There is strength in the blood. And cunning. And something more. Some other quality that is ancient and precious and rare. It’s what has driven me my entire life. It is the source of my dreams and the fire that pushed me upon waking. Pushed me to discover, to learn, to create, to build. And it must not be allowed to expire. For the love I bear for my children and my people it must be set ablaze. It must roar through the veins of my progeny.

  -Harald Erling, as dictated to Leif Olander

  ***

  Leif gazed into the deep red of the ruby.

  He could have gone anywhere. Could have gone home. But there had never been a question of where he’d return to. The sight of Danaria, noble and strong, filled him with a deep sense of peace and relief.

  Warm light colored the harbor, the city, and the palace. A pleasant drizzle of rain fell. He put his arms out and smiled as his horse continued its walk.

  The guards at the palace bridge recognized him, so it was no surprise when he saw Vigo rushing towards him across the yard just as soon as he’d stabled his horse. With an open-mouthed grin and a laugh, Vigo caught him up in a strong embrace. “Congratulations my friend. Well done. And welcome home.”

  “It is good to be home, Vigo.”

  Vigo laughed again, “tonight we celebrate.”

  ***

  “Welcome back, Leif,” Harald raised his glass, “my scribe has finally returned!”

  “You honor me.” Leif dipped his head as he raised his own glass. Dining with the royal family truly was an honor. They celebrated him as if he was one of them. It was a joy for Leif to see them. Estrid looked to be very nearly at the end of a pregnancy. Time, it seemed, had worked differently in the temple after all. She was all glowing smiles with her fingers intertwined in Vigo’s.

  Arja held her young babe who never seemed to leave her arms. Karalee hadn’t spoken much. She had embraced him when he’d first seen her and at dinner he’d caught her watching him from across the table several times. As if he was a new creature she’d never encountered before. She didn’t seem to care to hide it.

  “You look like a different person, Leif,” Hestan slapped his back and pinched his arm. “You must tell us everything. You’ve been gone forever - it must’ve been quite an adventure. You and Vigo must join me on the hunt first thing tomorrow.”

  “Sorry brother, but Leif’s ‘tomorrow morning’ is spoken for. He owes me a walk in the gardens.” The edges of Leif’s mouth curved up in a smile at Karalee’s words. “It’s true,” Leif said to Hestan then turned to Karalee who was as radiant as ever, “Although perhaps for tomorrow’s walk, we visit the docks rather than the gardens.” Karalee seemed almost confused by the thought but she looked to Harald, “Father, may I go down to the docks with Leif tomorrow?” Harald looked at her then glanced to Vigo. Vigo gave an almost imperceptible nod of his head. Harald immediately responded, “Yes, you may. But then, Leif, we will regale you of our successes in Maedelund. Much has happened since you left.”

  The next morning there was a light misty blanket over Danaria. It was of the kind and quality that was pleasant and transparent and burned off by the early afternoon.

  “Do you not venture down to the harbor often?” Leif turned to look at her as they walked.

  “I have been many times, just not usually in this…context.” She paused for a moment then, “I’m glad you made it back when you did. Estrid and I are going south to visit our cousins today. If you’d had been a day later I would have missed your triumphant return.”

  The city was already bustling with activity. Gulls called, merchants opened their shops or were already negotiating with patrons, and boats and ships untied and pushed off, sailing out into the Kilden.

  Leif noted Karalee’s grin when he rented them a small skiff and helped her in. He placed the basket he carried beside her then took up the oars and began rowing. Her grin became a pleasant happy smile and she pulled a blanket from the basket to wrap around herself. “Oh, can we go to see the statue?”

  “No,” Leif said, “I enjoy the statue as well, but I have another plan.”

  Karalee leaned back comfortably in her seat, “Okay, well now that no one is listening, tell me everything about your journey.”

  Leif laughed, “you know I can’t. Mages only,” and he winked at her.

  “Can you at least say if it was dangerous? Could you have died?”

  “Several times.” He paused then, “the experience was…enlightening.”

  He rowed them to a small, tranquil lagoon off the main harbor. There was still activity and business but they could watch the ships leaving without hearing quite so much of the port noise. The lagoon wasn’t deep but he dropped the small anchor so they could sit in the calm center without readjusting.

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  “Hestan is right, you know. I saw it from the balcony above when you first arrived.” Karalee sat looking straight at him as he looked out over the harbor.

  Leif smiled, “Spying on me?”.

  “Yes.”

  “Right about what?”

  “You look different. You’re the same but there’s something about you now. You seem older. Or larger. Maybe grown up. You have a quality - a confidence or energy that is slightly…intimidating.”

  Hestan opened the basket and drew out the breakfast the kitchen staff had packed for him.

  “Or you did until you pulled bread and cheese and grapes and honey wine from that little basket.”

  Leif laughed out loud. “I like cheese and grapes. And I like watching the boats in the morning.”

  “I like it too.”

  ***

  Leif walked into the meeting room with Vigo after dinner. He was in a good mood. His morning with Karalee had been perfect and he’d seen her and Estrid off in their carriage. Karalee had given him a small kiss on the cheek and a grin when no one was looking.

