Chapter 1 The Boy King

After Homer’s father delivered the message from High Priestess Dyna declaring she needs to find Grand Prince Dracon an escort before he can come to the palace, Queen Jopria of the Kingdom of Blythe schemes to hold the prince as a prisoner to force her hidden husband to come out of exile to protect him. As the first snow falls, a servant delivers the second message from High Priestess Dyna stating an escort has been found and Grand Prince Dracon will arrive by the winter solstice. King Jason guides his son west to the estate of his sister Princess Tatiana who had been banished to the outer edge of the kingdom by Queen Jopria. Princess Tatiana had married a soldier from the neighboring country of Kadacia. The once Blythan town of Sarai along the bordering Anasazi Mountains was taken by the Kadacian army when Queen Jopria seized control of Blythe and exiled King Jason. Here is where King Jason fled to with his little cousin Prince Oskar after his uncle Prince Linos was murdered. His aunt Princess Mae jumped off a tower in despair and Princess Tatiana promised to raise Prince Oskar for he could not follow where King Jason was going. He also discovered on this escape journey that his former lover had married a peasant in the vicinity. As a young prince, Jason had befriended a maidservant but she was ordered out of the palace by his regent Queen Kia when she claimed to be with child. Fleeing for his life, he visited his son in Sarai, then saw Dracon in Etonville, and went on his way to the Haunted Forest. Thereafter, he visited his sons at night so no one would see him using The Wizard’s magic.

Princess Tatiana welcomed her brother and nephew with open arms into her home. She hosted a grand banquet in honor of the royal guests. A grown Prince Oskar played host since his adoptive father was occupied elsewhere repairing a wall. The next day, Prince Oskar escorted his cousins Jason and Dracon to Jason’s grown son Xander’s home. The peasant man was soon to be married and Dracon wished to be part of the celebrations. Jason and Dracon walked ahead of the groom in the ceremony. The bride Talia was another peasant dressed in a simple linen gown with a hand-full of daises as her bouquet. The couple vowed loyalty to each other and obedience to the lord of the land. After the ceremony, Jason insisted on his sons coming to the capital when he restores his power and live with him. He promised any occupation Xander wished. The man wished only his half-sister Amazon to come with them. King Jason granted his wish. Jason visited the tavern she worked in. The owner refused to let the girl attend her brother’s wedding. He found Amazon and angered the tavern keeper wishing to take her away. Jason drew his sword at the man’s neck and he yielded his servant to the exiled monarch. The pre-adolescent girl thanked her savior and jumped into her half-brother’s embrace.

The party left a week later in good tidings and set off for the capital Illium. Prince Oskar joined them in the royal escort. After a few days of travel, it began to snow and Ophelia began to behave strangely. Her husband Aelous, god of winds, felt much blood being spilled. The princess goddess feared something awful had happened nearby. The party set up camp in the frost and toasted themselves by the fire. During the night, the cold winds of Aelous shook the tents and put out their fire. Ophelia started a magical fire inside their tent. The next morning shone the bright sun melting much of the frigid air. Away from the camp, Oskar notices people coming this way. Time passed to reveal they were peasants carrying nothing but their frost-covered cloaks. At a closer look, many seemed bloodied and terrorized. Jason, Xander, and Oskar leapt on their horses tied to sledges to meet these people. One woman looked as if she were about to topple over into a snow bank. Jason approached the woman and an old man limping beside her with a staff.

“Mistress, you appear to be ready to topple into the snow. May I offer our campfire to rest at.” addressed Jason. The shivering woman did not respond but kept walking without a glance.

“You have to forgive her, lord, we have been walking in the cold for hours. Kiara, the nobleman is speaking to you.” answered the old man.
Kiara looked up with vacant eyes and stared at Jason. Jason slid down his horse to observe this fragile creature with pale blue eyes and tiny features to see a half starved blonde beauty in a cloak white from the snow. He came nearer and grasped her tiny frozen hands.

“Mistress Kiara, you look as if you are about to collapse in the snow. Please come rest by our fire. You may ride upon my horse.” offered Jason. Kiara glanced at the old man.

“Thank you, lord. My daughter is not well. Her husband was murdered yesterday during a raid on our village and she is about to give birth. She has not spoken since.” explains the old man.
Jason smiles and whistles for his horse. He pushes the woman atop his horse and offers the sledge to the old man. He covered the man with a fur blanket and pulls on the reins. Xander and Oskar bring over frozen peasants reeling from head wounds. At the campfire, they feed the peasants warm broth and Ophelia heals them. The old man explains they were heading toward the lord’s estate over yonder.

