"...and this is the full report," explained Ivendir and gave Thelrim a LiqBoard. "I explained the crucial things, the rest is written here."

Thelrim took the device. "Thank you, Your Highness, I'll check it." He stood up from a chair and turned around.

Ivendir narrowed his eyes and added quietly. "They calmed down for a moment." He looked suspiciously at the open window as if there was a band of spies hiding under a windowsill. He turned his head towards Thelrim again. "...but it doesn't mean we're done. They will be back for more."

Thelrim glanced at the window too. The chilly morning breeze brought the smell of fresh leaves and flowers. "I'll try to find a few solutions," he said and looked at the king, "then you will choose the most effective one."

Ivendir crossed his arms and leant on the backrest of his armchair. "Their demands didn't change much. We have to collect as much money as we can until they change their mind."

Thelrim sighed and nodded. "Helvetto will prevail if we could only get rid of this parasite..."

"Trust me," said Ivendir, staring into Thelrim's face and trying to sound confident, "this won't take too long." He swung his hand. "We're paying the debts and kicking them out."

Thelrim nodded again. A barely visible smile appeared on his lips. As he lowered his gaze, a long shape flashed across the floor. He winced. A blue-green lizard dashed from under the bed to the corner of the chamber.

"What?" asked Ivendir, noticing the strange behaviour of his guard.

Thelrim pointed at the floor with disgust on his face. "A lizard is here. I thought they're still in their winter sleep."

He spread his fingers similarly to a hunting eagle but Ivendir stood up.

"Be careful," said the king. "Their skin is very fragile."

He approached the lizard. It calmly sat on the floor, its belly pulsating like it was taking many quick breaths. Its tiny scales shimmered with all shades of deep green and azure whenever it moved.

Ivendir gently caught the lizard under its armpits and carried it towards the window. The lizard's skin felt too rubbery for him. Its whole chest pulsated too strongly but he thought the lizard is just scared. He put it on the windowsill and turned his head towards Thelrim.

"That's all," he said.

Thelrim was about to walk away when one detail caught his attention. The lizard froze. It didn't even breath. Its belly was swelling beyond its size. The lizard made a cracking sound and that was when a rapid flow of adrenaline charged into Thelrim's veins.

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"Get down!" he yelled, jumping towards Ivendir.

The robot lizard exploded. Thelrim's momentum pushed Ivendir towards the armchair. Ivendir landed on his knees. He hunched down, gripping his arms. The smell of melting paint awoke his fight or flight response. Last time when he felt it, he almost lost his arm. The memory of assassination attempts ran rampant in his head again. His heart battered his ribs, taking his breath away. He clenched his fingers on his shirt when a burning feeling overwhelmed his chest.

It had to happen! he cried in his mind. Again!

"Are you all right?" asked Thelrim, hearing the king's shallow breath and nudging his arm.

"Yes..." whispered Ivendir, struggling for air. "Yes," he repeated slightly louder. He glanced at Thelrim. "Take care of yourself... You're bleeding." He gripped his shirt near his heart so firmly that the tendons on his hands swelled. "And this? Just a panic attack." He paused to inhale a little sip of air. "You can't do anything about it..."

The pain in his chest seemed to intoxicate him so heavily that he could only listen to his wild heartbeat. The dull, swift thud echoed in his head. The faster he breathed, the dizzier he felt. He was sure his brain was going to blow up soon.

He imagined his death. It had to look like this. Black, amorphous smudges loomed in front of him but when he closed his eyes, they exploded with different vivid colours.

I'm not dying, get it? he told himself I'm not dying!

He stopped thinking logically. He knew that the harder he fights for air, the more lightheaded he becomes but it didn't stop him from tensing his muscles to their breaking point and fiercely filling his lungs.

Last time, remember? Everything went okay, he tried to calm himself down. He lied on the floor. Thelrim was talking to him but he ignored it. The headache made him zone out.

"Give me a few minutes," he whispered incoherently. He could barely control his mouth and tongue. "I will help you."

"Don't worry about me, Your Highness," said Thelrim and shook Ivendir's arm again. "This scratch isn't too deep. I called for help." He stood up and trotted towards the corridor. "And I'm bringing a medical kit."

Ivendir opened his eyes. The moment of numbness forced his muscles to relax and made his breath more steady. After he brushed his hair off his face, his hand helplessly drooped on the ground. That little move wore him out completely. He still lied on the floor as he couldn't find any energy to get up. He was exhausted as if he just finished climbing a mountain. Every part of his body radiated with searing pain and his head felt heavier than a giant bag of concrete. He closed his eyes again to get some rest before Thelrim comes back with a medical kit.

See... it's okay, he said to himself. You're okay. It's nothing. You can... breathe.

Thelrim offered help a few times but Ivendir always declined it. He just needed a few minutes of undisturbed peace. He wished to assist Thelrim but he couldn't focus on anything. Thelrim dealt with a metal scrap in his arm by himself. When he finished, a group of medics and investigators entered the chamber.

Ivendir still had problems with focusing on the questions and forming the answers but he paid attention to a rubber fragment on the table. He saw its colour before. When he recently spoke with Andvari, he noticed the same colour on Vardir's shirt and nail.

He wanted to believe that it's just a coincidence.