"What do you think of our guests?" Harodin asked his sister.

"I think nothing of them, your grace."

They were in the king's chambers with only the family guards standing around near the walls. They were so still that they appeared to Harodin and Meredith his sister as though they had become part of the wall. The king had not needed guards to fight for his life in the past. His father had not either. Sometimes, he wondered what their usefulness was, but Meredith would not let him get rid of the royal guards.

"Drop the flattering act. I might be the king, but I am also your brother."

"They seem genuine, your gr…"

"One more grace and I swear I would sell you off to the royal houses in kingdoms far, far away from here."

"Are we not supposed to be at war with those kingdoms according to Sheer, your royal advisor?" Meredith asked.

"There would be no war for as long as I can prevent it."

"Not even against the peasants whom Sheer hates so much?"

"Sir Greg will help me secure the crystal sword. With it, I would be able to control the minds of the people. The peasants would end their rebellion."

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"At just a wave of your magic sword?"

"There is nothing else I know I can do."

"You could send Sheer out of the palace. You give him too much power that the people are beginning to wonder who, actually, the king of Kora is."

"I cannot just do that. He was father's loyal advisor when we were but children."

"You are not father. You have to find your way. Sheer wants the crown for himself."

"How dare you?!"

"If I don't tell you, no one else will. You are so blind that you cannot see it either."

"He wouldn't dare."

"He tells you what to do, and you think he would not dare take your crown? Brother, you amaze me."

"Sheer is my advisor. Nothing more."

"You sound like you are trying to convince yourself."

"I am not!"

"Beware, brother, beware. Sheer might be the death of us."

"Then you do not really know him. Father told me his story about when we were little and assassins attacked the kingdom. Sheer took us, you and me, to safety, while father, together with the royal guards fought the attackers off."

"Father told you this story?"

"Father, Sheer, it does not matter."

"He really does have his claws inside of you."

"He does not. Why do you hate him so much?"

"I have seen how he speaks to you. I have seen how he spoke to father shortly before father's death. You would know he was planning something if you looked closer. I see the same look in his eyes these days when he looks at you."

"Sheer would not harm us," Harodin insisted.

"You would be stupid to believe that. Men would do anything for power."

Meredith stood from the king's table and made her way towards the door.

"Where are you going, sister?"

"The garden. There is nothing here except the stuffy presence of Sheer ad my blind brother."

"Be careful. I don't want you sneaking into the city…"

"…or I could be killed, raped, or kidnapped. I know the story. You don't realize the people do not revere you because of what Sheer has been doing to them?"

She banged the door on her way out, and the king was left holding his head in his hands.