Max sat in the study of Keene Manor in front of the fireplace, after dinner. Almost two weeks had passed since their escape from Aurumist, but Max still felt unsettled. He was still angry. He couldn’t believe Griffa had forgiven Ansel so quickly. Ansel had left her there, left them both there to suffer for two months, and Griffa acted like Ansel had nothing to atone for.

Max would not forgive Ansel. He would not forgive him for Griffa’s pain. He would not forgive him for the worry and dread Max felt every day for two months. He would not forgive Ansel for not listening to him in the Valley. Ansel would never gain Max forgiveness. Max would never trust Ansel to protect his queen.

Max looked over in the other chair to see Issa reading a book on protector’s magic. He gave an angry snort that caused her to turn and look at Max.

“Is something wrong, Max?” asked Issa with concern.

“Why are you reading that book?” asked Max angrily.

“Griffa asked me to help her look into protector’s magic. I believe she wants to train with Ansel to better understand how it works.”

“You shouldn’t bother. No matter how much information you help Griffa find, he will never be able to protect her, not like he should.”

“Max, I know you are angry. I know a lot happened to you in Aurumist, but this anger you have for Ansel is not something you can hold on to for much longer” said Issa adamantly.

“Why not? It’s his fault Griffa was taken in the Valley. It’s his fault Griffa and I had to endure over two months in the palace. Issa, you don’t know what it was like.”

“I know,” said Issa compassionately. “I can’t imagine how awful it was for you and for Griffa. I know she is still struggling as well. She has nightmares every night, and she can’t bear to be alone. I think she wants to start training with Ansel to feel some sort of power she feels she has lost.”

“She seemed fine with Talon and Kedan the other night, drinking and laughing. She carries on with Ansel like nothing ever happened,” said Max sulkily.

“You can’t tell Griffa how to deal with her pain,” said Issa, angrily. “She is just trying to get through it, same as you. If her friends can help her feel some relief even just for a few moments, why would you criticize it? She loves Ansel, Max. He loves her. Whatever they did to work out their relationship is none of your concern. You should be happy they have each other.”

“So, you’re on his side?” asked Max. “You think he did nothing wrong?”

“I am on everybody’s side, Max, especially yours. I love you and I can’t stand to see you acting like this. I understand you are hurt and angry. I want to help you get through this, but you can’t blame everything on Ansel. You have no idea what he went through while both of you were gone. He worried about both of you every hour. I’m not sure sometimes how he was still able to function. He barely slept. We had to force him to eat.

“He wanted to go get both of you the moment he came back from the Valley, but he knew he only had one chance to get you out. He had to find the right moment and the right way to do it. I agreed with him. I wanted to help him. Do you blame me for the time you spend in Aurumist?”

“No, of course not,” answered Max.

“Then it makes no sense to blame Ansel. You will have to forgive him, Max. You care about him, and he cares about you. What’s more if you care about Griffa, you will have to forgive him, because whatever happens she will choose Ansel over everything else,” said Issa passionately. She took a deep breath and stood up. “I’m going to bed, Max. I do love you. I want to be here for you, but there are some things you are going to have to work out yourself.”

She started to walk away when Max grabbed her hand. He stood up and pulled Issa close.

“I know you are right,” he whispered. “Everything you say makes sense, but I just can’t forgive him. I don’t know why. I close my eyes at night, and all I can hear are Griffa’s cries of pain. I can still feel the dread that I would do something wrong and they would kill her.”

“It was awful,” said Issa. “You have every right to be angry, but be angry at the right people. Be angry at Philo Quick and that Golnar man. Be angry at the powers in Aurumist who are wanting to destroy our kingdom. Don’t push away someone who cares about you.” Issa leaned up and kissed Max softly.

Max pulled Issa into a hug and held her tightly. “It will take time,” said Max in a whisper.

“I know,” said Issa “But you have to start trying.”

Max nodded and let her go, and watched her walk out of the study. Max sat looking at the fire burning low in the fireplace. He knew he would have to forgive Ansel at some point, but he didn’t know how. He had thought of talking to Ansel several times in the past week, but every time he made up his mind to do it, Max wouldn’t be able to go through with it.

For some reason Max could not let go of his anger towards Ansel. He was angry at all those in Aurumist, but they were far away. Here, he saw Ansel every day. He was reminded that Ansel, who said he cared about Max, Ansel who said he loved Griffa, sat around the manor for two months while they both suffered.

Max waved his hand and put out the fire. He walked through the dark parlor, to the stairs, and up to his bedroom. He took off his shoes and fell on his bed fully dressed. He didn’t even bother getting under the covers. He was tired. He was tired of being angry, and tired of remembering the horrors of Aurumist. He lay on his stomach, and laid his head on the pillow, and cried. He cried for Griffa who would never truly get over what had happened to her. He cried for himself because he didn’t want to be angry anymore. He cried because even though he was back in Keene Manor in Abscon, he didn’t truly feel safe. Max cried until he fell asleep.