“We will escort you there. My name is Jason. This is my son Xander with his wife Talia and his sister Amazon. My son Dracon. My cousins Ophelia and Oskar. We are on our way to Illium.” introduces Jason.

“What business have you in Illium, Lord Jason?” asks the old man.

“To recapture my throne,” answers Jason.

“King Jason,” gasps the old man, dropping his bowl. “Our exiled king has returned like the Prophetess of Nix has foretold. May we come with you?” Jason smiles as he blushes.

“I was hoping you would ask that,” replies Jason. They pack up the lodgings and tools to set off towards the next town where the lord’s residence is located. They place Kiara and her father with the other peasants on the sledges bundled in blankets. Near the village, Kiara cries out in pain.

“We are almost there Kiara, hold on.” orders the king.
They reach an inn and take Kiara upstairs. The mistress of the inn gathered towels and boiled water for the delivery. Jason met with the new mother alone in a bed chamber.

“Mistress Kiara, may I ask about your husband you named your son after.” asked Jason. Kiara began to weep and kissed her babe.

“You may ask, Sire. He was a good and kind man loyal to all his villagers. He fed wanderers and travelers when they had nothing to pay him with. He always sacrificed the best lamb to the gods. He farmed the lord’s land from sunrise to sunset and never once complained like other peasants. He played the drums during festivals and wrote songs to honor me. I came from another village on the coast so when we married a year ago I knew no one. He introduced me to all the villagers and encouraged me to sell my garden vegetables in the market. He was a great man loved by all the villagers. Then a man slashed an axe into his face and my father pulled me into the river woods to escape. I wanted to die beside him, but father said I must give our child life to honor Almar. My father came to live with us when mother died soon after I married Almar.” She kissed her son again.

“I am sorry if this pains you. I was curious, mistress.” responds Jason. “May I also be so bold as to ask if you are part-mermaid. Only mermaids of the southern seas have pale blue eyes like yours.”

Stunned, Kiara did not answer. The infant cried and she fed him milk. Jason kissed her forehead and left without a word. He sought out her father and asked his opinion for a potential betrothal. He agreed to speak to his daughter. Another day went by and the royal party set off again leaving the new mother behind. Her father promised to come to Illium once they hear King Jason has returned to the throne. It tore Jason deeply to leave Kiara. Xander voiced his observations of his father to him.

“You look upon Kiara the same way you once looked upon mother. Are you planning to marry her? You know you must be very gentle with her. She has lost her husband and gained a child in two days.”

“I know son. That is why I am leaving her behind to sort her feelings out.” replies Jason.

After a long journey around Blythe, they reach the majestic capital of Illium. Dracon was in awe of the tall whitewashed stone buildings and streets covered in broken sea shells. They rode passed fountains filled with water from the aqueduct and temples with circular columns. He could not wait to tell Homer and Valnar about this city, they would never believe him. Brick bridges crossed the streams leading to the sea and large avenues were covered with carts pulled by oxen carrying every delight imaginable. Oskar, Xander, Talia, and Amazon stay in a nearby inn. Grand Prince Dracon and King Jason as a wolf enter the palace gates with their bodyguard Ophelia. They are guided to the throne room and promptly announced. Queen Jopria embraces her son’s return in her throne room. She thanks Ophelia for the escort, sends her regards to Dyna, and gives thanks for raising him away from the war with Kadacia. When she asks where Dracon found his pet Greken, Dracon answered it is Ophelia’s pet. Ophelia explained the wolf was a companion of her tutor, The Hermit. The queen winced at the sound of the exiled wizard’s new title after the law forbidding his name be spoken was enacted. Dracon further recited his journey to The Prophetess of Nix for an omen for his return to the capital and meeting this great wizard. One day he be a hero recited in song. Displeased at her son consorting with exiles, she orders a magician to sense the identity of this animal. Her fears are to be confirmed. The gray wolf transforms back into King Jason wearing his crown and his drawn bow aimed at Jopria. Shocked at seeing her husband again, Jopria looked helplessly at her son. An arrow struck her heart and the frightened servants bowed to His Majesty. Blubbering, they beg for forgiveness from Jason. The nobles race out of the throne room and magicians make themselves disappear. King Jason announces his return by sitting on Jopria’s throne with the gold-tipped staff his grandfather Emperor Rurick the Conqueror once held. A valet rises to take off Jopria’s fur cape and placed it over Jason’s shoulders.

