realized what we were saying. He put his face in his hands and composed himself. He continued to search the crowd for me, but there were tens of thousands of people. Once he knew I was there, I left. Thousands of travelers covered the hills as they arrived to pay their respects. The final procession made it through the main streets, where people screamed and threw flowers at them, mostly white flowers. They were left scattered across the ground like a floral carpet. The air smelled sweet, an odd aroma to float around in the winter. Aurelia stood silently. Her face was unmoving like stone as she stood in the procession supporting her friend and Henry's mother. The sky swarmed above her; each dark cloud slithered slowly, mixing with the lesser gray ones. I wasn't going anywhere in particular, but I still tore out of Edegear as fast as possible. I felt as though the faster I left, the faster I could return, a foolish notion. I couldn't go up north, for that was Helams domain; even though he was losing his power, he had a lot of followers up north. I decided not to risk it at all and headed directly south. Asiroth is west and central in the makeup of the continent. The farthest south I remembered going was to Hethrom, and it isn't even in the south. I decided that would be my first stop if I could find the city. I was more spirited once I figured out where I was headed. I wasn't sure where it was, but I vividly remember that city when I visited it with my father. I had just turned thirteen then, and my father felt I was old enough to join him on a journey. It was a critical mission; he was meeting the king of Redponn to sign an official treaty for peace and an alliance. The king of Redponn, King Richon, was powerful and himself a new ruler. They had an alliance with his father, but after his death, they were unsure whether he would have the same goals or opinions on peace, and no one was quite sure what his agenda would be. That was a frequent concern whenever a throne was turned over to someone new; all of the rules and expectations were frozen. No one could ever predict how a new ruler would react to coming across the same obstacles as their predecessor.

It was imperative that they renewed the treaty, but more importantly, I remember being very excited. I rode next to my father on a horse with his closest advisor. He showed me different landmarks and explained their history.

We traveled with seven men. Two held lavish banners with the kingdom's crest. The others were advisors and guards.

From what I can remember, the city was very bright. It danced in hues of orange and amber. The roads were made of clay bricks like terracotta. It was very smooth looking. There were tall towers scattered around the territory. The central government building had pillars that lined the front. Hethrom is not a kingdom; it is a republic. Another reason I wanted to stop there was that I was very interested in the different styles of government.

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Kari fell asleep that night amidst her father's words. The sky was dark and starless. While she lay in bed, Robert sat with Jeplin and Marcel in the library.

"Here's the location."

Robert pointed at a map of the area near the castle. Marcel looked concerned,

"what about that cave?"

He asked.

"That's where the mushrooms we need for the elixir Thom makes for healing after battles."

"Oh,"

Marcel said,

"I'm sure I've been near there, so I don't mind going. "Wonderful,"

Jeplin said;

"while he does that, Robert, can you check in with everyone to make sure everything is ready for the onslaught?"

Robert nodded.

"Alright, men, let's adjourn for tonight. I'm sorry our dinner turned into a war discussion, but we did get a lot figured out."

Robert and Marcel left the room, and Jeplin was left sitting in the dim light alone. He pulled out a booklet he used to write notes and jotted something down.

He sat in silence for a moment, then went to bed.