Wes

I made my way to the throne room of the royal palace watching servants making the preparations to receive the large number of guests that were due to arrive in a week at the latest. As the steward of the royal palace for nearly 30 years, I was glad that everybody was doing their best for such an important event. Stepping into the throne room I saw the King of the Sagitta Kingdom, William Terramanz discussing something with his advisors. Probably the worrying movements of the Orion Kingdom and how to deal with the Vigil thugs infecting the Kingdom from within.

I recalled King William in his youth a handsome man with stark black hair, green eyes the family traits of the Terramanz, and his natural grace about him that suited a leader. Seeing him know wrinkled and withered with his brittle grey hair and bloodshot eyes was difficult for me as I always thought that the King would age gracefully.

Were it not for whatever disease plagued would that have been the case? I thought sadly.

“Is it done?” King William said when he spotted me.

“Your Majesty the last of the couriers were just dispatched and the palace servants are preparing to receive guests as we speak.”

King William nodded then suddenly he had a fit of coughs. “Fetch the physician!” I said to a nearby guard. The guard ran out of the room while the advisors stared at each other unsure of what to do.

“It is getting worse.” King William said as his cough subsided.

“All the more reason to choose your heir now your majesty!” The advisor Cornwell pleaded. A mouse of a man who had been not so subtly trying to convince King William to appoint the second prince Sylvain Terramanz as his heir for years now.

The advisors soon launched into a rapid discussion amongst themselves arguing for which of King Williams’ four children would be best suited for the throne.

King William sighed and rubbed his forehead. “My children how long has it been since I had a proper conversation with them? The truth is after Annette died Wes was the one who raised and spent the most time with them.” He turned his head my way. “Which is why I want to hear your opinions about them, Wes.”

I was shocked it was like the KIng was asking me who his heir should be. Such responsibility was not something that should be left to a steward. His advisors seemed to have the same thought as they directed harsh glares in my direction.

I cleared my throat before speaking. “Your Majesty I am honored that you hold my opinion in such high regard but perhaps this is something that we should speak of in private.”

He took a look at his advisors in understanding and spoke. “Perhaps you’re right, accompany the physician when he visits my room tonight, we shall discuss it then.”

Oh, Juliet what shall I do?

King William must know that I will not have a good opinion on Sylvain and with Bertrand not accepting his position as heir he is next in line. For now, I will take my leave.

“I shall take my leave then your highness and discuss this with you later tonight,” I said bowing before leaving.

Lady Alexandria I will do my best to convince your father that you are best suited for the throne.

Alexandria Terramanz

I lunged with my training sword aiming to taken advantage of an opening. Sir Foltest easily sidestepped then smacked me in the back with the flat of his blade. Though I was wearing my gambeson armor and Sir Foltest was holding back, the blow knocked the wind out of me.

For such a bear of a man to be so agile even in his old age is unfair! I thought dropping to my knees and hands.

Sir Foltest bellowed and helped me up. “Let’s stop here for today my Lady, I can see Brigette desperately waving at us to get our attention.”

I brushed the dirt off of my knees and saw the stewardess of Aquilaes castle and my closest friend Brigette. “Very well, let's go see what she wants, by the way, Sir Foltest you’re not holding back as much as before when we train now, that blow you gave me will probably bruise.”

He grinned. “You’re 24 years old now. There is no need for me to hold back and you are also improving. If I do not want to lose, I cannot afford to hold back.”

Though I am improving I do not believe that I would win even if Sir Foltest were holding back.

“I appreciate you finally seeing me as a worthy opponent Sir Foltest, I have only been able to get this strong because of your tutelage these past 6 years.”

“My lady! Sir Foltest! A royal courier has arrived!” Brigette shouted.

I frowned and fell into thought. If father sent a courier and not just a pigeon, this must be important, but why so suddenly? I can think of no reason other than his waning health.

“Very well then let us go meet this courier. Sir Foltest care to join us?”

“Of course!” He said a little too loudly.

We made our way towards the meeting hall of the castle where guests were received. When we arrived, I took a look at the courier and his accompanying entourage. Three knights one carrying a flag bearing the Terramanz insignia A blue tower imposed over a silver moon. They spotted me and bowed as I took my seat with Brigette and Sir Foltest taking the seats next to me.

“What brings a royal courier to Aquilae?” I asked curiously and with a little anticipation.

“I give my greeting to the Baroness of Aquilae and the third princess of Sagitta Alexandria Terramanz and her companions' Sir Foltest and Lady Brigette”. The courier said then retrieved something from his satchel. “I come bearing an invitation from his Royal Majesty King William Terramanz for the lady Alexandria and up to four companions!” He bowed presenting the invitation.

So, it is a summons and for something important, if three knights are accompanying a courier. I thought taking the invitation from his hand.

“Do you know if there are others that were invited as well?”

“Yes my Lady, all your siblings, as well as various nobles, were invited as well.”

I could not hide my surprise, and neither could Brigette, or Sir Foltest. This would be the first time in years all of the royal family would be in Sagittae.

“Thank you for answering my question. You can ask Brigette here to find a room for you if you wish to spend the night.”

