The storms had calmed for in the south, snowflakes no longer weighed the air down as it had before.

  Along the frozen lake a light of hope strolled by.

  A figure as white as the turf of cotton, soft as a velvet, pure as the mountains spring.

  The light walked among the darkness that had tried to swallow it the light stood above, looking down, thinking what would’ve been if she had fallen into its grasp.

  “Careful princess, it’s not trustworthy.”

  Gioghes called out to her.

  Eleonor seemed startled by a sudden callout, but she straightened her face in an instant

  “Just wandering around Ser, I have no intention of testing it. I’ve learned not to dance on the thin crust of ice over a deep abyss.”

  Gioghes smiled, he was trying his hard to maintain a figure for her to look up to, to follow, but the girls charm and brightness seemed to collapse every step of the ladder he was trying to build.

  He wanted to be a father figure, but his heart called for something else.

  Something stronger, deeper, gentler.

  But he always fought back against his feelings and never betrayed the vow he made to his father on his deathbed.

  “Don’t wander of aimlessly princess, the storm might return anytime and gods know when it will stop, you might get lost.

  It would be safer if you returned to your chamber.”

  Gioghes advised her.

  “A little more, please Ser, just a moment.”

  Gioghes knew it wasn’t the safest course of action but he couldn’t turn Eleonor down.

  “As you wish princess, but return quickly.”

  “Thank you Ser.”

  Eleonor thanked him and continued her stroll along the lake.

  Gioghes returned inside their camp, where Eleonor’s handmaidens were preparing food for the night.

  Some attended to the fire burning in the furnace, some filled their bottles with the melted snow.

  In the freezing cold, snow was the one of few water sources around; It is pure, it is easily turned into drinking water and there was plenty of it.

  “Where is the princess?”

  One of the handmaidens asked, in a mild scolding tone.

  “She’s taking a walk outside; she begged me to let her stay a moment and I couldn’t refuse”

  “It is not safe, got out there and bring her in” She said now in a commanding tone.

  “Let her be there for a while, I’ll go in a minute, let her have a little she can have.”

  “You know, there are stories of people disappearing here Ser, without a trace, without a whisper.

  Not just anyone, experienced expeditioners and their groups have been lost in these places, now what do you think can happen to a 16 year old girl, who can’t tell apart good from bad?”

  “I understand, but what shall I do? Shall I drag her in?”

  Gioghes asked confused.

  “Yes Ser, if needs be you have to.”

  The handmaiden went closer to Gioghes ”I know you want to make her happy, to help her feel important and calm.

  For her to know her wishes are respected as a princess’s should, I understand but that time is still to come when she can tell apart what may cause her harm and what may not.

  Until then, her wishes and desires are just as important as child’s who always wants cake instead of food.

  Who always turns to the playground instead of the books.”

  Gioghes listened to her, weighed every word that she said and in his mind agreed

  “What the hell was I thinking, of course she wants to stay out, she doesn’t know better, Stupid Gioghes”

  Then he looked at the handmaiden and told her

  “Fine I’ll bring her in” In a voice that was designed to disagree with her.

  He went outside again in the freezing cold, there was no sign of a storm but no one knew when it could’ve arrived.

  “Princess!” He shouted loudly.

  “I am here ser” Eleonors soft voice barely reached Ghiohes’s ear.

  He followed the voice and found Eleonor squatting down, looking at something.

  He approached her and saw what Eleonor was staring at with such curiosity.

  It was a footprint.

  In those conditions no print could’ve stayed there for more than few moments.

  Gioghes thought they were alone but it was evident that they had guests.

  Or worse, enemies.

  “Who’s do you think it is Ser?”

  She asked him as she rose slowly.

  Gioghes hesitated for a moment.

  He was stuck between telling her the truth and startling her to death, or keeping it a secret to keep her calm.

  “There are said to be some tribes here my princess, likely one of theirs.”

  “There are others here?” Eleonor asked as her voice started dropping.

  “It’s possible, although unlikely they are close, they don’t go near the camps.”

  Gioghes looked at Eleonor who’s expression had changed, she seemed scared, frightened, but of what?

  Gioghes has never told her about the tribesmen, how could she know if they were a threat?

  He went closer to Eleonor and placed his hand on her shoulder

  “Don’t worry princess, they hardly ever go closer to other humans, they are very distant”

  Eleonor looked at him.

