Max stared at the man, sure someone was playing a joke on him. This man couldn’t be serious.

“What?” exclaimed Max. “What are you talking about? I am nobody. My own parents didn’t even want me. I was abandoned in this village and taken in by Danin and Nora. I am no one.”

“No, you are someone. Your parents didn’t abandon you. They knew they were hunted and in danger. They gave you up to save you before it was too late. They gave you to me to protect you, and then they were hunted down and killed by soldiers from Aurumist.”

Max made a disbelieving noise and exclaimed, “They gave me to you? What were you nine? You can’t have seen more than twenty-five years.”

“I was young. I was barely of the age of majority. Magical folk don’t age the same as non-magical, not when you claim your magic and know who you are.”

Max jumped off the bed. There were so many questions in his mind. He didn’t know if he even believed what was being said, yet there was something in him that told him to believe it.

“Wait, if they gave me to you to protect me, how did I end up here?” asked Max looking at Ansel.

“The Ring of Nine, the leaders of our people, told me to go get you. The great diviner in the ring said you should grow up somewhere safe and foresaw Nora and Danin raising you. I was instructed to bring you here.”

Max circled the room and sat back down on the bed. He played with a hole in his heavy blanket.

“Danin and Nora have kept you safe. You don’t seem unhappy or mistreated. They did as they should, but now it is time to become who you really are. We need to leave tonight.”

Max’s head shot up.

“Leave? Leave Clarton, tonight? Leave and go where?”

“To be amongst your true people. You will go to the village of Abscon deep in the forest. You will stay with me, and you will meet with The Ring of Nine. The village is hidden from all except those who know it. We will have to travel by foot or on horseback if we can find horses. I won’t be able to take you there by magic.”

Max was very confused, and Ansel seemed to pick up on it.

“Oh, sorry, I can’t take you by magical travel. You have to trust and know where you are going for me to take you somewhere by magic. You have never seen or heard of Abscon before, and you don’t know me. It will be too risky to travel by magic.”

“But I don’t want to leave. I don’t even know if I believe what you are saying. Who says I even want to be a king if that is really who I am.? I can’t just leave everything. I have work, Danin, and Nora, and lessons, and Issa. I can’t just leave.”

Ansel sighed. “Lessons don’t matter to you anymore. You won’t need the poisonous things. I know it will be hard to leave those you care about, but it doesn’t have to be forever. Once you understand more of who you are and you are trained, you can come visit. We will need everyone we can to join the cause. It is good you have non-magical allies.”

Max put his head in his hands. What did this all mean? Did Danin and Nora know about this? It seems like they did. Danin was speaking with this man before Max got to the stables.

“I want to talk to Danin and Nora. I need to see them,” said Max standing up.

“Of course, you will want to say goodbye, and you will need to gather some things. Maybe Danin can loan us a horse to two.”

“I didn’t say I was going with you. I just need to talk to them.”

Max didn’t wait for Ansel’s reaction, he bolted down the stairs, out of the stable, and into the cottage. Nora quickly stood up with her sewing in her hand at the sound of the door opening. Issa was sitting in a chair next to her, tears in her eyes. Danin was by the fireplace, and he looked at Max with pity.

“You did know. All along, you knew, didn’t you.? You believe him. You believe that I’m really this king. You’ve been lying all along to me. Why?” shouted Max.

“Oh, Max it’s not that simple. Sit down, and we will talk about it,” said Nora with tears in her eyes.

Max looked at Issa who was openly weeping now.

“Issa, it’s not true. There is no way all this can be true. I’m just Max. I’ve always been Max. We will straighten all this out. Don’t worry,” said Max going over to Issa.

“It is all true. You are the true king of this kingdom,” said Ansel as he came into the door. He came and stood next to Max, grabbing Max lightly by the arm. Max felt a bolt of something hit him. He could almost feel his blood flow through him, creating a song within his mind. Ansel seemed to feel it too. He said, “I think you know it’s true, Max. I think you really know who you are, my king.”

