The Presence was back.

It was the first thing Teal was aware of. He could feel it before anything else around him made sense.

It was a warm comfortable feeling, like he was being reunited with an old friend. Swirling around the walls of his consciousness, it brought a sense of calmness and composure. It pulsed along his veins, drumming in time with his heartbeat, and he hated to admit it, he had missed it. From his first ever memories, the Presence had been his eternal companion.

Teal shovelled a mouthful of stew pie the mountain man had brought to him into his mouth. He was still in the back of the caravan, but the mountain men must have been informed of what to look out for. Even though he could feel his eyes glow, the mountain men had taken it as a good sign and had not attacked him. Instead, they had brought him food upon his request. He didn’t think he was a prisoner, but for the moment, he would worry about regaining his strength before he tried to leave the confines of these wooden walls.

Images and scenes flashed into his memory. He couldn’t put them in order. There had been too many drugs. He remembered some of the things that he had done, and he shuddered. Blinking hard, he worked on blocking out the memories, but they continued to surge forth. He was a monster. Anyone who saw him must think he was a monster.

He remembered wanting to protect Jale. His stomach churned with anger when he thought about what Jale had been through, all to push Teal to do Prince Yernal’s bidding. It didn’t justify all the lives he had taken though. Who was he kidding? Even in his current state with the Presence back, he would have done the same things if it meant that it kept Jale safe and alive.

The young serving boy he had eaten flashed before his eyes. He dropped the spoon he had been holding and wrapped his arms around his body suddenly feeling sick to the stomach. He swallowed. His mouth watered as his body fought to expel the food he had just eaten. How was he going to come to terms with what he had done? How could he forgive himself? Would Jale now look upon him with horror in his eyes?

Jale.

He wanted to see Jale. He needed to see the man with his own eyes to ensure he was safe. Even if he never spoke to him again, as long as he was safe was the most important thing.

Teal reached for the cup of water and tried to wash the bad taste of his actions away. He picked up the spoon and scooped another mouthful onto its surface. Closing his eyes as he put the food in his mouth, he hoped his thoughts would focus on what he was eating instead of what he had done.

There was another flash of memories. This time, it was the space that he had been in. The strange floating space where he had unexpectedly seen the female Lombock appear.

There it was, lurking in the background. It was a curiosity, a longing. Who had those people been that had held him while he floated in that strange place? He was certain the Lombock had helped him. He had so many questions? After everything he had been through, he wanted to feel a sense of security and normalcy that he did not think he could obtain in either the Keglar Kingdom or the Talbecan Empire.

He wanted to find the Lombock.

A knock sounded on his door. Before he could answer, the door creaked open, and he jumped to his feet so sharply, the plate he was eating from tilted. Vegetables and meat from the stew spilled onto the floor.

Their eyes met across the small distance.

“Jale!”

All of his previous hesitations disappeared. Teal reached the end of the caravan before Jale could move. He jumped out of the door and landed squarely on the ground. The mountain men startled to attention and their weapons moved to attack. Teal ignored them. His eyes swept over Jale, taking in his weak form and the bruises that covered his face. The swelling had improved somewhat but his skin had gained several new scars. Teal rushed forward and wrapped his arms around Jale’s shoulders.

“Thank goodness!” he cried into Jale’s neck. “I’m so sorry, Jale. I hope you can forgive me.”

“Forgive you? What in all our ancestors are you talking about?” Jale asked.

Jale’s arms wrapped weakly over his back and patted him gently several times.

Teal pulled back. He couldn’t meet Jale’s eyes and kept his gaze on the ground. Jale’s warm fingers rested under Teal’s chin. For an instant, it reminded him of Emperor Rathner, but when he lifted his head, his eyes found Jale’s. He could see the hard edge that defined Jale’s personality. Within them there was also a deep pain and suffering. The past couple of months had taken their toll on Jale.

“It’s good to see you, Teal,” Jale said softly. “Whether it is you with the Presence or you without the Presence, I am always happy to see you.”

