“Screeeeeeeee!” the voice rang out through the mid-day air like a raptors cry. The young elf looked over his shoulder at his friend, the one who emitted the loud scream into the air as they ran across the shingled roof. Lai could smell the salt water in the air, the warm sun on his face and the cool wind through his hair. The sense of exhilaration flooded him as he and Galeron raced towards freedom. With deft hands, Lai checked to see that the small bundle was secure in his tunic right before he leapt from one roof to the next, covering the fifteen-foot span gracefully and easily. He didn’t think about the fact that he was easily sixty feet off the ground, he just lept and soared through the air. His foot slipped slightly on the deep sea green tiles when he landed but he easily adjusted his footing and kept running. He could hear Galeron behind him keeping up, even a slight “woo wooo” as he made the leap behind him.

“Lai! Wait up!” he heard his friend yell from behind. Galeron was always just a little behind him. He was always a little slower, a little weaker, a little less savvy. Of course, but Lai never held that against him, Galeron was his best friend. They’ve known each other since they were children and their differing social statuses was never an issue with either of them. Lai hopped down from the roof down to a balcony and then slid down a drainpipe to the top of the wall that surrounded the palace. Stopping for a moment to look up to find Galeron, Lai saw his friend just miss the hop to the balcony. He grasped for the railing and then bounced off and plummeted to the road below.

“Lai! LAAAI!” was all that he heard before the sound of his friend hitting the pavement below him exploded into his ears with a dull sickening thud. He jumped from the wall and ran to his friend and immediately saw that Galeron’s leg was bent at a terrible angle and he was bleeding from the nose and head.

“Galeron, hold on. You’re going to be okay. I mean, you fell harder when Seleriel turned you down for the dance, right?” He forced out a chuckle trying to use levity to ease his fear and to try to keep his friend calm.

“Lai… it hurts… “, his friend said to him, his eyes half open and glazed over.

“STOP! Don’t you dare move!” a loud booming voice came from behind them. Lai was so distracted by his friend that he didn’t hear the palace guards running upon them. The five guards surrounded them and Lai could see the Captain with his spear in hand out of the corner of his eyes.

“Stand up thief!” the Captain’s voice boomed out from the side of the pair. Lai eased his friend's head to the ground and stood, turning around to face the Captain. Upon seeing his face the Captain quickly dropped to a knee with his spear resting across it in his hand.

“I’m sorry my lord Laimiris, I didn’t realize that it was you! Was that..”

“My friend needs help, Captain Teril, please send a guard to the healers immediately.” Lai interrupted the captain and pointed to Galeron.

“Yes, my Lord, immediately! Branil, run to the Royal Physician immediately!” He pointed back towards the palace and the guard took off at a run and was quickly out of sight.

“My Lord, I must apologize but we thought that you were thieves. The chamberlain said that he saw two men stealing something and fleeing from the palace. What were you doing?” the Captain asked the youth as the silence grew. He looked at the ground for a moment hoping that his question wouldn’t be taken as impudent and then his eyes met those of the youth before him.

Lai tried to look anywhere but the Captain for several long moments, trying to think of some answer when the sounds of several approaching footsteps could be heard. Lai turned to see the Royal Physician, Prentis, jogging towards them holding the hem of his robes in his hands. The Physician’s face was red from the exertion and his cheeks worked like the bellows at a forge. Behind him, walking at a more stately pace and surrounded by the Royal Guard came Harkil, the Chamberlain, and his father King Androneir. His father was dressed as usual in the resplendent robes of his office, the High King of the Isle of Mysts and of all Myst Elves.

Upon the arrival of the King everyone except for Lai dropped to one knee in submission and loyalty. His father peered at him and then down to the mostly unconscious form of his friend. King Adroneir gestured with his head and the Royal Physician moved to stand over the form of Galeron and began singing a low melodic song. The healer began with his hands palms out in front of his waist and as the song grew louder he moved them upwards until his palms faced the clear sky above. Prentis held a note for a few seconds and his palms began to glow with a warm yellow light that resembled the comforting glow of a candle in a window. As his cupped palms filled with light the healer began singing again and then turned his open hands towards the broken form of Galeron and began pushing the light towards the young man. Suddenly Lai’s friend sat upright and took a deep breath looking around in wild fright, his face losing color when he saw the King standing next to his friend.

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“My liege” Galeron began to say but was cut off by a sharp dismissing wave of the King's hand. Though his words were cut off he still got to a knee and bowed his head almost to the pavement.

