I am dreaming. This is some terrible, bizarre dream form which I will awaken shortly. I'm not supposed to be a Prince! I'm a librarian!

Prince Leander and Duke Aurel are turning pages in the Book of the Constitution, trying to find a loophole. There's been talk of swearing everyone in the room to secrecy and asking the question again. I certainly wouldn't mind that, but the Archbishop is clear that he will not lie about such matter.

A King is declared a King in front of God, apparently, and the vows are just as important as marriage.

Odin added, “He's got a better claim to the title than His Majesty Kong ever did.”

“This is an outrage! It must be undone immediately!” Duke Aurel is shouting. I shrink against the wall to stay out of the way of his rage. I don't especially want to be caught up in this.

“Aurel will smash!” said Shiva.

“Your Highness, we should not waste time in making preparations. There is a lot to do.” I don't realize that the large, hulking bodyguard is talking to me at first. Not until he puts his hand on my shoulder.

“What do you mean? I think we should probably stay here and find-” I say but the bodyguard shakes his head.

“--and fight!” said Shiva.

“--and smooch!” said Isis.

“--and dance!” said Odin.

“You know as well as I do what has happened here. Don't tell me you haven't read every book in the Royal Library,” he says.

It's true, thought I wonder how he knows that. Maybe it's just his business to know everything about everyone for security purposes. Yet even knowing that book inside out as I do, and know that Prince Leander's flippant answer does break all royal protocols, I can't find it in myself to believe what just happened.

Odin pondered, “If Prince Leander doesn't know Bram, does that mean the prince has never been inside his own palace's library?”

“Probably,” agreed Isis.

Shiva said, “Libraries are great.”

Odin said, “You're right, but I'm surprised to hear it from you, Shiva.”

“Why doesn't he just abdicate and nominate me?” Prince Leander suggests.

Odin said, “I empathize with that guy. He's got the straightforward solution.”

I've always thought that the Prince has a delicate face. High cheekbones and a strong, thin nose. In his blind panic, that elfin beauty hasn't disappeared, but it looks out of place. He looks like a child who doesn't quite know what to do.

“I can't,” I reply, unhappily. “Once an abdication has been made, it cannot be withdrawn. You can never be King.”

“This is preposterous! Our family has ruled Svaltova for over three hundred years!” Duke Aurel snarls, turning to the Archbishop. “It can't just be handed over to some peasant because of a flippant remark! Find a way around it.”

Odin said, “Flippant remarks are the most powerful remarks in the cosmos, Duke.”

“Your Highness, you are the expert on the Constitution. Is there a way around it?” the bodyguard asks me. I swallow and shake my head.

“N-not that I know of,” I reply. “The only way that an abdicated royal could re-enter the royal family would be through marriage to a member of the current line of succession. But I only have a brother, and his children are too young.”

“How old?” Duke Aurel asked sharply.

I am deeply disturbed by the implication of the question.

“The eldest is six,” I reply.

Shiva asked, “How old is six in dragon years?”

No one answered.

Prince Leander sinks into the chair of his father's desk, putting his head in his hands. He starts to laugh.

“The old man would have loved this!” he says, laughing even harder. I think he's lost it.

Odin laughed with him.

“Jack,” the bodyguard says. I can see the Earl of Dencer was inching his way to the door. “Would you be so kind as to take Prince Bram to a room in the royal suite? He will need his rest for tomorrow.”

Jack looks like he wants to do nothing more than escape, but he nods his head quickly. Prince Leander is looking at him like he's committed treason.

“I don't hear anyone saying he didn't!” said Isis.

“U-um. Good night?” I offer to the room, hesitantly. I'm aware that I've been dismissed and should leave it to them.

“Good night, Your Highness,” the bodyguard replies, taking me by the elbow to the door and shutting me out.

Odin said, “There are worse body parts than elbows by which to be manhandled.”

Isis said, “That's the end of our segment. Shiva Do you feel any more connection with Scruffy?”

“I think I'm going to bond with King Bram when he set fire to the Royal Library.”

Odin asked, “Why?! Why would he do that? Weren't you the one who said that libraries are great?”

“Libraries are awesome. When King Bram burns down the palace to destroy his rivals, the library a great to start. It's an arsenal of kindling.”