Mayor Gryre put down the letter with a deep frown. He knew he should have expected such a vague and useless answer from the advisors of the King, but he was still disappointed.

     “You look down.”

     Mayor Gryre looked up and saw his wife walk in with a tray and a cup of tea.

He smiled at his wife, feeling a little better just by the sight of her.

     Lady Gryre was a beautiful woman with gorgeous brown, curly hair and a few white strands that made her look wise with age. Her eyes were a warm green colour and her smile was just as warm.

     “Still no good news?” She asked, placing the tray on his desk and handing him the cup.

     “I fear that something horrible is going to happen.” The Mayor said, taking the cup.

     “My love... You mustn’t think so negatively. I’m sure it isn’t as bad as you think.”

     He smiled at his wife, but before he could respond, a light gust of wind lifted his papers as Blood appeared in his office.

     The Mayor was startled when he appeared, but Blood bowed at both him and his wife. “Lord and Lady Gryre.”

     Lady Gryre bowed her head slightly at the warrior before she turned to her husband. “I’ll be inside.”

     The mayor nodded at his wife and waited for her to leave before he spoke.

     “You have a beautiful wife.” Blood said, respectfully.

     That made the Mayor smile. “Thank you. She is very important to me.”

     She was.

     It was an arranged marriage, but a lucky one.

     Being an accepting and loving woman, Lord and Lady Gryre had fallen in love with each other very soon after their marriage. They were lucky. Most arranged marriages do not mark the beginning of a true love.

     “I’m sure you have something important to discuss with me, since you’ve given me no warning before your arrival.”

     Blood nodded. “We’ve gotten the news that the advisors are not cooperating with your request to stop the invasion.”

     “You must have found out before I did. Because I just read the letter.”

     “Warriors have good ears.”

     “Warriors have good everything.” They Mayor responded as he put down his empty cup of tea.

     Blood smiled, but of course, the mayor couldn’t see.

     To the Mayor, Blood was simply a serious, silent and somewhat frightening young man.

     Not as serious, silent and frightening as his master. But almost as bad.

     “I assume Master Red knows and is unhappy?”

     “He is. But he doesn't blame you for this.” Blood responded. “He expected this and is nonetheless happy with your cooperation.”

     The Mayor nodded.

     “But he asked me to remind you of our agreement.”

     “I remember.” The Mayor said. “And you all have nothing to worry about. The Destynian royal family and my family have been friends for years. Long before Amberdyse joined Raffyre. If a war is to occur, we will not take part in it.”

     Blood nodded. “That’s the best solution. Though the king may not be pleased.”

     “He most certainly will not be. That is my biggest fear. The last thing I need is for him to send his knights into my land.”

     “Well, if it makes you feel any safer, Master Red and the rest of our group is here to protect you and your village.”

     Mayor Gryre smiled at the young man. “Tell your master I say thank you.”

     Blood nodded. “Now, I have another issue to discuss with you.”

     The Mayor hesitated, not knowing what this other issue might be but also not too excited to hear it.

     “It has to do with Meenu Kyrus.”

     The Mayor sighed. “Please leave the poor girl out of this.”

     Blood opened his mouth to clarify but the Mayor continued speaking.

     “Yes. She was the fiancée of Avaryn but she is an innocent child. The gods were good to the child when they chose to wipe her memory clean of him and I plan to keep it that way. Avaryn’s relationship to her should not be revealed... Who knows what it could do to her. That’s why I made speaking of their relationship forbidden and severely punishable. So please... Don’t bring her into this mess.”

     It wasn’t a secret to anyone that Meenu was the obvious key that could be used to draw Avaryn out of hiding. And there were many people who wished they could try to use her.

     That was one of the Mayors biggest fears for Meenu.

     Her life, reputation and dignity were all so fragile.

     But luckily for her... The respect that many have for her father, Lord Darien Kyrus, was what kept them away.

     And also the fear of what they would do once Avaryn was drawn out.

