He says, “Why you are here, why you have your powers.” He walks towards his throne again. “While I have a broad idea of the history of this world, there are secrets that I believe only you and your friends can really uncover, and for that, I will employ you and beg of you to do this.” The king looks at Chak as he finishes his sentence. “I’m sure there are a lot of questions that have gone unanswered through the years.”

  Chak looks at Arryn. “The questions and answers he needs I can provide for him,” Chak says as he looks at the king.

  “Oh, but can you? If that’s so, how come he had not known of his gifts until now?”

  Chak looks at the king and doesn’t respond. His silence was enough of an answer. With Chak’s silence, Arryn tenses his body again, his fist clenching.

  “Why,” he keeps thinking to himself. “There must be a reason,” he thinks.

  “There is a lot that has yet to be uncovered, which is why I need you to travel to the capital.” The king sits and looks at Erathos.

  “And what’s in it for us? We have family here. We have people that need us—people that you lot have forgotten about!” Cage says as he stands up. “Those mines you spoke of, they are home to hundreds of your subjects, subjects that will be affected by the war—lives of thousands that will be lost. We can’t just leave!”

  The king puts his hand out as Erathos hands him a piece of paper with a royal seal on it. “I know, and I can’t say or ever do anything to atone for the sins of my forefathers. However, I can try.” He puts his arm forward whilst holding on to the paper. “Come,” he says.

  “Who? Me?” says Cage.

  “Well, you are the one speaking to me currently, aren’t you?” the king says.

  Tik and Tok let out a small chuckle. As they do, Cage slaps their heads a bit. “Shut up, you boogers.”

  He stands up and heads towards the king. As he does, he looks back at everyone, wondering what was happening. Everything that’s happening right now was way too much—and now this.

  “Grab it, read it, and tell me what you think, and if you’ll be able to accomplish it,” says the king as Cage approaches.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” he says as he grabs the paper.

  “Just trust me,” says the king.

  Cage heads back to his seat and breaks the seal. He opens the note and, as he does, finds a decree:

  “I, King Ah-Jah, declare Crimson Town and its subjects a province recognized by the Royal Family. A ruling family of the province must be announced and elected by the people within two weeks of the creation of the new province. Any subject that would like to be a citizen of such province must atone and come forth if they have broken the law. A special committee will decide the cost to pay for the crimes committed, and as loyal Ashenveilians, they will be given rightful treatment and have their sentences lowered as a show of good faith. Furthermore, a plot of land will be assigned to start construction for New Crimson Town. I have specially picked the spot, which will be advantageous positioning for both land and sea trading. The signature of the Royal Family must be provided once a decision has been made.”

  Cage doesn’t say a word as he reads this. Elizabeth tries to look around the paper, but her short stature doesn’t allow her to see past Cage’s arms.

  “Cage, let me see what is going on. What’s happening?” she says as she grabs his arms. “Let me see!”

  She grabs the paper and starts to read, her arms shaking as she reads the decree.

  “Radahn…”

  The king stops her. “Before you continue, I need you to evacuate everyone that can’t fight from Crimson Town in order to keep them safe.”

  “Everyone from Crimson Town can fight,” says Tik as he looks towards the throne.

  “That so?” the king responds. “Good to know, our country needs strong men and women if we are to survive what’s to come.”

  “Let me see.” Radahn turns around and grabs the paper. As he starts to read, he feels a certain rush of happiness through his body, but he can’t shake the uncertainty of it all.

  “Why would you do this? We are criminals, low lives, the unwanted. Why would anyone accept a new city under such circumstances and with those types of people?”

  Arryn turns around. “What’s happening?” he says.

  “Big man here wants to give everyone in Crimson Town the ability to start a new life, to move out of the ruins and move to a new city.”

  “That’s great, isn’t it?!” he says.

  “Well, yes, but remember there are multiple ruling houses in Crimson Town. They won’t all accept those terms.”

