Zentik paced the meeting room. Noka and a few courtmembers were there, but Lonek had not arrived.
"If this is so urgent, why do we have to wait so long?" one courtman - Vezi - asked.
"The Prince believes it is best to have all members of the Court - that includes the King - in this meeting," Noka said.
"And who are you to speak in a Court meeting?"
"The Prince has requested my voice."
Vezi scoffed and rolled his eyes.
"These young people don't understand class difference. There is no situation where a guard would need to speak with the Court."
"That's enough, Vezi," Lonek said, walking in and sitting at the circular table.
Zentik finally sat down.
"What happened in Ekitabae Tari?" Lonek asked Zentik.
Zentik took a deep breath.
"Bhin's alive. Zadu didn't say it, but I'm guessing he's one of the ones in my dreams. There's a war coming, but it's not one where nations are fighting. We're gonna have to retreat from something, but I have no idea what it is. It's probably all to do with Bhin being alive."
Everyone was staring at Zentik.
"Noka?" Lonek asked.
"I was not allowed in the meeting, but I can assure you - Zadu's voice is to be trusted. If the Prince believes their words, then I believe their words."
"How can we know Zadu isn't lying?" a courtwoman named Airel asked. "They could have made up a dramatic story because they knew they were getting paid more."
"Yes, you can never trust someone from EKitabae Tari," a courtman named Cyub agreed.
"Zadu has proven their honesty, though," a young courtperson named Alvil said. "They are kind to the merchants of Ekitabae Tari, and they never stole from the poor."
"You are biased, Alvil," Airel said, putting her hand on their shoulder. "It is nothing to be ashamed of."
Alvil moved their arm away.
"Is it really biased if I'm correct?"
Airel looked offended at their rebuttal, but straightened her back and lifted her head.
"In any case, we should be careful with such large thoughts," she said, staring at Zentik. "It is easy to be tricked when you are young."
"I know they were telling the truth!" Zentik said, voice cracking with emotion. "I could feel it!"
"How so?" Vezi asked, tilting his head.
"My soul felt like it was a book being read. Then I felt like someone was writing the sequel. Zadu's eyes were glowing, and I could feel magic in their hands. I know they were telling the truth."
"We will have to look into this further," Lonek said. "This conversation will not leave this room. Understood?"
The courtmembers at the table all nodded.
"Good. Dismissed."
Everyone stood and left, whispering amongst themselves. Zentik stayed seated.
Lonek and Noka were almost out of the room when Lonek noticed Zentik. He nodded for Noka to leave, then sat next to Zentik.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"You have to believe me. I know Bhin's alive."
"There's a lot of lying in Ekitabae Tari. We have to be careful."
"We should be just as careful of the lying in the Court! There were allies of Bhin's kidnapper in our nobility, and they were executed. But what if some weren't? What if those people helped? And they're just saying that there's no way Zadu was telling the truth to save themselves? Lonek, you have to trust me!"
"I want Bhin to be alive just as much as you do, but it's been years since he disappeared. There's no way a three-year-old could have survived on its own. I know you've been looking for hints about him ever since you could read the big books in our library, but you need to let it go. Trust me, okay? I'm doing my best."
Tears were now pouring down Zentik's face. Lonek reached out and pulled him into a hug.
"I will be sending people to question Zadu's credibility. If they are found to be a liar, they will be executed, and this entire situation will be put behind us. If Zadu lied, can you promise me to let go of Bhin?"
Zentik sat up and breathed in a shaky breath. He nodded silently.
"Thank you," Lonek whispered, running a hand through Zentik's hair. He cleared his throat. "Now, go get some rest. You've had a busy few weeks."
Zentik stood up and walked out of the room. When he reached for the doorknob to his own bedroom, he froze.
The night before, he was let in by a servant. Now, it was up to him to twist the handle and open the door.
He tried to use the palms of his hands, but the clean doorknob was too slippery. He tried to hook his arm behind it and use his weight to push down the intricate, cloud-shaped handle. His muscled arm wouldn't fit. He tried to grip the handle, and was reminded of his current situation.
He leaned his forehead against the door. From the inside, a foot pedal could open the door. That was so the servants could take out pillows and blankets to clean. However, a handle had to be used on the outside. It was a security measure to make sure the person inside was safe.
"Zentik?"
Tang - who was carrying a cloth bag - walked up to Zentik.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm doing great."
