“I don't get it,” Prince Emrys said, “we are in quite the hurry yet we set off to find the fairy kingdom on foot?”
“Patience is a virtue, your highness,” Xenos simply said as he walked ahead of the party, “but if we want to earn the fairies’ respect, we ought to keep their laws in mind. The way we ride horses in our day to day lives, is slavery to them, and extremely illegal.”
“So...if we were to ride into their kingdom on horseback…” Lady Ysmeina slowly said.
“Exactly, milady!” Xenos said, “trust me, the best way to go anywhere is on foot. That way you don't accidentally break any laws or offend anyone.”
“He does have a point,” Rosemary said, “remember we had to dismount in Arathmel? If Prince Emrys hadn't been with us, we would've almost broken the law.”
“Yet we still almost got thrown into jail,” Lucas grumbled. He was hoping his adventure would be over after delivering the medallion to the king, yet here he was, looking for fairies, with the strangest seer he'd ever come across – granted it was the only seer he'd ever come across, but why did he not just introduce himself as a seer in the first place? Why only now did he reveal that the story he told winters ago was actually his future? He glared at Xenos’ back as he walked ahead of the party, humming a tune. He was closely and impatiently followed by Prince Emrys, and behind him – at an appropriate distance – walked Sir Reynaert and Lady Ysmeina, Lucas and Rosemary trailing closely behind. “Acting all high and mighty. Well he's a bloody moron if you ask me,” Lucas grumbled, kicking a rock out of his path. Rosemary rolled her eyes. “Careful, Lucas. That man had authority over the Elven Queen. Who knows what they might do to you for insulting him?” she said.
“Oh please, since when do you care about status and ranking?” Lucas sneered.
“Lord Xenos has been a valued advisor for many generations of kings and queens across the continent, so you best show some respect,” Lady Ysmeina said as she suddenly jerked around.
“Many generations?” Rosemary slowly repeated.
“He's immortal,” Sir Reynaert elaborated. Lucas and Rosemary exchanged glances, both thinking the same thing before quickening their pace and walking on each side of Xenos. Prince Emrys raised a brow, but Xenos didn't seem to mind their sudden approach as he raised his hand. “No need to apologise for my nose, Lucas,” he said.
“I wasn't planning to apologise,” Lucas deadpanned. Xenos seemed insulted as he pouted slightly. “I would've taken you for a more sensitive man…”
“Lord Xenos, are you familiar with the name Triteia?” Rosemary said. Xenos abruptly stopped walking, causing Prince Emrys to nearly bump into him. “Why are we stopping?” he snapped. Xenos blinked, cleared his throat and resumed walking. “I don't seem to recall that name,” he calmly said.
“Really?” Lucas said, “daughter of Triton, king of your race?”
“Nope. Nothing,” Xenos simply said.
“She's residing as a priestess for the church of Belisama back in Lakeview City,” Rosemary said, “she told us her tale of how your race was driven to the brink of extinction by the Kings of Old.”
“Tell me, Lucas, miss Miller. Do you remember every single detail of your childhood?”
“No,” they both admitted.
“And you've hardly seen twenty winters! My race thrived thousands of years ago. I can't even remember what I had for breakfast, let alone what happened thousands of years ago!”
“Xenos, they did not mean to upset you,” Lady Ysmeina said, jumping in, “and Sir Reynaert is right.”
“Sir Reynaert didn't say anything,” Prince Emrys deadpanned, to which Lady Ysmeina realized she'd been listening to his future voice once again.
“I beg your pardon, Sir,” she said. Sir Reynaert was about to say something in return, to which the prince lost his patience again. “Oh who cares, let's just go! Lord Xenos, how much further to the fairy kingdom?”
“I don't know. What day is it today?”
“The third day of the Waxing Crescent,” Rosemary said.
“We shall arrive in the fairy kingdom on the night of the first quarter. You can figure out the amount of days that'll take for yourselves,” Xenos said, waving a dismissive hand before walking ahead of the others again, singing a song. “First, rehearse your song by rote... To each word a warbling note... Hand in hand, with fairy grace... Will they sing and bless this place…”
“This is taking far too long,” Prince Emrys grumbled. Lucas put a hand on his shoulder. “Don't worry, your highness. You heard the seer. The princess will be alive when we get to her. And as far as I know he hasn't been wrong,” he said.
“Yet,” the prince added bitterly, before following Xenos. Lady Ysmeina fell behind on the party a little, Sir Reynaert keeping her company. “The prince's impatience worries me,” Lady Ysmeina said, “does he not trust Xenos?”
“His highness has always been hard to read,” Sir Reynaert admitted, “I've never seen him lose composure like this. He must be truly worried about the princess.”
“As am I,” Lady Ysmeina said with a sigh, “even if we can get magic weapons, I fear this party can do very little against any enemy as we are now...emotional and divided…”
“Perhaps this quest for magic weapons will resolve that,” Sir Reynaert said. Lady Ysmeina nodded in agreement. “The fairies are known for being tricky. Even if they owe a favour to Lord Xenos, they will not grant us their prized possessions for free.”