Few were indeed the impediments that the council of ministers imposed on Alanzor to make the trip to the west. However, among these impediments was the appointment of a successor so that, should something happen to the new king during the trip, there would be someone to continue with the dynasty.

—And that's why I chose you —He said to Bemlos.

—You are kidding, right? —His step-brother asked, sweating from the practice of fencing.

—I have already given instructions to Hokas. He will remain by your side at all times.

—But… —He huffed—. Is it really necessary for you to leave? I know you've always wanted to leave the palace, I want to do it myself, but you have not been crowned yet. What if something happens to you?

—You talk like my mother —He mocked him.

They could only talk with that freedom because they were training, and because they were still considered more children than men. Because when there were others with them to Bemlos certain formalities were demanded that Alanzor thought unnecessary.

—Since you mention your mother, yesterday she crossed mine.

—I had not heard anything —He said, because when the two women were there, a war started inside the palace.

—Because nothing happened —The oldest of the brothers replied, as surprised by that fact as the one who was listening to him—. Come on, mine tried to provoke yours; you know how she is, but your mother did not even turn to look at her. Could she be sick?

—I don’t think so…

(Is it because of the task I assigned her?) the boy thought, remembering that his mother came from a land where the woman had a much more active role in all aspects. Could it be that? Could her attitude and hysteria be the result of her inactivity and discontent to be reduced to a mere object with the function of generating children? And if so, what allocation would be suitable for the king's mother? Because sooner or later he would finish making the list that he had been commissioned.

—You must be careful —Said his brother.

—Practically all the royal guard will be with me.

(Nobody will be as stupid as to attack me in plain sight, and on the other hand I do not think they will allow me to join the fight. There is nothing to fear) he sighed.

—I was not talking about your trip —Smiled Bemlos—. I meant that it is very visible when you're thinking about something, and if you're not careful, someone could take advantage of one of your reflection moments to attack you.

As proof of what he said, he resumed his practice with the wooden sword and attacked his king. Of course it was a game, although officially they were training very hard.

—Your majesty —Hokas announced with subtlety his arrival—, what you ordered is ready.

—What did you entrust ... what did your Majesty ordered? —Bemlos corrected himself.

(My homework) thought the child king.

Since no one had ever expected anything from him, the little monarch had not received the necessary instruction for his new position. So the only thing he knew about the country was the conflict in the west, but because he had heard his mother mention it. He knew practically nothing about the functioning of the kingdom, nor did he understand very well the role played by the ministers. To begin with, why did a country as small as Sults require no less than thirty ministers?

—A reading for my trip —He said to his brother, because for what he knew, it was never a good idea to show weaknesses in public, and of course not to an older brother who could use them to mock him in the future.

—What a reading! —Said Bemlos.

The boy had been surprised by the size of the book, and rightly so, but what had caught the attention of the young king was the man who carried it. That subject wore gold shackles on both hands and feet, and also wore clothes that allowed him to show proof of slavery.

—If your Majesty allows it, I would like to suggest that this individual accompanied him on his trip.

Formerly, when Sults was more prosperous, people who committed a crime were forced to serve as slaves to their country for a certain period of time, after which they returned to be free citizens. In this way the streets were kept clean, public buildings were repaired and built, and extra soldiers were recruited.

—It will be useful to load the book —Agreed Alanzor.

He did not ask about the crime of the subject, his name or the time he had left to get his freedom back. The truth was that he did not care, because seeing that the man carried the proof of his crime and submitted to his punishment without trying to buy his freedom with the gold he carried, an action that led the kingdom to stop wearing shackles of that precious metal, the young monarch understood that it was either a pawn he could use during his trip or a murderer.

(Hokas is smart. He would never hand a murderer disguised as a servant in the eyes of someone who could point him as guilty later) thought the boy, whose brother and witness was there present.

—There is something else, your majesty —The minister stopped him when the young man went to resume his practice.

—Speak, Hokas —The young man gave him permission when, after a few seconds of silence, he understood that the old man would not say a word without his permission.

(It feels good) he opined when comparing that attention with the one that was lent him before his appointment.

—Your Majesty must decide to which countries to send invitations for his coronation.

Questions like that would have been easy for him to answer, or so he thought, if he had been educated in due course, and not now that he should memorize everything that nobody had bothered to teach him before. That was undoubtedly one of the worst parts of his new position.

—Everyone —He decided on the march.

—To all of them? —Hokas's eyes widened, a rare expression on him—. His… his majesty may not remember, he was very young, but six years ago Sults and Darem had certain differences that ended up being resolved by means of arms.

(It's true, I do not remember) he thought.

—To all of them —He repeated with a smile.

He had discovered that if he smiled and showed a somewhat more childlike attitude than he would like to show, he got better results than trying to look like an adult. Maybe that was due to his still young face, to his big eyes or short stature… How much he wanted to grow!

—As your majesty wishes —The minister bowed before leaving him alone with his half-brother and the slave.

(And why is he still here?) He asked himself mentally.

—Your name?

The aforementioned bowed and, without taking his eyes off the ground, replied.

—Hali, your majesty.

—Hali, tomorrow you will accompany me to the west. Today I do not need you —He dismissed him without adding more.

Bemlos looked at him with an arched eyebrow, probably ready to scold him for his coarseness, but before he was king Alanzor had not interacted with too many people, and he was not sure how he should show himself to the world. If he was wrong in his choice, his life could be in danger, and if he was right too…

(What a headache it is to be king!) the boy let out a sigh.

With luck during that trip he would get rid of a rival. Maybe that way he could get to sleep again.