Teal swallowed down his fears. “Thank you, Jale.” He let his eyes drift up and down Jale’s body again.

“Are you healing?” he asked. “I want nothing more than to devour Prince Yernal in one go as payback.” Teal stopped short. He couldn’t believe the words that had come out of his mouth. To his surprise, Jale did not look concerned.

“That is something I would gladly watch,” Jale said. He pointed to the back of the caravan. “Let’s get you some more food. We can talk as you eat, although I’m surprised that your stomach can hold so much after not eating for so long.”

They climbed up the steps of the caravan and sat beside each other on the bench.

“Are we safe?” Teal asked. “Are we among friends? Where are we? Are those the infamous mountain men you spoke of? I need to speak with Princess Estina,” he blurted, unable to stop all of his thoughts from coming forth now that he had Jale beside him.

“Whoa, whoa,” Jale chuckled. “One question at a time.” He paused before he answered as if he was trying to remember all of his questions. “Yes, we’re safe. Yes, we’re among friends. Yes, they are mountain men and we’re in the grounds of Lord Clep’s manor house.”

“I need to apologize to Princess Estina…” Teal said, his voice trailed off. Jale reached for his hand. “I also need to tell her something very important in private.”

“I don’t know if you will be granted that luxury after what happened, but we can ask. You nearly killed her,” Jale said, his voice low.

Teal looked at Jale. Their eyes met, and he could see the deep pain embedded into his eyes. Teal reached up slowly and cupped his hand over the side of Jale’s face.

“I’m so sorry for the Emperor’s death,” he whispered. “We never had a chance to discuss it properly when we were captured. We haven’t even had a chance to honour his life.” He could feel his emotions burn along his veins. “I’ll do anything I can to avenge his death.”

Jale closed his eyes, but he leaned his towards Teal and rested his head on Teal’s shoulder. “Thank you, Teal.”

Teal placed a gentle kiss on the top of Jale’s head, and he repeated more to himself than to Jale, “I’ll do anything.”

>>

Teal paced the width of the long meeting room. Jale sat patiently in a chair at the same end, only a few meters away from him. Behind them, five mountain men stood on guard. There was another chair for Teal to use, but he was too anxious to sit right now. At the top of the room, a large wooden table sat with equally large ornate chairs along the back wall. The side of the table that faced Jale and himself was empty of chairs. This was Lord Clep’s stately meeting room. Banners hung on the walls and a fireplace ran along one side, providing much warmth against the cold.

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. They had been waiting for nearly half an hour. Despite Jale’s fears, Princess Estina had agreed to meet with him straightaway. After finishing his food, bathing and putting on a fresh set of new clothes, Jale and several mountain men had guided him to this hall.

There was much that needed to be discussed, so much action that needed to take place. He had only just come back to himself and yet, he was determined to do whatever it took to make everything right again.

The door at the top of the room opened, and Teal turned on his heel. Ladet entered the room, walked straight past the top of the long table and towards him.

“Teal,” he said, a smile breaking out onto his face. “It’s a relief to see you back on your feet.”

“Ladet!” Teal said. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Ladet. “From what I’ve heard from Jale, you were instrumental to our rescue.” He stepped back. “I owe you my life. Please, if at any time in the future you need anything, just ask. I still can’t believe you left Dalenia and came after me.”

“You have another helper to thank as well at some point,” Ladet said. “I wouldn’t have realised that you had been taken if it wasn’t for Lady Annalei. She was very persistent after she heard some of Prince Yernal’s guards talking in the Blue Garden.”

“Lady Annalei?” Teal asked. Teal glanced at Jale. Realisation filled Jale’s features.

“The young concubine that was presented to Emperor Rathner by his mother at the Midsummer Festival?”

“Yes,” Ladet said.

Jale shook his head. “How incredible. Where is she now?”

“I feel like I’ll be getting her into trouble, but she is running Old Lake Tehlea Estate with Lord Owen under Princess Estina’s orders while we rescued you.”

Before Jale could comment, the door at the top of the room opened again and twelve soldiers, dressed in full armour, entered the room.