  “And that’s okay, if they’d like to stay in old Crimson Town, let them.”

  “My Lord, with all due respect, it’s not that easy. Most of us have grown into this life and have never known any other life. There will be war within our citizens, disputes, and killing,” says Radahn as he grabs the paper and holds it in his hand.

  “War, disputes, and killing will always happen… Radahn, correct?”

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  “Yes.”

  “Right, but if we are to sit in the same spot and never try to change a thing, then how do we know if something would work? You, your family, your friends, they all deserve a chance at something new. Allow me to at least do this, even within the small amount of time I might have left as a king. This is the least I can do.”

  “I… I don’t know what to say. This is sudden, if I may have a word with my family.”

  “Of course,” the king responds.

  Radahn turns around. “Take this and sign it, go and tell Mother, tell everyone from the family. You and everyone else are to leave within a week, quicker if possible.”

  “Me sign it? Did you not read the thing? A Royal Family must be appointed by the people of Crimson Town,” he says as he grabs the paper and hits it on his palm as he talks.

  “Well, I think there’s enough of us to get a consensus of how the voting for the majority would go. Those that agree on Cage Lionheart and Elizabeth Lionheart becoming the King and Queen of New Crimson Town say ‘I.’”

  “I,” Radahn says.

  “I,” says Arryn.

  “I,” followed by Tik and Tok.

  Everyone looks at Chak, waiting for his response.

  “I,” he says while still facing down.

  “I,” says Elizabeth.

  “That’s not… whatever,” Radahn says as he laughs. “Well, I think that’s decided.”

  “My people have elected a new Royal Family, and they are to guide anyone that joins them to the new city,” Radahn says as he turns around.

  “Perfect, now I need that paper signed in order for Erathos to keep a record of it,” he says as he signals Cage to come near the throne again.

  “You aren’t alone, are you? Don’t leave your Queen behind now,” the king says as Cage starts to make his way over.

  He grabs Elizabeth’s hand and they both start to walk towards the king. Erathos offers them a small brush with a golden tip.

  “A pluma, get used to seeing them, you’ll be using them quite a bit now,” the king says. “This one is a gift from me, Lord Lionheart.”

  Cage looks at Elizabeth, still confused and in shock at what was happening.

  “Go on, dear,” says Elizabeth.

  “I guess no more drink-making for me,” says Cage as he dips the end of the pluma in a well of ink that was being held by Erathos.

  “Thank you,” he says. “Good thing I was learning how to write,” Cage says as he starts to slowly write his name as neatly as he can.

  “And that’s that,” the king says as he grabs the signed paper and hands it to Erathos. “Thank you, Erathos, please take this along with the other paperwork you’ll be taking during the trip.”

  He looks back at the group. “When do we leave?”

  “Tonight,” responds Erathos.

  “Tonight!? How are we to say goodbye to everyone?”

  “We aren’t,” says Radahn. “Cage and Elizabeth are to stay behind in order to get everything ready, the rest of us will be acting as security for Erathos.”

  “When was this decided?”

  “Now,” Radahn says.

  “That’s not fair!”

  “Life isn’t fair,” says Chak as he looks at Arryn. “Please, son, just follow along, we’ll see each other again, they will join us once things are settled.”

  “I’m sorry if I disappointed you, all I ever wanted to do was to keep you safe.”

  Chak holds Arryn’s head and brings it closer to him. “I won’t hold any more secrets from you, I promise.”

  Chak looks down as he holds Arryn’s head to his shoulders. He can feel Arryn’s fist clenching as his tears roll down and get caught in Chak’s shirt.

  “Chak, we must leave,” says Cage as he holds the decree.

  “Right, go say goodbye, Arryn.”

  Chak holds Arryn’s head up and cleans his tears. “You are a prince now, you must be strong, son. Now go and say goodbye.”

  Arryn cleans his face and takes a deep breath. He takes a couple of steps behind Chak and pushes him towards Cage.

