Tides Of Bones

9. THE JOURNEY (Picture Of King Nikandr)

"Bah," Zav stands. "You are a fool."

"And you have no other options!" He snaps. "She grows weaker every day. That flower will not be enough. Do you want to save her?"

"Do. Not." He turns, pointing to Dearon. His body is shaking with anger. "Do not pretend like I do not know what is at stake here. You may have read her some books. Heck, I am sure you feel you know her from the conversations snuck during the dead of night when she wished to roam the halls. But there is no one," he continues, "no one who will ever have danced with her soul more than I. I understand this could save her, just as much as I understand you will take me away from her."

"What do you have?" Cyrus asks.

Dearon almost trips going back to the table. He moves some papers around. "I found. I think I found where the caves start."

"Cyrus, you cannot be serious-"

"Are you my Captain?" Cyrus turns to him.

"Cyrus-"

"Are. You. My. Captain."

"Till my last breath."

"Then we leave in three nights' time. Dearon, until then continue your research."

"Absolutely." Dearon immediately disappears, mumbling about a book.

"Are you sure about this?" Zav asks as they leave the room.

"My people do not need a ruler. Lord Chamberlin will do just fine. I will collect all the food from the traps in the morning."

"And your sister? What of her? For us to leave, now, it will devastate her." Zav closes the door.

"I wish to come." The boys jump out of their skin at the sound of her voice. Leaning against the wall is Caleena, who clearly had been eaves dropping at the door.

"Caleena!" Cyrus snaps.

"I wish to join you! Oh please, brother! An adventure would be so grand. And I am feeling much better, I will not slow you down. I can help!"

"No. You are to stay here. And I will speak more of the matter."

"But brother, I-"

"This is not up for discussion! Zav, take my sister to her chambers, that is an order." Cyrus says, in case Zav wants to defend her.

"Yes, your Highness." He bows. "Princess Caleena," he motions for her to go first towards her chambers.

She narrows her eyes at them but follows without complaint.

Sighing, Cyrus leans against the wall. His head pounds with all the information he was just given. The Lost Kingdom.

How lost could it be?

He had to find it, if there was any hope for his sister he had to try.

They could revisit Aki's body, see if he had any extra of the other ingredients, they could even travel to Sakura, maybe salvage whatever was left.

Of course there was a chance that even if they did find The Lost Kingdom there might not be any of the plants. But there would be resources, resources his Kingdom desperately needed if they were to survive the next few winters.

So yes, he would go. He would go, and he would not look back.

                                                                                                                   */*/*/*/*/*

Cyrus spends all night prepping the Lord Chamberlin for absence. To his credit, Lord Chamberlin does not interrupt once. But at the end of the discussion, he finally speaks.

"What ails you to leave again?" He asks.

"Provisions. If we can map out new areas we might be able to find resources."

"And the other Kingdoms? What will they do when they find you sniffing around their lands?"

"You are right, Lord Chamberlin." Cyrus says, standing from his desk. "We are a few snapping strands away from war again. Maybe it is time someone offer a new rope of peace. Write letters at all. Tell them I wish an audience, a peaceful one. I want them delivered by morning. Send out the carriers. Tell them they must respond within a day."

"That is-Your Highness, I beg your pardon."

"What it is, Lord Chamberlin, is an order. You are dismissed."

Zav enters shortly after, he looks nervous. He closes the door behind him and sits. "How do you know they will write back?" He asks.

"I do not. But the King of Siezalle, King Nikandr, wrote me when my parents died."

Zav's eyes grow wide, "you jest."

"No, he, too, felt we were all suffering from the sins of our ancestors. That it is not deserved. He wrote me in confidence, after his condolences, that if the other two Kingdoms were to agree to peace, Siezalle would as well."

"And you never told us this?"

"I could not get the other two to agree to a treaty. It was a long shot. But if we can at the very least convince him to let us through their borders we can go to Sakura by boat without fear of retaliation." Sakura was north of Dasos and directly above Siezalle, while it was abandoned and inhabitable, if there were clues they could very well find the tunnels."

Zav seems to think before sighing. "Your sister...who will take care of her? You wish me to leave, for how long?"

"She will eat the flowers, gain her strength back. The doctor and nurses can watch her. Zav I would not ask this if I thought there was another way."

"I know...to spend my time in close quarter with Dearon, you must be punishing me." He sits back with another sigh.

"Trust me it is I who will be punished, I feel as though I am a parent around the two of you." Cyrus says with an eyeroll.

"I will prepare the horses and carts. We shall take only one cart; travel will not be easy in the desert lands. Dearon is gathering provisions. Cyrus," He stands and heads for the door, "I will have a maid gather your things. Just spend the day with your sister, give her a day. Okay?"

Cyrus nods in agreement.

"Good. Take her to the gardens, harvest some flowers. Take her to Old Tonkins bread shop, she has wanted fresh walnut bread for some time now. Do what you must to make sure she has the best damn day of her life. Because I am telling you, when we come back she will be gone." With that he leaves the room.