Golnar sat at the desk in the study by the throne room. He looked over some notes he had made about releasing magic users in the fourth and third ring of Aurumist. He had hoped to be ready to start in the outer rings right after the spring festival, but he had been distracted lately.

He had been entertaining the young king from the old magical folk. Golnar didn’t know quite what to make of the boy. He was quiet. He only seemed to talk when he had something important to say. Golnar could tell the boy was intelligent.

The young king was very careful in his actions and words, especially for a young man who had not reached his majority. He had a wisdom and patience beyond his years. Most answers the young king gave seemed very calculated. Golnar didn’t think the boy every lied to him, but the answers he gave were formed in such a way to not reveal much. Golnar found he rather liked the young king. He wished there was a way to sway him to side of Aurumist. The young king remained loyal to his side and especially Miss Keene.

Golnar did not care for Gryphon Keene. She unnerved him. Her demonstration in the throne room when she first arrived in Aurumist was impressive. Her magic was powerful, and she knew how to use it. Golnar would love to find a way to use that kind of power to his advantage, but he didn’t know how to work with the woman. When he was near her, Golnar felt nervous and unsettled. He felt like she could see through him. He felt like she knew all his secrets and shortcomings. She made him feel weak.

He had kept her sedated with different potions. The last one he had sent was meant to make her more persuadable. Golnar had hoped to make her easier to deal with, so he could use her knowledge and ability. The potion had made her violently ill. Golnar didn’t know why, he had made it correctly.

He knew Philo was probably crueler to Miss Keene than he needed to be, but Golnar let him do as he pleased. Golnar only had the woman brought to him lately when the young king needed to be reminded to do as he was told. The young king seemed very attached to Miss Keene. That was the problem with caring about people, it was a weakness that others could exploit.

Now Golnar had grown tired of his guests. The young king’s blood did not work out in the potion Golnar had made for himself. The potion had destroyed itself, making Golnar’s living quarters unlivable even now. Golnar would try one more time to use the king’s powerful magical blood for himself, then he would find other ways to use having this king to his advantage.

Golnar had just thought of a plan the other day, and he was ready to use it. He wondered why he had not heard from Abscon. He wondered why there had been no rescue attempt for the young king and the woman. Golnar had a feeling the leaders of Abscon weren’t about sticking their necks out. He had a feeling he might be able to strike a bargain with them.

But first, Golnar had a visitor in the study. He had heard that Teryn had delivered her child a couple of nights before. Golnar was happy that Camelia had come to see him. He hoped it meant she was ready to go forward with his plans. He hoped she had thrown out any of her weak stomach ideas of right and wrong. Golnar needed Camelia on his side, especially with how weak his magic was.

He looked up at Camelia from the desk. “So, the babe is well?”

“Yes, said Camelia happily. “A very healthy baby boy.”

“Good,” said Golnar. “How is Teryn?”

“She is tired and weak, but the midwife says she will pull through. She had a rough time.”

“The cost of motherhood,” said Golnar. “At least she didn’t pay the ultimate price.”

“Easy for a man to say,” said Camelia. “You see women as the weaker sex, but we endure more pain than you could ever imagine.”

“I’m sure,” said Golnar. “You’ve decided to stay in Aurumist, I take it. You are still wishing to be involved in our plans?”

“I’m still mulling it over. How can I be sure of the safety of my grandson if we stay?” asked Camelia.

“I give you my word, he will be safe. I have no plans to hurt a child. In fact, I have great hopes for your new grandson.”

“Nothing you just said makes me feel any better about staying in Aurumist,” said Camelia with a scornful laugh. “You gave me your word that Kedan would be safe, and look now. Where is he? We don’t know. If he hadn’t escaped from the palace you would have had him in the cells with Miss Keene, or dead.”

“I wanted to keep Kedan safe. I wanted him to be a part of our plans. He chose poorly. I cannot control your son, Camelia. I thought you and Teryn would have controlled him. Perhaps his predicament is more your fault than mine.”

“I didn’t send him off with a spy to fill his head full of nonsense,” said Camelia fiercely. “You didn’t even know what was going on right under your nose on the Ancient Council.”

“Fine,” said Golnar, “We both are at fault for the failure with Kedan, but I will not fail you with your grandson. We can raise him as a king. We can make him powerful. He will lead the kingdom after you and I are gone.”

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“I’m not sure kings have very safe lives. Kedan’s life didn’t improve with the title. You have a young king here now. Tell me, is he enjoying his stay?”

Golnar chuckled. “Power always comes with risk, Camelia, but if we can go forward with our plan, we can create a new Regventus that will minimize those risk for our future king. Your grandson will make better choices. He will learn from you and from me.”

“How are the plans going for the kingdom, Golnar? You seem to be at a standstill at the moment.”

“I have been a little distracted, but my plans are still on schedule. After the spring festival we will start moving into the third and fourth rings of the city. You will be necessary. Teryn would be helpful. We can wait until she is feeling up to helping,” said Golnar.

“She will need a few weeks still, maybe a couple of months,” said Camelia as she picked something off her skirt.

“That’s fine. We can wait until then. I am busy at the moment with my guests. I have plans for them that need to happen first.”

