My lungs had stopped working, and I feared my heart had paused. What did he just say to my father, the king of Thaloria? This was a fight between them. I wanted no part of it, but I had become the focal point. I tried to think of something to say, but my mind had also shut down. The mortals and fae were staring at us.

“Get out,” ordered my father. “I will not be disrespected in my own home. You’re no longer welcome here.”

My eyes flicked from one man to the other. 

“That’s fine.” The king of Lumeria stood. “I came to talk to my sister, but I needed to borrow my nephew first.”

I swallowed hard.

“If you want him, take him,” my father stated. “We’ll discuss this later.”

I nodded. My uncle lifted me from my seat and led me to the exit. 

“What is going on exactly?” I asked, overwhelmed.

“All will be explained momentarily.”

The doors were opened for us to pass and then were immediately closed. I glanced over my shoulder. I couldn’t decide if I should be happy or upset that my time at the Grand Banquet had been cut short.

“Maniis!”

I cringed at my mother’s voice. My uncle stopped, causing me to run into his back.

My mother marched toward us.

“Arbela.” He held out his arms. “May your beauty never fade.”

I flinched at the sound of her slapping him across the face.

“How dare you. How dare you come here.” She snatched my wrist and yanked me behind her. “They told me you marched into the banquet late, wearing some disgusting coat that mud streaks across the floor. Do you have no decorum for my guests and people of this kingdom?”

The king rubbed his cheek. “Being here is not by choice.”

“Then leave,” she stated. “You’re not welcome.”

He nodded. “You’re more in line with your husband than I thought. He told me to get out as well.”

“Then do so,” she stated.

“I would love to, but it is not that easy.”

“Who sent you?” She narrowed her gaze. “Father? Was it him? If it was him, you better get back on your horse and leave. I have nothing to say to that man.”

Maniis forced a smile. “It’s good to see you haven’t changed.”

“Ignore my question again, and I’ll send you back to Father in pieces. Or perhaps, are you here to tell me he had an accident.” She lightened up. “Did the gods finally remove the old king from the realm? The gods have shown me mercy, as I would like nothing better than to see his rotting corpse.”

“Arbela,” he sighed. “To speak ill of your father is calling the wrath of the gods upon you.”

“There is nothing they could do to punish me more than what he has already done,” she replied. 

My uncle sighed. “Father is alive and well. He also has nothing to do with me being here. He doesn’t even know that I am here.”

“Then, why? Truthfully, answer my question.”

“Why do you think I’m here? There is only one possible reason I would ever choose to come this far south.” He pointed his hand at me. “I came for him.”

My mother took in a heated breath. “Touch my son, and I will declare war. A war I will lose, but I will do it nonetheless.”

He shook his head. “The boy has potential. Dormant potential, but it’s there. Unless you want him to remain mediocre for the rest of his life, fine, he can stay here with Arkin.” He pointed to the banquet hall doors. “The quality of men in the lowlands isn’t impressive, but Father could have done better than that.”

“I had no say in the matter, or have you forgotten when I was shipped away to this hellscape of a kingdom.”

“No.” He shrugged. “It wasn’t like you went quietly. You stabbed me, if I recall correctly.”

She punched him in the arm. “And now you’re trying to take my son from me—my only source of happiness. I will teach him if I have to. There’s no need for him to go to Lumeria.”

“Arbela, be honest with yourself.” My uncle rolled his eyes as he rubbed his face. “You’re going to teach him in a place where elves pretend to be mortals; it’s nonsensical—I’ve heard the rumors. They told me about the training they have the boy doing, and it’s a waste of time. I can take him to Lumeria, where he can have proper teachers. He’s already behind. He needs someone who knows what they’re doing.”

“You have been spying on us.” She moved toward her brother, looking ready to strike him again. “You’ve sent people to spy on my son! May the gods strike you down; I dare to disown you as my brother.”

The two started to argue as I stood to the side. I was beginning to understand why my mother avoided talking about her family. They weren’t on good terms.

I cleared my throat. “Does this have something to do with the old man?”

The pair stopped fighting.

“Umm… an old man who can bend time; I met him in the garden. He changed into a younger man. Allse—All-something or other. He was a fae.” I looked between the siblings. “He’s a part of the reason you came, right?”

“Great.” My uncle smiled, folding his arms. “He already knows about Allseceen. Wonderful.”

