Roxanne and Micah strolled into the council chamber expecting the table with a map all over it or the entire council, but instead found only Jayden and Elizah seated at the twin thrones, with their formal robes on.

Elizah looked tense and Micah gave her a questioning glance but Elizah didn’t seem to respond. It was unusual that Micah and Roxanne had both been summoned to the courtroom for something other than a discussion with the council or a trade relation issue. Micah had been appointed as the chief of the army and security, while Roxanne had been more like a mediator in case of large disputes in the courtroom.

Jayden held Elizah’s hand and Micah made his way up to his sister’s side.

“Is everything alright?” Micah asked softly to his sister. Elizah didn’t answer for a moment and the King stood up.

“It’s a dangerous matter. I’m sorry you had to come at such short notice,” Elizah whispered to Micah.

The escaped prisoner returned to the palace today. He demanded an audience with the King and Queen, once more.

“He is here your majesties,” the soldier announced and Micah and Roxanne exchanged further confused glances and Jade led a man into the room.

Roxanne’s gaze grew wide. She stood slack-jawed as she saw the man being dragged in. 

The man showed an equally surprised gaze as he saw Elizah seated on the throne.

“Is this some sort of joke?” The man asked as he glanced nervously around the room. 

“I don’t know what you’re trying to get at,” Jayden said, his voice resonating through the room. He hadn’t always been a strong leader, but over time he had grown to become more commanding as he spoke.

“This… this creature has no place in a palace. I doubt that she is even skilled enough to be a maid,” The man on the ground said with a laugh.

Elizah stood up immediately and her sword was in her hand. 

“You dare say that again?” Elizah said and she made her way up to the man when Jayden stopped her by holding her wrist back.

“Don’t speak like you don’t know me,”The man said with a grin, “Roxy, I assume you can answer them.”

All of them turned to Roxanne and Elizah’s worry only grew. She heard the one answer she was dreading from Roxanne’s mouth.

“T-ha—t’s Liran,” Roxanne said as her lip quivered.

Elizah’s face remained pale and emotionless, her suspicions were confirmed.

“Father?” Micah asked with his voice confused and shocked.

“Nice to see you again, Micah,” Liran said with his demeanour changing immediately.

Micah was torn between his father and his sister. For one, he wanted to help his sister but he also wanted to talk to his father about everything that happened since he left and yell at him.

“You left us, and you expect me to come running into your arms like nothing is wrong?” Micah yelled out, and his voice shook.

“I-,” Liran began and Micah immediately interrupted him.

“Don’t lie to me. Why did you leave?” Micah asked with his tone menacing.

“I left because of the ban on magic, you know that,” Liran said to his son. His voice was gentle and calm like he was talking to a child.

“I don’t believe that,” Micah said with his annoyance growing.

“Do you know how much pain you put us through?” Elizah asked and her voice slowly began to grow.

Micah and Jayden both turned to see her trying to break from Jayden’s grasp with her eyes sharp and cold. She had too many questions, and she couldn’t bother to wait to reason and get the answers.

“Micah, I can handle him,” Elizah said with a low growl.

Micah immediately stepped back and Elizah lifted her sword to Liran’s chin.

“Tell me the real reason you left. As the queen I order you,” Elizah said and she was breathing heavily.

“I left because I needed to use my magic. And then I heard your stupid decision on the amulets and decided not to return,” Liran said, “But here I am trying to reason with you, and I end up tied up.”

Jayden and Elizah exchanged glances.

“Our verdict on the amulets was made and will not be changed,” Elizah growled again and Liran only gave a grim smile.

“You haven’t tried to reason with this child? Do you even remember the number of people we lost because no one could unleash those amulets? And now the only two who can are being ignorant,” Liran glared in Roxanne’s direction.

“Shut it. You’re okay with losing people because we can’t heal them?” Elizah asked and unbeknownst to herself the sword she was holding in her hand clattered to the floor.

“Stop. Both of you. These are direct orders of the king,” Jayden announced immediately.

“There’s no good in a fight,” Roxanne said with her voice ragged and she put her arm on Elizah’s shoulder.

“Both of you sit down and talk it out,” Roxanne suggested.

“You want me to talk to her? I told you what I think. I came here to try to reason it out and all you want to do is argue. What is the point of saving the ill if you don’t choose to save the healers themselves? If you don’t value the lives lost to the magic curse, you’re no daughter of mine,” Liran said, and he threw a small dagger at Elizah. She caught it in her hand, and there was a trickle of blood from her hand clutching the blade.

“Elizah,”Jayden exclaimed and she raised her bleeding palm to stop him, and the blade clattered to the ground. 

“You don't dare say I don’t value the lives of others when you try to attack your own daughter,” Elizah only managed before she stormed out of the room.

Roxanne and the others didn’t say a word for a moment until Liran broke the silence.

“Rox, can I speak to you?” Liran asked and he looked in Micah’s direction, “You two my son. Your old man has a lot to say.”

Micah only narrowed his gaze, and Jayden gave him a nudge. His gaze seemed to push him to go on, while Micah was more worried about Elizah.

“Give him a guest room for the time being,” Jayden said as he walked towards the door of the room.

“You all take your time to reconcile with each other. I’ll find Elizah,” Jayden said and he handed his crown to Jade.

There was an undertone which hid the words that Jayden didn’t say, but it was quite clear. 

I’ll be back for you.

The fear hung in the room as Micah watched the King stroll out of the room with his face full of fury thinly veiled by calmness. Micah began to worry, as if the king unleashed his fury like this, there was no telling what could be coming next.