“Captain Teril. See this young man to his home in the lower city, give his father 10 silver moons as our royal apology for the suffering that his son endured today and then return to duty; Laimiris, come with me.” The first part of the sentence was said with his father’s usual deep sonorous voice, even and crisp as he always sounds when speaking in the presence of his people. The tone was not cold or condescending, nor was it warm and inviting, it was soothing and official. The last part however, was said with the sharp dangerous tone of a parent that has been pushed to the limits end. King Androneir said no more, he simply turned and started waking back to the palace.

The ten-minute walk to the Royal Gardens was silent and oppressive, with none of the entourage daring to speak. It was obvious that King Andronier was angry with his son and none of the officials walking with them would dare disturb the quiet unless the King broke it first. Laimiris started to say something but the King quickly spun on him with a glare that could melt ice and he lifted one finger between them. The two locked gazes for a few moments and Laimiris’ cheeks reddened and he broke the gaze with his father looking at the ground. His father spun again in silence, not even his robes made a sound as he began walking, no, stalking, back to the Royal Garden.

When they arrived, the guards took positions outside of the gate, flanking to each side of the arched gate to the garden and standing at attention in one fluid wave of movement. The Chamberlain and Royal Physician just continued walking towards the palace interior. King Androneir stood some distance away with his back to Laimiris and the youth could tell that his father was taking in long slow measured breaths to calm himself. It was a ritual that his father employed often, more often recently. When his father finally turned around his eyes were closed and he appeared to still be calming himself. After another deep breath he opened his eyes and the deep emerald gaze fell on his son.

King Androneir was ancient, even by their peoples standards, but he barely looked like the equivalent of thirty human years. His hair was no longer the brilliant gold that it had been in his youth, it was more of a golden silver now. His eyes spoke of the long ages that he lived though, there was not only unfathomable wisdom, but depths of sorrow that most people could never understand. After gazing at his son for a few more minutes he spoke.

“What were you up to this time?”

“What do you mean father?” Laimiris said, trying to sound as innocent as possible.

“Teril sent a guard to inform us that they were chasing two thieves from the treasury. Then we were informed that instead of two thieves they found you and your injured ‘friend’ at the walls after observing the two of you running along the roofs of the palace buildings.” His father stated everything in a very matter of fact tone, except for the stress on the word “friend” which had just a hint of distaste hovering about it.

Laimiris looked to the ground again, the green grass of the garden was neatly manicured and it almost appeared as if each blade of grass was completely uniform in size and shape. When he looked up to see his father still staring at him his cheeks flushed again.

“We were just playing a game father, I was showing Galeron around the palace and he asked if he could see the treasury. His family has rarely seen a single gold coin let alone the amount that we have so I thought that it would be fun. We went to the treasury and were not allowed in, because we’re not important enough. So, we hid and waited for Harkil to come to bring the tax deposit since this is the day he makes those. We ducked in so that Galeron could see and the guards yelled and sent for Teril. We didn’t take anything, I promise.” Laimiris was almost pleading at the end as he watched his fathers face remain unmoving as stone.

“Why?” was all that the King said in return.

“What do you mean father?” Laimiris asked in confusion.

“Why in the Six Hells of Pal-Muros would you ever think that it would be okay to bring some random boy from the Lowers to the treasury? Why would you ever think that could be a good idea?” the King Androneir asked, his struggle to keep his voice level and calm obvious on his face.

“Because he’s my friend.” Laimiris said simply.

“He’s not your friend. Even if he was, your friends do not get tours of the kingdom’s treasury on some crazed whim! You have to learn to control these impulses of yours, son! You are a Prince! One day it may fall to you to take the rulership of our people and you MUST be up to the task. You simply must learn to control yourself and stop acting so irresponsibly. This is the fourth month of the year and I have had to chastise you more times than I can count on our family’s fingers combined! You nearly got your ‘friend’ killed! The last time it was your sister that you put into danger, before that Harkil was seriously injured in one of your pranks. Life is precious. You and your sister are miracles, twins are born among our people once in a millennia. Your friend, Galeron I believe his name is, was the last Myst Elf born and that was sixteen years ago. We are a waning people son. You must not be so cavalier with the lives of others simply for your amusement!” As Androneir spoke, his tone got more heated, louder, and more frightening.

“You know the punishment should someone cause the death of one of our people, at best it is banishment. You have to start acting like a Prince, son. If you continue this path, if you harm another of our people with your selfishness, I can not save you.” Androneir said finally. His voice was a mix of sorrow and resolution. Laimiris knew that his father spoke the truth, not even his mother could save him from the finality of his fathers decision.