“He knows of him and nothing more. I don’t want Allseceen near Ricky; I don’t even want him within a hundred miles of this city.” My mother grew still. She pointed at her brother. “You sent that bastard to spy on us. He’s your spy. The idiot knocked Ricky out of a tree. He could have broken his neck.” She motioned to me. 

She was exaggerating the story slightly. I fell maybe four feet. It was nothing life-threatening.

“Is Allseceen still here?” My mother turned in a circle, scanning the ceiling. “That slimy fae is still lurking around my home.”

“He could be. I don’t try to keep track of him.” My uncle cleared his throat and held out his hand to me. “I should properly introduce myself. I don’t think your parents are going to.”

My mother was on the hunt for the elusive fae.

“I’m Maniis, King of Lumeria.”

“Your grace,” I replied. “I’m Alric.”

“Oh, I know. I was there when you were named. You were born in Lumeria,” he said proudly.

I nodded. “It’s where I got my mark.” I pointed to my back. “My sister has yet to be taken to the God’s Temple to get hers. She was born in Thaloria, though, and I was told it is a long journey to your kingdom. That’s about all I’ve been told.”

He scoffed. “Not surprised. Your mother will never forgive my father for marrying her off to the second son of a lowland lord.” 

I shifted my weight and forced a smile. That second son to a lowland lord was my father and king.

Maniis looked me up and down. “You remind me of my sons. I had no doubt when I entered the room that it was you. You have the looks of a Lumeria eternal.”

“Hmm… I guess the elves of Lumeria are all overly pretty,” I muttered.

He looked at me weirdly. “Pretty?”

“I apologize. It is usually the first thing that is said to me. I’ve been dealing with the comments all week.”

He nodded slowly. “By mortals?”

“Yes, the majority, if not all mortals I have met, mention it.”

My uncle looked repulsed by the comment. “Fucking unkempt bastards,” he said under his breath. “Maybe if they bathed more than once a year, they wouldn’t be so mesmerized by someone being clean.” He kept muttering to himself.

I smiled to myself. They were clearly siblings with similar opinions toward the mortals.

“So, you have children?”

“Two sons,” Maniis replied. “They are much older than you,” he laughed.

I nodded. “You spoke of my grandfather. He’s alive, so how are you the king?”

“He barely was given the title,” stated my mother while continuing to search the corners of the ceiling. 

Maniis scowled at her. “Do you say the same thing to mortal kings?”

“Yes,” she replied. “Why wouldn’t I? Some only sit on the throne for a decade or so. Not nearly long enough to know what they are doing.”

“I agree, but I was doing the work of a king long before Father abdicated.”

“You’re allowed to do that?” I asked. 

My uncle nodded. “After a thousand years, if an eternal king wishes to step aside, they can. He served far longer than a thousand before he finally gave me his approval.”

“Exactly, barely king and still learning how to do the job,” said my mother.

“Thousands of years,” I whispered. I turned to my mother. “Does that mean you’re thousands of years old?”

She narrowed her eyes on me before looking at her brother. He didn’t say a word, and I knew I should not press the issue.

“So… umm…” I swallowed hard. “Why does Allseceen want me to go with you?”

Maniis motioned with his hand for me to turn around. I did so, and he pulled down the collar of my shirt. 

“The shape has always been concerning,” said my uncle.

My mother rolled her eyes and turned away. “It was given to him by the gods. I’m sure they’d be open to your criticism.”

Shaking his head, my uncle touched my skin. “It’s still sealed.”

“What?” I clasped the base of my neck and faced him. “Isn’t it just a mark? A scar or tattoo?”

His eyes traveled to his sister, who simply ignored him. “If I had known it was this bad, I would have come sooner. You’ve completely neglected your own child.”

“Look around, Maniis,” she stated. “Are we in the Ashen forest? What color were the trees you passed when you came here? You knew of Ricky’s mark. You were present when the gods’ bestowed it onto him, yet you still threw us out,” she stated. “You’re only here because Allseceen was sent by the gods to relay their message. You did not care about Ricky until then, so don’t act concerned now. It will only make me want to stab you again.”

Maniis lifted his chin.

My mother maintained eye contact. “I have no way to break the seal, and even if I could, he wouldn’t be safe in Thaloria. I would be his lone protector, so I decided to keep it sealed.”

“I would like to know what you’re talking about,” I said, concerned.

My uncle scanned the room and held his hand out. “This.”