  He expected her to loosen up, but now she seemed even more tense.

  “I thank you for your concern of me Ser but there is no need to lie to me about such things” Gioghes looked confused “Your father used to tell me stories about the tribesmen. That they are savages. That they raid any camp where smoke rises, they kill any man resisting and rape any woman breathing, so don’t tell me they are no concern.” Eleonor spoke the words, her face giving of more fear by every moment and even a tear fell from her eye.

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  Gioghes felt deeply ashamed, he had been caught in a lie, and a terrible one.

  “I am sorry princess, I won’t ever lie to you again. I swear it.”

  Eleonor wiped away the tear and smile appeared on her face

  “Then you are lying to me again” She said.

  Gioghes understood what she meant and now saw Eleonor differently.

  “She is more intelligent than I thought.”

  He thought to himself.

  Up to that moment he thought of Eleonor incapable of understanding threat and danger.

  Now he understood that he didn’t need to sugarcoat anything for her, nor to lie.

  She knew enough, and understood.

  There was no point in lying anymore.

  They went back to the cabin, they had no words for each other as the road was silent.

  They returned and Eleonor went straight to her chamber.

  The handmaiden signaled for Gioghes to follow her.

  Gioghes followed Eleonor in her chamber and closed the door behind.

  Eleonor slipped out of her white coat and sat down near the fire.

  “I apologize princess, I shouldn’t have lied to you”

  Gioghes started, having prepared a long explanation along the way but Eleonor had other ideas.

  “No need for an apology ser, you were doing what you thought best and I respect you for trying to protect me, but I need to know what danger lurks in the shadows if I am to stay away from it.”

  “Indeed princess”

  “Ser can we talk continue of the story you started yesterday?”

  She asked.

  “The one about your mother?”

  “Yes. Tell me what happened to her.”

  Gioghes exhaled

  “For that first you will need to know what your uncle did.”

  “My uncle, Ser Raonis always mentioned him as the usurper, the traitor, man without honor.

  What did he do that earned him this reputation?”

  “What did he do? Princess the state we a re in, the suffering we are going through is all thanks to your uncle.

  He is the reason why we had to flee in the first place”

  “But what happened, Ser Raonis never talked about it?”

  Gioghes hesitated a little, then coughed once and began

  “It all started on the day of your brothers birth”

  “My brother? I have a brother?” She asked

  “Yes princess you have an older brother.”

  “Where is he, why isn’t he with us?”

  “Patience princess, I will get to that part.”

  “Yes Ser” She nodded and listened.

  “The day he was born the he became the heir to the throne, your fathers, king Aelys Ael’Tharyn’s successor.

  Of course, that meant your uncle Vaelor became second in line.

  He was always obsessed with the idea of him being king, but now he knew it would never become true.

  He was the hand to your father and that was never enough for him.”

  “My uncle was my father’s hand?”

  “He was princess”

  “Must’ve been a terrible one. Planned to have my father killed every moment I’ll wager.”

  “No princess. He was the best hand your father could ever have.”

  “But how, of all that you’ve said.”

  “Vaelor loved his older brother, believe it or not. He loved him and protected him against himself, did everything a hand must’ve done and more.

  He attended to small matters, even the ones not worthy of his attention.”

  “But how? Was he a fool thinking my father would never have children or specifically a boy?”

  “That’s just it princess. My father used to tell me that when they were children, a fortuneteller was brought into the palace.

  She foretold that the younger would be the dragon feared by all, defeated by none, father of dragons and serpents, but would go on to strangle the one he was trusted by the most.

  And the older would rule the world as the supreme leader, loved by all, but would never live to see a dragon born to him.

  Serpents many, one more beautiful than another but never a dragon.

  That was the part that had Vaelor calm.”

  “What does that mean, serpent and dragon?” Eleonor asked in confusion.

  “In the royal family, women are called serpents as they had and probably still have serpents as they great animals, pets as you would call. Men were called dragons as they had dragons.”

  “Did my father have one too?” She asked.

  “Yes princess, the biggest and most ferocious of them all. The Night Terror they called it.”

  “Why?” She asked curiously.

  “Because the dragon was colossal. It’s wings were big enough to cover entire Ael’Tharyn.

  And it was black, in the night it was impossible to spot.

