Within a stuffy room illuminated by the soft orange glow of candlelight sat Lord Tokta at his desk, closely and meticulously going over the applications of those joining the military.

  As he worked, a soft, gentle knock at the door caught his attention.

  “Enter!” Tokta said, barely looking up from the stack of papers on his desk as the door slowly opened.

  With the knock alone, he knew who it was, and with each step, the pace, and the rhythmic sound her claws made as they tapped on the floorboards, his hypothesis became solid as steel.

  “Toa, are you coming to bed soon?” Kishik asked.

  “Apologies, Kis, I’ve got some work I need to take care of,” He replied, never once raising his head to meet her sight.

  Despite this, he knew well she wore her purple gown, had her fingers interlocked, rested just below her swollen stomach, and had an expression of unease across her face.

  “I see. I hope you can join me soon; the bed feels so empty without you,” she replied before taking her leave.

  With a tired and bereft sigh, Tokta got back to work.

  Normally, the captain would be in charge of such tasks. It was mostly always the same: some child of noble or royal birth joined the military, with their formal education and training speaking on their behalf.

  Though with such similarities between most all applicants, anything to set them apart was solely determined by their inherited magic.

  However, in the cases of unique or useful abilities, the captain saw fit to share information about applicants along with proof of their parentage and bloodline with him if some looked useful.

  Yet, this time, he’d asked for all of them.

  With diligence, he poured through each applicant, marking down their parentage and ability before examining the information with his own books of the other royal houses and their bloodlines.

  Though the king's guard wasn’t lacking in numbers, allowing anyone with a particular inherited ability to slip through their fingers would be a loss.

  However, that didn’t change how tedious yet necessary it all was.

  If any were to lie about their ability, depending on what it was, they could slide by for summers on end without anyone noticing. Though he doubted any royal household would risk such humiliation, he couldn’t say the same for their sons.

  Some had been either desperate or foolhardy in the past and suffered for it.

  Better to be honest about bad luck in life and serve the role you were moulded for than fall to the bottom trying to rise to the top.

  ‘Hmm… Rhuko Dekaso Amotika inherited ability extraordinary flexibility. Errko Hydrog Uchashi inherited ability, perfect sight without light. Drygnee Nohogo inherited ability, perfect balance,’ Tokta read, rubbing his tired eyes and yawning.

  Examining the last applicant, Tokta let out a sigh that transitioned into a yawn. While most had abilities you wouldn’t come across often, they didn’t strike him as king's guard material.

  More so relieved rather than being disappointed at having gone through each applicant, the thought of going to bed crossed the lord's mind; however, right as he rose from his chair, he noticed the early advancement of Ki’s light outside.

  “Duty calls,” The Lord calmly said as he extinguished each candle and walked out of his office.

  Standing outside waiting was the head butler, Nostraal, a fine and trustworthy man with neatly kept grey and yellow striped fur, along with some black spots.

  “My lord, I hope your work proved to be fruitful,” Nostraal said, greeting Tokta.

  “None were of particular interest,” Tokta said as he walked down the hallways of his home.

  The butlers and maids were already awake and had begun work. Each greeted him as usual before returning to their tasks.

  “My lord, do you intend to get some rest before you are off?” Nostraal asked as they descended the stairs.

  “The light is advancing rapidly. Any sleep I would attain now would do more harm than good,” Tokta replied.

  “I see, He replied, with no visible emotion. “Will you change your clothes and armour before arriving?”

  “These will do.”

  “As you wish. I took the liberty of waking the cook earlier than usual, and your breakfast is in the wagon, along with your weapons waiting outside to take you to the castle. Shall I give the lady your apologies when she awakes?”

  Tokta glanced down at the head butler with a thankful look, “No, I’ll tell her myself later.”

  Nostraal gave a small nod, “As you wish.”

  With little to delay him, Tokta left his home and stepped into the wagon outside. He ate the breakfast, sausages and eyes in quick fashion before the wagon came to a stop.

  Bowing his head to get out of the door, he entered the castle, walking into the throne room, ready to serve his majesty.

