THE LOST PRINCE: BOOK I - CHILD OF PROPHECY

DRAMATIS PERSONAE In order of appearance

• Adeline, Queen of Onderon, Child of Fire and Daughter of the Allfather [Onderian]
• Ganner Rylandar, High Prince of Onderon, deposed Crown Prince of the Humans, Child of Earth and Son of the Allfather [Human]
• Annira, Heir to the Throne [half-blood]
• Teran, Blood Prince of Onderon [Onderian]
• General Puyan Jun, Commander of the Puyang Army [Mar'Kaa, Puyan Tribe]
• Puyan Ni, the Young Lady of the Puyan Tribe [Mar'Kaa, Puyan Tribe]
• Vice-Chancellor Danae Volsca of the Grand Chamber, Archon of the Greater House of Volsca [Onderian]
• Chief State Councilor Tacitus of the Grand Secretariat [Onderian]
• Saagen ae Thyrske [half-blood]
• Clan Prince Mir Stryver of the Nordea Principality, Chief Administrator of the Kaling Bay Center Office [Human]
• Hereditary Prince Valin Stryver of the Nordea Principality, Chieftain of the Northern Clans [Human]
• Ceferyn, Chief Merchant of Kalinga Bay [Onderian]
• Yela Yuvin, Prince of Yeling, Prince Regent of Da'Lyan [Mar'Kaa, Yela and Imperial Lian Tribes]
• Yular Langhua of Das'Yulan, Imperial Noble Consort Jing, mother of the Second Prince Lian Yujin [Mar'Kaa, Yular Tribe]
• Yelu Xi of Das'Yelun, Prime Minister of Da'Lyan [Mar'Kaa, Yelu Tribe]
• Ayden, Prince Royal [half-blood]
• Captain Tallus Tykrana, House of Goral, Leader of the Praetorian Guards [Onderian]
• Talin Tykrana, House of Goral, Prince Onderian [Onderian]
• Yular Yunli, State Duke of Qi, Chief of the Yular Tribe [Mar'Kaa, Yular Tribe]
• Marquis General Puyan Di, the Great Tiger of Guilin Hill [Mar'Kaa, Puyan Tribe]
• Kai'leen, Great Mother of Herne [Ney'shi]

PROLOGUE
A son is born to Adeline, Queen of Onderon and Child of Fire (Daughter of the Allfather) and her consort, Ganner Rylandar, the High Prince of Onderon and deposed Crown Prince of the Human Kingdom of Ryland, himself a Child of Earth (Son of the Allfather), both children of prophecy (The First Prophecy of Cassandra the Gand). When the Grand Chamber of Archons and the State Council are informed of the news of the birth of a son, they rush to the Royal Palace of Kastus in Aurain, the capitol city of the Onderian Kingdom. For reasons yet unknown to the audience, the Archons and State Councilors all beg for the child to be killed - it is the Cursed Boy of Prophecy. When the Queen refuses to see them, they protest by kneeling on the ground in front of the Royal Palace (for all of Aurain to see). Finally, the High Prince grants them audience. Again, they beg him to do the right thing and protect the Queen. He cannot let himself waver at this crucial point. The High Prince is angry - the boy is his child, too, after all. What parent could intentionally and easily harm their own blood and flesh? The future is not yet determined. No prophecy should determine the fate of his son.
Yet, the Archons and the State Councilors press on with their argument. The First Prophecy of Cassandra the Gand came true after all, didn't it? It took millennia but came to pass this century - producing the three Children of the Allfather, one of whom is Ganner (Child of Earth) and the other, Adeline (Child of Fire). If such a grand and well-known prophecy came to, who is to say that this new one (Cursed Child) will not come true? Better safe than sorry. The High Prince should be concerned with preserving the life of the Queen. If she dies, Onderon will be weak in the face of the growing enemy (the Mar'Kaa of Reborn Da'Lyan). After all that has happened in the last year, the kingdom of Onderon cannot take any more risks. Ganner seems to be convinced by their arguments. He tells them to go home. When they ask for assurances, we do not hear his answer.
Adeline has barely slept since giving birth. Day by day, hour by hour, and minute by minute, she holds on tightly to her newly born son in the fears that someone will snatch him away from her. Ganner comes to see her and is able to convince her to sleep for a couple hours. He will watch over their son. Adeline reluctantly passes the baby to her husband. She tries to stay awake but exhaustion and sleep soon take her. While she is asleep, Ganner takes the child away. When Adeline wakes up the next morning, she is told by Ganner that their son died. Adeline is shocked and agonized. She refuses to believe it! Ganner has the gift of healing - he is able to bring people back from near death. How could he not save his own child? Ganner tells her that it is for her own good, essentially implying that the child was sick/near death, but he refused to heal him. Adeline is very angry. She tells him she will never forgive him for what he has done - let a prophecy decide the fate of their child.