Tang looked at Zentik's shaking left hand on the handle.
"Are your hands okay?"
She reached for his hand, but Zentik moved it away.
"They're fine."
"They're obviously not. What happened?"
"Nothing. Go do whatever you were going to do."
"Your brother asked me to bring you this."
"Oh, that aiza."
Tang laughed.
"Would you like me to open the door?" she asked.
"Isn't the older one supposed to open the door?"
"Yes, but you're the higher-ranked one."
"You got me there."
Tang smiled and opened the door. She followed Zentik into the room. Zentik sat on the bed, but Tang stayed standing.
"What did Lonek want you to bring me?"
"Bread."
Tang opened the bag. She handed the loaf of bread (on the cloth) to Zentik, who laid it on his lap.
"Now, what happened? Why can't you use your hands?"
Zentik sighed.
"I was out in a blizzard, and I have magic. If a magic-user is exposed to an extreme form of their magic for too long, they are irreversibly harmed. My hands were turning to real ice, and I can't use them anymore."
"Does your brother know?"
"No."
"Why? He could help you - he could make the doors accessible; he could make the food easier to eat. You wouldn't have to worry about not being able to do things."
"I don't want him to worry. He already thinks I'm crazy."
"What?"
"I- I went to Zadu, and they told me that Bhin is alive. I told the court, and now Lonek's sending people to question their credibility."
"Well, he probably wants to make sure Zadu's correct before making any move. It's just a smart move."
"But he doesn't believe me."
"I'm sure he wants to."
Tang looked like she wanted to sit by Zentik, but they both knew that any servant could be watching, and it would be scandalous to see the pair sitting so close. Sitting on a bed would be even worse.
"I know he wants what's best, but he acts like he's not even listening to me sometimes."
"He just wants you to be safe. And you'll be even safer if you would tell him about your whole hand problem."
"I can't."
"I can."
Tang turned and walked out of the room.
Zentik didn't bother to try and stop her. He just wanted to figure out how to eat his bread.
----
As expected, Lonek burst into Zentik's room, eyes larger than Zentik's-
Never mind.
Noka and Tang stood behind him. Tang looked happy with herself. Noka looked half-concerned, half-confused.
Zentik probably looked done with life in general.
"You froze your hands?" Lonek asked, almost shouting.
"Accidentally."
"Noka, you didn't bother to tell me?"
"I assumed he did!" Noka defended.
"Zentik!"
"I didn't want you to panic!"
"Well, I'm panicking!"
Lonek stepped forward and lifted Zentik's hands in his own.
"When?"
"On the way to Ekitabae Tari."
"Where?"
"Like, a few hours away."
"How?"
"Blizzard."
Lonek looked at Noka.
"Why?"
"He's stubborn," Noka said, shrugging.
"Oh, my patience is thinner than paper. Zentik, let's go to the infirmary."
"Dude, I just wanna sleep."
"You can sleep in the infirmary."
Lonek took the bread. He ripped off a piece and ate it.
"Tang, I need to pay you more. Zentik, let's go."
Zentik groaned and followed Lonek to the infirmary of the castle.
"Is something wrong?" an elderly doctor named Elza asked. Her blue eyes were clouded with worry.
"Zentik's magic froze his hands."
"What?"
Zentik held out his hands. Elza took them and examined them closely.
"Oh, this is bad. I can't heal a magical wound."
"Can you try?" Lonek asked.
"Last time I did, it only got worse. I think it's best to keep your hands warm, then let you rest until we can have something done to make the castle more accessible."
"More accessible?"
"Our doors are difficult to open. Perhaps you should look into that."
Lonek nodded.
"I will. Zentik should stay here tonight. The doors here seem fine, right?"
"Oh, they're perfect. Anyone injured can open them. There's guards here to make sure everyone's safe, so it should be safe to stay here tonight."
"Good. Thank you, Elza."
Elza bowed as Lonek walked away. She took Zentik's arm and led him towards the private rooms for long-term stays.
"Tang told me everything," she said as she walked. "Right before she went to the King. You need to rest, and we'll get everything sorted. Okay?"
Zenik nodded as Elza used a foot handle to open the door.
"Go on in, then. Get good rest, Your Highness."
Elza bowed as Zentik pushed the door closed with his cupped hand. He crawled under the covers and closed his eyes, not even bothering to put on the comfortable nightclothes already laid out in the room.