Kedan felt very unsettled. He didn’t like this feeling at all. He was used to feeling mostly content if a little bored. Things had run smoothly so far during his reign as Lord. Why wouldn’t it? The kingdom had had little strife the last 300 years or so. He didn’t really want to be bothered making decisions. That’s what the council was for, wasn’t it? Why had Till bothered him with this? Why was The Great Surrounding suddenly such a problem?

Kedan wasn’t stupid. He knew that. He just didn’t like the trouble of applying himself. He didn’t like to spend his time thinking. He liked to spend his time having fun, drinking, laughing, and spending nights and some afternoons with Teryn. Yet here he was on a perfectly good day with nothing to do but worry.

He was worried. He was worried Till was right and that The Great Surrounding was becoming a problem. He was worried that Till was wrong, and Kedan would do something stupid that would set into motions things that would hurt the kingdom. Kedan was also worried Till was lying. He worried that Till had other motives and was playing Kedan. All these things and more were possible.

The problem with not having faced many problems in your young life was that you didn’t know what to do when you had problems. Kedan didn’t know who to turn to for help. He couldn’t talk to the council obviously. He had talked a bit to Teryn about it. She was clever, but she didn’t seem to have much to offer in this situation. She just seemed to want to listen. She was also a distraction herself; it was hard to be serious when in bed with such a lovely woman, and they usually were in bed when together.

Kedan knew there was one person in the palace who would know what was going on. Golnar would know if the trouble in The Great Surrounding was real. His spies would have heard something if what Till said was true. The problem was Golnar and Kedan had never really gotten on. Golnar thought a lot of himself. He certainly didn’t see himself as below the Lord of the kingdom. Kedan didn’t like that.

He was always taught from a young age that he had to be strong, he had to be the leader. Golnar seemed to challenge him as Lord daily with his decisions to ignore every command Kedan sent. Kedan knew he could call for Golnar to come down this instant and nothing would happen. He could send every servant in the castle, and it would do no good. He could order his guards to drag Golnar down and it wouldn’t happen. Everyone, it seemed feared or respected Golnar, perhaps both.

Kedan knew there was one way to talk to Golnar. There was one way Golnar would see him. Kedan could go to him. Kedan would have to walk the many stairs to the tall east tower and enter Golnar’s chamber himself. The man would then have to hear him out. Kedan didn’t like this plan. It seemed beneath him, but what other option did he have? His mind made up, Kedan left his rooms to walk the stairs to Golnar’s room.

With every step, Kedan thought to himself, turn around. He was making a mistake, he knew it, but he was out of options. Till would want an answer soon. If unrest was growing in The Great Surrounding, it needed to be stopped and quick. By the time Kedan reached Golnar’s door, he was out of breath and incredibly angry. This may be why he pounded the door so hard. There was no answer. He pounded again.

“Golnar! I know you are in there. Open this door for your lord!” He knocked even louder. “Now Golnar, you will not ignore me when I am right outside your door.”

The door opened quickly, and the white-haired man looked at Kedan in a very bland way. “Sorry my, Lord,” said Golnar. I was busy, but I am done now. Please come in.”

Kedan huffed and pushed his way inside past Golnar. He knew he needed to calm down, to get his wits about him. He needed answers, and he wasn’t leaving without them. Kedan looked around the room. It was a large circular room filled with chairs and tables. Books were stacked neatly on shelves. Vials and bottles filled with strange liquids and powders lined up neatly against the walls. There was a fireplace with a kettle on one side of the room. A chair with a book on it was near the fireplace. It looked as if Golnar had been reading before he answered the door.

Kedan turned around and faced Golnar. The old man was still standing by the door. He stood perfectly still as if waiting for Kedan to do something. Kedan went to the small sofa in the middle of the room.

“Come Golnar, sit with me. I require your guidance.”

Golnar raised his eyebrows at this but did as Kedan asked. He sat down across from Kedan on a tall chair.

“How can I help you, Lord Kedan?” he asked once he was settled. “Would you like a drink or a biscuit? The castle cook sends up some wonderful baked goods and I have a nice wine here.”

Kedan pressed his lips together, “No thank you, I have just had luncheon. I only require your guidance.”

“Of course, my lord but I think I will have a little drink first if you don’t mind.”

He got up to go fix himself a glass of wine.

Kedan took a deep breath. He did mind but knew it would do no good to say anything. Golnar took his time fixing his glass. Kedan’s anger and annoyance grew. He willed himself to stay calm. He tried to keep his breaths even. It would do no good to blow up in anger. Eventually the old man sat back down.

“Now, how can I help you?” asked Golnar, taking a small sip of his wine.

