The trio of heroes didn’t stay long, electing to spend one more night at Antonio’s. As an apology, Antonio cooked for them and this time, he didn’t add any unwanted ingredients. He didn’t talk much to anyone either and gave a forlorn expression to show that he still wasn’t over what went on that day. Everyone pitied him and decided to give him his space.

The next day arrived and Antonio was nowhere to be found. Cyrus and his friends had very little time and decided to set out, even if it meant they wouldn’t be able to thank Antonio for his hospitality. As they reached the edge of town, they saw the broken, unreadable sign had been restored with a new coat of paint. It read: “Welcome to Larson Valley.”

Jetta oversaw a man who was finishing the final coat of white paint on the sign. Her face brightened when she was the trio. “Don’t think you’re going to leave town without saying goodbye!” She said with a smile. “After all you’ve done, even the lowliest scum in town looks up to you three.”

“Have you released the soldiers yet?” Cyrus asked.

“Not yet,” Jetta responded. “We were actually waiting on you and Archibald to decide on that.”

“Well…” Archibald said, and Cyrus quickly stepped forward.

“Tell them the Prince of Aristillus has decreed that they are no longer needed here. All of the pixie dust is yours to distribute as you feel. Just please, seal off that mine of black gold so that nothing like this will happen again.”

Both Vanessa and Archibald stood in awe. Neither expected the Prince to make such a professional decree. Archibald put his good hand on Cyrus’ shoulder. “Spoken like the future ruler of this kingdom,” he said with a chuckle.

Cyrus’ pudgy face spread with a wide grin. He was proud of himself and now knew that the pixie dust was for the good of his people.

“Got it,” Jetta said, before her attention diverted to something else. “Archie, I’d love to come with you and see the world, but I have to govern Larson Valley in the family name. Just know… you’re always welcome here.”

“You’ll make a fine leader,” Archibald said placing his hand on her shoulder. “After all, you learned from the best-a true and noble thief lord.”

Jetta blushed. “You really think so?”

“I know so…”

“Archie...I…”

“Belch!”

Jetta’s eye quickly shifted to Cyrus who burped loudly. He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m sorry Jetta, your face still gives me indigestion.”

Jetta snarled as Archibald gave a nervous laugh. “Well Miss Larson, it’s been real. But we are off down the county line!”

Archibald walked off but he didn’t stop in time to avoid bumping into someone. Standing before Cyrus and his friend was Antonio with a bashful look on his face. His beautiful hair was swept behind his head and he refused to look them in the eyes. He wore a tannish brown tunic, dark leather boots, a belt with a golden buckle and a large holster for his twin rapiers.

“Oh, hey, Antonio,” Archibald said. “Going somewhere?”

“Please listen…por favor,”Antonio said with a sudden breathy voice. “I’ve been going back and forth about this the whole morning. I’ve realized that I have nothing to live for in this town. Especially now that mi madre’s essence is no longer part of it.”

Cyrus gazed up at the tall handsome boy. He was taken aback by how direct he was being but he had a feeling what Antonio was going to say next.

“I want to come with you and vanquish the Everbloods once and for all.”

Archibald, who was the tallest, met Antonio with stern eyes. “I’d personally be fine with it but I think there’s someone else who might feel a little uncomfortable about it. You’ll have to take it up with her.”

“Van…” Antonio started.

Vanessa crossed her arms and looked away with a tough expression, an expression fed by all of the betrayal she endured. “You…” she said sternly. “You can come with us, but just know, I will never love you. That it is the price you pay for what you did to my heart.”

Antonio was dead silent but an expression of hurt lingered on his face. Cyrus could imagine those crystalline brown eyes of his shattering from Van’s coldness. Antonio nodded. “Si, we will be allies but at a distance. Thank you.”

Van turned away from him and started walking. Archibald put his hand on a dumbfounded Antonio’s back. “Looks like winter came early pal! Welcome aboard!”

“I appreciate it,” Antonio said. “And Cyrus,”

“Yes?” The prince asked, surprised that Antonio was speaking to him.

“I’m sorry for insulting your weight. That’s not very gentleman-like of me. I should be passing my knowledge of wooing the ladies onto those less fortunate.”

