Varrick sighed as he walked through the halls of Luxivita Castle and nodded to the servants who greeted him. The walls decorated with silver-framed paintings of past kings showed just how mighty the Harrow-Light bloodline has been since Luxivita’s creation. The ornate silver sconces and chandeliers did little to add color to the white marble walls. Not that the furniture did much either with having varying shades of light to medium gray. For having such a bloodstained history, the royal family tried very hard to present themselves as impeccable and unsullied people, but the overall aesthetic of the castle came off as cold and phlegmatic. Varrick couldn’t help but wonder if people were severely punished for spilling anything that left a stain. This place didn’t feel welcoming or like a home.

No wonder the last queen tried to add some color to this place. He thought as the guards opened the double doors to the throne room.

King Brennus sat on the throne with Queen Delilah and Prince Regulus by his sides. Prince Aelius sat next to his brother and sneered at Varrick as he approached them. They looked like the perfect family with their similar white and silver royal regalia making their fair skin look luminous. Their eyes and hair were the same shade of light gray, but only King Brennus had the white eight-point stars in his eyes. 

Varrick couldn’t help but smirk at him as he gave a mocking bow to the royal family. “Good day, Your Majesty and Highnesses.” 

King Brennus gave him a cold look and straightened his posture. “Val-”

“My name is Varrick, sir,” Varrick corrected him. 

"Varrick,” King Brennus spat. “Where is your brother?” 

Varrick bit back a laugh. “I believe Regulus is sitting right next to you, Your Majesty.”

“Your other brother.”

Varrick nodded to Aelius. “I believe Aelius is where he always is. Wishing he could sit right next to you instead of his brother.”

King Brennus stood up and glared at him. “You know damn well who I’m referring to! Where is Lenus?” 

“Ah, Leny. I’m not sure where he is. Isn’t he here in the castle?” Varrick questioned in feigned concern. “Did he get lost? Have you sent out a search party? This castle is awfully big and it’s so easy to get lost here. And Leny doesn’t have the best sense of direction-”

Queen Delilah huffed and glared at him too. “We know you know where Lenus is. We demand you tell us, bastard.” 

“Mother, you mustn’t speak in such a way,” Regulus gently reprimanded her.

Varrick couldn’t help but chuckle when he saw the queen’s face turn red and bit her lower lip. She might be the queen of the province of Foscentra, but her sons had more power. After all, the Heir and the Spare were the next ones in line for the throne. Had she not had them, Varrick could very well be sitting next to the king and the heir to Luxivita. He counted himself lucky she had his half-brothers shortly after his birth. Sitting through meetings, attending parties, befriending other pompous royal families and the even more pompous nobility sounded like a nightmare to him.

“Brother, we need to know where Lenus is. Other royal families will be visiting the castle in a month and he needs to be here so we can see who will take him on as their ward,” Regulus explained gently. 

The ebony-haired male laughed and shook his head. “We might share the same father, but we are not brothers, Prince Regulus. Don’t call me that.” He looked at King Brennus. “As for Lenus, I have no idea where he is.” 

The king sneered at him and started walking towards him. “I know you know where he is. If you don’t tell us, your friends in that piss-poor area you call a district will suffer. You and your whore mother won’t be able to stop-”

“You’re threatening the Riverfront District, Your Majesty?” Varrick cut him off and gave his father a hard stare. “Might I remind you that you and your family are being watched by all noble and royal families both in and outside the province? Destroying a district just because you’re mad you can’t find your own son won’t be a good look. Your people will wonder if you can protect them or be suspicious when they don’t see you retaliating. Not only will they question if you’re fit to rule, but they’ll question your sons’ reliability.”

Before anyone could say anything, Aelius summoned a spear made of light and charged at Varrick. The warlock didn’t even flinch as the tip stopped inches near his eye. He looked up at Aelius and smirked when he saw the Spare Prince being held in the air. 

“W-What’s is this?” Aelius asked, seeing magic energy surrounding his wrists and ankles. 

“I’m only doing this because you attacked me, Prince Aelius,” Varrick replied. He waved his finger around, watching the magical restraints pin the young prince to the wall. The prince struggled to get himself free and cursed when the restraints didn’t budge. Varrick chuckled and shook his head. “Now, stay there until the adults are done talking.” 