“Forgive us, King Jason. We had to follow the Queen’s commands to keep our heads.” the valet bows and kisses His Majesty’s ring.

“There is nothing to forgive, please rise.” answers the restored king.

Soldiers scamper in to see their lost king and bow in obedience. He orders the servants to rise and declares forgiveness for those soldiers who took part in the soldier’s riot that murdered his uncle Linos. The leaders of the riot, however, were not forgiven. Palace guards informed the king that Jopria’s favorites were responsible for murdering Linos claiming Jason ordered Linos to torture a general’s brother to death. He ordered the beheading of Jopria’s lover and her head counselors. In a darken dungeon the lover and his young wife were dragged down into a silent room. The wife pled with Jason to spare her life, she knew nothing of her husband’s schemes. Jason pointed out her vengeful heart after he kills her husband, he can not risk her or their sons to revenge the betrayer’s death. As the woman wept, Jason waved his finger downwards to command the execution. At watching her husband’s punishment, the young widow fainted. Not one could wake her. After a minute the woman awoke in terror and shook in fear. King Jason looked into the lady’s horrified eyes and then up at the hallway where prisoners’ arms hanging out of their jails to watch the shadows in the open dungeon. The usually noisy jail stood silent listening to the executions. Jason did not know what to do with this woman and her sons.
The woman froze as she began to realize this king has yet to command her death. On her knees, she begged for her life again. Citing her sons need their mother, beckoned forgiveness of her ignorance of her husband. Jason had a long discussion in his head about this woman. In the end, he decided to exile her to the far reaches of the kingdom. A ship took the widow and her sons to the edge of Kadacia and marched them into the mountains where they were abandoned.

“Liar!” shouts a sailor on Homer’s ship Aphrodite listening to the tale about King Jason returning to power. “You are lying about the whole thing. King Jason would never set free three people who could kill him later. You are full of it, Captain Homer!”

A grown Homer commanding this ship gives up arguing with the sailor and lets someone else tell stories. Later gazing upon a sunset on deck, his boy Ilio asks if he was lying about King Jason.

“No Ilio, my boy. That is what King Dracon told me when he was crowned Blythe’s new monarch.” answers Homer.

“Yes, father. I believe you.” responds Ilio. Homer patted his son’s blond head and looked into his blue eyes freckled with gray. “Can I hear more about King Jason and your friend King Dracon, father?

“Certainly, my boy. Ishtar! May we have some warm drinks up here?”

A royal proclamation soon announces a ball to celebrate the king’s return. At a temple for the wisdom goddess Athena, King Jason addresses his subjects.

“My people. I come back to you with my heir at my side. Many years you have suffered under my Ashur wife Jopria. I am sorry for deserting you in your hour of need. I feared I could not help my people lying in a burial crypt with my son too young to accept responsibilities as a king. From now on, I am your humble servant. I declare a week set aside to hear grievances of any wrongs my wife or her cronies have done. I shall attend ceremonies at the Temple of Athena to hear complaints with my trusted officials. The gods will shall be done. Farewell until tomorrow.”
The gala at the palace lasted all night, but King Jason retired early to get some sleep for the grievance hearings. The next morning, as Prince Oskar visited prisoners and checking over Jopria’s beheaded lover’s records, King Jason rode in a chariot to the Temple of Athena. All day he listened to grievances and tried to right the wrongs he could. After a week, a few subjects came from outside towns whose land was confiscated by Jopria’s generals and court favorites. Jopria’s younger brother living in an estate to the east rode in a fine carriage to see his sister’s wedding to hear rumors of his brother-in-law’s return. Prince Grigor wept briefly for his sister’s passing, then in the great hall forgave his brother-in-law during the Winter Solstice celebration. He vowed to support his brother-in-law and nephew restoration. Jason allowed his brother-in-law to keep his estate instead of escorting him back to his Ashur homeland in the South Seas.
Kiara came with her father to see King Jason. He ordered bed chambers for the pair and proposed marriage at the evening meal. More joy spread throughout the country as King Jason planned his wedding. Queen Simone of Kadacia sent with her sister a chariot for the new queen and a horse for the king. King Jason invited the Kadacian princess to stay in his palace instead of a guest house. He wished deeply of Queen Simone’s position on his return. Her Majesty would flat out refuse any discussion of returning of any city taken during Jopria’s war. Delighted in an ally, he let the issue go for the moment. The King of Ithaca, King of Anaki, King of Helos, King of Nubia, King of Aferdia, King of Vinland, King of Caledonia, and King of Alastair sent gifts with tidings and emissaries arrived in place of the monarchs. The only monarchs attending the ceremony were King Rodric and Queen Persephone of Lotan with their daughter Princess Penelope. Grand Prince Dracon listened intensely to stories of Kadacia and Lotan from the royal visitors.