CHILDREN OF PEACE
A ceremony is taking place somewhere in the Bay of Kaling [exact location TBD], the seat of The Merchant Guild, attended by representatives of the Onderian and Mar'Kaa royal and imperial families, as well as their courts' political representatives. We are introduced to a woman named Annira (who obviously heads the Onderian delegation). She is the Heir to the Onderian Throne, the only daughter of Adeline and Ganner, and thus the sole heir to the Kastus Throne. The Princess is accompanied by a 6-year old solemn looking boy, who we find out is her eldest son, Teran, Blood Prince of Onderon. On the other side of the podium stand a Mar'Kaa man with the characteristic pale markings of the Mar'Kaa Puyan Tribe and his 7-year old daughter, who is as joyful and mischievous as solemn and serious young Teran is. Who is this Mar'Kaa man? He is General Puyan Jun (courtesy name: Ya'wen) of the influential Puyang Tribe, the rulers of the Southern Mar'Kaa port city of Das'Puyang. He is accompanied by his daughter, Puyan Ni. General Puyan gives a quick wink to Annira who replies with a smirk and a mocking shake of head.
Ceferyn, the Chief Merchant of Kalinga Bay ascends the podium and begins the ceremony. From his monologue, we learn that 8 years ago, there was a fierce war between the Onderians and the Reborn Da'Lyan Dynasty of Mar'Kaa. The Onderians and the Mar'Kaa had long been enemies for millennia, but things had heated up when Annira's grandmother and Adeline's mother, Elvira the Conqueror, slaughtered the entire Imperial Family of the Da'Lyan Empire and conquered the Southern half of Mar'Kaa. Only one child from the Lian Imperial Tribe was left alive and taken as a hostage prince by Elvira back to Aurain. His name? Rayden, the Zuihou Wangzi (Last Prince) and the third Child of the Allfather to be born on the Continent - the Child of Water, who later reclaimed his land and people and became the Kangli Emperor. However, in the Last Battle of Aven's Cliff (near Trykan), Rayden gave his life to save Adeline and Ganner, his siblings "of the soul". Wanting to respect his sacrifice, Adeline decreed the war to stop and a peace treaty to be negotiated by her daughter and heir Annira and General Puyan Jun of the Puyang Army, once a prisoner-of-war to the Onderians. Since then, a fragile peace has existed between the two peoples. Yet, a condition of the peace treaty is about to go into effect - the (temporary) exchange of children. In honor of Rayden's years as an Onderian hostage prince and the love of friendship that developed between him and Adeline (though it couldn't prevent the war), a child of Onderon will go to live in Mar'Kaa for a year, as a child of Mar'Kaa will go and live in Onderon for a year as well. Ceferyn is here to oversee the exchange of the Ambassador Children of Peace. He asks the parents to prepare for the exchange.
Annira stoops down to her son's level. She tells him to be a good boy - to be careful and observant and take this opportunity to learn about the Mar'Kaa. You will be safe with your godfather. Young Teran replies in his very solemn but cute way that as the eldest child of the Heir to the Onderian Throne, he will conduct himself properly and fulfill his responsibility as a peace and cultural exchange ambassador. Annira laughs at his answer and kisses her son on the cheek, reminding him to also have fun while he can! On the other side, General Puyan also bids farewell to his daughter, whom he affectionately calls A'Ni (pet name, pronounced Ah-nee). From their conversation, we learn that A'Ni's mother died soon after her birth and she has been raised all her life by her father (and grandmother, the Great formerly White Tiger of Guilin Hill, the Marquis General Puyan Di). Unlike her counterpart, A'Ni is very excitable and tells her father not to worry - it's not her first time in the kingdom of Onderon. Ceferyn signals for the exchange to begin. The children switch places. To the surprise of none (seemingly), A'Ni but runs at Annira and gives her a resounding hug, greeting her as Gugu (Aunt or Father's Sister). Annira greets her young ward as Xiao A'Ni (Little A'Ni) very happily (we will learn later A'Ni was named after Annira, whose home name was Anny). From their interactions, it is obvious that it is not their first meeting and both are well-acquainted with the other. On the other hand, Teran very politely greets Puyan Jun, whom he calls "godfather". Jun smiles gently at him and takes his hand solidly.
