There,I’dfinally found the royaltrokav—who was still wide awake and working, to my surprise.
“What was it you said you were putting together?” I asked him, rounding the large stone table he was standing behind as hemixed togetheringredients Icouldn’t—anddidn’tcare to—name.
“I’mcreating another batch of Lady Elore’s strengthening elixirs.It’llhelp her continue to build up the muscle and weight she lost while… away,” the older male answered.
Besides Val, Hugo was the only otherfaeI’dbrought to light about the situation with Mother. With the shapeshe’dbeen in whenI’dfirst found her, Hugo’s intervention had been necessary if she were ever to function normally again—and swiftly.
Fortunately, Hugo knew his craft extremely well and took his position very seriously. Though I was now King of the North, Mother had at one time been the North’s queen. That alone would make her a Lady of the court—if I were to ever allow it, that was.
Despite Hugo’s appreciation for his craft, he also knew Motherbefore. Hugo had been there when my parents had married and had helped Mother deliver me and my twin intothe world. Because of this, they seemed tohave a fondness towardeach other. It seemed like they werealmost…friends, once upon a time.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about the situation just yet.
“Do you predictshe’llhave to take them for much longer?She’sstarted gaining her endurance back through our training as well.” I picked up a small vial of orange liquid, tilting it from side to side to watch small particles within it move about.
“I’m hopeful that after a few more weeks of these elixirs, she’ll be well enough to carry on growing healthy without them through training, lots of hydration, and good food.” His eyes widened as he spoke before gently removing the vial from my hand,placing it back down.
“And you’re up making them in the dead of night because…”I leftmy question hanging in the air between us as the older male shot me a slightly puzzled look.
“There is much to do, my king. The workflowdoesn’tjust stop when I need to rest.”
Much like the endless demands made of me by my advisors, it seemed Hugo, also, rarely caught a moment to breathe freely.
“You know,” thetrokavbegan hesitantly, “if you feel you need something—something I can provide—I would be more than happy to make it for you.”
My blood ran cold as I processed what he was tiptoeing around.
“Are you suggesting I return to the elixirs?” I asked through clenched teeth. “The same ones that hid such big parts of me from not only those around me, but myself?”
“My king, ever since you’ve discovered your abilities, you’ve been different. You’ve been—”
“Stronger?” I asked, finishing his statement for him. “Or maybe you were going to mention how much more powerful I’ve become?” I could feel my fury bubbling up under my skin at just theidea of being tamed once again.
Hugo must have seen the pure anger flash across my face as I watched him begin to cower.
“It was simply a suggestion meant to be helpful—but let me know if there isanythingelse I can do for you, Your Majesty.” He dipped his head as he turned back to the taskhe’dbeen working on whenI’darrived.
Clenching my hands into balls, I brought a fist down against the table next to us, hard enough to rattle the bottles and such littering the surface. I snatched one vial that sat beforeHugoand that had been marked for Mother with Hugo’s stamp of approval on top of the stopper. Without thinking, I threw it as hard as I could against the far wall.As the glass fell and liquid exploded, I turned on my heels without another word and departed from the room.
Alone in the corridor leading back to the western wing, I wrapped my wings around myself in a rare attempt to soothe my frayed nerves.
Idon’tneed the elixirs, I thought.I am more powerful than ever before. My name is Dimitri Heartshire, and I will not fail.I will conquer—and I will prove them all wrong.Just as Father instructed.
Repeating those words to myself a few times in a row, I was able tosteelmyself against the world once more.
If each day I wrapped my heart in another layer of rock and earth,maybe overtime, the protection would finally hold its broken pieces together enough to stop thehurting.
Taking a deep breath as I pushed my hair back and out of my face, I folded my wings back in, rolled my shoulders, and began the walk back toward the other side of the castle. Night wasalmost atits peak by now, so I needed to hurry.
My trip to Hugo’s hadn’t been in vain, after all.
***
After a detour that took longer thanI’dbelieved it would, I realized morning would be upon the surrounding snow-capped mountains sooner thanI’dthought.It seemed timehad slipped away from me, and I needed to hurry if I wanted to show Mother whatI’ddone with my time sinceI’ddismissed her much earlier in the evening.
Picking up the pace, I spread my wings and flew through the empty castle corridors until I landed softly outside of Mother’s chambers. It was technicallyvery earlyin the morning at that point, though Ididn’texpect her tobeawake just yet. Still, I knocked and hoped for an answer.
“One moment, please!” her voice rang out from within, sounding wide awake.