Prince Oskar took an instant liking to Princess Penelope. Jason also adopted Almar and gave him the title of prince. After the ceremony, Kiara was presented as Queen of Blythe. During this time, Xander, Talia, and Amazon were given titles of prince and princess. He gave Xander and Talia the estate of Adair just outside the city. Amazon was tutored by Dracon’s new teacher, Oskar. Oskar wrote often to Penelope begging for another visit. Penelope responded pleasantly, but she had no cause to return. After sending a betrothal gift to Penelope, she replied that she will come to live in Illium next year and stay until Amazon was grown. Her place was with her father and mother in Lotan. The months pass after Jason and Kiara’s wedding when Jason suddenly became ill. He hunted the day before and seemed in perfect health. A healer was called to give the diagnosis of poison. Prince Oskar sat at his cousin’s side writing his will as he moaned in pain and claimed to hear his father’s voice calling him home. Soon the reinstated king was found dead with his eyes wide open as if he saw horror as he passed to the afterlife. His ashen and unshaven face caused many to look away. The last to view him was Prince Oskar who closed his cousin’s eyes.

The funeral was mourned by the whole city for a month until the crypt was carved and coffins made. A gold plated casket was carried by the palace guards to the Temple of Athena. Dracon, now 12 years of age, is crowned the new King of Blythe by Prince Regent Oskar and The Hermit returning from exile. Homer and Valnar came along with the Hermit to join in the festivities. Homer enjoyed observing the ornate palace. Never before had he imagined such a place outside the godly realm. He delighted Dracon with stories of carving a magic wand out of oak, looking for herbs, making everything he wears and uses, and sailing open ships. Ishtar, Cassandra, and Layla are often with him in his learning sessions. The Wizard’s daughter Lexie often comes to shore and swims up the river to her father’s house. Ophelia’s son Addison arrived one day to receive tutoring from the great wizard. Homer was delighted to have a boy to play with. Next year he will learn to use magic to speak to animals and plants, even the dirt under his feet. After his return from his grandmother’s funeral, his father relented to continue his education from The Wizard when his year of study was up from his mother persuasive tactics.

Valnar’s mother came looking for him when his younger brother died during the winter. The innkeeper took her in and had promised to leave all his possessions to them when he dies. Homer and Valnar were most eager to meet the rest of Dracon’s family. Soon afterward the funeral, Queen Kiara was raped by three palace guards. Prince Oskar found her weeping in the hallway wrapped in a blanket. He offered her to sleep in his bed while he watched the door and questioned every guard and servant who passed. A maidservant confessed she heard screaming in Kiara’s bed chamber, but too afraid to intrude. The next morning, Oskar took Kiara around the castle to identify her assailants. She shriveled up in fear as they approached a table of soldiers playing dice games. Oskar ordered the soldiers arrested and later whipped for their crime. Once it was found that Kiara was pregnant, he signed their death warrants. Dealing with Jason’s murder, Oskar’s blade was swift and vengeance brutal. He also beheaded those he believed ordered the murder of his father Linos many years ago. Opponents of Jason learned quickly to fear Regent Oskar’s irrational rage. Once it was announced Queen Kiara was pregnant by uncertain father, Oskar wanted to protect the child from disinheritance from this dispute and married Kiara in a small ceremony few were invited to. As regent, he declared the unborn child’s paternity was King Jason and proclaimed to adopt both children as his heirs. If Dracon had no heirs, these princes would rightly be in line for the throne with Oskar and Kiara available to be regents. Princess Penelope was shattered hearing the news. Oskar only wrote to her that it was his duty to care for Jason’s family. King Rodric ordered the return of the betrothal gifts. Prince Oskar returned the gold hilted sword and Rodric returned the gold diamond necklace.
Prince Oskar decided to appoint a new tutor for Amazon. He introduced Commander Ryana to 13-year-old Princess Amazon. Ryana is also the wife of the General of the Palace Guards. Amazon was relocated to a different part of the palace where the general and his family lives. She learned all the tasks of running a household and caring for people and animals. After this arrangement, rumors flew around saying the commander was having an affair with Oskar to obtain such a high position. Oskar responded to these rumors with whippings of those believed to have started them. Joy filled the country with the birth of Kiara’s son. Prince Oskar named him Prince Donovan. The boy was given all titles and inheritance Oskar’s true son would have received. King Dracon added more as half-brother to the king. He made in his will that in the event he does not have an heir to entrust his crown, his declared Prince Donovan his half-brother and Prince Almar his adopted brother his heirs giving them estates when they marry. They lived on the estate of Ashleigh to the north of Illium King Jason had given him when he returned to the throne. Once a week, they visited the palace and Dracon took them around in his chariot to temples and theater plays.

