With the other knight’s words echoing in his mind, Warren made his way up a long spiral staircase to the queen’s chambers. He hadn’t been this way in years, not since he and Rei were children, and he wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. The maids who were in the hallway eyed him with confusion, and one stopped in front of him with her arms crossed.

“Ah, Sir Warren, is it?” she said with a crooked smile. She was tall, taller than him even, and her dark eyes seemed to sparkle as she waited for him to respond.

“...yes?”

The maid laughed. “Perfect. Her Majesty asked me to find you, and I’m glad I didn’t have to go very far.” She motioned for him to follow her as she walked the other way. As they walked, Warren noticed that every maid was wearing a black dress under their aprons. He couldn’t help feeling self-conscious, silently wishing he’d thought to exchange his bright red cloak for something more appropriate. 

Soon they reached a grand wooden door, and without even bothering to knock, the tall maid stepped inside. Warren audibly gasped, marveling at the books that lined the walls. There must have been hundreds. The maid grasped Warren’s shoulders from behind and turned him toward the window across the room. The queen, dressed in a long black gown, sat in a large plush chair beside it, reading through a stack of papers on the small table in front of her. She looked up and smiled as the two approached.

“I brought him here, just as you requested, Your Majesty,” the maid said with a grin.

The queen stood and bowed slightly. “Thank you, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth bowed in return, then gave Warren one last sideways smile before leaving.

“Hello, Sir Warren,” the Queen said with a slight nod.

“Good morning, Your Majesty,” Warren replied. “Is…Is that maid always so…?”

The queen giggled. “Elizabeth is an absolutely lovely young woman, I assure you.” 

She paused. “I assume Sir Maxwell gave you my message?”

Sir Maxwell…right.

“Yes, but I have to admit…”

The queen smiled apologetically. “I’m assuming you have some questions for me.”

“That’s-” Warren paused, trying to find the right words. “Ah, I think that’s putting it mildly.”

The queen raised an eyebrow.

“W-With all due respect, of course!” Warren quickly added, breathing a sigh of relief when she let out a good-natured laugh.

The queen returned to her chair and motioned for Warren to take a seat on the cushioned ottoman that was nearby.

“Before you ask me any questions, I want to explain a few things.”

Warren smiled wearily. “That would be nice, yeah.”

She nodded. “Sir Warren, I’d like to preface all of this by saying that the mission I have in mind for you will likely be quite dangerous. It will even involve journeying outside Faylinn itself.”

“To Edrys?” Warren asked, unable to hide his surprise.

“The enemy kingdom,” the queen continued, not quite answering Warren’s question, “where Faylinn’s beloved prince waits for you to find him.”

Warren searched her face for any sign that this was just a strange remark, or maybe an odd attempt at a joke, but she was completely serious.

“Find him,” Warren repeated. “And you say he’s…waiting for me? A-As in-”

The queen said nothing. Warren stood and began pacing, trying to process what he was being told.

“Does that mean the messenger’s note was a lie or-?”

“It was no lie,” she replied quietly.

Warren turned to face her with a puzzled expression. 

“I-I don’t understand in the slightest, honestly, but if it’s for Rei- I mean, Prince Rei- then I’ll do anything.”

“Anything…” The queen looked up at Warren with eyes full of concern.

Warren returned to his seat and gave her a reassuring smile.

“Please tell me what you want me to do. Please tell me how I can help Prince Rei.”

The queen stood, turning away from Warren as she began to speak.

“To help Rei, and by extension all of Faylinn, you must do something impossible. Or at least, something seemingly impossible.” She turned back around and looked Warren right in the eye. “Sir Warren, I ask that you venture to Edrys and bring Prince Rei back to us. Alive.”