King Brennus gritted his teeth, glaring down at his bastard son. “Varrick, I demand you tell us where Lenus is right now!”

“I insist I don’t know where he is,” Varrick yawned. He could feel himself getting bored and knew the king would give up on questioning him eventually. Varrick wasn’t going to give him any answers. “You can keep asking me, but the answer won’t change. You probably should’ve been a little more careful when talking about your plans with your advisors.”

The king’s eyes widened but he quickly composed himself. “Plans? What plans?”

Varrick smirked at him knowingly. “Your plans to make him some king’s ward? Leny knows the real reason why you wanted him back.” 

The king’s face paled and knew he’d been caught. His family didn’t know his true plans for the youngest prince and tried to keep them hidden from his bastard son and his mother. “That’s all it is. Make Prince Lenus a ward so he can learn the ways of royal life and I offer the king who’s willing to take him some land in the province. You make it sound as if I have some nefarious plans.”

Varrick stared at the royal family sitting before him. Prince Regulus looked a little confused, but the queen didn’t. If anything, she looked smug about the whole thing. He should’ve known that not only did she know about the plan, but that she was perfectly fine with it. “If you’re done, I’ll take my leave. I think we’ve wasted enough of each other’s time.” He snapped his fingers to release Aelius from the restraints and walked away without bowing to any of them. 

He could hear the servants whispering amongst themselves at his blatant disrespect and knew word would get around fast about Len’s disappearance. It would only be a matter of time before other royal families heard about it. 

Very few knew what he looked like, but that wouldn't last long. He could only hope that news wouldn’t get to Ebonwood any time soon.  His and his mother’s associates sent word that Len made it there safely and would be staying with the town’s alchemist for the time being. They assured them they would keep an eye on Len and all travelers passing through. Varrick didn’t know them personally, but his mother had been friends with them for a long time and trusted them. 

Varrick quickly made his way through the city after leaving the castle and headed to the Riverfront District. He didn’t sense anyone following him right now but he wouldn’t surprised if that changed by the end of the day.  He’d stayed behind because he knew if he’d left with Len, King Brennus would’ve known immediately that they were trying to leave the province. Len missing for a day or two wasn’t new to the king, but not being seen for more than three days would arouse some suspicion. Not enough to make him think he’d left the city. Now, King Brennus had confirmation that Len fled the kingdom.

And the hunt for him begins.

He saw his mother talking and handing a few small vials and a jar to a noblewoman at the entrance of the district. 

“Thank you, Miss Echinacea. I trust this will be enough for your…discretion?” the noblewoman asked as she handed her a small coin purse. 

The witch nodded and smiled. “Worry not. My lips are sealed.” The noblewoman smiled and thanked her once more before walking away. As soon as the woman was far enough, Cea sighed dramatically and shook her head. “Goodness, I thought she would never leave. She kept talking and talking about her issues. She’s not solving her problem faster by standing here. Though I’m sure her husband will be stopping by soon.” 

Varrick chuckled as he stood next to her. “Were the potions that expensive?”

The older woman laughed and began walking back to their home. “They were, but he won’t come for that reason. Let’s just say the woman thought she was feeling a ‘burning desire’ and realized it wasn’t desire. She just doesn’t know who she got it from. Her husband or her lover. I’m sure one or both of them will be stopping by soon for their own potions and salves.” She looked over to her son with a frown. “How did your meeting with the royal family go?”

“As well as expected,” Varrick replied wearily. “He knows Leny is missing and it’ll only be a matter of time before he sends men out to find him and not long before other royal families find out about his existence.”

His mother sighed and pushed her hair back. “He’s safe for now. We just need to find a way to get him out of Foscentra. Once he’s out of the province, it’ll be easier to move around. When we get him off the continent, King Brennus will quit because it’ll be impossible to find him.”

Varrick groaned and scratched under the scar on his left cheek. “If only we could move to another realm. Think we can move to Periculosum? You said the realm of demons is not as bad as everyone says it is. Aren’t there witches and warlocks living there?”

