The Call

The Mission

The next month passed slowly for Serene with parties to attend and ceremonies to partake in. The fact that now she was Lady of Iconia did not put an end to the daily training exercises in which her father engaged her. More than anything else, she enjoyed the times she and her father dueled each other and raced in the agility courses. Over the past two years, responsibility for her training had transferred from Nora and her other instructors to her father and her brother's previous instructors. Though she still spent time with Nora, her father had taken a new place of esteem in her heart. Now, after two years of training, she equaled her father in nearly everything.

One morning, after she had readied herself for the day, her father knocked and entered her room to escort her to the dining hall for the morning meal.

"Where are we going this morning, Father?" Serene asked as she and her mother walked beside her father.

He looked at her, his brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"We are going somewhere this morning, aren't we?" Serene pressed.

Her father let out a chuckle. "Yes, I had planned to."

"Where are we going?"

"I thought it might be good for us to visit Etana and be sure everything is going as planned."

Her eyes fell to the floor. Felix. We haven't heard from him in weeks.

"I think our presence might help reinforce our mission's message," Imrah continued.

Serene looked up and nodded in agreement. "When will we be leaving?"

"We depart an hour after the meal is over. Preparations are being made for our journey as we speak."

They walked in silence for a moment, but then Imrah stopped suddenly. "What do you think about leading the mission yourself?"

Serene stopped to look at her father. "I think I would like that," she answered after a moment.

He raised his eyebrows. "You would?"

"You'd have to explain what you'd like me to do, but I would be willing to go."

"Do you feel confident everything will go well?" Lady Wynn's face showed her concern.

Serene nodded. "I've done it before."

"Very well," Imrah said after a moment. "I'll postpone the mission to leave two hours after the meal, and in the meantime, you and I can discuss the plans. How does that sound, my young commander?"

Serene smiled in pleasure. "That sounds wonderful."

Imrah turned his gaze forward as they entered the dining hall. He escorted his daughter to her seat beside him at the table, and when everyone was seated, the morning meal was served.

∞∞∞

"Are you sure you're ready for this, darling?" Imrah asked.

Serene stood before him, her white mare and a mounted escort of twenty royal guards waiting behind her. Her hair flowed down over her armor and a simple, crown-like hair piece was fastened in it. Her father stood tall, looking into her eyes.

"I've done this before."

"Be careful, and don't hesitate to order your guards if things get dangerous."

"I will."

"And if you see Felix, give him my greeting, will you?"

Serene smiled. "Of course."

Her father stepped back. "Well, you'd better be going then. You said good-bye to your mother?"

"Yes." Serene kissed her mother's cheek for the last time. "Good-bye, Mother."