She did not find him in the studio or the bedroom chamber but on the highest terrace. He was resting for the first time from the coronation. Seeing Kalena, he greeted her with a smile and she knelt. Two guards had accompanied him, so she had to keep the manners.

"Stand up," he said, "nice to see you again. I missed you. Show me what you brought!"

She handed him the book without saying a word. He flipped through it quickly and the smile disappeared slowly from his face.

"Whose comments are these?"

"Mine. There were many mistakes in the chapter about the history of Kagolania. I had to do something about it. It's not too much, I didn't have time on the way."

"I know very well the history of Kagolania."

"You once told me that mistakes should be corrected for future generations. I'm sorry," she added, seeing his scolding look. "I could not resist."

Galaspiael sent two guards away and asked her to sit next to him. He grew serious at one moment, it was obvious that he had something extremely urgent to tell her.

"Since you know what this book is about, I'm not going to hide anything from you," he said, pouring her a cup of tea. "What do you think?"

"I didn't read much and understood even less. Did Zarkin almost killed a man for some fairy tale?"

Kalena took up reading on the way. All she read was the introduction and the first few chapters. The author showed complete ignorance of history, he even had trouble writing down the names of some countries, but he quite accurately described the flow of energy through the human body and the various ways of using it, which he called the enchanting techniques. The whole book seemed like complete fiction. The girl felt a huge disappointment that she was sent after - in her opinion - something worthless.

"Don't you believe that once there were people with such powers?"

"And do you believe in it?"

"I have reasons for that," he admitted. "When you were sick, I managed to unleash such power, although I still don't understand how. However, thanks to this I could beat Gyeul. I don't know yet how it works, but enchanting is the only way he can treat us seriously. Perhaps, thanks to this, it will be possible to incorporate at least part of the Forbidden Zone back into Kagolania."

"Do Righteous Conspiracy know how to use this technique?"

"No," he replied, delving back into his reading. "Someone once said that this knowledge was only made available to the emperor and his children, but only a few were able to learn it. We're gonna try together, okay?"

"If you want to." Kalena shrugged. She was still quite skeptical of the whole idea. "Have you done something interesting when I was away?"

"I have a new law ready to present to Okiani, but it is still not a total ban on slavery. I just allowed slaves to have their own money. They will be able to buy themselves out of slavery, so I must have a place where they can settle down. That's why I want to limit Gyeul's territory. What?" He asked seeing her face. "Is it a bad idea?"

"No need to rush. If someone is a slave since birth, even if they're rich, they will not come up with the idea of buying themselves out of slavery." Kalena drank her tea with a few large sips and continued speaking. "I can tell you how it is from my personal experience. You've been dreaming of freedom all your life, and when you get it, it scares you and you don't know what to do with yourself. Most of them later work as a servant because they can't decide for themselves without you. It is their children who are born free, who manage to fight for their life."

"Sooner or later you'll need the area," Galaspiael replied. "I've got a bit worried because of what you wrote about Madegald. I doubt that the Empire is indeed preparing for war, but we must check it. I will send someone there when the situation in the palace will be calmed down."

"What situation?"

"I thought I told you? Okiani is coming. We have a small religious holiday that is an opportunity to discuss various matters. Tomorrow all the festivities will take place. The Silver Guard is to appear too."

"Tomorrow…" she repeated "so now we have a break. Wonderful, I'll finally bathe and sleep!"

They said goodbye. She came back home through the secret pa.s.sage she saw during the coronation, happy to finally be able to rest.

Zarkin spent almost all the money he earned on the food and ingredients for the poison he intended to make. They were mainly venom of scorpions and snakes, but also greenish syrups with pieces of plants floating inside. All this could be obtained at the Kagolanian market if you knew where to look.

Kalena told him to take the most disgusting things out of the kitchen and not bring them there anymore. He promised that he stuffed everything in the old workroom, which he intended to transform into his own and quickly took everything away.

*

"I don't have good manners." Blonde boy looked uncertainly around the large corridor and glanced suspiciously at the elegantly dressed man. "How should I behave towards them?"

"You don't have to pay attention to them at all," Kalena replied calmly, "unless one of them would attack Galaspiael. We are to ensure safety and not bow or entertain them."

Luko nodded a greeting.

"Go to the throne room, there has been a small change in plans, we are to accompany His Majesty on the way to the feast."

"I'm getting nervous. I can still quit, right?" Zarkin whispered softly.

Jun approached them unnoticed.

"Why are you still standing there?! On your positions, there is no time!"

Galaspiael came out with four Okiani accompanying him. The guards quickly formed two ranks around them on opposite sides. Kalena and Zarkin were to close the procession.

