The Egg Quest

by Jo Fontana

  "Of course. I'll show you where it is."

  "I'm coming too," Illithor insisted.

  As soon as they entered the library, Reyden curtly thanked Gil before immediately rifling through the oldest books of archaic elven healing tomes that he could find. His excitement quickly changed to frustration since he couldn’t find any references to symbol magic. Reyden expressed this to Illithor, who suggested researching shamanic practices instead, like the plainsmen’s magic, and began assisting Reyden with his research. Once again, their search was fruitless.

  “Maybe we’re looking for something we won’t find here; maybe it’s something that Medicine Woman would know about,” Illithor suggested.

  Reyden shrugged and continued to research. By dinnertime, Reyden had a headache and admitted temporary defeat.

  "That's the thing with research," Illithor snorted with irritation. "Occasionally it feels like a huge waste of time."

  "Let's go to dinner before his highness, the prince, summons us," Reyden snarked.

  Illithor stifled a grin and followed Reyden out of the library. By the time they reached the dining hall, it appeared everyone else was there, with the exception of the King.

  "I expect this dinner will be the quickest one I’ve had in my lifetime, even the bottomless pit won’t want to stick around," Reyden muttered.

  "Perhaps, perhaps not. Just go with it Reyden.”

  Reyden huffed. “I may leave early if that snake Sarinth is there.”

  Ironically, Sarinth was the first person Reyden noticed when he walked into the dining hall. Reyden had to stop himself from turning around. He sneered and unceremoniously plopped into a seat. He saw that everyone had changed for dinner and was relieved that Gil had purchased them finer attire in Nonju. He did bite back a sarcastic comment when he saw Gil’s extremely elaborate clothing. Glynn had even managed to change into formal wear. Reyden suspected Glynn’s family had accepted him back with open arms now that his cousin and uncle were no longer at odds. Reyden wondered if Glynn took credit for convincing Gil to return and if he would stay behind or continue with on the group. He looked around for a couple that Glynn might have resembled, but all the elves looked the same to him.

  “I see that Lord Greenbow has graced us with his presence as well,” Sarinth sniffed.

  Ryvanna shot Sarinth a look of pure loathing before speaking. “And you will show him the respect one deserves being a relation of the King.”

  “In the King’s absence, I believe I will take orders from the one next in line.”

  Gil looked furious. “Then you will do as Her Highness directed Sarinth, as I will be leaving the morning after tomorrow. She is still next-in-line for the throne, or did you forget that I abdicated?”

  Reyden managed to catch Sarinth’s eye and outright gloated, “Female precedent set or not, apparently.”

  Ryvanna looked at Reyden then gave him a grateful smile. Reyden noticed that some of the nobles were paying close attention to him so he decided to give them a little entertainment for their trouble. He smiled back at Ryvanna and gave her a quick wink. Ryvanna turned away with a smirk.

  “Did you find what you were looking for in the archives?” Gill asked Illithor and Reyden.

  “Not yet,” replied Illithor.

  “We had to stop for dinner,” Reyden added.

  “Feel free to make use of them as often as much as you need to,” Ryvanna said looking at Reyden. “Of course that goes for all of you.”

  "Thank you, I assure you that I will make as much use of them as I can while we are here," Reyden pledged.

  "I will as well and thank you your highness. Although I have a feeling Reyden will have much more fun than I will," Illithor stated.

  Reyden shot Illithor a withering look, and then grinned at Ryvanna. Ryvanna smiled back as they served dessert. Reyden noticed Sarinth eye Ryvanna as she addressed the rest of the guests. Reyden understood the warning, especially when he saw Sarinth watching him intently. Reyden decided to have a little fun with the pompous lord.

  Reyden smiled. "Ryvanna, how is it that your brother resembles a toad, yet you are more beautiful than any flower I have ever seen?"

  Ryvanna flushed a little and chuckled. "Thank you, Reyden. I resemble our mother while Gilryn favors Father. I've always thought them to be quite handsome though."

  Sarinth looked like he was trying not to have a fit and Reyden had a hard time suppressing his laughter. Reyden noticed his friends sitting there listening to this exchange with a mix of surprise and hilarity. Glynn simply stared at Reyden as if he were a new species.