  “What is that? Those heavy steps, could it be a Nok? Lord Jasabi, who already stood beside the king's throne in the empty room, said, looking up from his book. “Guess not. Only a simpleton, but I hope you can forgive the mistake. It is hard to tell the difference.”

  In silence, Tokta walked up to the other side of His Majesty's throne.

  “What were my words as big as you?” Lord Jasabi asked.

  “For a man proclaiming to be the smartest of all, it does surprise me that you haven't come up with something new to say,” Tokta responded.

  Lord Jasabi shook his head, “What can I say? A simple brute demands simple mockery.”

  As both shared an ireful glare, the King descended down into the throne room with Sir Aegra and took a seat on the throne.

  Tokta watched over His Majesty as his faithful shield while he dealt with the problems and disputes that had arisen between other royal families and, at times, noblemen. It was always a bit exciting when lowborns would stand before the king, though that rarely happened and only when there was just cause for it.

  But now, no. Now, it was only soft Nobleman Fraktru standing before the king with stains on his clothes.

  The only reason Tokta even remembered his name was because of all the other times he’d requested to speak to the king.

  “Your majesty, it is a great honour to be in your presence,” Nobleman Fraktru said.

  “As it has no doubt been many of the other times you’ve stood before me, The king replied, his voice hinting at annoyance. “So what shall it be this time? Will you suggest that royals and noblemen have too much power over low-borns or that taxes are too high?”

  “No, Your Majesty. This time, my concern lies with former soldiers of your army. Hundreds of thousands have served you dutifully for many summers, defending the capital's borders; however, those who return are crippled with unhealable wounds, Nobleman Fraktru explained.

  “Many do not know what to do outside of crime if they do not wallow in despair. What I ask is merely that the crown would funnel a tiny sum of its resources to help these broken men and women and, hopefully, greatly reduce the crime in “Underfoot.”

  The King's eyes narrowed on the nobleman, “Do know, your plea does not fall on deaf ears.”

  “Those that mean-!”

  “Do not interrupt me, The king said with a stern look that could frighten even a seasoned veteran of war. “Your initiative is Noble if nothing else; however, I cannot allocate resources on a whim.

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  “The crown is still reeling from the destruction of multiple outposts and one of our villages nearly ten summers past. If you wish to help these people, such funds must come out of your own pocket. For now, this audience is finished.”

  With a defeated expression boarding on anger as the nobleman muttered something under his breath, he quickly took his leave while the people of the court made snide comments.

  “How many more Jasabi?” The king asked.

  Lord Jasabi, with his nose buried in his book, replied, “Five more. Two sets of royals, each in a feud over hunting territory outside the capital, a royal and men from the hunters guild complaining about a break in contract, and two noblemen demanding restitution after a royal son of house Uchaschi sullied the virtue of multiple daughters during mating season. I took the liberty of making that a single audience.”

  The king let out a tired sigh, “Tell all of them to wait. I’ll rest in my room for the time being. Tell the cooks to bring me something from the kitchen.”

  “As you desire, your majesty,” Lord Jasabi obeyed.

  About to rise from his throne, the court began to talk amongst themselves when suddenly the doors to the throne room opened. A man wearing fine but dirty leather clothing and a necklace with the sigel of house Amotika walked in, escorted by the king's guard members.

  “What is this?” The king questioned.

  Sir Uvagi stopped before his king, “A messenger from one of your villages, my king.”

  The king leaned back on his throne, “Very well. Deliver the message.”

  The Amotika’s. Tokta didn’t have many fond emotions for the current household Lord; however, it was undeniable that when it came to transporting messages, they were the fastest. Crossing vast distances in half, if not a third of the time, it took any other man. A fact they prided themselves on.

  The young son of House Amotika approached and pulled out a letter, and handed it to Lord Tokta.

  “Do you think my sight is weak?” The king questioned.

  He quickly got on his knee, “Never, Your Majesty. I apologize for the confusion, but the letter was addressed directly to Lord Krakni, and I was told he had already departed to the castle when I arrived at his home.”

  “Why me directly?” Tokta questioned, wondering if Trafka had sent it to him.

  “I do not know, Lord Krakni. The contents of the letter, as any delivered by House Amotika, are confidential to the sender and recipient,” he replied.