  He’d then spent the rest of the day regaling Vigo of his time at the temple. Vigo had laughed at parts, had slapped his back several times, and appeared as happy and proud as Leif had seen him on his wedding day. He examined the ruby and the wine Godfrey had given him, “the old drunk.”

  Leif and Vigo took their seats alongside Harald and Hestan and several lords he recognized but did not know. The table and chairs they sat at were hand-carved works of art. The table was a solid piece of wood from some giant tree. The table-top was, impossibly, as soft and smooth as silk. The chairs had intricate carvings of trees and horses along the backs and legs with velvet upholstered cushions on the seat and inside back. Leif imagined the set must be worth more than the land holdings of a good many minor lords.

  A map was spread out on the table before them. The central focus was Maedelund but the rest of the countries surrounding the Kilden Sea were clearly visible.

  “Commander Eadric, please begin. For Leif’s sake, give us the full picture.”

  Eadric stepped forward. “The kingdom of Maedelund hangs by a thread. Magnus and Isabella have barely held on to power due to a combination of fear within the peasant class, and land grants or other concessions to the nobility.”

  “As we expected, prices of goods have risen significantly. When merchants began to catch on to the diluted Maedish coinage they raised prices to compensate for the dilution. Danarian marks were a convenient alternative and brought stability to the local markets until queen Isabella found out what we were doing. Any usage of Danarian coin rather than Maedish sovereigns has been declared as treason and is punishable by death. Many merchants continue to use Danarian marks either in secret or with special, secretive, approval from the queen if they have been deemed essential. Our reports indicate that black market trading is growing rapidly. The crown has been selective in its enforcement either due to resource constraints, bribes to the enforcers, or they’re turning a blind eye in order to keep markets moving and forestall complete economic collapse. In truth it is likely a combination of the three.

  “In the meantime, the queen hasn’t been able to pay her debts or obligations with her own currency and many of the soldiers and the royal guards have deserted. The few that remain have been given or promised lands and titles or Danarian gold.

  “Isabella and Magnus have exchanged the kingdom’s lands, far below their income values in some cases, for quick Danarian gold from the other nobles. The gold traded by the Maedish nobles for those purchases has been provided to them by our good King Harald. He is also the ultimate beneficiary of these lands.

  “In short, things are going extremely well for us, and extremely poorly for Maedelund. Isabella and Magnus have very nearly destroyed their own economy and sit upon a throne that is almost worthless. There has been some pushback - minor, disorganized uprisings and a few poorly executed assassination attempts that we have heard of. We have a small team of men stationed there who are…encouraging these things and helping to facilitate the black markets. Both Vigo and Hestan have been several times to assist in these efforts.

  “I would be not at all surprised if our next report includes more of the same, or if Isabella and Magnus have been forcibly deposed.

  “This information has been corroborated several times over and comes from informants within the city and the royal palace.”

  “Thank you, Eadric.” Harald then turned to Leif, reading him.

  Leif met his eyes, “Has there been any word of my family? My father?”

  “Not in particular. Your family’s estate is in the country, far from the city as you know. I’m sure they haven’t been unaffected but given the nature of their business and the lines of transportation directly from their property, I would expect they will have weathered through the tumult. Your father we have had no word of but perhaps we can ask after him,” he paused for a brief moment then, “Leif, I have given considerable thought to this next question. You have the right blood, and you have my support. If you need time to consider it, I understand. Do you wish to be king of Maedelund, Leif?”

  Leif looked around the table. All eyes were on him but he didn’t feel discomfort, “If that is your command, your majesty. Based on what I just heard, Maedelund is yours or nearly so. You are my king. My allegiance and purpose is aligned with yours. If you wish me to assist in the governance and reconstruction of Maedelund as a vassal-king, then so be it.”

  “Then so be it.”

  A loud knock sounded on the heavy oak door. A muffled voice from beyond cried out, “Your majesty, urgent news!”

  Hestan stepped to the door and opened it. “What is it?”

  From behind the door Leif could hear, “Prince Hestan, it’s your sisters.They have been taken.”

  “What?!” Everyone at the table stood at once but Harald and Vigo had responded in unison. Hestan let the steward enter, followed by one of Harald’s royal guards who immediately went to his knees.

  “Where are my daughters, Ingram?!”

  “Your majesty, Prince Magnus was there shortly after we left the city walls. We didn’t stand a chance.”

  Harald’s teeth ground and his lip twitched. The intensity of the pain and fury in his eyes seemed nearly enough to burn holes through Ingram. He slammed his fists into the table, “Isabella! She’s desperate. I should never have let them go. ” He looked at Vigo, “bring them back.”

  “I’m going,” Vigo must have summoned his magic. There was a force of heat emanating from him. Leif could feel it pressing against him, tingling on his skin. Vigos' fury was a burning furnace of power raging outwards.

  Leif’s own anger surged. The image of Magnus’s hands on Karalee disgusted him. The prince needed to die. Prince Magnus would die for this.

  Vigo swiftly moved towards the door. Hestan and Leif filed in closely behind him.

  “The Summer Wind, the Signy, and the Pora are berthed. I’ll send word to rouse the crews,” said Hestan.

  Vigo shook his head, “Anker can leave faster.”