  Reyden leaned over towards Glynn and whispered to him, "I learned well from you, didn't I?"

  Glynn grinned and said, “There’s hope for you yet.”

  Reyden smirked at Glynn for a moment, and then became serious. “Are you still going with us?”

  “Why wouldn’t I?” Glynn asked, clearly puzzled.

  “Just checking.”

  When the dancing began, Reyden thought of another great idea, which would irritate Sarinth even further. He stood up and slowly approached Ryvanna.

  “May I have this dance, lady?” he asked, bestowing a true smile upon her.

  Ryvanna inhaled sharply at the intensity of the smile and then replied breathlessly, "Yes, I believe I would love to dance."

  Reyden noticed Sarinth’s face redden as he walked Ryvanna to the dance floor. He was pleased to note that Gil looked annoyed as well. He grinned wickedly at the thought of killing two birds with one stone.

  “You must dance often,” Ryvanna whispered in Reyden’s ear.

  “No, not since my mother died,” came Reyden’s terse response.

  "Oh. I'm sorry. I did not mean to bring up anything painful," she stammered.

  "It was a long time ago..."

  "Well you are an amazing dancer. Will you save one for me tomorrow evening?"

  "Certainly," Reyden replied as he escorted her back to her seat.

  After Ryvanna and Reyden sat down, Sarinth addressed Gil. “You see my Prince, how inappropriate it would be to let a woman sit on the throne?”

  Reyden was furious. He saw Ryvanna pale and Gil’s jaw clench.

  When Gil found his voice he said, “Let’s discuss this in a more appropriate place and time, Lord Shademight.”

  Sarinth inclined his head. “I expect a meeting with you tomorrow.”

  When Reyden looked around the table, he saw a few other nobles nodding in agreement.

  “You will be summoned, Lord Shademight, when we are ready for a meeting,” Ryvanna commanded.

  She still looked pale when she announced that she was retiring for the night. Everyone stood up and bowed as she exited the room. As soon as she was out of earshot, Gil turned on Reyden and dragged him into an antechamber.

  "More beautiful than any flower you have ever seen? Where did that come from?"

  Reyden smirked, “She is, you know.”

  "You're purposely trying to cause trouble, aren’t you?”

  “I wanted to give that stuck up lord something to worry about. I think he’s got a thing for your sister.”

  “The other nobles were agreeing with him, if you didn’t notice. He has more power than you think.”

  “He can’t do anything. He’s just one lord.”

  Gil sighed. “You obviously aren’t familiar with politics.”

  Reyden shrugged. "If that is all, I'm turning in.”

  “Just do me a favor, and don’t provoke Lord Shademight tomorrow.”

  “I’ll take it under advisement.”

  The next day Reyden and Illithor were back in the royal library. The others made themselves busy as well but were sure to be ready when the festivities began. Gil had to drag Illithor and Reyden out of the library before they were late for the feast. People were still arriving when they got to the dining hall. It was obvious that all of the court would be there as well. Reyden barely contained his annoyance when he noticed all of them there. Gil’s friends sat with the
royal family, as they were the guests of honor.

  Gil and Ryvanna were the last to arrive. Deverick seemed to be in ecstasy when the servants arrived with the food. Ryvanna looked at Reyden and gave him a big smile. Sarinth stopped his conversation with a bitter looking older woman abruptly when Reyden smiled back in return. Reyden spoke with Ryvanna, not noticing how many courses he had missed during their discussion, but keenly aware of Sarinth’s scrutiny. Ryvanna seemed to be too distracted to eat as well and the nobles appeared to take note of this with slight indignation.

