A feeling as if glass shattered. Elsurion’s chest was pierced by a thousand tiny, invisible glass splinters. As if a veil was torn apart that had wrapped itself around the king. His mind catapulted him out of his memory with such force that the sorcerer stumbled back. His brain tried to suppress the feelings that seemed like they had just been kindled. He wanted to forget these feelings, for some reason, he knew not why. Still, Elsurion grasped onto them with all his willpower it felt so wrong to do so, but the king just knew he could not let them go. Never again, despite his very soul resisting against it. The king only now realized that he was covered in sweat and tears. His skin hot, his vision blurry. Elsurion fell against the table, letters and papers scattering in all directions. The man landed on the ground and rolled on the carpet, feeling sick. He managed to stand up with shaky legs and threw up. Coughing he asked: “What in…Solaria’s name is going on?” As if someone was willing to enlighten him. A distant cawing could be heard, only in Elsurion’s head, however. It must’ve been the familiar! Instinctively, the king looked outside and put his focus on the familiar, forgetting how terrible he felt instantly. He focused on the familiar, tapping into the raven’s very eyes and saw a figure outside the tavern. It was Sarenya! The sorcerer felt a wave of relief rushing through him. His guard leaned against the wall, seemingly lost in thought. The raven was ordered to sit on the roof above her and caw loudly to get her attention. It worked, and Sarenya looked up to the bird.

“What the…?”, she whispered.

“Sarenya”, Elsurion said through the familiar.

She froze in place, eyes widened in shock.

“Sarenya, do you understand me?”

The woman blinked and looked around.

“This isn’t happening”, she stuttered.

“It is me, your king, Sarenya.”

“How…where are you?”

“I speak through the raven. I have been looking for you Sarenya. What are you doing here?”

“I…I…failed.” Her eyes went to the ground.

“The messenger is alive?”

“Yes, my king.”

Sarenya had failed him. She was deeply ashamed; the king could tell. She had not failed a task given to her before. After reliving the memories, the feelings, Elsurion didn’t know what to think. His heart ached. But not only from the memories, he felt the familiar slowly breaking apart. Using it to speak would kill the familiar quickly, but he had to risk it. Elsurion had to know what was going on! Not being able to be mad at her, he responded: “Disappointing, but let us not focus on that. Where is the messenger?”

“In the tavern ‘Nora’s Inn” with Marius.”

“Marius is here?”

“Yes. He sees the messenger as a potential ticket into Ayumir.”

It was too much at once for the sorcerer to process, especially while having to keep focused on the familiar as well. The raven spoke again but stuttered heavily: “Let Marius have his ticket then. I trust Marius to fool the messenger into aiding him.”

“But, my king…”

“No ‘buts’ Sarenya, I want you to…”

And the king’s connection to the raven was severed. The sorcerer fell to his knees and panted.

“Curses!”, he gasped. “Not now, damn it!”

He wanted her to come back and let Marius handle it. The king wanted her back with him, to…talk? About what? Him, being overwhelmed with memories of the past two years? Telling her that he was a moron, not realizing that she was…more to him? Preposterous. It was still puzzling to him how his feelings were hidden so long. Something needed to be done, now. Impulsively, the king stormed out of his chambers. Another familiar would take too long to catch up with her, the sorcerer needed to go after her himself. The King rallied his advisors for a meeting. The few minutes it took for the three to arrive, passed excruciatingly slow.

“Finally…”, the king muttered and looked up when the door opened.

The three bowed and gathered around the table.

Archibald, the military advisor and general of Solaria’s militia forces addressed the king: “You called my king. We are at your service.” The other two nodded.

“Gentlemen, time is short. Assemble an escort, I will leave for Ayumir in a few hours’ notice.”

Elsurion’s advisors looked at him in utter confusion.

Ivan, the economic advisor broke the silence: “My lord, why the hurry?”

“As I said, time is short. I need to have a word with King Leopold II of Ayumir immediately.”

“Because of the cancelled trade with our country?”

“Yes.”

“My liege, we will send a messenger, of course, to bring your word to…”

“No”, Elsurion cut Ivan off. “I will speak to him myself.”

“But my king, your place Is here with your people, decisions have to be made…”, Ivan tried to protest.

“That is what I have you three for. Represent my will in the kingdom until my return.”

Ivan’s eyes wandered to the empty space next to him. This was probably a hint to Marius’ absence as the most important of the king’s advisors. Elsurion noticed but ignored it.

Apollonius, the religious advisor hinted: “My king, in the next few days, there is an important mass in honour of our goddess Solaria, if I may be so bold to remind you of that.”

Elsurion closed his eyes to calm down. Since the sorcerer took over the throne, there have been discussions time and time again about Elsurion not showing enough presence on important religious days, masses and feasts. He had not the patience for this right now.

“You may not, Apollonius. But consider your concern noted if you must.”

Apollonius bowed his head and muttered something. The deeply religious man he was, it was probably a prayer to apologize to Solaria for the king’s ‘ignorant behaviour’.

“Men, My orders are clear. Assemble an escort and get me my horse, I wish to leave as fast as possible.”

Apollonius gave the king a final look and left. Ivan sighed and went on his way. Only Archibald remained and stared at the king.

“My king…”

“What is it, Archibald?”

“My king. I am worried.”

“Very noble. Is that everything?”

“I…have known you since you were a little boy Elsurion, I believe to know you very well. I, in all honesty, suspect there is more at stake than you let us know.”

The king’s eyes narrowed: “Careful Archibald. I think you forget your place.”

“Do I, my king? Do I for worrying? For both you and Marius?”

The king tilted his head. “So Marius told you?”

“Hinted, my king.”

“Same thing, really. And that makes you worry?”

“I noticed also that there was some ‘trouble’ on the streets, once the messenger from Ayumir left the palace grounds.”

“And?”

“And Sarenya, she has almost never left your side in the last two years. Did she perhaps…”

Elsurion pointed his finger at Archibald. “Hold your tongue, Archibald. You may have been the man to teach me and Marius to hold a sword for the first time in our lives, and my father trusted you enough to entitle you to know my secret, but this does not entitle you to engage in conspiracy theories. Have I made myself clear?”

“Transparently, my king. My apologies for this ‘transgression’.” Archibald bowed deeply.

Elsurion nodded. “Good. Now, make haste and see to my escort.”

“Yes, my king.” With that, the last of his advisors left, and, again, Elsurion was alone in the meeting room. The young king inhaled deeply and looked down at his hand. Clenching it to a fist, he left to speak a prayer to Solaria. Perhaps Apollonius was getting to him this time.

The horses were saddled, and the escort was waiting, Elsurion noted with satisfaction when he stepped outside. From his advisors, only Archibald was waiting outside.

“Everything is ready for your departure, my king.”

Scarlet, his trusty mare neighed happily when she saw the king. He stroked her head and smiled.

“General,” Elsurion said and gave Archibald a nod.

Archibald nodded as well. “My king.”

The king looked over to the men that would be serving as his escort.

“My best men will accompany you.”

“I expected no less.” He paused, then added: “And you did not disappoint.”

“Thank you, my lord. I wish you save travels. May Solaria watch over you.”

The king showed Archibald a soft smile. He mounted, then took his leave.