  “Very well. A fine job; you can leave now, The king said before glancing at Tokta. “Any noteworthy news?”

  “I will read it when I’m off duty, Your Majesty,” Tokta replied.

  “If it was sent directly to you, it might be from your son and possibly regarding the Black healer,” the King said.

  “I understand, your Majesty,” Tokta said as he read the letter.

  “What does it say? Have your little spawn fallen and hurt his knee,” Lord Jasabi chuckled.

  Standing tall and unbreakable as a stone pillar, Tokta said, “The merchant is dead along with most of his men, killed by a heretic horde roaming the lands--“

  “WHAT! the King shouted, gripping his throne with such force that his claws penetrated the gold exterior that covered the soft wooden interior. “Those heretics! To roam my lands and KILL a royal!”

  Tokta continued, “My son, along with the black healer and a small remaining number of the merchant’s men, including his son, has for the time being sought refuge at the Hijoli outpost with intentions to travel to “Vogoli” and then directly to the capital.”

  The King turned to Lord Jasabi, “Send word to Lord Dekaso and have all of his fastest messengers deliver orders to every village and outpost! I want these heretics off my land and to have their rotting bodies line the border to my kingdom on spikes!”

  “At once, Your Majesty. Shall I tell all the lords and members of the guild waiting to return home?” Lord Jasabi asked.

  With an unwavering gaze filled with fury, the King responded, “No, send them in.”

  Lord Jasabi let a smirk cross his lips.

  As the first pair of royals were sent in, they were already arguing, oblivious to the king’s mood, though not for long as their once puffed tails quickly touched their bellies from betwixt their legs.

  The king listened for a moment and found the problem was in regards to an animal hunted on one royal territory but died on the border of another’s. With little patience, the king ordered it to be split down the middle and for each man to take half.

  The next was simply a dispute over poaching as a royal son had tracked a beast to another royals territory and killed it before getting caught and having it taken away. The king simply said, “The law is the law and land belonging to one man does not belong to another.”

  With the second meeting adjourned, it was time for the third.

  The king listened for a short while as the representative of the hunter’s guild, and the royal spoke the crux of the problem, being the royal failing to pay for their work simply because one of the beasts had been killed with an arrow through the eye. The royal then argued that the only reason for the beasts to be hunted was because of it’s eyes.

  However, partway through the royal's argument, the king, his patience wearing thin, asked, “Was it specified in the contract that all eyes were to be intact?”

  Stammering, the royal admitted it wasn’t and tried to argue, but the king had heard enough and ordered the royal to pay the men for their work.

  Lastly were the noblemen and the lascivious young royal. Before anyone even had a chance to speak, the king did, his patience clearly gone from the previous dispute he had to mediate.

  “Did you bed these women you are accused of sullying?” The king sharply asked the young royal.

  With a calm and confident expression, he simply replied, “No, your majesty. These accusations are unfounded.”

  The king looked at both Noblemen and asked, “Do either of you have proof this man bedded your daughters?”

  The first nobleman presented a small bag with a bunch of fur, each strand matching the man's own fur colours, though hardly proof.

  The second man also showed a bag of fur, once again each strand matching the young royal; however, there was one more piece of evidence. A gold button, identical to the ones on the young man’s shirt, and most damming of all, one was missing.

  Narrowing his eyes, the king glared at all three men, “It is clear that this young man could not resist his urges during mating season. As restitution to Nobleman Bokadra you are to become his son-in-law and be married off to the daughter you sullied.”

  The royal man, with a panicked look, was about to object but stopped himself as it was far from over.

  “And though Nobleman Teraano does not have sufficient proof as punishment for lying to your king, you are to sire one litter of legal children with the daughter you sullied.”

  With the punishment rendered, the young royal had an expression of devastation as the court was stunned silent. Even the two noblemen who’d achieved restitution were at a loss for words.

  Yet it was the king’s punishment, and his word was law.

  With that business finished, The king rose from his throne, and the royal members of the court quickly exited the throne room to report this development to their respective houses.

  Slowly returning to his chambers and ascending the stairs, Tokta followed along with Sir Aegra.

