Saga had met Maki Soshazi twenty-six years before. They studied at the same academy, and even though Maki was a year above him, they soon became close. Maki was popular, as the eldest son of two famous mages, everyone expected a lot from him. And Saga, as the grandchild of the King, was victim to the same treatment.

So when Saga appeared in front of the Soshazi Mansion without announcement, Maki wasn't mad at all. He smiled at his old friend like he had done when they were children and hugged until the heat from the summer forced them to separate.

—If you had told me you were coming, I would've prepared a whole celebration!

Maki was as energetic as Saga remembered him. He was beautiful and tall, his dark hair was long and wavy and shiny, and his upturned eyes were bright, full of stars. At one point, Saga had felt jealous of his beauty, but eventually he learnt to just appreciate it, like everyone else did.

—I don't have a feast for His Highness, but at least I've got the best wine in the region.

—I would like to taste some —claimed Kiti, who had remained silent for a while.

—Of course, Your Highness, anything for the most beautiful princess of this nation.

Saga laughed and Kiti elbowed him. Mira was sleeping nearby, she was too tired from the trip.

—Kiti, take her to a room so she can nap properly.

And even though the Princess wanted to ignore her brother's order, she complied without even tasting the wine. She had promised she'd be there as her niece's caretaker after all.

They left along with half the guards (the rest were outside the entrance) and so the receiving hall of the mansion became quiet.

It was Saga that broke the silence.

—Maki, who has your clan token?

—Oh, I don't know.

—How… how do you not know? Aren't you the leader of your clan?

—Yeah, but it was stolen some time ago. We haven't found it —he shrugged—. Why?

From a pocket near his heart, Saga took out the golden token and left it on the table they were sharing. Maki recognised it in a second, it was his token indeed.

—A man got into the palace during the Queen's funeral —Saga started to explain—, he said strange things and when he left, your token fell from his clothing.

—A man?

—Yes.

—How was he?

—Short, thin. His hair and eyes were brown, he had tan skin, bushy eyebrows...

—Was he handsome?

—I guess, I'd say he was more pretty than handsome.

—Ah, Taru.

—Taru —Saga repeated. Ruta had given him a fake name—. Do you know him?

—I do. He was a slave from the Wulisa Temple. He ran away some time ago and I hid him here, I guess that's when he stole the token.

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Maki didn't seem to care and, under other circumstances, Saga wouldn't have cared either. They were both similar in that regard: carefree, indifferent to things that didn't affect them.

—You don't know where this Taru guy is?

Maki's head moved slightly, he had no idea. He took a sip from his cup and, after a couple of minutes, he talked.

—Taru... what did he say?

—Something about destroying my family.

—Oh, I expected so. He hates the royal clan.

—Why?

—Why not?

The Prince was taken aback. Did his best friend feel the same way that Taru did? How? He frowned and Maki only could condescendingly smile at him.

—Saga, my little prince… He is a slave. Do you think slaves will like the clan that took away their freedom?

—But I wasn't the one that enslaved him.

—No, but you haven't done anything to free him either. You're the third in the line of succession, you have enough power to try and abolish slavery if you really wanted to.

—I don't like slavery —and Saga had never sound so sure before.

—I know. And Taru knows too, I did talk to him about you. I told him that if he wanted to get somewhere, he should try to appeal to you. I wasn't expecting him to go and threaten you though.

Maki laughed loudly, it seemed like he found the whole situation somehow funny.

✺

So Taru was nowhere to be found, at least not in Itewi City. In the Wulisa Temple nobody had any idea where he had gone and they had stopped looking for him just days after he had left. He wasn't a good slave, the abbot had said, he was rebellious and difficult to control. In the end, it was better for him to run away, for nobody would have bought such a unruly slave anyway and they couldn't free him without a royal decree.

He was just a waste of space and money.

Maki, who seemed to be the one closer to Taru, assured Saga that he didn't know either where he was. And even tried to convince Saga to let him go. Taru was just one man, even if he had a strong conviction, it was unlikely he could actually hurt anybody inside the palace. He wasn't a good fighter, he was thin and weak. If he infiltrated the palace, he'd be caught almost immediately. He had lost the token, after all.

Prince Noroku, however, refused to let the issue die like that. He was afraid to die young and leave his daughter an orphan while still a child. He had to capture Taru, he had to make sure he was in a place Saga could always watch him.

—Your Highness —Ragi was riding the horse to his right side. He was the second best fighter among his guards, so he'd usually accompany him while looking for information. The rest had to remain with Mira and Kiti.

—What is it?

—It's late. Sunset will be in an hour, shall we head back to the Soshazi Mansion?

—Ragi, do you really believe nobody in this whole damn city has any idea of Taru's whereabouts?

—Well… He didn't seem to have many friends.

—Maki is his friend.

—Lord Maki wouldn't lie to you, Your Highness.

—I'm not so sure anymore... Look for a new place to stay, rent a small house and hire a guarding company. We'll move the day after tomorrow.

—Yes.

—Also… Contact Mira's maternal grandmother. Tell her that Mira wants to visit her during the summer. Kiti will go with her.

—Your Highness… will you really let Lady Mira go?

—Yeah —and his voice trembled for a second—, I don't think she's safe in Gasheka. Besides, she probably misses her grandma. Don't you think?

Ragi nodded. The rest of the way back was quiet, only the horses could be heard.

From the moment Mira was born seven years before, she had never left Saga's side. Anytime she had travelled out of the country, she was always accompanied by her parents, and it was always short-time visits. She had never spent more than a month outside, even after her mother died and her maternal grandparents asked for her to spend at least a season per year with them.

It wasn't that Saga didn't want her late wife's family to be part of his daughter's life, but he had become rather apprehensive. It was difficult for him to let her go anywhere, he didn't trust anybody besides himself or his sister. This time, things had changed. Mira was already seven, she should have left for an academy two years prior, she should've been more independent by then. However, there she was, still sleeping besides her aunt every night.

Every other time, someone would make a small comment about it. They would tell Saga that she was too dependent, that if he didn't loosen his grip, she would grow weak. And the weak inside the palace were always the first to fall.

Saga was weak himself, or so he thought.

—I will go write the letter for my mother-in-law —"former", he thought he should add—. Go eat something meanwhile.

Ragi left and Saga entered his room. The sun had already set, so inside it was dark and a little humid. The nights in Itewi City were always like that.

Yet, Saga didn't light a candle, he just took off his shoes and his upper clothes, and walked blindly to his bed. He sat on the edge and sighed, he had rode the horse the whole day, his legs were sore.

—I should take a hot bath —he murmured to himself.

Another sigh left his body. He felt tired, but wasn't so sure if it was only physical. With his arms stretched over his head, he let his body fall completely onto the mattress. And it was then he noticed something weird.

Someone was already laying on his bed.

—Hey, Saga —a slightly familiar voice welcomed him—, I heard you were looking for me.

Saga's heart dropped to his stomach. It was Taru, and none of the guards were with the Prince.