Whatever it is that father wants to announce or discuss must be important if he has summoned all my siblings and nobles as well. Up to four companions? Sir Foltest is an obvious choice and I want Brigitte to join me as well, she has not seen her father Wes in a while. The problem is that Sylvain will be there too.

I stared at the invitation in my hands wondering what awaited me in Sagittae.

Valeria

I saw Oberon was busy looking over paperwork on his desk I so I decided to practice my talent and information gathering ability by observing people outside the window of our mansion close to the slums in Sagittae. In the distance, I saw a woman arguing with a man a baby in her arms. A prostitute flashing her skin to a group of men that passed by. A crier announcing something to a gathered crowd. I am curious but I am focused on my vision right now and cannot read lips accurately yet. Spotting a pudgy man chasing after a pair of kids I chose to observe them further.

I enhanced my vision and focused on the man. Well dressed and pudgy he is no mere commoner. Not a noble either if he is out near the slums and chasing kids. The kids are Skinny and about 12-13 years old wearing little more than rags. though they are skinny I see no signs of malnourishment Oberon’s kitchens sees to that. They carry a crate between them and must be what the pudgy man is chasing after them for. The kids reach the edge of the slums where people are waiting for them, the pudgy man stops. He is catching his breath and yelling at them but does not pursue them further. Smart. The man spots a city watch guard and yells pointing to where the kids disappear. The city guard turns to where he is pointing and shakes his head. I would shake my head as well. Not so smart, if he is from around here he should know that the city watch guards will not enter the slums. The man gives up and makes his way back to a carriage being guarded by two men one carries a makeshift club the other a spear. The pudgy man yells at them but they just shrug their shoulders and open the carriage pointing inside where there is a good amount of foodstuffs. I pulled my vision back I had seen enough.

I turned towards Oberon and told him what I observed. “A pudgy man was chasing some kids. The pudgy man chased them until the kids got to the edge of the slums where people were waiting for them. The pudgy man is a merchant who was carrying food in his carriage, he made his way back to his carriage after giving up where two men were guarding it. His guards probably thought there was little chance of catching the kids, so they stayed behind. The kids were not malnourished, and they should know that they can receive food for free every other day at the kitchens so the chances they did it for the food is low. It was most likely something they were forced to do or a gang initiation as men were waiting for them at the edge of the slums!”

“Impressive,” Oberon said while inking his quill then writing something down, not even looking my way. I decided not to say anything else Oberon would understand that my silence meant that I was upset. Looking out the window again, I spotted men in plates headed towards our mansion.

I frowned and enhanced my vision again. Three knights and another man between them. The man is dressed in a dark blue tunic with the insignia of the Terramanz stitched on and is wearing a pompous hat.

I believe that is a courier but why would a royal courier come looking for us?

“Oberon there is a royal courier accompanied by knights approaching our mansion.”

He quickly turned his head towards me and placed his quill aside and approached the window. He stared outside and spotted them as they got closer. “Let’s go downstairs and greet them, if they were here for something else they would not have sent a courier.”

If it is just three knights I can take care of them if it comes to the,t though I do not want to ruin my dress.

I grabbed the handles on Oberon's wheelchair and pushed him towards the stairs then picked him up when we reach the edge of the staircase.

“Why do you think that the old king has sent a courier to us?” I asked walking us downstairs.

“I couldn’t say, the nobility never paid much attention to us before, and I doubt this has anything to do with my father.”

“Perhaps they are worried over your influence and popularity in the city.”

“If that were the case they would not have waited to do something until now and would have sent assassins in the dark instead of knights and couriers in the day.”

I nodded and gently placed him in his second wheelchair at the bottom of the stairs. “Shall we wait for them outside?”

“No, we shall receive them here.”

I began to massage his shoulders to loosen his tension. He shuddered and looked up to me and I winked at him. It did not take long before we heard a knock on the door.

Knock! Knock! “Is there anyone home!? We have come to deliver a royal decree!”

Oberon nodded and I went to open the door. The courier's hand stopped a hairsbreadth away from my face, but I did not flinch. “Come in,” I said with as much politeness as I could muster. They stared at me for a while probably stunned by my beauty and then the courier blinked snapping himself out of his stupor. I made my way behind Oberon allowing the courier and knights to enter.

“Greetings to the both of you. I come bearing an invitation from his Royal Majesty King William Terramanz for Oberon Flamberge and up to four companions!” He then retrieved the invitation from his satchel.

Oberon received the invitation and quickly read it before speaking. “I give my thanks to his Majesty King William and am honored to be invited.”

“We shall take our leave then.” The courier stated then left with the knights immediately not wanting to stay any longer than was necessary near the slums no doubt.

I locked the door behind them and looked at Oberon. “Well, are we going?”

“We have no choice it may be called an invitation, but an invitation from a king is not easily turned down. Worry not. If my guess is correct then we were not the only ones invited. This may work out in our favor.”

“You expect the princes and princesses to attend then?”

“Yes. I received reports of a large number of knights and couriers leaving Sagittae. If we play our cards right we can make a big play in this gathering and accelerate our timeline.” He said smiling at me.

I recognize that calculating gleam in his eyes, it looks like we are going to be busy preparing if we want to reap the most benefits from this event.

I smiled back at him. “I can’t wait.”