Max walked slowly by Issa’s side back towards the stable. The late afternoon sun was starting to set, signaling that the days were getting shorter and shorter as they headed towards Harvestide and then into the cold winter season. A wind blew around them, making them both shiver as Issa pulled her cloak tighter around her. She moved a little closer to Max.

“We will have an examination coming up in a week. Lessons are almost over, so I imagine we will be examined quite a bit over the next few weeks. Do you want to find a time to look over all the material together?” asked Issa.

Max thought this was rather strange as neither of them had any trouble passing exams in the past. Maybe she suspected it would get harder as they got to the end.

“I might be able to in a few days. As the nights get colder fewer folk travel and need their horses less so besides normal feedings and exercise, I should have some time.”

Issa looked pleased. “Harvestide will be soon. Are you looking forward to the celebration?”

“Oh, I suppose. Food is usually good.”

“And the decorations are nice, and the music….and dancing can be fun,” said Issa, turning red. “Max, would you… would you…”

“Hmm, would I what?” asked Max as they both came to a stop.

“Well, maybe we could, go together to Harvestide?” asked Issa as she looked at the ground. She paused a few moments and gave Max a sheepish grin. “It could be fun, and folk our age usually go with someone.”

“Oh,” said Max as he kicked a stick on the ground. “I mean, I…”

“Oh, it's no big deal or anything. I just thought since we were friends and most folk were going with someone, it would just be an easy thing to do, I didn’t mean…,” Issa said quickly as she waved her hands around.

Max smiled at her. He caught one of her hands to stop her. “Issa, I would love to go to Harvestide with you if you really want to go with me. I was just going to say if someone else asked you, or you want to ask someone else, I understand.”

Issa smiled back, “I’d really like to go with you.”

Max didn’t let go of her hand as they walked on towards the stables. They didn’t speak again, but neither seemed to be uncomfortable with the silence. As they got close to the stable, Max felt a weird sort of energy in the air. Something was different.

“Issa, perhaps you better go on home. I have some chores to do before dinner, and I know your father is probably expecting you home soon.”

Issa looked hurt. “Oh, I thought I might say hello to Danin and Nora. Father wanted to thank Nora for the bread she sent over the other night.”

For some reason Max really wanted Issa to go somewhere else. He wanted her to be safe, and there was definitely something going on at the stables.

“Maybe stop by the cottage then, see Nora first.”

“Max, what is wrong?” asked Issa.

Before Max could respond, Danin stepped out of the stables. He had a grim look on his face, and he wasn’t alone. Max was shocked to see the man he had seen earlier. He was taller than he remembered. His hat was tight on his head, almost shielding his eyes, making his face unreadable.

“Hello, Max. Someone is here to speak with you. Issa, you probably need to go on home.”

“Who is that?” Issa whispered to Max.

Max was too stunned to speak.

“Hello,” said the man raising his head to where Max could see his face. “My name is Ansel. I need to speak with you.”

“Why do you need to talk to Max?” asked Issa, stepping in front of Max. “What do you want with him?”

Ansel gave a half smile. “And you are?”

“My name is Isolde Finn, and I am Max’s friend. What do you want to talk to Max about?”

“It’s a private matter, but I can assure you I mean him no harm. Why don’t you go to the cottage? Once we are done, you can see for yourself that the young man is well,” said Ansel gesturing towards the house.

Danin stepped towards Issa. “Why don’t you go visit Nora with me, Issa. I’m sure she could use your company. Max will be along in a bit.”

Max stared at the stranger called Ansel for a moment until he found his voice. “Go on, Issa. It’s ok.”

Issa looked doubtful, but she let Danin lead her away towards the cottage.

“Is there somewhere we could talk privately around here?” asked Ansel. “I promise you will be safe with me.”

Max didn’t know why, but he didn’t doubt the strange man’s intentions even with the strange air that seemed to surround him.

“I have a small room at the top of the stairs I stay in to be close to the horses. We can go there.”

Ansel nodded his head and stepped to the side to let Max lead the way. When they got to the small room, Ansel shut the door and made himself comfortable in a small chair in the corner of the room.

“Would you like to sit?” asked Ansel gesturing towards the bed. Max shrugged and plopped down on his mattress.

Ansel studied Max for a moment, then took off his hat and laid it on the small table by the chair. He shook his head and his shoulder link dark brown hair fell in waves around his face. Max saw that the man had large brown eyes that were sharp but not unkind. His nose was straight and long and his lips full. Max supposed most would call the man handsome.

After what seemed like an eternity, the man asked, “What do you know about the history of our kingdom?”

Max thought it was a strange question. “Uh, mostly just what I have heard in lessons. We were founded by the Ancients after a time of chaos. The war was fought to take the land away from those who would abuse it. Once we were brought into peace, the Council of Ancients selected a ruler to watch over us and guide our laws. Since then they have selected a ruler from the high class each generation.”

“And you believe all that is the truth?”