     Blood watched the mayor, surprised by his care for the girl. “We would never do such a thing.” Blood said. “As useful a tool as she might be, it is against our beliefs to use people as bait.”

     The Mayor looked at Blood. “Then what do you need to say?”

     “Meenu is unhappy with her engagement to the King.”

     The Mayor was shocked.

     Not with the fact that Meenu was unhappy... But with the fact that Blood was the one telling him.

     “How do you know?”

     “I’ve spoken to her. The King told her that he has no intention of loving her.”

     The Mayor sighed. “Why did I not see this coming?”

     “I was hoping that you would talk to her parents about this and sort this out for her.” He said. “I initially thought of doing it myself but I thought they would trust you more.”

     The Mayor nodded.

     “I’ll be off now, then.” Blood said as he turned.

     “Wait.”

     Blood turned and looked at the Mayor. “I thought you said you couldn’t care less about who the King married.”

     Blood hesitated but then board his head. “I will see you soon, Lord Mayor.”

     He then disappeared.

     And for some reason, the Mayor smiled.

     The Mayor sat at his desk for some time before getting up and leaving his home.

     He had to think about what he was going to do for Meenu. How was he going to convince her parents that this marriage was a bad one?

     As he rode his horse to the Kyrus household, he thought some more. He knew that the Kyrus’ were an extremely loving family. They wanted the best for Meenu and cared nothing of money or land or power or luxury. Her happiness was what was important to them.

     So maybe it wouldn’t be as hard as expected to convince them.

     After all… It’s not like the Mayor was turning them away from a marriage with a noble, humble, loving and righteous king.

     They were dealing with Dukaryn.

     A foolish king who is too young to understand what being a king is about.

     When the Mayor arrived at the Kyrus home, he could more clearly hear the cries of Knight.

     “The poor thing.” He mumbled to himself. But he couldn’t help but think of how lucky Meenu was to have such a loving creature.

     He got off his horse and one of the loving Kyrus Servants took his horse and another guided him in.

     Lady Kyrus, who was helping her maids with gardening, greeted the Mayor with a full-hearted smile. “Lord Mayor.”

     The mayor bowed his head. “Sister-in-law. How are you today?”

     “I’m doing wonderful. The smell of flowers always gets rid of my tensions.”

     The Mayor smiled at her but worried of what sorts of tensions he was about to cause.

     At least he knew now that she had ways to calm herself. “Darien is home, yes?”

     She nodded. “He’s at the back. One of our mares gave birth last night. He’s tending to her right now.”

     The mayor chuckled. “Another foal for Meenu to gush over.”

     That made Lady Kyrus laugh. “Oh, how I miss her.” She said as she walked Mayor Gryre into their home.

     “It must be quiet in here without her.”

     “Not at all.” Lady Kyrus said. “Knight refuses to stop his crying! He cries all night. And if we let him loose he goes wild. I believe he wants to follow Meenu to the capital but he knows he can’t do such a thing without our permission.”

     “Smart creature.” The Mayor said. “But a noble one. He must be worried for her safety.”

     “Most definitely.” Lady Kyrus said. “In all honesty, I would have liked for Knight to go with her… but a three legged wolf in the capital? Impossible.”

     The Mayor smiled.

     “Please, sit down.” Lady Kyrus said. “I’ll go get Darien.”

     He nodded as he sat down in the family’s den.

     Moments later, Darien came into the den wearing his usual friendly smile. “Al.” He greeted the mayor with a handshake. “What brings you here?” He asked as he sat across from the Mayor. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees and hands clasped together.

     The Mayor smiled, leaning back in his chair and putting one leg over the other. “There’s something important I need to discuss with you, regarding Meenu.”

     Lord and Lady Kyrus looked at each other before looking back at the mayor. “Did something happen?” Lord Kyrus asked.

     “Did she do something silly? Is the king upset?” Lady Kyrus asked, sounding worried.

     “No, no.” Mayor Gryre said. “I haven’t heard from the King… but…”

     “What is it, Al?” Lord Kyrus asked.

