After leaving Twin Oaks, Principal Lub rode straight to the House Forthman's Castle, stopping only at Eston town to change horses, and have a fast meal, damn be his royal obligations if he could not even properly feed himself.

As soon he arrived at the gray-stone castle, he was escorted to Lord Marbal's meeting chamber where King Baram's younger brother waited impatiently.

He swiftly briefed Lord Marbal about his encounter with El and Alice, not offering many details as he saw the man's face frown and darken.

“So, what is your assessment, who are we dealing with here? Who is he?”

“Must be a foreign spy. Most likely one from our southern neighbors.”

“You think that kid they made a king of... what is his name again...?”

“King Koral, my Lord”

“Yes, you think he would dare do something like that?”

“Well, the only other option is Steward of Flatlands, but from what I hear, he's too much into debt to consider any campaign against us.”

Lord Marbal moved away from his desk, turning his back to Principal Lub as he approached the fireplace and extended his hands to soak in some of its warmth.

“Why did you not bring him here for further questioning goes beyond me. We could have burned some answers out of him rather fast,” he growled in disapproval.

“My Lord, it was not possible. I only had two guards. And, the man seemed - ”

“Well, you should have tried at least. Or you're getting too soft in your old age? Maybe we need a younger principal to run our affairs, someone who does not mind spilling a bit of blood here and there.”

“My Lord, you know I do not mind spilling blood, but those villagers said that he was one of Paladins himself, swore they saw his sword burn with a white flame, and I did not find it prudent to die there without returning here with the news and keeping you in dark. I mean, what chance would three of us have against a Paladin?”

“Paladins,” the man said with disgust as he chuckled. “Those are fairly tails, older than my great-grandmother. People are so desperate to search for a savior, and a bit of sunlight on a blade is now considered a white flame.”

“Probably,” Principal Lub said as he nodded his head, not ready to debate with Lord Marbal and tell him how they saw it during the night snowstorm.

“You should have brought him here. Makes him that much more interesting. We could have seen how bright his sword shines when we put some hot iron against his chest.”

“My Lord, I'd be more than glad to leave and correct that mistake right away, but I will need more than two guards, I’m afraid.”

“Fine. You will take a dozen. That should be enough, don’t you think?” Lord Marbal asked and then looked at Principal Lub's sunken face. “Actually, take a whole squadron. Certainly, a single spy won’t be able to handle fifty seasoned swords. But don’t come back empty-handed again, do you understand?”

“I do, my Lord. I will leave with the first of light tomorrow, with your permission.”

“No. You will leave tonight. You can lodge in Eston and then head back to that village in the morning. We can't give that spy any time to slip through our fingers, do you understand?”

“I do, my Lord,” Principal Lub answered obediently while inside his head, he cursed his Lordship and wished him to contract all the venereal diseases that existed.

“But before you go, our Prince Prayo would like to see you,” the Lord said, his face darkening even more.

“Very good, my Lord. By the way, if I may ask, how is our King’s health, my Lord? Has there been any change since I left, hopefully for the better?”

“Not good. But... the prince is starting to think as if he is king already. Yet, he’s so young and inexperienced. Fast to jump to conclusions. Impulsive. Maybe it would be better not to share information about a possible spy up north.”

“I understand, my Lord. I will leave all the details out, as much as possible. Naturally, I would not like to unnecessarily worry our Prince at this awful and stressful moment.”

They briskly walked in silence two flights of stairs and arrived at King's private study where they found Prince Prayo in a conversation with his mentor Steward of Arms Helfin.

Lord Marbal was the one who spoke mostly, not allowing Principal Lub to talk much at all, which was quite fine for the Principal since Lord made it sound as if he and the two guards themselves had slaughtered most of the strange beasts that came down the mountains.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

”What are we to think about such an incursion of those creatures? Could it be an accident?”

“Not very likely, my Prince. They may have been driven to attack our Northern province.”

“Driven by whom?”

“We do not know yet, my Prince,” Lord Marbel answered. “But we hope to find out fairly soon.”

The answer did not satisfy Prince Prayo at all. “Could it be King Koral who sent them, testing our border on the North?”

“We cannot rule anyone out yet, my Prince,” Lord Marbel answered.