"Hey!" Suddenly Kalena nudged him and pointed at the tall man with an olive complexion. "I just remembered something. Can you see him? His name is Han Thiro!"

"What about it?" Zarkin tried to stay calm, but she noticed that he clenched his teeth at the name.

"They're a family! Maybe he knows something about Mei? Ask him!"

"I told you I wouldn't look for her! I'm fed up already with her family! A bunch of twisted fanatics, with her at the forefront!"

The girl didn't answer. Galaspiael didn't say a word on the way, listening to one of the advisers and nodding from time to time. She wondered if he was so absorbed or whether he had turned his attention off for a moment.

It was hard to watch over the safety of such a large chamber with dozens of people inside, but Jun found away. Earlier he ordered the guards to divide the room in their minds to small parts so that everyone would take care only of their area. Zarkin had the one at the door, which as if by the twist of fate was also guarded by Han.

"You must be new here, am I right? How do you like it in the Silver Guard?" He tried to talk to him when he noticed that the boy persistently stared at him.

"You have a nice life here," Zarkin admitted, "you can travel the whole world. I have recently returned from a mission."

"Do you like traveling? I have heard that the king plans to send someone to Madegald for a very long time. I can recommend you."

"Me? Where in the Madegald exactly?"

"Far. To Enila. Have you heard about this city?"

"Never. What is the king looking for there?"

"Information. The letter from your friend was quite disturbing, you have to see if there is anything to be afraid of. It would also be nice to sow some fools from the Righteous a.s.sociation."

"You mean the Righteous Conspiracy," Zarkin corrected him. "There are two organizations, the Righteous Conspiracy and the Scribes' a.s.sociation.

"For me, they're all the same," Han replied.

"Can I ask you something?" Zarkin interrupted abruptly.

"I've waited for it. You looked like you were going to ask me a question, my friend," he admitted, "what is worrying you?"

"Your surname is Thiro, just like my... friend's Mei. We've had a lot of arguments lately, and she's fled somewhere. I wonder if you don't know where it is. If she is your relative, she could have asked for help or..."

Han smiled in a way that Zarkin didn't like at all. He instinctively sensed that Mei had already told him her version of the story.

"Indeed, my distant cousin visited me a few days ago, which was quite surprising. I don't keep in touch with that part of the family. She was determined to travel far, so I advised her to go to Sekania because from there it is easiest to get away somewhere."

The boy groaned.

"I'll never find her again!"

"Relax, Sekania is just a stop. If she could go somewhere, I'd bet on Madegald. She would have to make a fortune to go overseas. Traveling to At'insha is expensive and the farther you want to go, the more you have to pay. Unless she got to work on the s.h.i.+p, but I doubt anyone would decide to let her."

"I understand. Thank you anyway." Zarkin bowed and moved away to return to his post. "I feel more calm knowing that she was here and is safe."

*

Kalena was getting a little bored.

She was alone on the other side of the room, watching over what was happening to Galaspiael and the Okiani closest to him. The problem is that nothing happened at all. According to her, the coronation party was much more interesting. She struggled to keep from yawning all the time.

The wives who decided to come to the capital talked to each other at another table, where Lin-Si was also sitting. Only men could sit at the royal table.

There were not many people, at least not as many as she expected. A smaller room could be allocated for this feast, but Galaspiael said that such important guests should always dine in the largest. This room, the most elegant and richly decorated, was suitable for the great lords of Kagolania.

Kalena stood still, almost falling asleep until suddenly someone fell on her. Cold water poured over her sleeve and leg.

"I am so sorry, my lady!" The servant curtsied nervously. "don't worry, it will dry out. It's only water!"

"All right," Kalena murmured in response. The accident woke her up a bit. She wondered if anyone would notice if she slipped away for a moment to change clothes, but decided to stay on position.

The stain was not a serious enough reason to leave the room. She glanced at her left hand and hissed, seeing the bright red material became absolutely black. As if someone had spilled ink, not water on it.

Kalena noticed with horror that Galaspiael had just raised the cup to his mouth. She ran as fast as she could and pry it out of his hand.

"Don't drink it!" She shouted. All eyes gathered at her.

"Why not?"

"It's poisoned!" Kalena showed him her sleeve. "It spilled on me just a moment ago!"

Galaspiael turned pale and moved away from the table, looking at her in horror.

"I took a sip," he whispered, "I didn't feel anything suspicious."

"Who else drank this water ?! She asked loudly, but no one answered. Lin-Si got up and covered her mouth. Galaspiael approached her quickly.

"Will I die?" She asked. "Please do something, I don't want to die! I don't want to!"