Max wrenched his arm away. “I don’t know, and don’t call me that. I haven’t asked for any of this. I am fine just working in the stables. I like my life now. I don’t want this.”

Danin came over and led Max to the small table in the kitchen area of the room.

“Sit down, my boy,” said Danin. Max sat down as Danin drew the other chair out for Ansel, and Ansel sat as well. Danin pulled out three tankards and filled them with mead, putting them on the table. “Drink, Max. It will help you calm down.”

Max didn’t really want to follow Danin’s command, but he took a swig out of the cup.

Danin sat down between Max and Ansel. “If this is all true, I don’t know, but I think you need to go with him for a bit. You aren’t a child any longer. You are almost a man. You are too clever to work in a stable. You need to figure out who you are, Max. This man brought you to us when you were a babe. He has sworn to keep you safe, and he has promised we will see you again.”

It was all too much for Max. Danin wanted him to go. Nora did too. He turned to Issa who was still crying.

“Issa, what should I do?” He knew it wasn’t fair to ask her that, but she was his oldest and best friend. She was even more than that. He trusted her completely.

“Oh, Max. I don’t want you to go. I don’t, but Nora told me… She told me who she believes you are. You can’t stay here Max. It isn’t safe for you.”

Max slumped down in his chair, deflated.

“My king,” started Ansel, but Max gave him a dirty look.

“Max, call me Max”, said Max through gritted teeth.

“Fine, Max. You aren’t safe here, but what’s more if you stay here, no one in this town will be safe especially the people in this room. There are those out there looking for you. Now that you have been declared as ready by the Ring, the secret will get out eventually. Getting you away from here is the best way to ensure everyone you care about is safe.”

Max looked up at this. Danin, Nora, and Issa weren’t safe because of him? If there was even a chance that they would be harmed because he stayed here, shouldn’t he go?

“But I promised Issa I would go to Harvestide with her.” It seemed a stupid thing to bring up, but Max was looking for any kind of control at the moment. “It’s only four weeks away. Can’t I stay here and go after four weeks?”

“No, we must leave tonight.”

“But I promised her. I can’t break that promise. I must be here for Harvestide.”

“Oh Max, don’t….,” started Issa.

“No, I promised. I will go with you to Harvestide.” Max turned to Ansel. “If I go with you tonight, you will promise to bring me back here in four weeks for Harvestide.”

Ansel narrowed his eyes. “We don’t have time to travel for silly festivals. You will only have time to train and to learn.”

“I will only leave here tonight if you promise me, I can come back for Harvestide.”

Ansel paused and seemed to weigh this statement. “Fine, if I can find a way to bring you back here safely, we will come back for Harvestide, but your safety and the safety of this town will come first.”

Max nodded. “I will need to pack.”

Nora jumped up and helped Max find things to pack for his journey. She included a few clothes, a knife, and a second pair of boots. She also packed some food and drink in a neat little basket, enough for Ansel and Max to share for a few days.

Danin asked to see Ansel out in the stable, and Nora went to go up to the small room where Max slept in the stable to get his usual blanket to take.

Issa and Max were alone in the small cottage. Issa had stopped crying, but her eyes were still wet.

“I can’t believe you are leaving,” she said sadly. “I don’t know what I will do without you around.”

“It won’t be forever, Issa. I’ll be back soon.”

“But you’ll leave again. Max, you must realize that everything is changing. If you really are who they say you are, you will become someone else.”

“No, I will still be Max. Issa, you will always be a part of my life as long as you want. I will be back and next time I will find a way to stay or take you with me or something. I will figure it out.”

“Oh Max,” said Issa, throwing her arms around him. “Just be careful. Promise me you’ll be safe. All I want is for you to be safe. If you have to be gone forever, I could bear it, if I knew you were safe”.

“Of course, I’ll be safe, but I promise Issa, I will be back.”

Issa smiled, and she quickly stood on her tiptoes and placed a quick kiss on his cheek and let go of Max.

“I have to go. My father will be wondering where I am.”

“I will see you soon, Issa. I promise.”

Issa wiped a few tears from her eyes and smiled one last time at Max, before she opened the door and left.