  Your father once rode it into the nights quiet in the enemy camp when they least expected and burned them all to the ground.”

  “Fascinating. Please carry on.”

  “When Vaelor heard he was no longer in line to inherit the throne he changed.

  He started sending secret letters, and was seeing receiving them.

  The men In Vaelor’s service also acted different. Colder, grimmer.

  Just a month passed when they announced that your mother was pregnant again.

  Vaelor didn’t attend that gathering, which caught the attention of your mother, your father didn’t pay much attention as of course, Vaelor was the one doing most of the job and he was his brother and didn’t think much of it.”

  “What happened then?” She eagerly asked.

  “Your uncle asked the hand of your aunt Seralyne, just few months later.

  She of course agreed, as she was also the younger sibling and was starved for attention and power.

  That was the beginning of the end.”

  “Why?”

  “This I remember too. I was 10 years old, following my father around in the palace.

  He was going to introduce me to the king and I was as nervous as one could be.

  We walked in and knelt before your father.

  Fine man he was. Tall broad-shouldered, long white hair and beard graced his face which looked just as young as a 20 year old man would look.

  He was the one that knighted me on that day, and when it was done we heard the bells ringing.

  We looked out just to see your aunt and uncle’s great serpents approaching the gates with the army of 100 thousand at their back.

  The castle gates were closed and the magic barriers up, but your uncle had the sorcerer supreme that was meant to be the one and not the old cunt your father was given.

  They took down the barrier with ease and used the binding spells to enter our sorcerers minds and tortured them to the point where they started killing themselves with magic.

  Serpents breached the gates and burned thousands of soldiers alive.

  You aunt’s serpent Ferathys was the one doing the most damage.

  You uncle’s was smaller but still held destructive power.

  That was when the roar of the dragon was heard as your fathers dragon attacked your uncle.

  His serpent was torn in half as he jumped off into the water pond bellow.

  It would’ve killed Ferathys too if not for the sorcerers to intervene, causing him to flee.

  Your mother was already 9months pregnant by then and the baby was expected any day.

  You father made the decision to stay and send the queen away with me and my father.

  As we fled on the fastest ship known to men we looked back to see Miritez on the beach.

  It had followed us, loyal to it’s bonded human.”

  “Wait, wait a moment ser. My father’s Dragon fled? And his sorcerers we weak?”

  I have so many questions”

  “I am ready to answer each of them” Gioghes responded.

  “Why was the king’s sorcery this weak?”

  “Your uncles reforms, he put them there, coincidentally after you brother was born.”

  “Coincidentally.” Eleonor said with irony.

  “Your brother was sent away with the group of powerful sorceresses that warped their way straight to the isle of mists”

  “They have that power to go anywhere, anytime?”

  “Yes, or that’s what they say I don’t know, I have never witnessed them doing it.”

  “Your uncle took the city and seized the throne.

  It is said that your aunt begged for your father’s life as they were very close friends, but Vaelor was not having it.

  He couldn’t keep him there, but he couldn’t bring himself to kill his brother.

  He made his sorcerer put a binding spell on him. Put him to deep sleep, the one from which he would never wake from, sealed him in a golden coffin and is now resting in the catacombs of the castle somewhere.”

  “How do you know all this?

  You haven’t been there.”

  “My father never mentioned it appears. My uncle stayed behind when we fled, swearing his fealty to Vaelor and acting as a spy for us. That’s how I know.”

  “That is, I can’t believe.” Eleonor stuttered on every word she said.

  “That is the sad truth princess, your father loved your uncle and it cost him everything.”

  “It did it appears. My father loved his little brother and was blinded by it to see what he was planning. So that’s what love is, a feeling that blinds you into fooling yourself to believe that the one you love can’t mean to harm you.”

  Gioghes smiled and told her

  “Well said princess, it is a interesting way of looking at it, but my father gave me a different definition of love”

  “What is it then?” She asked.

  “Love Is giving someone power to destroy you, and trusting that they won’t ever use it.”

  Eleonor fell into a thought.

  “You father was a wise man Ser Gioghes.”

  “He was” Gioghes agreed “Princess, tomorrow we have to leave, sleep well tonight, we have a long way ahead of us.”

  “We shall see the path that fate has prepared for us” Gioghes added.

  “And we shall face it, embrace it if it brings peace and vanquish it if it brings darkness.”

  “We shall do so”