Upon hearing of the child’s birth, Princess Penelope rushed to Illium and showed up at court begging to know if Donovan was truly Jason’s son. Promptly, he denied fathering the boy, but felt obliged to protect Kiara and Jason’s sons as Dracon’s regent. Practical anyone could appoint themselves regent on Donovan’s behalf if anything should happened to Dracon or himself. Kiara knows nothing about running a country and he does not trust Prince Grigor. Penelope also inquired about Regent Oskar ruling Blythe like a tyrant. She warned he could be inciting a rebellion against him like his father Linos before him. Stunned at this reflection of his vengeance from losing his father, he listened to her opinion. Penelope also pointed out that Jason was poisoned, opponents supporting Jopria remain. He vowed to Penelope to leave his post when Dracon reached adulthood in a few years and come live with her in Lotan. As proof of his loyalty and devotion, he impregnated Penelope. When King Rodric was told of his daughter’s condition, he was outraged his royal daughter had become a concubine and demanded Oskar’s head.
Princess Penelope pleaded with her father not to murder her beloved whose child she is caring, they were betrothed before Jason’s murder. King Rodric relented slightly to order Regent Oskar dragged into Lotan to marry his daughter. A group of soldiers sneaked into Ashleigh months later to confront Oskar. He asked only to leave his properties with Kiara, Almar, and Donovan and pack a chest of possessions. Oskar was granted his request and the soldiers bound his hands for their escort back to Lotan. Dracon was devastated hearing his rock and guardian left him to fend for himself. Xander and Talia come to comfort the insecure adolescent and vow to watch over him. Queen Jopria’s brother Prince Grigor appointed himself the new regent to the dismay of many. Queen Kiara tried to assert her position to join as regent, but was no match for Grigor. Princess Penelope gave birth to a boy named Prince Eiras. Dracon then decided to get married in order to see Oskar again. After a year, Princess Penelope and Prince Oskar came back to see Prince Dracon marry the young Princess Amazon. To the dismay of many royal enemies, Commander Ryana never lurked far away as her bodyguard.

King Dracon’s wedding was talked about for years. Marrying a born peasant made him popular with the common folk and resented by nobles who wished their daughters marrying the king. Dracon sadly lacked trust in the scheming and vindictive nobles, even if they are distantly related to him. Prince Grigor’s son Prince Lagos made his first appearance to the newly crowned king. His cousin was as cool and calculating as his father. He hardly spoke to the king, but when he did it was all flattery and bragging. On his wedding day, King Dracon rode in a chariot driven by his friend Homer. Prince Oskar, Princess Penelope, Prince Eiras, goddess Ophelia, god of wind Aelous, child god Addison, Prince Grigor, and Prince Lagos rode on horses before them. Princess Dyna who had raised Dracon died the prior winter from a nagging cough that choked her. Princess Tatiana who raised Oskar was too ill to travel and soon after died. Ahead of the family were the palace guards with banners and full armor marching with their shields and spears. Crowds cheered the young king in all his displays. He felt wrenching loneliness realizing Grigor, Lagos and Oskar were his closest relatives that he could have in his wedding parade. His closer family members have been murdered or exiled over power. Deep down he wished to live in Etonville again farming land and feeding animals in a simpler life. But then again, peasant lives are just as unpredictable and unstable as his own life. Xander and Talia rode in a chariot driven by Valnar ahead of Amazon. Ryana drove Amazon’s chariot to the Temple of Aphrodite, goddess of love. Coins were tossed to the city dwellers. The Hermit performed the ceremony.