“I think I’ll pass,” Cyrus said. “But I appreciate you showing me what not to do.”

Antonio stood there as Cyrus walked away with self satisfied smirk on his face.

“Winter came early for you,” Archibald said laughing. “And then you got melted by a volcano level burn!”

“Si, and now I’ve got some royal clown chuckling at me.”

“Law of the land: Only the true fool is laughed at by professional clowns. But hey, it happens to the most handsome of us.”

“Right,” Antonio said, a small smile arising on his face.

Archibald and Antonio followed Cyrus and Van. As they left Don Valley, Cyrus’ looked at the silent Antonio with a sense of urgency and whispered to him. “Thanks for your apology. And uh, don’t tell Van this but I might need some help with wooing a pretty blond princess. You know, the one we’re going to rescue.”

A devious smile came over Antonio’s face as he put his arm around Cyrus. “Listen very carefully mi amigo. Rescuing her is a step in the right direction, but you’re going to need a dramatic entrance and you must sweep her off her feet…oh and if she’s in a tower you must jump out of it while holding her and fall onto your trusty steed…oh and don’t forget to wear her favorite cologne when you save her, chicas adore that…and…”

Cyrus couldn’t stop grinning. He realized he had made a valuable ally- one who would not only help him save the girl of his dreams, but also would help him become the man of her dreams. Things were looking up for the fat prince, and with the defeat of an Everblood on his belt, Cyrus and his friends had nothing to fear. They were sure to rescue Trinity and save the reputation of the kingdom of Aristillus.

Suddenly a voice cried from the Majester’s briefcase. Cyrus immediately knew who it was. “Archibald the mirror!”

Archibald popped open the briefcase and tossed Cyrus the mirror which he carefully held over his face. Trinity’s pale face, now looking even whiter in the darkness of where she was kept, flashed on the mirror. “Hello my dearest prince,” she said with a panicked expression. “I’m sorry if I don’t look more well kept. My captors have relocated me to this grungy basement. They’re all in a rage because someone has been thinning their ranks and…I…please help me…ahhh!”

Trinity squeaked as a dark hand shoved her to the dungeon floor, out of the mirror’s view. A figure with a large collar that wrapped around its whole face glared at Cyrus with blood red eyes and wispy white hair. Its voice was raspy and ancient, and spoke like it had scarab beetles eating its throat. “So…foolish girl, you’ve been communicating with Prince Cyrus this whole time. Now it’s clear to me how he’s managed to remain one step ahead of me.”

“Who are you, and how dare you hurt the future bride of King Cyrus the Magnificant,” Cyrus shouted from the safety of his mirror.

“Such a bold child,” the figure said with its warbly voice. “I remember when I was one, and I still am 1000 years later. Well, bold at least. So bold, that I think a punishment is suitable for this young princess.”

The mirror directed itself onto Trinity as the figure began to chant in an ancient language causing Trinity frail throat to ripple and she spat something out, something glowing which flew right into the Everblood’s hand.

Trinity squeaked and whimpered like an animal but she could no longer vocalize her words. The figure laughed. “Unless she’s talented in charades there’s no way she’ll ever be able to tell you where she is. Three more days and my brethren and I will finally be able to feast on the blood of a royal. How long we’ve waited. Your move, Prince Coates.”

Before the mirror faded, Trinity crossed her arms to mime shivering and making her fingers twinkle as she lowered them. It faded as the party remained shocked by what they had witnessed. “What are we going to do now,” Van asked. “We have no way of telling where she is.”

“Unless,” Archibald said. “What the young girl was doing right before it faded was a clue.

“Hmm, she seemed to be saying it was cold there,” Cyrus said.

“Possibly,” Archibald said. “The only place where it’s cold on Aristillus is North Point. But there’s a bit of a problem with getting there. The way we’re headed there’s a giant ridge that’s nearly un-scalable. And even if we get to the top, there’s no saying we’ll reach North Point and cross the tundra in three days. Gee, this Everblood thought of the best location for their ritual.”

“We’ll do it,” Cyrus cried. “I cannot let this poor maiden down. I made a promise and I will keep it.”

Deep down, Cyrus hoped he could, and he had to admit-the head Everblood had him given him the hardest task he would ever face as future king…or so he thought.