Frederich combed out the strands of his hair before rebraiding the single plait he wore. Any menial task to distract himself from the oncoming visit with Crown Princess Grimhildis, he’d take it. Something akin to dread coiled in his gut, and he realized he didn’t want to somehow revert to the person he’d been as a Scholar. He hadn’t thought he’d changed much in the time since he’d last seen her highness the Crown Princess, but he supposed when they’d last met, he had been different. He’d all the confidence in the world standing by Radhildur’s side, with both the naivete and confidence that he could protect them. 

Now, he had the confidence to survive on his own. Something cultivated living away from his home; it was no longer a struggle, watching with weary glances to see what volatile Royal would dictate his life. He was no longer bent over his desk in the Scriptorium, hoping for a day to end after an endless day of copying scripts. He went to the wash basin in the corner of his room before splashing his face with the long-since tepid water. After padding his skin dry with a clean cloth, he looked at the mirror. 

There were laughter lines around the corners of his eyes now, he had exchanged them with the horrible bags from when he was a scholar. He even looked better now. Living at the Troval-Pravata estate had been good for him.

If he went down to Marquis Pravata’s study, would he be forfeiting this new life he’d created for himself? Staying put would mean that he’d never have to deal with the Reyk Royals again. If he ignored the summons, he was almost positive that things would be forgiven. He’d just need to explain the situation to Julius. But as he teetered on the edge of the decision, he pictured Radhildur on the night of the ball. Not when they were lost to madness or when they were surrendered, but their joyous self on the dance floor. Their eyes alight with delight and their expression at peace. All of that visible behind their mask.

This image sent Frederich back to the main part of the estate where Grimhildis would’ve been ushered to. 

He swallowed back his stomach threatening to rise, and entered the study without announcement. 

“Ah, there he is,” Marquis Pravata’s voice greeted—it was warm and familiar. “Crown Princess, I’ve heard you are both already acquainted?”

Grimhildis looks gaunt, Frederich thought. Where the once proud and elegant princess bore herself serenely no matter what, this version of her looked spread thin. She wore a heavy coat over her shoulders and a plain traveling gown, with the skirts filled out by a more traditional petticoat than he was accustomed to seeing her wear. 

“Highness,” he greeted colder than he’d intended to. 

She nodded, as if she had already expected him to not be accommodating. 

“We will begin now,” Marquis Pravata said, smoothly cutting in. “Frederich, go ahead and take a seat.”

Doing as told, Frederich took a spot on the settee by the marquis’ desk. He watched as both his lord and the Crown Princess cast wary glances to one another. He supposed that decided the tone for this meeting, a sort of ominous anticipation. 

“The Northwest side of Reyk has fallen to Celestial corruption,” Grimhildis said, no longer waiting. “Radhildur and the knights have been cut off from the rest of the kingdom and they are now surrounded. The king has ordered we shrink our borders and lock them out.”

Marquis Pravata’s brow raised in alarm and Frederich shot right back up to his feet. “That will kill them!” He protested. “Supplies, reinforcements, all of that will be barred from them!”

“Frederich, be still,” Marquis Pravata said sternly, only continuing once Frederich begrudgingly sat down again. “That spells certain demise for the knights of Reyk. Especially since Lauf cannot offer much aid at the risk of our own forces.”

Grimhildis seemed to deflate a bit. “I worried that was the case. I’ve already visited with the king of the Dundin. Despite this being Seanharras’ and Ru’s fault—which my patron Av confirmed that Ru emerged from its hibernation and chose Seanharras as its Champion—the king has closed off Dundin.”

“Lauf is different since we do not have a centralized kingdom, but instead are run by multiple nobles,” Marquis Pravata said to himself before loudly adding, “My estate is too small, but some of the higher lords may be able to assist.” The grim expression on the marquis deepened. “Although to what effect would we help? Frederich explained that compared to the Warping, we have no real power.”

“It seems there is some corporeal aspect to the corruption. Radhildur’s previous reports and the fact that the knights have been able to keep it back for this long proves that.” Grimhildis said. “But it’s not enough to rid ourselves of the blight.”

“Then it is truly a matter of time,” Marquis Pravata murmured, hands clenched.

Grimhildis looked up then, her green gaze burning. “Now I’m summoning Frederich. He once promised my consort that he would make things right. Av says it’s time.”

“What can I do?” Frederich demanded, tucking away for later the fact that Grimhildis named Trevor a consort. “This is beyond just me and Radhildur exploring something outside of our statuses.”

“And yet from the very beginning it was you who intruded the Celestial’s sacred atrium. It was you who spoke directly with Ku when no one except Radhildur had. So there must be something only you can do.”

“I—” Frederich began, because in the year of separation, he had not found a way to make things right.

