Morning - Part 4

Leiyu wondered how many courtyards the palace truly had. Although they all looked similar, he was certain that he had not set foot in the same one twice so far.

The courtyard that Prince Thallios brought him to was surrounded by walls on three sides and a building with a balcony on the fourth side. Leiyu scanned the area. He wondered if the two guards that had accompanied them last night were still waiting outside the rooftop garden or if they were now prowling around the palace looking for their elusive charge.

“This should be a good spot,” Prince Thallios said as they walked to the center of the courtyard. “It’s not too close to anything.”

“Your Highness, I do not wish to cause even the slightest damage, so I can only show you a glimpse of the wind magic,” Leiyu said.

“Oh, that’s fine,” the prince said. “I’m just curious. Even if you only conjure up the gentlest of breezes, I’ll be fascinated.”

Leiyu held his palm up. He focused his qi, keeping his wind magic constrained between his curled fingers. The strands of hair on his face began to sway. The prince’s eyes lit up and his mouth formed an ‘o’. The stray leaves around Leiyu’s feet began to move in an eddy.

“Your Highness, you might want to step back,” Leiyu said. The prince nodded and moved away from him.

Leiyu splayed his fingers and the tiny orb of wind magic whipped out from his palm. His cloak fluttered behind him and his hair strands flew around wildly. The prince closed his eyes and turned to the side as the strong breeze rippled through the courtyard. Leaves and flower petals were swept up from the cobblestone. The trees swayed and branches rattled. Sparrows flew from the boughs. Dust clouds filled the air.

Leiyu closed his fingers into his palm and the wind ceased. The leaves and flower petals that had flown into the air rained down in an aesthetically pleasing shower. The prince opened his eyes and marveled at the sight. He held out his delicate hands to catch the falling petals.

“That was amazing,” the prince said, beaming like an excited child watching confetti at a parade.

Leiyu grinned. “Thank you, Your Highness. That is all I can show for now, since I do not want to draw too much attention.”

“Oh, don’t worry, there’s no one here,” the prince said as he looked around. “Even if someone felt the wind, they’d probably think it was the normal weather.”

“I hope so, Your Highness. I do not want your guards to come after me.”

The prince laughed. “Oh, I won’t let them do anything. They’re under my command anyway. I’m always slipping away from them, so they’re used to it.”

Leiyu gave him a look. “Forgive me, Your Highness, but that doesn’t make it sound like they’re doing a good job.” I have no ill intent, but if someone else did, you’d be defenseless, he thought as he regarded the prince’s delicate figure. On the other hand, you did defeat me in a spar, so maybe you can hold your own just fine.

“This was fun,” the prince said. “Do you have time? I want to show you more of the palace.”

Leiyu gulped. “I-”

“Or do you need to get back to the merchants?” the prince asked. “My apologies, I haven’t been considerate. They’re probably wondering where you are.”

Leiyu looked at the prince. Yes, he thought, Chen Yun and the others are probably looking for me. On the other hand, even if I went back to the guest quarters to check up with them, I’d just set out again shortly to explore the palace, and it might be better to have the prince guide me around.

“I can go back briefly to let them know I’m fine,” Leiyu said. “But if you wish me to accompany you further, I can return, Your Highness.”

The prince beamed. “Excellent!”

The prince must be very bored, Leiyu thought as he sighed. “Your Highness, would you happen to know the direction to the guest quarters? I am afraid I might get lost.”

“Oh, not to worry, I’ll just send for an attendant to guide you back,” the prince replied. “Truth be told, I am not sure where it is either since I seldom go to that part of the palace. This place is like a labyrinth, and it takes a long time to get one’s bearings.”

I thought he said earlier that he explored a lot of the secret passages, Leiyu thought. Or maybe he just doesn’t want to set foot in the guest quarters. That’s fine, it would raise too many questions if I showed up there with the prince.

“Come, let’s get you back,” the prince said as he started walking. Leiyu trailed after him.

***

High above them, on the balcony overlooking the courtyard, a figure moved from the shadows. He stepped into the narrow strip of sunlight cast on the marble floor, revealing himself to be Lord Oganesson.

Lord Oganesson placed his arms on the railings and turned to another figure who still lurked in the umbral recesses of the balcony corridor. “His Highness the Crown Prince is certainly spending a lot of time with this stranger from the East. Should we be concerned?”

The other figure also stepped out into the light, revealing himself to be King Xenon. He stood next to his advisor and leaned his arms against the railing. His eyes had dark circles beneath them and his mouth was resting in a solemn frown.

The king often suffered from insomnia, and last night was one of those restless ones where he would lay down for hours, waiting for the escape into reverie that would never come. He looked down into the courtyard at his son, who was smiling and chatting with the so-called stranger from the East as they headed toward the courtyard’s exit. He sighed and pulled the corners of his mouth upwards until it formed a neutral line.

“It’s fine,” the king said.

Lord Oganesson raised his eyebrow in a questioning manner.

The king elaborated further. “This stranger may be the one in the prophecy.”

“Your Majesty, it just worries me. We are just going to blindly trust His Highness’ life to someone he just met?”

The king turned toward his advisor and managed a slight smile. “You are a better parent to him than me…”

Lord Oganesson felt his cheeks flush. “Your Majesty, I do not presume to-”

The king turned his gaze back to the courtyard exit. His son and the Eastern stranger were already gone. “Your concerns are valid, Lord Oganesson, so do not worry that you are speaking out of turn.” He sighed. “I do not really know what will happen, if there is any truth to these prophecies, if we will all be doomed in the end, or if we will wake up one day realizing that all these fears were for naught. However, it seems that Thallios and his new friend get along very well…”