Cea laughed as they walked to their home. “A lot of them have been living the since the Vast Witch Hunt centuries ago. Though getting into the realm legally would be quite the task. They don’t just let anyone in, let alone live there.”

“And getting there by other…means?” Varrick questioned.

“The Chthonians aren’t known for being kind to those who come to their realm illegally. Archdemon King Phenex might be willing to hear a person’s plea, but his kindness usually comes at the cost of a body part. The Daeva king and queen are known to kill before even listening. I imagine the other Chthonian royals aren’t much better than that,” Cea explained. 

The people around them began whispering and looking at the entrance of the district.

Standing there was Prince Regulus with two bodyguards. The prince looked around before walking to Varrick and Echinacea. He gave a small bow when he reached them. “Lady Gloom-Veil. Val-”

“Varrick. My name is Varrick,” Varrick cut him off.

Regulus nodded again. “Varrick. I trust the two of you know why I’m here.”

Echinacea shrugged and smiled sweetly at him. “I don’t know, Strong Prince. You need a potion for sickness? Or…” She gave his lower half a quick glance and wagged her eyebrows. “A potion for stamina?”

Regulus’s cheeks turned bright red and he coughed into his hand. “No ma’am. I’m here to talk about Lenus’s disappearance. We need to find him as soon as possible. I’m here to ask if you truly don’t know where he is.”

The witch looked over her shoulder and saw the residents of the district staring at them and waved at them in assurance. Most of the people went about their business, but there were quite a few of them still staring at them. She looked back at the prince and smiled. “I have to say, you’re much more polite than the rest of your family. But we don’t know where Len is. The last time I saw him was here before he went back to the castle. Your father threatened the people of this district and Len chose to go if it meant their safety. You and your family are lucky he cares about them more than his well-being.” Her heart tightened when she remembered that time. She felt helpless watching Len leave just to protect the people of the Riverfront District. Her sweet son agreed without hesitation and made the king swear in front of everyone that no harm would come to them.

Regulus wanted to defend his father, but he agreed with her. The king knew Lenus cared a great deal about the people of the Riverfront District and threatened their safety if he didn’t return to the castle. Regulus wished their father would’ve been a little more civilized in handling the matter. Ever since Helia’s scandal, his father struggled to maintain relations since many royal families distanced themselves as no prince or unmarried king wanted a princess who wasn’t a virgin.

Though Regulus found it odd to offer Lenus as a ward since he was far older than most and wasn’t the next in line to rule. He figured his father offered this as a means to marry Lenus off to a princess from another province to build a connection. And that’s why they had to find him as soon as possible. If he wasn’t there when the other royal families visited, it would cause another scandal. 

“Please, if you tell me where he is, I’ll go get him myself. I won’t tell him you told me,” Regulus pleaded. “I’ll even pay you.” 

Cea and Varrick laughed and the woman gave him a hard look. “Boy, we’ve told you we don’t know where he is. No amount of begging or bribe money will fix that. You wanna find Len? I suggest you get in your fancy little carriage with all your guards around you and start traveling. Find him yourself. Now, leave before your guards do anything. They look like they’re itching to fight.”

The prince frowned but knew the woman wouldn't tell him anything more. Perhaps he could try to convince one of the people in the district to give him some information. However, it would be tough considering the Riverfronters were known to be a tight-knit community. For now, he’d back off until he came up with a plan before his father sent someone to find Lenus. He bowed to the woman. “I will take my leave now, Lady Gloom-Veil. Good day.”

Varrick watched the prince and his guards leave the district. He could feel the weariness coming off his mother and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Worrying about Len’s safety and the plans the king had for him exhausted them. They’d spent the past week keeping up appearances so as to not look suspicious to anyone possibly watching them. However, Varrick and his mother felt on edge and their evenings were spent coming up with ideas on how to get Len out of the province without worrying about the guards noticing him. “It’s okay, mother,” Varrick assured her. “Leny is safe for now and we’ll find a way to get him out.”

The older woman didn’t say anything and walked back to their home. She felt tired, but that did nothing to calm the seething rage deep down at the thought of those people getting their hands on her little boy.