The groom walked the aisle of the filled temple among the stares of distant strangers. He stood at the altar next to Oskar facing the entrance to the temple. He remembered from the Great Wizard’s tales how unsure of himself when he first stepped into adulthood with all the uncertainties of a happy ending. He also remembered his great-grandfather Rurick the Conqueror in his struggle to be a great Emperor with no example to study. He wished The Hermit would stay and council him in important matters, but he must train his friend Homer to be a warrior. He also is certain that his uncle Grigor really wants favors in power now that he can no longer be regent. At least he received a fine wedding present from Valnar, he bought an inn near the palace, The Regal Eagle. The innkeeper who adopted him had died and he sold the inn. He then moved his mother away from their lord’s estate. Valnar heartily avoided the wedding ceremony and reception in the palace since Prince Grigor was responsible for killing his father. The bride entered with a shiny white gown with a golden crown. She was as beautiful as the day he met her a few years ago. The choir of orphans sang as Amazon walked to the altar and takes Dracon’s hand with a smile. Candles were lit to honor the fertility goddess Amalia. Flowers were placed at the statue of the love goddess Aphrodite.

The Hermit blessed the couple in full pageantry. Music, incense, and voices asked the gods to bless the couple. Songs of celebration and a bard recited a tale of the mermaid goddess Circe looking for a lover since her betrothed left her for another goddess. She challenged all creatures to race her down a valley to the other end. The first to win would be her husband. Many men and immortals tried to pass her in this race and lost. Finally, Aphrodite received a plea from a shepherd to win this contest and Circe’s heart. She gave him three golden apples to drop along the path to slow the goddess down. He ran the Circe race with all his strength and dropped the golden apples whenever he managed to pass her for a moment. The golden apples drew Circe to slow down and pick them up in admiration. When she realized what the man had done to win the race across the valley, she celebrated him a hero and married him that very day. The love goddess Aphrodite blesses all who ask for it.

The vows of loyalty came next:

“I, King Dracon of Blythe, take Princess Amazon in marriage. I promise love, honesty, devotion, happiness, and wealth in children for my wife for as long as we live.”

“I, Princess Amazon of Sarai, take King Dracon in marriage. I promise love, honesty, devotion, happiness, and wealth in children for my husband for as long as we live.”

The dowry that would have taken place here was missing. Like Kiara, Amazon did not have anything to bring to the marriage. And like Kiara, The Hermit provided the dowry. Twenty chests of treasures appeared out of thin air. Robes, perfume flasks, shoes, jewels, mirrors, animals carved out of stone, iron weapons, and hair combs filled the chests. Amazon heartily thanked her benefactor. The marriage contract was read and the marriage bond was sealed. Next Amazon was crowned queen. Blessed with oil upon her forehead and hands with candles lit for wisdom goddess Athena, the new Queen Amazon walked outside with her king to view the populace trampling each other to view the monarchs. They waved to their admirers and rode off to the palace in a chariot. The reception in the lush green courtyard entertained the wealthy while the commoners celebrated in the streets. Drunken, Prince Grigor demanded a prophecy for the newly wed couple from the great seer. The Hermit refused to give one. He already seen the couple’s future. The king will not like it anymore than Empress Minerva who he predicted doom that came true after he was ordered exiled by Emperor Dion. Shocked at a refusing a princely request, Prince Grigor threw a bottle at the Wizard to have him turn it into the flying flower. Homer stepped up and made an omen potion to view. The marriage will be brief and doom is complete when a baby cries.

As evening came, Dracon, Homer, and The Wizard sneaked out to Valnar’s inn. They were greeted by his mother who is the hostess and bookkeeper for the inn. Valnar welcomed them into the tavern and fed the full visitors. Then he gave his wedding gift of new boots covered in porcupine quill beads. His mother gave the king new velvet gloves with the same bead work. Dracon used the moment to ask when The Wizard knew for sure that he was an adult. Many humans believe when people marry, they are adults. In many ways, Dracon still felt like a child uncertain of anything and small decisions seem difficult. The Wizard replied,

“When you take responsibility for your actions and blame no one for your mistakes, you are an adult. Someday we all leave childhood innocence behind us and face an unforgiving world. Do not fear uncertainty, that is the only assurance anyone can give you.”

Disappointed, Dracon drank his ale and remain quiet the rest of the night. As the Wizard of Nix rose up on his unicorn on his return home with Homer, he promised a decorated general to guide Dracon in his new royal position will be sent immediately. The next morning Prince Grigor appointed himself advisor to the newly wed king. Dracon accepted his appointment to the displeasure of Valnar. As a blessing in disguise, Valnar sought any opportunity to kill Grigor.