  As the king entered, both knights stood guard outside the room; however, before the door closed, the King spoke, “Sir Tokta, come inside. I wish to have a word.”

  With no hesitation, he followed the king's command and entered the room, closing the door behind him. He patiently waited as the king walked to an ornate table in the middle of the room and took a seat.

  With a distant stare, the king looked out a window, “Were I a hasty fool?”

  “Your majesty?” Tokta replied in a questioning tone.

  “Don’t play the fool. That role doesn’t suit you, no matter how much Lord Jasabi may disagree. Now answer my question,” the king demanded.

  “To make bastards yet-to-be-sired legal children will definitely have Ohota and the rest of house Hydrog in a frenzy; however, you saw the evidence for yourself, Tokta replied. “The Young man was even so brazen as to directly lie to you and bring clothing he wore during his acts… and yet it wouldn’t be the first time royals and nobles have tried to fabricate evidence and demand... compensation.

  “It does strike me as odd that two separate noblemen accuse the same young royal near the same time and bring the SAME evidence. Both should know better than to bring fur, regardless of what fury they must have felt.

  “If I were to venture a guess, perhaps it was a conspiracy between the two to strengthen suspicions on the young man in the hope one of them could attain his or house Uchaschi's inherited ability. Maybe they simply wanted to strengthen their next generation or perhaps try to enter the competition and find your perfect match. One of them might have gone so far as to snatch a button when the opportunity arose, or the young man truly was so foolish as to arrive in clothing missing a part. Truthfully, I cannot speak to the man’s innocence or guilt; I can only share my thoughts and suspicions, which you no doubt have already thought yourself.”

  The King let out a sigh, “You know me well, old friend. In my haste and anger after hearing the news in that letter, I neglected to think of these things before I rendered judgment. I am not the man I once was. Whatever might come of this beneficial or detrimental will have to be dealt with in the future.”

  “If that is all, Your Majesty, I will return to my post,” Tokta said.

  “Do not be hasty yourself; there is another matter of importance I wish to discuss with you. Now take a seat, “The king said, gesturing to the chair in front of Tokta.

  Obeying the King’s order, Tokta sat down and asked, “Is this other thing regarding the Black healer?”

  “It is regarding you, old friend. I alone was not shaken by that letter, was I?” The King asked.

  Tokta met the king’s gaze, his own, firm, betraying no emotion, “The loss of the head of a royal household is always a tragedy, even one whose family have lost their might and is only clinging on to status--”

  “Yet, even so, that letter was what occupied your mind, was it not? The king asked. “Lord Jasabi, he thinks too highly of himself, which is why he doesn’t like you and scratches at you; of course, you scratch back, but not after you read the letter.

  “Your majesty, I merely grew tired of Lord Jasabi’s antics,” Tokta replied.

  “It’s your son, isn’t it? The King asked. “You are worried about his well-being now that we’ve learned of the danger lurking in our territory.”

  Tokta let out a sigh as his features relaxed, “I didn’t want him to undertake this mission to bring back this Black Healer. Every moment since he left with the merchant, I’ve wanted to pursue him and bring him home. However, he made his choice, and I’ll respect it.”

  The King turned his head, and both men shared a look, “Sir Tokta, with the recent information, I charge you with ensuring the safe return of the Black Healer and bringing him before me.”

  Whatever weakness Tokta had shown before now vanished as he replied, “Your Majesty, I am the commander of the king's guard; you know I cannot leave your side for so long.”

  The King looked at Tokta with understanding for a moment before his features grew more stern, “This mission is one I cannot entrust to anyone else. No other members of the king’s guard or any of the royal houses.

  “It is only you I trust who can bring back the Black Healer safely. It is the same reason I allowed your son to take on this mission in the first place; he is your blood.”

  For a moment, Tokta's eyes widened in understanding, but even so, he felt conflicted, ‘To go would mean leaving the king defenceless and if something were to happen, but even so...’

  The King let out an impatient sigh, “Sir Tokta, to refuse your king’s order is grounds for treason. For your many summers of service and our personal relationship, I chose to overlook it the first time you refused, but not this time.”

  With silence between them, Tokta looked at his king and knew instantly he meant every word.

  Standing up, he simply said, “as you command your majesty.”