Back at the Palace/ On the Road

Cafer sat across from young Alaron in the palace library. They had found a secluded room, and Cafer had brought over many books for him to read. Unaware of the councilman's presence, Alaron's personal guard stood outside the door to prevent anyone's entry. Alaron had told the guard that he wanted to study alone.

"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Alaron asked doubtfully. "Chief Zan said he would be personally overseeing my tutoring lessons from now on. He said your ideas can be dangerous."

Cafer looked saddened. "I do not want to speak out of turn, but I do not think Chief Zan has your best interest at heart. Does he put the same restrictions on your sister?"

"Not exactly." Alaron furrowed his brow. But his sister also didn't spend as much time with Cafer.

"I believe Zan wants to stunt your learning so that your sister will be the obvious successor. I just want you to have an opportunity to rule." Cafer sounded sincere and the six-year-old believed him.

"But surely mother and father will fix things when they return," Alaron said.

"If they return, I am sure they will do their very best." Cafer said meaningfully. The words were not lost on the boy.

"If they return? Why would they not return?" Alaron became anxious.

"Their journey is a dangerous one. I am sure they will be fine, but if anything should happen, I want you to be ready to take charge," Cafer said calmly. He patted the young boy on the back. "Do not worry, I will be here no matter what. Even if your sister would betray you, I will be on your side." Cafer subtly sowed seeds of discord. He saw the boy's face contort in pain and almost felt guilty for his scheming.

"Mairwen would never betray me!" Alaron said definitely.

Cafer shook his head. "Of course not. I was merely pledging my loyalty to you, young prince. I am sure the princess has never done anything to show herself superior in front of your parents or the court."

Alaron crinkled his nose. Mairwen was constantly showing herself the more adept in different areas. They each had their own strengths. But Alaron could not believe that she was doing it to show him as weak. "Well…" he paused, unsure what to say.

"Think no more of it!" The councilman said, knowing it would only make him think about it more. "Let us study. I have a book here that may interest you." He dug through the piles and pulled out a tattered brown cover.

"What is it?" Alaron lit up. He loved new knowledge.

"It is a 'Compendium of Gnomes'."

"But gnomes aren't real," Alaron said, relating what his tutors had taught.

Cafer smirked. "Oh, my boy….I have so much to teach you."

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Junayd and Nurlan rode their horses as the trees thinned out and the land became more hilly. It was early evening as the horses moved quickly through the low grass. "What could possibly be next?!" Junayd complained. "The animals here are truly wild. I thought that stag would skewer us off of these horses."

Nurlan nodded. "But his antlers were very impressive. Any king would be proud to wear that crown."

"I really thought we would have caught up with Her Majesty by now. If they had not left a visible trail, I am not positive that we would have been able to track them this far." Junayd said.

Nurlan puffed out his chest and grunted. "I am the best tracker there is. I will find her even if there is no trail."

They crested a hill and a beautiful lake stretched out before them. The water was a glassy green. Junayd's mouth hooked into a grin, "Okay, Master Tracker. It seems you have gotten your wish. Which way do we go now?"

Nurlan dismounted and walked to the water's edge. He examined the shoreline and dipped his finger in the water. He held it up in the air to monitor the wind. Then he sniffed a few times before tasting the water.

"That is quite a process, you have got there!" Junayd watched with mocking interest.

"Do not rush me," Nurlan scolded. He made a decisive point toward the east. "They went that way!"

Out of the water rose a sleek seal. "That is a very neat trick! You will have to teach it to me," Phoca said. Nurlan fell over with surprise.

"A talking seal!" He said. Junayd dismounted and helped his comrade to his feet.

Phoca rolled her eyes upward, "That is quite a welcome…I am not a seal; I'm a selkie, and my name is Phoca. I am here to help you find your friends."

Junayd saluted the selkie. "Forgive us ma'am. We did not know. We have never seen a …selkie… before. Did you say you could help us find our friends? You have seen others like us?"

"Oh yes," Phoca said. "Do a sweet dark-haired girl with a good head on her shoulders and a smart, shy young man who would do anything but tell the girl how he feels about her sound familiar?"

"That is them! Which way did they go?" Junayd was ready to jump on the trail.

"Your very handsome and strong friend was correct in his assessment." Phoca said while smiling in Nurlan's direction. "The other humans went down the beach. I saw them just today."

"Then let us hurry. Maybe we can catch them before nightfall!" Junayd said.

They looked at the sky; the sun was dipping quickly below the horizon. The two soldiers were discouraged. Phoca shook her head. "Your friends are already crossing the lake, and the sun is setting. I cannot take you until morning. Even if we reached the boatman's dock, he would not be there to help you."

"So close yet so far," Junayd said dejectedly.

Phoca gave him an understanding smile. The men both looked hopeless. "Do not worry. You will find them soon enough. But it is best for you to bed down on the beach for the night. I recommend you go to sleep before moonrise."

"Why?" Nurlan asked, his curiosity piqued. He sensed the selkie was hiding something.

Phoca smiled coyly and looked straight at the gruff soldier. "Stay up if you like. But do not say I did not warn you. We shall see what kind of men you are: gentlemen or knaves."

Nurlan came to his own defense, "I promise you I am more gentlemanly than any knight."

He and Phoca both turned toward Junayd. The younger soldier looked at them and cocked his head to one side. "Me?" He pointed to himself innocently.

Nurlan elbowed his comrade in the ribs, "Junayd has been called many things, but a gentleman was never one of them."

"Hey!" Junayd said while scowling. Internally, however, he shrugged and thought, 'He's not wrong.'