"Then share, tradesmen. Tell of anything remotely or even fictionally of what you have seen that none of these men, who fought dragons, seen the Witch in her highest form, have seen." Spit flew from the man's lips as he roared at Jaye. Arlo flinched ever so slightly but the movement wasn't acknowledged.

            "Towns draped in unnatural euphoria, and news reports of brutal monsters borne of nature, of the magic the Witch has used. Crops not dying, but sinking into the earth to swallow whole town, and unsusal migrations of the Myths, the creatures you keep record of that are unhuman in nature. The Tree Witch has not been found, and these events are growing through villages, and if you knew any better, you would have known that by now from your trading prices alone."

            There was a murmur of laugher around the table. Arlo's eyes shifted between Jaye and the Court. Myths? He came to speak of the Myths? I cannot believe Jaye to be this outlandish... He gave me a chance to explain myself, so I must do the same for him.

            "The Myths often only speak to us to establish borders, and underwent a variety of migrations to avoid the Tree Witch. It is possible they have maintained them until the Kingdom is stable." Calvex straightened, his hands rolling and diving like birds. Calvex is enjoying this, my embarrassment to the Court. What happened to supporting each other?

            "Calvex, some of these Myths aren't the ones I am discussing, your Sirens and the like. No, great giants protecting some hidden artifact."

            The Court roared in laugher.

            "Dragon's coming slowly closer to the Witches territory. Does that alert any inner instinct in you?"

            The curtains shook with the effort of the Court's barely retrained doubt.

            Arlo's throat was clogged with the words he wanted to say, the thoughts abundantly clear in his mind. He had done research on these myths, but more so on the magic abilities of the Witch. Her magic could regrow his land in the right hands, keep trade alive to beyond his great-great grandchildren. They would never need to trade with her again for her deals in magic; to bottle your emotions, lose all memory, bind your enemy's soul to a curse. It would ensure his family could live in as much peace as they could. But his breath lifted at the thought of her oracle abilities, even if he refused to say it aloud to another soul.

            A small part of him loved magic, when used in the right hands. An even larger part from the first few days of his ruling wondered ever more for her Oracle abilities, during the nights by his dying fire and his Calvex asleep in his arms, salt gluing him to Arlo's tunic. If anything, if only he could find her Oracle magic to see what she knew.

            But, Jaye was right about these abnormalities. Sireens did not move against the current; it was poor for fish hunting and avoiding ships. The Witches magic was poorly recorded about Giants being casted...

            But I cant tell them how I know this. My mother taught me this, told me to keep it a secret aside from her and my future advisors. There are none I see here I could trust with absolute certainty.

            If the Myths can exist, and Dragons, and for what all of the damage we have seen from the Tree Witch, we must find out what Jaye means.

            "Gentlemen, we have gone in circles." Calvex snapped like a crane, with a wide beak and rushing to its attackers, "We have only heard the same arguments, when the solutions are clear: Jaye remains as a council member until his replacement, Arlo will marry regardless of his 'opinions'. And, I think we can all agree, that Jaye and Arlo's concerns are no longer valid given the storytelling muck they decide to play to us, as if we are mothers who will give the crying child a candy. Are we in agreement?"

            His Court nodded, agreed. June, and Areliyn both hesitated, but their hesitation did not matter. Arlo felt stars dance in his eyes, his head spinning for a brief moment. But what else could he have said? Yelled, shouted, cried—He was a king yet with every solution he presented, the Court had overtaken him.

            I see what he meant now, why he wanted me to arrive. His Court is too stone headed to think beyond his own needs. He needed a witness, or someone new to see his point of view... But I refuse to be ignored regardless—

            "Before you continue, I have a question, regarding the inheritance agreement." Ice, cold sheer ice in his voice. Jaye watched as Arlo glared down Farewell, yet not Calvex.

            "And what would that be?" Farewell asked in a drawn tone.

            "When your assassins came to my father's door, and my door, did you ever hear the struggle come from my lips as they were disposed of? And of our office meetings—"

            "You don't speak of those—"

            "Each of you are cowardly. Genuine hearts are grown in fertile soil, and then ripped from the ground. But, because of this they always make for better flowers each year; They always come back. I cannot say the same for many of you any longer, if given the opportunity to wilt."

            "Was that a threat?"

            "I don't make threats, I make outbursts, Farewell."

            Silence. Arlo nodded to Jaye as he left the room, Jaye watching Arlo with a new awe. This King has secrets... but he appears to be honourable. What I have seen today shows me he is no boy.

            "Jaye," Arlo paused, his thoughts evaporating as he said his name. I have no choice to marry her. My outbursts were only disgrace, and now Jaye is in bigger consequences than he should be by staying...

            "Yes, Sire?" Jaye tilted his head, his gut twisting as he spoke. Who is this person? He is loyal to his kingdom, but yet I have never heard of these assassinations, the 'room' he speaks of... What does he mean by this?