Max looked at the man, puzzled. What did the man mean by ‘did he believe all that is the truth?’ Isn’t that why he took lessons, to understand the history of Regventus? Suddenly Max had a memory of Nora telling him stories when he was young. The stories were filled with kings and queen, protectors, and folk who used magic.

Ansel seemed to sense a change in Max’s expression. “So, you have heard other things about the kingdom besides your lessons.”

“I mean, Nora told me stories, but I didn’t actually believe they were true. I thought it was just a way to entertain children.”

“How much do you remember of the stories you heard?”

“Not much, honestly. I remember a little of folk who used magic and something about a queen who gave up everything to save her people, but that’s it.”

Ansel rubbed his face with his hands. “Do you follow the way of the Ancients?”

Max looked perplexed. He had no idea what that meant really. In lessons, he learned a little about the way of the Ancients. Rules that had to be followed, how people had to behave. How everyone had their place, and they needed to learn to be satisfied with it. He also had heard a little about what happens to people who don’t fit into the way.

“No, I mean I don’t think so. I have heard things about people, children like me, and what happens to them. I don’t think it’s really something I want to be involved with.”

Ansel seemed to relax a bit in his chair. “Max, I’m going to try to tell you the true history of our kingdom. At least enough to help you understand. There isn’t much time, but you have to know the truth.”

Ansel took a breath and looked at Max.

“Over 1300 years ago, magical and non-magical folk lived all around our land apart from one another. They lived in small villages, in forests, in mountains, and valleys. All in the same land but not united. Then the sickness came. It infected the non-magical folk, the non-gifted. Many caught the disease and at least half of the time it was deadly.

“The non-gifted folk were desperate so they, for the first time, started reaching out to magical folk asking for help. Some magical folk were resistant to helping the non-magical. They saw the sickness as a curse brought to the non-gifted to eradicate them from the kingdom

“Another group led by the great family of Adalwen believed they should help the non-gifted. They saw this as an opportunity to join the people of this world together. They started working on potions and spells to alleviate the disease. The non-magical folk started getting better, and they started flourishing again.

“The magical group who opposed the magical assistance was angry. They saw this working with the non-gifted as against the will of their gods. They started referring to their gods as the Ancients. They built up an army of magical folk and enslaved all the non-magical folk they could. A great war was fought. Many people on both sides died, but in the end, the family Adalwen and their allies were victorious. The kingdom of Regventus was formed with King Nathin of the blood of Adalwen on the throne.

“A peace of almost 1000 years lasted, with kings and queens coming from the line of Adalwen ruling over the kingdom, but in the shadows, always lurking were those who followed the ways of the Ancients, believing that they would one day be able to truly purge the kingdom of all those unworthy.

“They grew in power through sowing mistrust and discontent all over Regventus. They pitted magical and non-magical folk against each other. Somewhere in their devious ways they convinced many with magical powers to hide their powers, to bury them deep to gain the trust of the non-magical people. They were able to befriend non-magical people and pit them against magical folk and the family of Adalwen. The unrest grew until a force was formed to storm the castle to kill the line of Adalwen and take over the whole kingdom.

“The family of Adalwen had a great ally in the family of Raya. A man of the line of Raya was always the great protector of the kingdom and the king or queen of Regventus. The protector is bound by magic to his king or queen. Before the forces came to kill the family of Adalwen, the protector warned the queen to leave. She took her husband, young son and her protector and his wife away from the castle. Using their magic, the small group managed to hide away in the kingdom.

“Over the years the line of Raya has been unbroken. A new protector born each generation waiting for the right moment, waiting for the diviner to say the time is right.”

Here Ansel paused.

Max was caught up in the story. “Waiting for the time is right for what?”

Ansel rose from this chair. He walked around the room, rubbing his hands to warm them. Max thought he looked like he was in great thought. Ansel looked like he was deliberating what to say next, and Max waited patiently, wondering what all this could be leading to. Max wondered where he fit into all of this. Eventually Ansel stopped pacing and returned to his chair. He fixed his deep brown eyes on Max.

“Waiting for the time of the line of Adalwen to return. The line has never been unbroken. There are still those out there with the blood of King Nathin running through their veins. There always has been. When the time was right, the true heir would be revealed, ready to take his or her place back on the throne of Aurumist to be the ruler of Regventus,” said Ansel, still staring at Max.

“Why are you telling me this? What have you or I to do with this?” asked Max.

“We all have a part to play in this. I am Ansel of the line of Raya. I am this generation's great protector of the kingdom. I have always known this. I have studied and trained and lived this my whole life.”

“If all this is true, what can I have to do with this? I don’t even know who my parents truly are. I am a stable boy who lives the furthest from Aurumist as one can. What part can I have in all of this?”

Ansel looked at Max, and Max couldn’t quite make out the look. Was it annoyance, pity, anger, or something else?

“You are all of this, Max. You are the reason I was born. You are the reason I was trained. You are Maxwell of the line of Adalwen. Your parents were both descendants of the line of Adalwen. Your blood runs true with the line of kings and queens. You were born for this time.”