Jun acted very quickly. The royal couple was led to another room. Zarkin ran after them and caught Kalena on the stairs.

"What was that? Do you know" She asked, seeing the boy watched her stained clothes with curiosity.

"Wait a minute, let me check." He took a small bottle from under his s.h.i.+rt and poured the contents onto the black material. "That's okay. For sure it is not an acid. Fortunately. I think they can drink water and it will be good. Just in case I would give my antidote."

"Do you need anything?" Samin asked, and Zarkin looked at him with undisguised irritation.

"Water, I just said that. Make them drink a lot of clean water, they must dilute what they have swallowed. Does it sting you, itch it or anything?"

"Not at all." Galaspiael sighed heavily, trying to calm himself down. "Will we be all right?"

"I will do my best to keep you alive, Your Majesty."

The servants quickly arrived with the water, but Lin-Si did not want to drink. She demanded that someone try first, even though the water had already been tested. Galaspiael agreed to do so, suppressing growing anger.

"I have to go back and tell them I'm alive," he said finally.

"I think it would be better to go to rest somewhere safely." Kalena lowered her voice. "There may be a poisoner still in the palace."

"Do you suspect Okiani?"

"I'm not sure," she said, "but if someone in the palace wanted to kill you, they'd had many opportunities before. Yet they decided to wait until Okiani's arrival? I doubt it. It has to be one of them."

"She is right. You're not going anywhere, " the queen said firmly.

"It will be viewed as a lack of respect..."

"They tried to poison us, isn't that a lack of respect?" Lin-Si looked at Zarkin. "Are you sure that water is enough?"

"Absolutely," he a.s.sured, "whoever it was, they're not a good poisoner. Even if Kalena didn't react so quickly, I believe that it would end only in diarrhea, which, however, you would survive. This mix should not be diluted so much."

Galaspiael straightened up and staggered slightly. He was too tired to argue with Jun and Lin-Si. He allowed to lead him to the chamber. Five guardians stayed near, to protect the king. The rest, together with the palace guards, began an investigation.

Even if the circle of suspects narrowed to Okiani, it was not easy to identify the perpetrator. Their servants were not willing to cooperate.

Silver Guards began by asking a servant who had accidentally spilled poisoned water on Kalena. The boy, terrified by the whole situation, had difficulty expressing his thoughts clearly, but in the end, he confessed that he had seen one of the queen's maids revolve in the kitchen. Asked to point her out, he did so very reluctantly.

She was found dead in the chamber she had occupied earlier. She drank the same poison she used.

*

"Wake up!" Someone whispered nervously, shaking Galaspiael. It took a moment before he realized it was Lin-Si.

"What happened?" He muttered.

"I'm suffocating! The water they gave us was also poisoned! I can't breathe!" She stammered. Galaspiael sat on the bed and lid a new candle from the end of the previous one.

"You're fine," he said calmly. "Water has been checked thoroughly."

"I've been poisoned, I can feel it!"

"You're panicking!" He said, grabbing her by the shoulders. "You are completely healthy and safe. Lie down, close your eyes, and breathe calmly."

"How can I be calm if there is a killer in the palace? What if he comes here and slits our throats? Or start a fire when we fall asleep?" She asked, looking deep into his eyes, waiting for her to subdue her fears once again.

"My guards are outside. They won't let anyone in, and if there really would be a fire, they'll let us know and evacuate us with the shortest route."

He managed to calm her for a moment, but then he heard her sob quietly again. For the first time, Galaspiael began to feel sorry for her. He didn't even notice when she lost her old confidence and insolence.

"Would you like a cup of tea?" He asked, not knowing how to start the conversation. She shook her head and wiped her eyes. She began to remove the hair clips, but she couldn't quite do it.

Galaspoael dipped his hand in her blond hair and slowly began to untangle the ornaments. She slept in them, so it was hard. When he finished, he hugged her and was surprised that she didn't protest. Last time she let him do it when they were both seven years old. Running in a long dress, she fell and hurt her leg, and Galaspiael comforted her.

She changed position to a bit more comfortable and sighed heavily.

"What's the matter with me lately?"

"I don't understand what you mean."

"I shouldn't get hysterical," she explained. "That's not how the queen behaves. Tell me how you do that you are not afraid at all? Someone tried to kill you and you are so calm..."

"I don't show it, but that doesn't mean I'm not afraid. When I realized that I had drunk the poison, I was terrified like never before in my life. I am afraid of death, but I try to think that we managed to survive and I'm happy about it." He smiled when Lin-Si looked at him. "Don't worry, as long as I have the strength to hold the sword in my hand, I won't let anyone hurt my wife."