“What are your plans for the king and Miss Keene?” asked Camelia looking at Golnar closely.

“Why do you care?”

Camelia gave a small shrug of her shoulder. “You want my help in your plans, so I think I should at least know what they are.”

“The young king might still be useful to us soon. He is valuable to the other side. Miss Keene has long outstayed her welcome. I have a plan to get rid of her one way or another,” said Golnar smiling.

Camelia looked at Golnar with narrowed eyes. “You talk of taking a life as if it is nothing.”

“If a life is not useful to the kingdom, what good is it? Miss Keene will cause nothing but trouble for us if she is allowed to live much longer. If we want to make Regventus the kingdom it should be, we must do what we need to do.”

Camelia looked like she would say more when there was a knock at the door. Philo walked in with the young king.

“Here you go, Camelia. You will hear my plans, now,” said Golnar standing up. “Good day, young king, come and sit at this desk. I have a task for you.”

Philo brought the young king over and plopped him down in the chair behind the desk.

“Now, do you know how to address a message to someone in Abscon? If you write a message and address it, will it make it to its destination?”

“Yes,” said Max looking up at Golnar.

“If I wanted to contact the Ring in Abscon, could you send it to someone who would make sure they read it?” asked Golnar putting a quill and piece of paper in front of Max.

“Yes,” said Max. “I believe so.”

“If I get it to a bird today, how long does it take to get there?”

“I’m not sure. Probably tomorrow evening at the latest. It usually takes not quite a day for a message to reach Clarton form Abscon, but Aurumist is a little further away.”

“Very good. So, one week would be plenty of time for a deadline, especially since I’m sure everyone on the Ring can travel quickly,” said Golnar. “Now, young king, I want you to write a letter for me. I am going to tell you what to say. Will you do this for me?”

“It will depend on what you want me to say,” answered Max. “I won’t lie for you.”

“I won’t ask you to lie, young king. I would like to meet with your Ring. I am issuing an invitation,” said Golnar walking to the front of the desk. He sat down next to Camelia.

Golnar watched as the young king prepared his paper and dipped his quill in the ink pot. He paused with his quill over the paper and looked up at Golnar.

“You can write this in your own words. Write a greeting of some sort. Tell them you are alive and well,” said Golnar folding his hands together. “Tell them Miss Keene is alive and well too.”

Max looked up at Golnar. “You told me you wouldn’t ask me to lie.”

“Very well, tell them Miss Keene is alive.”

Golnar waited as Max wrote quickly and evenly. When he was ready, he raised his head.

“Write that I would like to meet with the Ring, at least three members one week from today. I would like to meet with them outside the fifth ring of Aurumist one hour before sunset. I will guarantee their safety. I am willing to enter into a magical bond if that is what it takes.”

Golnar paused again to let Max write.

“I will meet with them about your and Miss Keene’s future safety. I will be willing to talk about a deal for at least one of you. We will talk about how Aurumist and the old magical folk can co-exist together. Let me know when you have gotten all that down.”

Golnar looked at Camelia as Max wrote. She was looking at the young king with a curious look on her face. She must have sensed Golnar looking at her because she turned and looked at Golnar.

“I am done,” said Max looking up. “Is there anything else you would like me to write?”

“Do you think your people will come meet with me?” asked Golnar. “Do you think they will take the chance and come to Aurumist?”

“I’m not sure,” said Max. “I don’t know if the Ring is interested in a deal with you. They have been working to stop you.”

“True, perhaps we should give them some incentive. What do you say?” asked Golnar looking at Max. “Write this, young king. Tell them if they do not meet at the appointed time and place, I will have the leader of the Ring, Gryphon Keene, executed the next day at sunrise.”

Max looked up with anger in his eyes. Camelia turned her head sharply and stared at Golnar.

“Write it, now. Would you rather I go get Miss Keene and have her killed in front of you this moment?” asked Golnar.

Max looked back down and started writing.

“Good, I will have her executed for crimes against the powers of Aurumist. She killed two soldiers and injured many on the Council of Ancients.”

Max wrote quickly and furiously, looking up at Golnar periodically.

“You would have an execution the day of the spring festival?” asked Camelia quietly.

“I hope not. I hope they choose to meet with me. If they don’t, we will kill Gryphon Keene in front of the palace at sunrise,” said Golnar.

The room was quiet as Max wrote. The only noise came from Max’s quill and his breaths that were coming hard and fast.

“Let them know that both you and Miss Keene will be kept in a secure, hidden location during the meeting. You both will have over one hundred soldiers watching you. If they try to harm me or anyone of my party, I will kill both of you. If they try to rescue you and Miss Keene, they will be faced with the full wrath of the city’s army. I think that will do,” said Golnar.

Max finished the letter and held it out to Golnar. “I am done, would you like to read over it?”

“Do I need to?” asked Golnar in response. Max shook his head. “Good, now address it correctly and I will have it taken to someone to send it on its way.”

Golnar turned to Camelia, “Now you know my plans, Camelia. Do you have any objections?”

In response Camelia gave him a venomous look, but she responded with a simple, “No.” She then stood up, and walked quickly out of the room.