“I had a visit from Till the other day after the council meeting. An unusual visit. He had some news and thought I should act quickly, without the guidance or support from the council. He said I should call for action using my own authority.”

Golnar did not look surprised or alarmed by this. “It is your right to act for the kingdom if you think it's best. You do not require the council’s approval.”

“I know this,” said Kedan between gritted teeth, “but it has never been done before. The council and the lord always rule and act together.”

“True, but perhaps the situation is something that has not come up before. Why don’t you tell me what Till had to say, then I can accurately advise you?”

Kedan paused at this. How much should he tell Golnar? He wondered what allies Golnar had. Was Till one of them? Was Golnar truly on the kingdom’s side? Kedan realized he didn’t know much about Golnar.

“What can you tell me about The Great Surrounding?”

“Well, my lord, it is a vast land with small villages scattered throughout. It has a large forest that…”

“I know what The Great Surrounding is!” yelled Kedan cutting off Golnar.

“You asked me to tell you about The Great Surrounding, my lord, I was only following your orders,” said Golnar calmly.

Kedan let out a deep breath through his nose. His chest was heaving.

“Have you heard about anything happening in The Great Surrounding? Anything that could cause disharmony within the kingdom?” asked Kedan as calmly as he could.

Golnar stared at Kedan. He seemed to be contemplating what he should reveal to Kedan.

“You have heard something, haven’t you?”

“There are always whispers, my lord. The whispers have grown louder recently. Some of my shadow spies have come back with stories,” replied Golnar setting his glass down.

“What do these spies have to say? What is being whispered?”

“Sometimes it’s hard to make out the harmless stories with the truth, but there is talk of magical folk and a king.”

“Is that part of the harmless stories or the truth?” asked Kedan, feeling like he was finally getting somewhere.

“It is hard to say at this point. The whispers are definitely getting louder which gives it some credence, but I wouldn’t call it fact yet. I have a few more spies I’m waiting to come back, hopefully with news that will make this clearer.”

“Do you know when to expect those spies back?”

“No, the shadows work in their own time, but I don’t think it will be much longer. If there is news to have, they will let me know soon.”

“Will you keep me posted, Golnar? I know you don’t think much of me, but for the kingdom?”

“My lord, why would you think I have any problems with you? I am always here at your service. If you would like I can send a message down when I hear anything. It's hard for these old bones to get down the stairs. I like to stay in my tower.”

Kedan doubted this very much, but right now wasn’t the time for an argument.

“Very well Golnar. I suppose I can tell Till to give me more time. He will just have to wait.”

Kedan stood up to leave when Golnar stopped him.

“My lord, about Viceroy Till. Did you know there are Aurumist soldiers searching the forest in The Great Surrounding? There have also been soldiers in some of the smaller villages around the forest.”

“Aurumist soldiers out in the forest and in villages, but why? That is almost a week’s journey from here. Why would our cities soldiers be all the way out there?” asked Kedan sitting back down.

“Someone had to command them to go. Someone had to give the orders, the supplies, and the reason. Someone who has the authority to do it. Unless an under captain is acting under their own orders it had to be Viceroy Till or you.”

“Of course, it wasn’t me. Are you saying that Till has been acting on his own? Without the council, without me?”

“I can’t tell you who actually gave the orders to the soldiers, but it is something to think about, my lord.”

Kedan stood up again. He walked to the door. He turned to look at Golnar.

“You have given much to think on Golnar, please send a message as soon as your spies return. I am very interested in what they have to say.”

“Or course my lord. I wish you a pleasant afternoon.”

Kedan nodded and left through the door. He came for answers but left with even more questions. He would have to find a way to work with Golnar. It seemed he had much information that Kedan would need. Kedan was almost to the bottom of the stair when he ran into Teryn.

“What are you doing here?” Kedan asked, rattled.

Teryn’s eyes went wide for a moment. “You startled me, my lord. I was sent to see if Golnar required any luncheon.”

“That task seems beneath you. Why would they send you?”

Teryn shrugged. “Some of the staff has fallen ill lately. They are short-handed. I don’t mind helping out where I can.”

Kedan looked at Teryn not sure if he believed this. The Teryn he knew snuck around to avoid work. Perhaps she really was bored. Perhaps she found Golnar interesting. He knew it was something more than just her being helpful. This was something else he would have to keep an eye on.

“Very well,” said Kedan stepping aside, so she could pass. As she passed, she grabbed his arm lightly.

“Would you like me to visit tonight,” she whispered looking up at him through her lashes.

Kedan shook his arm free and looked down at his nails. “No, I have much to think about tonight. I will let you know when I desire your presence again.”

Teryn looked hurt, but she curtsied and made her way up the stairs.

Kedan wasn’t sure who he trusted anymore.