Silver ended up waiting to head home until after the announcement of Ethyn's heritage. Because of the Guardian's presence, many believed the revelation had come from the Fates themselves.
As a result, no one doubted Ethyn's claim. Some even boasted that they knew it all along. Others went so far as to suggest they helped uncover the truth.
'Some people will never cease to take credit when it suits them and deny everything when things go wrong.'
This time Silver wasn't upset. The rumors had actually done him a favor.
'Thank the Maker for that.'
Before Silver departed, Rhodri asked him again if he would go to Lakyle on Birle's behalf.
"I will at least send word to my contact in Lakyle to see how things stand there. Depending on what I hear from the Fates, I will do as you ask." Silver bowed.
"And the position at the castle?" Rhodri pressed.
"Perhaps we should decide that after the matter with King Willric is settled."
The Guardian wanted to give Rhodri a chance to change his mind about things with some time to think. The possibility of a looming war was a good reason not to make a hasty decision.
"I will have to practice patience until then." The king decided with a dip of his head.
Out of the castle, Rose and Ethyn strolled arm in arm. Silver was almost used to the sight after the past couple of days...almost.
The woman looked adoringly at her prince before releasing him. "Do you have everything you need?" she asked tenderly.
"I have more than enough, thanks to you," Ethyn responded sweetly.
'I won't try my luck with Willric. Just kill me now.' Thankfully, no one could see the Guardian's face.
A servant took the pack draped over Ethyn's shoulder and attached it to his horse. The man's armor was polished until blinding.
"You know how to keep in touch, my nephew?" Rhodri realized belatedly that he sounded like a mother hen.
Ethyn smiled. "I will notify you by bird if I plan to go to Lakyle with the Guardian, and I will send a messenger if I am in need of anything else. I vow that I will alert you as soon as any decision has been made, Your Majesty."
The knight gave a half-bow.
"You may call me Uncle, my boy. It would give me great pleasure if you did, in fact," Rhodri attempted to phrase his words as a request.
"Uncle," Ethyn tried out the foreign word on his tongue. "I shall do my best."
Rhodri patted the young man on the shoulder. "I trust you will do what is right. Whatever that is, please be safe and be careful."
"I'll make sure he makes it back in one piece," Silver nodded.
As much as he hated to see his sister making romantic strides with his closest friend, the Guardian would never want to see her upset because something happened to Ethyn. And beyond that, Silver loved the man like a brother already. Together, he was sure they could do almost anything.
"I will return as soon as the issue with Lakyle is resolved," Ethyn kissed the princess's hand, and she blushed.
A warm feeling spread through Ethyn's chest. He hated to leave Rose behind, and he would return to her as soon as he could. He wanted to make her blush more by kissing her her lips, but it would have to wait.
'Something to look forward to...'
Mounting their horses, the two men said one last goodbye. With the portcullis raised, they left the castle, and the princess, behind.
"I wish Aiden and Conall would have waited the couple of extra days for us," Ethyn commented as they entered the forest.
"You don't like my company?" Silver placed his hand on his chest, offended.
"It's not that. It just would have been nice to have the gang back together for the trip...and also have a witness if you try to kill me for being in love with the princess." The last words by Ethyn were uttered with a smirk.
"You don't need to worry about that," Silver sighed. "If I were going to take you out for that, I would have done it back at the castle. A lot easier to make it look like an accident there than out here."
Ethyn laughed before pulling at his collar. "You are kidding, right?"
"Probably. But don't hurt my sister or you'll find out for sure."
A flash from under the Guardian's hood told the knight that he might want to drop the subject.
Daisy snorted to punctuate her master's point. Courage rumbled in response, possibly to defend his rider, but mostly not to be left out of the conversation.
They rode in silence for a time before Silver moved to a new train of thought. "I do find it interesting that the king let you leave. I would have thought he would keep both you and Haven as close to him as possible in these uncertain times. Especially after he just established you as his nephew, Your Highness."
The Guardian bowed his head, causing Ethyn to roll his eyes.
"None of that 'Highness' stuff here, old man!" The redhead clicked his tongue. "And I think the king learned his lesson about trying to keep people confined. He saw reason. It was wise to separate the two potential heirs until Lakyle is no longer a threat. And if things play out the way we hope, someone will need to be able to sign the peace treaty on behalf of the king. Who better than a newly minted prince?"
Ethyn puffed out his chest at his own cleverness.
"You act like this is a selfless mission." Silver was not buying it for a second. "Really, you are aching for adventure."
"I always wanted to be a knight so that I could slay the dragons and save the kingdom. I will not rest behind the castle walls again until I know that Birle is safe from the threat of Lakyle. If that means going on one last mission before taking on the mantle of dutiful prince, I will gladly bear that burden." Ethyn stared off into the distance.
"You'll make a good prince," Silver's voice lost all of the teasing. "And a good leader."
"Rose will make a better one." Ethyn continued to look towards the horizon.
"Leader or prince?" The corners of the Guardian's lips turned upwards.
"Both, I suppose, if she put her mind to it," Ethyn waved off the joke. "I don't deserve her or any of it."
"Then steward your blessings well." Silver knew a thing or two about feeling unworthy. He gave the only honest advice he could.
"I shall try." The prince nodded resolutely. His expression turned more wistful. "Do you think we will get to go into Lakyle? I've never been more than a little across the border."
Shrugging, Silver held up a single finger. "There is only one who can answer that question, and she should be making her dramatic entrance any time now..."
"How do you know?" Ethyn looked around for a signal that someone was near.
The Guardian flicked his reins. "Because she told me we would talk next time I came through the woods."
The air crackled with energy as the wind picked up. The whole world seemed turn on it's axis before righting itself. Then, in a blinding flash, Hanna appeared before them with a brilliant smile.
"Dramatic enough for you, Guardian?" Her eyes crinkled. "Let's talk."