“Put what away?”

Lee and Callum both startled to Donovan’s voice, his dark-clothed figure and raven hair scarcely materializing from the blackened staircase ahead. His steps down to their level were as quiet as the fury on his face.

“Ssssooo… we may have a problem?” Lee said weakly.

Donovan stared the both of them down when he approached, his jaw clenched enough to accent his cheekbones. Taking a risk, Lee patted his shoulder.

“Now, now, your highness, it’s just a sword, afterall.”

“He took it?!” Donovan roared, making Lee and Callum jump to attention.

“You have another sword!”

“He has another sword?” Callum mumbled as Lee frantically waved his hands in the air in sputtering attempts to quell the infuriated prince.

“We’ll get it back, we’ll get it back,”

“How do you know?” Donovan snapped, shrugging off Lee’s hand on his shoulder. It returned with a stubborn grip.

“Because I said, and thus is it so.”

The two of them locked eyes in a silent battle with Callum as audience. Don gritted his teeth while Lee bore a firm gaze into him, light hazel eyes piercing his dark expression. With a sharp inhale, then a sigh, a victor was crowned.

With a grin from ear to ear, Lee took to Donovan’s side and gestured for Callum to quietly follow.

“We’ll track him down, your highness, you’ll see.”

“Is this to happen before or after we find our original targets?” he said glumly, twisting a spell of pity in Lee’s chest.

“Along the way, I’m sure. He can’t be that great at running.”

In due time, Callum had packed a hasty travel bag of basic clothing and favorite belongings, and the three of them saddled up the horses to return to the town. Ignoring the pouting prince riding behind them, Lee teased the child in his lap about how many toys he had packed or how home sick he would be in the coming days.

“You’re taking me with you?!” Callum gaped up at Lee, his tiny frame vibrating between Lee’s arms as he held the reins.

Lee chuckled with a squint to his eyes,”Just until we get to the capital. If we don’t run into your father, then your mother shouldn’t be too hard to find. Isn’t that right, your highness?”

Only a grumpy ‘mmn’ sounded behind them, so Lee continued,”Your mother is a smart woman. She was probably one of the more proactive lords and ladies that took to the capital to give news of the blight. I’m sure once she hears about you and your father, she’ll come right away to get you!”

"She was the only one to go to the capital."

Donovan took ahead with his steed as he said this, his expression indiscernible as he passed. Making note to pry later, Lee followed his lead as they made head way through the town. A stop at the sanctuary lent them a blessing for their travels, and before long, they were once more stranded in the endless embrace of green, breezy hills. On the distant horizon, a souffle of clouds announced their approach with a low, cool wind.