            And looking into Arlo's eyes, the flicker of fear, the flinching Arlo thought no one seen at Farewell's shouting. The Room no one entered except those two.

            "I have tried to persuade my Court, to listen to the rules, then to tread my own paths. I have burdened their abrasions for a long time for my family and my people. For my efforts, I am given no choice but to let my kingdom go into another's hands, and not even my brother denied the cruelty of this. Do you know what action this calls for?"

            "Sire, it is ill advised. I cannot allow you to kill anyone. I don't know if the accusations of assasins you said are true, nor of Farewell in your hidden words, but—"

            "Wait, I don't want to kill anyone. I am a kind king; I was not raised that way." Arlo held defeat in his voice, despite the upright tone. Jaye knew in that moment, Arlo meant what he said about the assassins, his Court, his family, and the Room. Jaye just didn't know what to respond to it. How do I ask him now for my concerns when the kingdom is surrendered?

            "Then what do you intend to do now, Sire?"

            "I told you before, you don't need to call me 'Sire'. But, the sincerity is appreciated."

            Jaye nodded; His eyes locked with Arlo. The sunlighted drew them into a tight silhouette.

            "I meant what I said that kind flowers do not die. You and I both look our for people, and I will not force you into any actions; I have already drew you into a plan, which fell short by my hands. I will amend this, in any way, in addition to following up with your statements personally. I promised you this, and I intend to do so. Regardless, we cannot have our kingdom fall back into war, despite the Courts lack of concern."

            "How so? You are being married in two days. Farewell and his Court said they will keep you here under contract."

            "I will marry, as they desire, so that I perhaps can keep my kingdom safe, even if it is from a limited view. After the ceremony," Arlo explained, his voice hitching on the word 'ceremony', "When all has been finalized, I will say I am going to visit you, regardless of where you are, and tell the Princess of conflict with the Tree Witch to the Eastern borders of the Bellsung Kingdom. Then, we will make for the euphoric village you speak of."

            "It does appear sound. But, what of the guards? What of your bride, and the love you so call yourself to need before marriage? I refuse to follow you if you wont stand for what you said, regardless of circumstances."

            Arlo swallowed. I want to love her. I wish there was more time, maybe if I just gave in I could at least give her a fair chance, this kingdom a fair chance.. Dragon's Teeth!. "I will try to learn to love the Princess. I know nothing of her, but I do not deny that I don't want to know, or that the relationship may not work. For my kingdom, I promise to do what I can."

            "Are you certain?"

            "I promise on my parents graves." Arlo's tone dropped away, cracking slightly. He cleared his throat abruptly, said: "Do you agree, of this course of action?"

            He needs someone loyal, anyone. Arlo is losing what his family built, what he fought to protect... My crew, my friends would support him. He knows their loss, the purpose of wanting to do good for others, and yourself, but the sandy line between the consequences.

            "Get a grip."

            "Excuse me?"

            Jaye gripped him by his collar, pulled him down inches from his face. There were no guards in the corridor, but Arlo knew he could have fought Jaye if he desired. But, Jaye whispered, "You do not let them crush you. You do not bow. You don't stop standing, because then they will win. If what you claim is true, Farewell will kill whoever he wishes, do you want blood next?"

            Arlo grabbed his arm, shook him off. A shudder spread through him, his breath hissing out like a steam engine, "No".

            "Then why, why after surviving so many attempts on your life, if it is true, that you quit?"

            Arlo's body felt as if dropped from the middle of the sky, gapingly white and cold. He couldn't process the question.

            "I need an answer." Jaye's tone dropped as he loosened his grip. It not because of a lack of resistance...

            Arlo shook his head, said "I understand your anger. You think I am giving them the upper hand. But, I am not ignoring your requests—This kingdom needs food, Jaye. With her arriving tomorrow, and the contract, there is no way I can struggle against it." That is true...

Jaye sighed through his nose, turned his head away. The Court has been threatening his life, making him as he is now... He's been acting as a Prince trying to keep peace, and forgetting a King is more than a mantle. But it is Law...

"You have been so focused on going around them, making sure your kingdom was satisfied you never thought of under until now, never stopped pulling your cart unaware of the weight being added to it to sabotage your path. I will be your loyal force, and we will save this kingdom. Make no hesitation that if not, I will have your head."

            Arlo straightened, He's right about this... Farewell--"I am not much of a king to hunt for."

            "You are, if for your flaws. That's human, let's appreciate it is not for a Witch's flaws that you have. Do not make myself loyal without cause. With this, know of me." Know of me and know I make you help me. Know of me that if there is one instance otherwise, your status will be the last of your concerns.

            Tomorrow, I'll be married to someone... Arlo thought as they walked. His stomach loosened at the thought of having an ally, a real ally he could trust on in years. And the day after, we burn them with their own tools; I'll find a way to see to Jaye's concerns, my concerns. The Court will not see me as I am now, not again. If not, all will be bloodshed.

[Please remember to vote if you enjoyed, or give feedback if something is amiss! :)]