     The Mayor sighed. “I know you two very well.” He said. “And I know that you two love Meenu very much and want the best for her.”

     “Of course.” Lord Kyrus said.

     “Which is why I believe you should call off her engagement to the king.”

     Lord and Lady Kyrus’ eyes widened. “What?” Lady Kyrus asked.

     “We shouldn’t be too surprised… but he has no intention of keeping her happy. And I know you two want nothing more than her happiness.”

     “How do you know that?” Lady Kyrus asked as her husband looked down at his hands.

     “Again, we shouldn’t be surprised… but Meenu told Blood, and Blood told me.”

     Lord Kyrus looked up when he said Blood. “You mean the warrior?”

     “The one who Meenu shot an arrow at?” Lady Kyrus added.

     “Yes, that one.”

     “And you trust him?” Lady Kyrus asked.

     “I trust him with my life… and the life of every villager in Amberdyse. Including Meenu’s.”

     Lord Kyrus narrowed his eyes.

     “Lord Mayor…” Lady Kyrus said, eyes watering. “If we were going to call off this engagement… what do you think will happen to Meenu?”

     The Mayor looked up at his sister-in-law.

     “No one will want to marry her anymore.” Lady Kyrus said. “They will think… if the King didn’t want to marry her then there must be something wrong with her… what will she do then?”

     “You’re mistaken.” An unfamiliar voice said.

     Lord Kyrus stood up quickly, his sword pulled out of his sheath and pointed at the neck of the intruder, making the other two turn and look at him.

     The masked man didn’t flinch at the threatening attack.

     “Blood.” They Mayor said.

     Lord Kyrus lowered his sword, realizing who it was. “What are you doing in my home?”

     Blood bowed as Lord Kyrus returned his sword into its sheath. “I came to clarify something.”

     Lady Kyrus stepped closer to her husband. Something about this masked man made her nervous.

     “Lady Kyrus.” Blood called. “You’re looking at all of this the wrong way. And in some ways… in a selfish way.”

     Lady Kyrus looked at the man, eyes wide. “What… do you mean?”

     “You think that for Meenu, marriage is what happiness is.” He said. “But you and Lord Kyrus both know that Meenu isn’t as simple as that.”

     The Mayor couldn’t hold back his sigh.

     “In reality… if anything, marriage would hold Meenu back from what she truly wants. Don’t you think?”

     “You speak like you know her well.” Lord Kyrus said.

     “Blood is… very observant.” The Mayor said.

     Blood nodded. “In a matter of seconds I can learn a lot about people… just by their faces and their actions.” He said. “And I have spent more than a few seconds with Meenu.”

     “Why?” Lord Kyrus said.

     “Why?” Blood asked, not understanding what he was asking.

     “Why do you care for her.”

     Blood hesitated.

     “I too, can understand a lot from people’s faces and actions.” Lord Kyrus said. “Clearly, I am not as good as you are, but your actions speak a lot. Why do you care for her?”

     “Because she is my friend.” Blood said. “So hear me out, as a friend speaking for your daughter’s sake.”

     Lady Kyrus watched the young man carefully, trying to understand him.

     “As a friend of your daughter, I will tell you that Dukaryn is not a good match for your daughter. He is selfish, careless and a fool. I understand that you believe he is young, and he will mature. But at this rate, he will probably be killed before he gets that chance.”

     Lady Kyrus gasped at his words.

     “Similarly, Meenu is not at all prepared to be a queen. She too is young, and has so many other desires she hopes to fulfill before being tied down to a man in marriage.” Blood said, bluntly. “I hope you understand.”

     Lord Kyrus sighed and shook his head before he looked back at Blood. “You’re right.” He said. “Thank you.”

     Blood bowed, and then disappeared, startling the three adults.

     After a moment of silence, Lord Kyrus turned to the Mayor. “Is this all you came to speak about?”

     The mayor nodded.

     Lord Kyrus nodded his head too before sighing and looking at his teary wife. “I guess I’ll be going to see the King soon.”