A boy dressed in strange clothing was walking around, handing out slips of parchment to everyone he passed. He couldn’t have been more than sixteen years old, not yet an adult.
I jogged over to him. “What’s this?” I asked.
“A warning, miss,” he said gravely. “From His Majesty the King.”
“A warning?” I examined the parchment in my grasp, taking a moment to skim the text.
To Any and All Folk of Aldova,
Beware.
Magic is not the only thing that hasreturned to our realm.
Dangerous, powerful beings have also returned. Beings long since thought gone.
Be careful.
These beings seem like normal folk, but they are deadly. They are ruthless.
If you see one, do not approach—they may kill without provocation.
They have no regard for mortal life, no care for any of us.
If you come across one of these powerful beings, contain the threat, if possible, and inform my men.
I will extinguish the danger and keep the realm safe.
Things to look out for:
Folk with curiously strong magical power
Folk committing nefarious deeds
Unexplained magical outbursts
Folk that feel dangerous and powerful
Any neighbors acting suspicious—it is better to be safe than sorry
Be vigilant.
Any effort to aid these dangerous, powerful beings will result in swift, thorough punishment.
—A Royal Missive from HisMajesty the King.
Itilted my head, confused. “Is this a joke?” I asked.
Dangerous, powerful beings arriving in the realm? That sounded more like the plot of a novel than reality.
I thought briefly of Shade. His sudden appearance on Merry Day. But strangers arrived in Moonvale all the time, and that was nothing new. Besides—Shade wasn’t dangerousorpowerful. He hadn’t harmed anyone, as far as I knew. He just kept to himself, when he wasn’t bothering me.
“It is not a joke, ma’am. This is a grave situation.” The boy was pale in the face, trembling slightly. “The King has dispatched messengers across the entire realm, warning of the incoming evil. It must be dealt with before it destroys us all.”
That was rather dramatic. I supposed I wasn’t the only one with intense paranoia. Strangely enough, that made me feel a bit better. I folded the parchment and tucked it into the pocket in my trousers. “Thanks for the warning.”
“Be safe, miss. Remember: your life is on the line.”
Poor boy. He was even more paranoid than I was. “Sure. Of course. Good day.”