“Frederich, even if it is small, it could help. Change needs only start with one person, much in the same way a great oak can only flourish from one small acorn,” the marquis said. “If the Celestials declare you a champion for us, the people, then maybe it must all start with you.”

A ‘champion of the people,’ Frederich wondered. He didn’t have any such ideas of grandeur like that. He was just one person. Often, he was just one person against the regular school of thought. Whether that was against the Scholars, the nobles, or even his own family. Maybe change only started with one voice. After all, he had changed the minds of Molly and Trevor. If he hadn't been estranged, he may have even been able to convince Bea about Radhildur.

Bea…

Bea! 

“Ku is no monster, but a kind and mischievous entity.” Frederich smiled softly to himself before pausing. His face lit up and he looked up at the other two with enthusiasm. “And I need to write a letter to my sister.”

“Your sister?” Marquis Pravata and Grimhildis asked at the same time. 

“My sister is an informant for the Reyk daily chronicle, though it’s more of a gossip ring,” Frederich said slowly, as if he himself couldn’t believe it. “It never occurred to me that we could compete with the damage dealt by Seaharras in the same manner he had.”

“With a gossip column?” The look in Marquis Pravata’s eyes was skeptical, but the way Grimhildis seemed to come to life with a wide-awake expression told Frederich all he needed to know. 

“You’re going to manipulate Ru,” Grimhildis surmised.

“The marquis inspired me,” Frederich replied, offering a slight nod to the marquis. “He called me the champion of the people, but it was he who hoped to pass on to the people of Lauf the idea that Ku was a kind Celestial. I don’t think I’m the champion of the people. It was the marquis who asked the lords of Lauf to spread word, and my sister can continue such work in Reyk. We’ll save ourselves. All of us, not just one person. We won’t wait for a Royal or a champion of the Celestials. Together we can save everyone.” Frederich stood up, his heart beating fast. He gripped his cloak. “We will save Radhildur and the Knights of the Commons.”

“As soon as you ready a letter, I will send it with a raven to Molly. She will get the message to your sister. I’m certain she too can start circles of rumor at her tavern,” Marquis Pravata said. “It’s a miracle that her Highness Grimhildis made it through in a carriage. I hear all of Reyk’s entries are closed.”

“Ah yes. Our borders were decreed shut by the king of Reyk.” Grimhildis folded her hands neatly over her lap. “My father’s insanity was the cause of this. Once my sibling is back home safe, I will commandeer the throne. I will not allow the people to suffer like this again.”

“A promising step,” Marquis Pravata said. “I look forward to working with you in the future. Though you may have more powerful allies than I.”

“I will always treasure your allyship, Marquis Tureik,” Grimhildis answered with her chin raised. “You kept safe the most important part of this puzzle.”

“And what was that?”

“Him.” Grimhildis gestured to Frederich.

“Me?” Frederich felt unmoored, a sort of wildness starting to unfurl in his chest. Sure he was important to Radhildur, but to the overall plan? Surely he shouldn’t delude himself. Yet still he thought of that first accidental tryst into the Celestial’s realm and to the booming laughter of a Celestial now corrupted. It’d only been him and Radhildur side-by-side to witness. 

As if reading his mind, Grimhildis spoke again. “Av made it very clear—since the very beginning, you have always been a player in this game. It is time. and with their prophecy comes your return, on the battlefield.”

“Me?” Frederich echoed again. What could’ve prompted him to approach the frontlines infected by the Warping? Unless… “Radhildur,” he breathed.

Grimhildis nodded. “As soon as your messenger bird is dispatched, we must leave. Av wouldn’t show me why, but we need you to find Radhildur.”

“I think I know why.” Frederich felt his stomach drop and he pictured Radhildur as they lost control, their enraged form tearing through the ballroom. They needed to move fast.

- - -

Dear Bea,

I’m certain these words may feel meaningless to you. Once this is all over, I would like to talk to you in person. You are owed that much. And I do not expect you to want to help me after leaving you behind with Mum and Dah. 

But still I must ask for your help. 

You and Martha must hurry to the chronicle and spread word throughout Reyk. The Celestial Ku is a benevolent Celestial, one who loves the noise of the world and asks for all of us to embrace the havoc that follows in the path of change. And that Radhildur, its Champion, is the catalyst for our home’s metamorphosis. Into something better. They are not a menace. It is all too easy for us to fear change and to fear the unknown. But we need not fear their Highness. They care deeply for a kingdom that scorned them and for the people that saw them only as the cursed heir. 

Even now on the frontlines, they fight to keep Celestial corrosion at bay. 

I’m on my way to them, to offer my support. I hope you too, may consider offering your aid in the form of your words. Afterall…

You and Martha may very well light up this land with all your gossip.