  “May the sun shine on you, brother. Be strong, I know you are. Let that crazy one work her magic, I’m sure you guys will work something out,” Chak says as he looks at Elizabeth and smiles.

  “What?! What are you looking at?!” Elizabeth says as she flicks him off.

  “Elizabeth, you can’t be doing that stuff no more,” says Cage as he grabs her finger.

  “HE WAS STARING AT ME WEIRDLY!” she says as Cage brings his palm to his face.

  “Radahn.”

  Cage turns his head towards his brother, as he sees him taking some steps towards them.

  “Stay safe,” Radahn says to Cage.

  “You too, brother,” Cage responds.

  Elizabeth runs towards Radahn and hugs him. “Don’t you dare die, I will not be there to take care of all of you, I will not forgive you if you die, especially not now.”

  “Awww, you do care.”

  “I hate you so much.”

  “I know you do, sis,” says Radahn as he hugs Elizabeth.

  She lets go of him and goes to hug the kids. “Please don’t risk your lives, if you must run, run, you little ones are like my own kids, I will not forgive myself if we lose you.”

  She runs back to Cage as the door starts to close on them.

  “Byeee,” say the kids as they all gather together, holding their tears back.

  “You okay, brother?” Cage asks Chak as he approaches him, lowering himself.

  “This opens old wounds, but heals new ones,” Chak says to Cage. “Now let’s get to work, we only have so much time.”

  Chak looks underneath his coat and grabs a book that’s treated with a red glowing knot.

  “This was my treasure for the last couple years, I am now entrusting it to you. This was your father’s. Take your time, and read it when you can. There are things there that they wanted you to know, things about our past. I was waiting for your 16th birthday, but I think destiny has decided that now is the right time.”

  He hands the book to Arryn. The book is made out of thin paper, not refined or really of good quality, but sturdy nonetheless, almost primitive looking. It is wrapped in animal skin and engraved with a glowing red crystal in the middle of it.

  “To open it, do this.”

  Chak puts his hand over the crystal. “Only our people can open these locks.”

  He slowly moves his hand up. “Just like so.”

  As he does, the knot starts to untie itself and loosen up, the book opening itself to a blank page.

  Chak grabs it again and closes it.

  “Then close it like this.”

  He passes his hand in a downward motion and stops at the crystal again.

  “That’s a neat trick,” Radahn says as he passes his hand over the crystal.

  “Won’t work like th…” Chak says as he sees the book flickering and the knots start to loosen up.

  “What…” Chak responds with shock as the lock starts to light up slightly.

  “Son, come here,” he says as he pulls Arryn over and whispers in his ear.

  “Okay,” Arryn says.

  “What was that?” Radahn says.

  “Yeah, that was weird,” Tik says as he approaches and touches the crystal.

  “Can I see your book?” says Tok.

  “No! You are going to try to destroy it or something!” Arryn responds as he pulls the book away and brings it closer to his chest.

  “And that was nothing, Dad told me a secret he said I can’t tell you guys.”

  “Oh come on, Arryn, don’t be like that, what if there’s some weird mechanism that seals the book! It could help us out!”

  “NO,” Arryn says as he grabs the book and holds it down. He pouts and sits down.

  “This belongs to my father,” he thinks to himself.

  “I can’t believe I get to meet my father,” he says to himself as he holds the book, looking down at it.

  “Mhm,” says the king as he clears his throat. “Sorry to interrupt, but you guys must also start preparing to depart, Erathos is ready to leave, he is just waiting on you to be ready.”

  The king approaches the party as Elizabeth and Cage depart, the doors closing behind them.

  “Come on, kids, let’s get ready, we have a long way to go,” Radahn says as he grabs Chak’s wheelchair.

  “Right,” Arryn says as he stands up.

  He takes a look at the door and grabs his father’s journal.

  For a couple of seconds, which feel like an eternity, his mind goes blank, and the weight of everything finally settles in as he hugs the journal closer to him, and his tears start flowing.