  Gil finally got up and asked someone to dance. Reyden figured this was his way of distracting or appeasing the nobles. He thought the woman Gil was dancing with was very attractive. A few minutes later, Reyden led Ryvanna to the dance floor but decided he was going to do his best not to step on any toes and limit it to one dance. He wouldn’t have even considered dancing with Ryvanna again, but he had promised her at least one dance tonight. He noted with pleasure that the nobles were paying much more attention to Gil. Reyden saw that Glynn never seemed to be without a dance partner. He was dancing with a different woman for each song that played. There was a moment when two women bickered quietly over who would get to dance with him next, but Glynn appeared to have quickly and diplomatically resolve the conflict. Reyden rolled his eyes in annoyance. As soon as the song ended, he escorted a disappointed-looking Ryvanna back to the table. He impatiently waited for Gil to return to the table. When he did, he asked, “Who was that?”

  “Sharelle. She is my betrothed.”

  Reyden raised his eyebrows. “And you’re upset about this?”

  “I would have liked to have chosen my own wife,” Gil huffed.

  Reyden shook his head. “Unless she’s terrible, which from the looks of things she isn’t, then I deem you an enormous fool.”

  Gil spluttered and became red.

  Ryvanna smiled. “I agree.”

  Sarinth, apparently never one to miss an opportunity, said to Reyden, “Maybe you’ll have better luck talking sense into him than we’ve had.”

  Sarinth’s comment left Reyden irate. Gil silenced Sarinth with a glare.

  “We need to turn in shortly. We’ll be leaving at first light,” Gil growled as he stormed out of the ballroom.

  Reyden thought Sarinth looked too happy for Gil’s own good, and Ryvanna looked like she was about to cry.

  As guests began to leave the feast, Reyden escorted Ryvanna into the outer gardens.

  “You know I can’t court you,” Reyden told her.

  Ryvanna sighed with resignation.

  “When I first came to this city, I never wanted to leave.”

  Ryvanna began to look hopeful but Reyden continued.

  “Unfortunately, I have a feeling this is not where I will end up.”

  "No, I would imagine it's not. It was nice to pretend—even for a short time, that my choices could be my own. In the end, if the Lords have their way, I will be married to some insufferable Lord who only wants to advance his status.”

  "Gil would never allow it."

  "You're right of course, Reyden. I'm just feeling sorry for myself. This will pass." she gave him a small smile and said, "You're entirely too easy to talk to."

  “I should get back inside. I don’t want Sarinth to have a fit; I mean I do, but I don’t want to cause you any more problems with him.”

  Ryvanna laughed and wrapped her arm around his. Reyden was so busy looking to see if Sarinth was watching that he almost walked right into Deverick.

  When he made eye contact, Deverick asked them, “Did you two see Glynn out there?”

  “No. Should we have?” Reyden asked warily.

  “He walked out almost an hour ago with one of his dance partners. She seemed to be trying to, well, let us just say she wasn’t behaving like a lady of the court should. He looked like he was trying to block her advances, but then he suddenly walked her outside.”

  Reyden rolled his eyes and muttered a few swear words.

  "I’m sure he will be a gentleman,” Ryvanna replied

  “It’s just like him to do what he pleases, no matter who it embarrasses,” Reyden complained nastily.

  "Try not to be too angry with him," Ryvanna implored him.

  "Maybe I need to caution him to mind his manners.”

  Ryvanna took Reyden’s arm. "Or ask me for another dance?”

  Reyden chose to do as Ryvanna requested. While they were dancing, he observed Glynn, who had a look of relief on his face, slinking in through a side door. He caught Glynn’s eyes and glared at him. Glynn stared back at him with a puzzled expression.

  Reyden mouthed to him, “We’ll talk later.”

  Glynn shrugged then plucked a glass of wine from a passing tray. Reyden’s frown deepened and he stopped dancing for a moment.

  “What’s wrong?” Ryvanna asked, snapping Reyden out of his ruminations.

  “I was lost in thought,” he apologized and started dancing again.

  "I would imagine there are many thoughts running through that head at any given time.”

  "Depends on the day," Reyden quipped.

  “I wish you were all able to stay longer,” Ryvanna stated wistfully.

  “You’ll see us again soon enough,” he assured her.

  “I will be happy to, of course. But I believe it will be quite some time before that happens”.

  “Be careful what you wish for.”

  "To see my brother and his friends will always be a treat," she replied sincerely.

  At the end of the dance, Reyden told Ryvanna, “I sincerely regret this, but we must leave at first light, my lady. I beg to ask you to allow me to retire for the night.”

