”So what do we-”

Just before I can ask what our course of action is now, Atna rushes out of her chair and hugs me. I am still sitting, so it more end up being her hugging my head. She has hugged me a few times before, but instead of my usual floaty arms, as she one-sided hugs me, I deem to return the gesture now, pressing her into me.

It is nice. She is currently wearing a plain dress, rather than her armor, so I can feel the heat and a slight shaking coming off her. Maybe she is scared? Or excited?

She slowly separates me, shoots me a beaming smile with the words “please take good care of me!”

“Ah, likewise” is all I manage to muster up.

“By the way, Yos, what kind of information does the count have on you, that you were so hesitant in acting against him?”

I still want to keep it secret, but one party apart from myself already knows. I wonder if I should tell them?

“What is wrong? Did you do something horrible? Do you not trust us?” Atna eggs on.

I look to Bosir and Atna. Bosir took me in, taught me a lot regarding the hunter profession and watched over me in a manner of ways. He may be slightly too soft on the actions of his fellow clan members, but I have no doubt he’d drop everything in his hands to come help me if I were in trouble. I trust him. And Atna goes without further elaboration. My friend, rival and now… Betrothed? So I proceed to tell them of my gift, and how it allowed me to slay the dragon.

“You may want to be careful” Bosir says “There is a story, well, more of a legend about a man, who could not identify his gift. He lived a full life as an excellent hunter, and on his deathbed he was surrounded by many friends and a large family. But as he drew his last breath, a miracle happened. The old man’s skin split apart and he emerged from it young and strong once again, and got a second chance of life. Though the legend says, he did not come back a second time.” He pauses while striking his signature thinking pose, scratching his stubble.

“It could be the same type of gift. Maybe it only works for a certain number of years or a certain number of times, so don’t go sacrificing your own life for just about anything, you hear?”

I nod, though the gift in the story is obviously not like mine, since I have been granted with all the other restorative power.

“So what do we do now?” I mention once again. “How do we proceed from here?”

Atna nods and states “The first order of business should be to drum up support. And we are behind. The last few years, a member of a branch family have gathered considerable support for his bid to the throne, and he is a count in Aseel, so he may get support from there too.”

“What is Aseel?” I ask. Heads are shaken at my ignorance.

“It is a neighboring country to Cospia” I know Cospia, that is the name of this country, though it rarely comes up in conversation.

“However, we do have a few special cards to play” Bosir states.

“Quick question, how exactly are you tied in to all of this, Bosir?”

“Me, well…” Bosir looks a little startled a scratches his cheek. “I am actually also an Oboern. Some 20 years ago I left because I felt it was too stuffy and constrictive to be a noble. I wanted to be like the heroes of old and go on grand adventures. So I left. I kept in touch with a few of my sisters who were sympathetic, that’s how Minera ended up here”

“So you are her uncle?”

“Yes he is” Atna intervenes. “Can we get back on track?”

Well, excuse me for being a little overwhelmed.

“Right well, one of our special cards to play are the Silvestri” Bosir says, “Long have they lived inside the kingdom and long have they been discriminated against. Many parts of the kingdom refuse to let Silvestri inside. They don’t hold any political influence, but were we to recruit them to our cause, we will have a sizable force backing us. In exchange we plan to outlaw the banning of different species from both territories and establishments.”

Atna and I nod. Wait, should I think of her as Minera now?

“Second is Minera’s mother” Bosir continues “I have not kept in touch with her in order to not draw suspicion, should anyone attempt to find Minera, but if I know her right, she has her own clique with a potential goal of theirs.”

He scratches his stubble.

“Third is the clan, we are a family and ready to back up and help our cute, young hunters in life” He makes a broad smile and laughs.

“So, I propose the following actions: Tonight, we spring it on the clan. Then tomorrow, Minera will go have a chat with the local count regarding, I will contact her mother, and Yos… How do you feel about Silvestri?”

I answer honestly “I don’t particularly like or dislike them, but as a boy, I found it interesting to listen to their stories”

Bosir laughs. “Then it’s settled. You will go with Kamas and tour round to the Silvestri tribes in the kingdom. It will probably take a while, so pack well.”

Am I seriously involved with a plan to secure the throne? It feels a little unreal as I nod to Bosir’s talk.