Max was standing in darkness. He was somewhere outside, but there was no light from any sun, moon, or star. He could see nothing. It was cold and the air was still. Max started walking with his hands out. He walked slowly, trying to make sure he didn’t run into anything, or stumble.

He walked on for a long while. He didn’t know where he was going. No matter how far he walked, he only saw darkness. After what felt like hours, Max heard a sound. It was someone crying. He looked ahead and there was a small pool of light. In the middle of the light, Griffa was on her knees. She was weeping. Max ran towards her.

“Griffa, what’s wrong?” asked Max. He kneeled down beside her.

Griffa shook her head and kept weeping.

“What is it? What has happened?” asked Max.

Griffa took deep breaths. She looked up at Max and whispered, “Regventus.”

“Regventus?” asked Max.

“Yes,” said Griffa sadly. “The kingdom is sick. Here you can see.”

Griffa held out her hand, and Max took it. Griffa squeezed his hand lightly. Max felt nausea hit him hard. He closed his eyes and saw many different folk suffering. Some were weeping and some were laying on the ground in pain. He saw people mourning. Max felt intense grief. It was too much; he could not bear it. He let go of Griffa’s hand.

“I must help them. I must save our kingdom,” said Griffa looking at Max.

Max looked at Griffa, and he felt intense sadness. He felt like his heart was breaking.

“What will you do?” asked Max. He didn’t know why, but he was scared of her answer.

“I will do whatever it takes,” said Griffa simply.

The light faded around them. Max sat up in his bed. He could see the early morning light coming through his window. His heart was beating wildly. He felt sick and cold. Above all, he wanted to see Griffa. Without thinking, Max jumped up out of his bed. He walked quickly out his door and to Griffa’s room. He knocked loudly over and over until the door finally opened.

“What’s wrong?” asked Ansel looking at Max in the half-opened door.

“I need to see, Griffa, now,” said Max breathing hard.

Ansel looked at him closely. “You’ll have to wait until later. She didn’t have a good night. She finally just went to sleep.”

“Please, I just need to see her for a second, Ansel,” said Max pleadingly.

Ansel looked at Max with concern when Griffa called out from the bed. “Ansel? Where are you?” She sounded scared.

Ansel walked quickly away from the door. He went to the bed and laid down next to Griffa. He put an arm around her. “I’m here. It’s alright.”

Max walked in and went to the side of the bed Griffa was on. “What’s wrong?” asked Max.

“She usually has at least one nightmare every night since you both returned, but tonight has been much worse. I usually use my protector’s magic to sooth her, but tonight she keeps waking back up. She has cried almost the whole night.”

Griffa opened her eyes and looked at Max. She reached out to him. Max kneeled down by the bed and took her hand.

“You know, don’t you,” she said quietly.

“Yes, I have seen it,” replied Max. He squeezed her hand, feeling her magic mingle with his own. He could feel her despair and her pain. “Griffa, it’s going to be alright.”

“I can’t take it, Max. I can’t take their pain and suffering.”

“We will fix it, Griffa. We will fix it together,” said Max. “I won’t leave you to do it alone.”

Griffa nodded and let go of Max’s hand.

“What is wrong with her?” asked Ansel quietly as he looked at Griffa. She turned and burrowed herself into Ansel’s chest. He wrapped his arms around her. She made a little noise and then lay still.

“There is something coming. Something that will hurt he people of the kingdom,” said Max.

“Do you know what it is?” asked Ansel.

“No, it isn’t clear, but I think it’s going to be bad. I had a vision. There was so much pain and sickness and death. I am frightened for the kingdom. I am scared for Griffa as well.”

Ansel sighed and tightened his hold on Griffa. “I can’t lose her, Max. What can we do?”

“Just wait,” said Max quietly.

“Do you know why it affects her like this?” asked Ansel. “She’s already weak from Aurumist. I don’t know how much she can stand.”

“No, I don’t know why this affects her,” said Max standing up. “But I’m going to find out. There has to be something in the history of Regventus that explains a sovereign’s connection to the kingdom and it’s folk.”

“She can’t go on like this. Neither can you,” said Ansel looking at Max as he held Griffa.

“I know,” I’ll find something,” said Max. He turned to walk away.

“You don’t have to do this alone. I want to help you, not just for Griffa. I care about you, Max,” said Ansel.

Max looked at Ansel. “Just do whatever you can to help her. Keep her calm, help her to sleep. I’ll let you know what I find.”

Ansel gave a slight nod and kissed Griffa on top of her head. Max walked out and shut the door slowly. He went to his room and laid on his bed, quickly falling asleep.