“Have you seen the letter we just received from him, uncle? He's two years younger than me and thinks of himself as being the wisest. It’s a pure provocation, almost an act of war. Asking us for a repayment of some war damage that my father and his had already settled more than ten years ago??”

“Unfortunately the young king did not have a good advisor, my Prince,” Steward of Arms Helfin slowly added, but talked as if he knew exactly a person he was referring to.

“He may think that his land was not compensated properly. Maybe a conversation with him could iron out a lot of things. Maybe it would be wise to set up a meeting.”

“You’re a wise man, Steward Helfin. You have been a good tutor to me for as long as I remember. But, I’m not sure the young King has a conversation in mind.”

“We have reports of an army amassing in their capital, my Prince,” Lord Marbal added.

“You see, that’s what I’m talking about.”

“My Prince,” the Steward continued with his slow speech. “The winter is coming. They certainly will not try anything more than provocation before the springtime. Our spies are not reporting any big army recruitment either. Just some minor force displays and exercises in their capital. More as a showcase of his power to local princesses. I think they are aware it would be folly to attack us now just as winter is here.”

“I am not so sure,” the Prince did not seem convinced. “You think he’s smart enough to know that?”

“I think so, my Lord. We can send more spies. Diplomats as well. People that can talk to him and try to find the extent of his intentions.”

“Yes. Diplomacy is our first option. Father would want it that way. And when he recovers his health and his wits, I bet that is exactly what he would order.”

“I think that is by far the smartest thing to do, my Prince,” the Steward of Arms said.

“Who knows what he has been conniving, that little bugger, younger than me and already a king. And what about those beasts? Did you bring any back for us to see them? They say they are quite unlike anything we ever had here before.”

Suddenly all eyes turned to Principal Lub. “No, my lord. I could not bring any beasts back since they seem to have… just melted in the snow.”

‘That is strange. How can that happen?”

“We do not know, my Prince,” Principal Lub was left to answer.

“I think it would be wise to send a small force up north and see what exactly is going on,” the Steward suggested.

“Yes, my Prince. That would be the wisest thing to do,” his uncle affirmed.

“Oh, yes. I would love to go up north.”

“It would not be wise for you to leave the seat of power now, now that your father is sick. He needs you here. But… it might be wise to send Prince Kerwin to go in your stead.”

“He is only my half-brother. Sure, the father recognized him even though we all know his mother was a prostitute. A known prostitute, I may say. What my father saw in her, I have no idea. Still, why should he go?”

“He’s a good fighter. And there might be trouble up north. And getting him out of town now might be a wise decision to make,” his steward gave him an answer.

“I see. Then inform Kerwin that he will have to head up north and will not come back without bringing me a big head of a beast.”

“Yes, my Prince,” the Steward answered obediently. “It will be done as you command.”

“From all the twenty of our districts, is Twin Oaks still paying us the least amount in taxes?” the Prince suddenly asked.

“I am afraid so,” the Principal answered.

“And they expect us to run to them every time they light up a beacon?”

“Yes. I completely understand you, my King. And I think it’s about time we do something with those peasants and put them under control.”

“The winter is coming. It might not be the best time to levy a new tax on them at this unfortunate moment,” Steward Helfin suggested.

“It never is a good time. But we have to do something. My father had drained our treasuries, and now, what are we to do?”

“Well, while I’m up north, I sure can remind them of their obligations, my Prince,” Principal Lev offered readily.

After being dismissed, Steward Helfin went swiftly to the West Tower and entered a small, inconspicuous chamber where Prince Kerwin

slept.

A young man with long blond hair, pointy ears, and a quick smile with an almost none-existent nose and eyes that indisputably resembled King's more than anybody else, was there to meet him. “You're riding out to Twin Oaks with Seventh Cavalry,” Steward Helfin told him. “I asked for you to go there before anyone else could protest, and your brother agreed. So, I did my best to get you out of here. Just remember, the threat is not over.”

“I know.”

“They will try to assassinate you there as well.”

“So, then why go?”

“There in the open, it will be easier for you to see them come. Eat nothing that is served specially for you. Walk nowhere alone. Rewin will be your guard. I can only vouch for him. Nobody else. But be aware. Everyone else might be on their pay.”

“I know Seventh Cavalry. I've trained with those men before.”

“Can’t trust any of them. Probably more than one will be attempting to kill you. But out there in the field, you will see them coming. That is the most I could have done for you, my boy.”