"Stand down,” I called as I rushed into the circle. Alizeh brought her head to my chest and clucked softly, an envelope tucked tight in her beak. I tugged at the paper and she released it without hesitation as the guards behind me whispered.
I pet her cheek. “Thank you, my friend."
She bobbed her head, as if to nod, then snapped her beak at one of the guards to her left. He retreated and tripped over his own feet, landing with a thud on the ground. Alizeh cooed in victory then launched off into the sky.
"The next time Alizeh returns, I expect to be contacted immediately.” I held the letter behind my back and marched in front of the line of guards. “No weapons are to be drawn on her ever again. Do you understand?”
"Yes, sir,” the guards answered in unison and charged back to their posts.
"What is it, Your Majesty?" Griswold asked, peering over my shoulder.
I slid my finger under the royal seal and ripped open the top of the envelope. Three rose petals slipped out and fluttered to the ground.
"It's from my mother. I think I'll take this in my room and turn in for the night.”
Griswold raised his finger, his weight shifting to the tips of his toes.
“If there's anything you need to know, I'll call on you right away,” I added, and he relaxed, or what looked like relaxed for Griswold.
He nodded. “Goodnight, sir.”
“One more thing” I halted and punched my fist in the air as my memory poked at my brain. “Have you seen Captain Amir today?”
“Yes, sir. No word on the young lady you’d asked him to find, but they will let me know if she turns up.”
Again my heart sank. I promised my mother I would try to make it right with Veda. I needed to make things right with Veda, but with the demands of the kingdom and my parents away I had no idea when I would get the chance to look for her again. If only she’d just come to me. But after the way I acted, she never would.
I gripped the letter in my fist, and rushed off, staring at the floor to ensure I didn’t make eye contact with anyone. I had enough of being king for one day. Maybe after a good night’s sleep, I'd be ready to go again. Somehow I doubted it though.
As soon as my own door came into view in the hall, I sprinted the rest of the way and slammed it shut behind me. I flopped across my bed and ran my finger along the perfect loopy scrawl of my name across the front. On the back, I inspected the green wax seal with the Aldric coat of arms impressed from my mother’s ring and pulled the letter open.
My dearest Fallon,
Thank you for finding your father and lending me Alizeh to go see him. It's been tough seeing him in this condition, but I feel much better knowing that he's alive and safe in one place. I will be forever grateful for your willingness to find him against the horrible odds.
Edwin has been kind and extremely helpful dealing with your father’s condition. I’m so glad he is the one looking after this situation.
I will be staying here at the temple for a while to make sure that he's okay. I hope things are going well, but if not, please send me a note and I will come back to help.
I love you with all my heart.
Always,
Mom
I refolded the letter and tucked it back into the envelope then clutched it to my chest. It would be so much easier to have her here, but I couldn't take her away now. Dad needed her and his affliction was thousands of times worse than a rough day at the castle. Besides, I think she needed Dad too.
The weight of the day dragged on me, everything getting heavier and hazy. I chuckled to myself. I'd started to sound like an old man, constantly tired and lacking energy. I should be in the prime of my life, partying with my friends at the tavern until the early hours, but it was barely twilight and all I wanted was sleep.
Slowly, I stood up and slipped my jacket off, then pulled my shirt over my head. The sunburn on my skin had started to fade but left behind an irritating itch. I fought myself to avoid scratching, even though I had to clench my teeth at times to do so.
I tossed the letter on my dresser and flipped my belt out of its buckle. Then I stopped cold, my hand gripped on the piece of leather as I glimpsed a new face in the mirror. It wore my shoulders and naked torso, but instead of my youthful features and strong jaw were strands of thinning silver hair and thick bushy eyebrows. I leapt toward the mirror and ran my fingers down my face, but soft wrinkled skin hung limp from my cheekbones. My heart pumped loud in my chest, the sound echoed through my room as the blood rushed to my aged complexion. What was happening? This couldn’t be real. I closed my eyes tight hoping for this to be a dream, or more accurately a nightmare. Except when I opened them again the face of the old man stared back at me.
No. No. No.
I smashed my fists against the dresser, the mirror shimmied, but the image didn’t get any better. I grabbed the sides of my head, gripping grey hair in my hands, and paced the floor of my room. I felt like I'd aged, but I didn't really mean it. At least not like this. I rushed to the door and my hand hovered over the door knob, but I didn't