  “Of course, Reyden. You have a pleasant night.” Ryvanna kissed him on the cheek.

  Reyden took Ryvanna’s hand and kissed it. “Until next time.”

  From across the room Sarinth sneered at the gesture. It made Reyden happy to know that he could irritate the man again before he turned in for the night.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  The next morning Reyden woke to the sound of alarms. He jumped out of bed, grabbed a few eggs, and ran out into the hall. Servants were running back and forth in a panic. He wasn’t sure which way to head. Gil, who was hurrying past, grabbed a hold of Reyden’s arm and led him to an unfamiliar area in the palace.

  Gil approached a guard who was standing outside a suite of rooms.

  “What’s going on here?” he demanded.

  The guard bowed. “Your highness, advisor Dariel has been trying to get a message to you. Please meet him in the war room.”

  Gil hurried to the war room, still holding onto Reyden’s arm. When they entered the room, Reyden saw a finely dressed man surrounded by armor-clad warriors. He looked semi-relieved to see Gil.

  “My King,” he bowed to Gil.

  The other men bowed as well. Gil froze after the advisor spoke.

  “You mean your highness, don’t you?”

  Reyden wondered why the palace was in such a tizzy over the death of the king, since everyone knew it could come at any time. Then he realized the true implications of what they were saying. Gil’s father had conveniently died before they had left the city. He wondered if he could figure a way out for them until he heard Dariel claim that the king had been assasinated.

  “What?” Gil cried.

  Reyden had the presence of mind to stand behind Gil, just in case.

  “There was a signed note we found on him. We think it was someone who knows you. Follow me.”

  He led them to the king’s chambers. The king was lying on his bed with his hands crossed over his chest. Gil ran over to him and knelt by his bedside. Reyden noticed that the palace servants had already tended to the king. The note and a knife were lying beside the king on a nightstand. That explained the guard at the door when they arrived earlier.

  "Send someone to summon Ryvanna immediately, and then please leave us,” Gil ordered Dariel while still gazing at his father’s lifeless form.r />
  “It will be done.” Dariel stood there for a moment watching Gill weep, before setting to the task requested of him.

  Reyden tried to sneak out of the room because he felt awkward and very sorry for Gil.

  “Please let the others know. I’ll be there to talk to everyone soon,” Gil requested softly.

  “We’ll wait for you in my room.”

  Reyden found the others out in the hall by their rooms. Everyone looked puzzled when Reyden hurriedly herded them into his room.

  “What is it?” Illithor asked.

  "The king’s been assassinated and I have a good idea by whom. Gil will be by later to talk to us.”

  There was a stunned silence after Reyden’s announcement. Reyden ignored any other questions by plopping down into a chair and reading the book Illithor had lent to him. He didn’t want the others to know how upset he really was. Reyden didn’t have the heart to go through the details now. Dark mutterings came from the group, most of which Reyden agreed with. Not least of which was Glynn's suggestion of hog tying Rafe and dragging him through the jumping cacti.

  Gil came to talk to them late in the afternoon. “I’m going to be crowned tonight,” he began. “I’m hoping you’ll all be there.”

  "It's my fault," Reyden muttered looking at Gil.

  "No, it's my fault," Glynn answered in a small voice.

  Reyden turned on Glynn.

  "No, the fault is mine. I should have killed Rafe. Knowing that I didn't, it was foolish for me to believe it was safe for us to come here...I should’ve known he would try to make us pay for breaking into the vault!”

  "And I'm the one who almost got the egg from him. I’m the one that has refused to join him," Glynn replied miserably.

  “Yes, but Rafe wants me as well for some reason,” Reyden reminded him.

  “It’s Rafe’s fault,” Gil said slowly, interrupting both Glynn and Reyden. “I’m needed here; I can see that now.”

  “If that’s what you want,” Reyden replied.

  “Ryvanna and the people need me. I do not trust some of the nobles and need to keep an eye on them, especially since Rafe seems to be able to sneak in unnoticed anywhere he pleases. Will you attend the ceremony?” Gil asked hopefully.