Watching the exchange are a couple Onderian officials: Archon Danae Volsca of the Greater House of Volsca, the First Vice-Chancellor of the Grand Chamber, and Tacitus, the Chief State Councilor of the Grand Secretariat (head of the State Council). Tacitus remarks snarkily to Archon Volsca that this exchange is not fair nor properly balanced. The Onderians are giving away a Blood Prince, a member of the Royal Family of the Kastus bloodline, while the Mar'Kaa can't even provide a member of their own Lian Imperial Tribe! Archon Volsca tsks tsks at the Chief State Councilor. He knows well enough that the Mar'Kaa cannot give away a child of the Imperial Lian Tribe. Of the Kangli Emperor's two children, one is too old (the Prince of Yeling) and not even the true blood of Lian (an adopted child) and the second Prince, though of appropriate age (8 years old), is the presumptive Emperor. The Second Prince (the 8 year old) will surely wear the Dragon Crown of the Reborn Da'Lyan Dynasty when he reaches fourteen. As the only living child of a Child of the Allfather (Rayden, Kangli Emperor) and the former Emperor, there is too much risk in him being the one to go. Tacitus concedes that in this, the Onderians have had better luck. There are many children in their Royal Family. Of course, Annira as Heir, could not go herself. Her twin brother, Ayden, is too old to go and has already served for a very short period of time as a hostage anyways. Ayden's daughter, Aayra (pronounced Ae-ra), as the only other female Royal child (and presumptive heir should anything happen to Annira) cannot go. Besides, she has barely any Onderian blood (Aayra's mother is a human, which makes her 3/4 human and 1/4 Onderian). That would leave the two sons of Annira: the elder Teran and younger Yawain. Both are eligible given that they are not directly in line to the Throne (only females can ascend to the Onderian Throne, as only males can ascend to the Mar'Kaa Throne). Given Yawain's young age (barely 3), Teran is the most suitable choice. Archon Volsca also remarks that the Puyang Tribe is not be trifled with - or looked down upon. At their current prestige and power level, they are only second to the Imperial Tribe of Lian. The Great Tiger (Marquis General Puyan Di) and her only surviving child from the last war, General Puyan Jun, both sit on the Ruling Regents' Council (composed of the Prince of Yeling, the Imperial Noble Consort Jing, the Prime Minister Yelu Xi, etc.). Since the Second Prince, as the presumptive Crown Prince, cannot himself go as exchange, it is suitable that Puyan Ni goes in his place. As a daughter, she cannot formerly lead the Puyan Tribe (daughters can lead other things, just not Tribes or countries).
However, Archon Volsca wonders why Yela Yuvin, the Prince of Yeling (the adoptive child of the deceased Kangli Emperor) is not present at this exchange. The Prince of Yeling was given a very special status in Onderian society - he was made also an adoptive child of the Onderian Queen Adeline. Never before has a member of another race been given such a status. Yet the Prince of Yeling can't even show up to this important ceremony. Tacitus remarks that there are rumors of an internal feud between the members of the Mar'Kaa Regents' Council. Some say there is conflict between the Prince of Yeling and the Imperial Noble Consort Jing, the mother of the Second Prince, Lian Yujin. Apparently, the Prince of Yeling might have changed his mind about granting the Dragon Throne to his younger brother. At this point, Annira has (over)heard enough and gives them a sharp look, causing the two officials to stop talking.
After the ceremony is over, Annira and Jun get a chance to talk (she calls him still by his courtesy name, Ya'wen). Anny, referring to the conversation she overheard between Archon Volsca and the Chief State Councilor, asks why Yuvin is not present at the ceremony and if the rumors are true of the feud between members of the Regents' Council. Jun can neither confirm nor deny the rumors - obviously, he is not willing to give away such details to Annira, who is the Heir to the Onderian Throne. All he can say is that there are rumbles in certain Tribes regarding the peace treaty with the Onderians. Some feel that the reparations are insignificant. To preserve the peace, the Prince of Yeling and the Imperial Noble Consort are working very hard - with one mind and heart. Anny is very concerned about whether their two people can preserve the peace that so many died for, that she and Ya'wen worked their butts off for. At all costs, the peace should be preserved. The wheel of enmity between the Onderians and the Mar'Kaa must be stopped. Jun agrees.
Puyan Ni and Teran are playing together, watched over by Anny's personal guards (named TBD), the half-bloods Ali and Dragmir. A'Ni is totally bullying Teran at this rate. Jun guiltily remarks that A'Ni will surely be a handful - he hopes she won't give Anny too much trouble. Anny says it's totally fine. She loves A'Ni and is very sad for the child that her mother died so young. And she will be a good playmate and companion for Anny's niece Aayra, who is the only female of the Royal Family and prefers sitting in shadows to playing out in the sun. Jun catches Anny's wistful gaze towards his daughter. He carefully says to her: "don't worry, you will have your own daughter soon enough." Anny gives him a sad look and replies that she does not think it is in her fate to have daughters. Jun: "What ever makes you say that? You and Talin have many years left." Anny wonders if she even wants daughters. Her relationship with her own mother, Adeline Queen of Onderon, was very strained in her younger years. She felt as if every time Adeline looked at her, she only saw a reminder of her own mortality. Jun remarks that the Queen doesn't seem like someone who desperately clings onto life but Anny replies that it is only a normal thing for all living beings to feel such a way towards potential death. Jun: "But if you do not have daughters, then who will inherit the Kastus Throne? Aayra is not..." He trails off. Anny knows that Aayra's claim to the throne is diluted by the fact of her parentage (her mother is a human). Many people do not want her niece to ascend. Anny will be the first half-blood to ascend to the Onderian Throne in the future and that was only acceptable because her father wasn't a "regular" human - he was the Crown Prince (now deposed) of the Human Kingdom and himself a Child of the Allfather. The conservatives are much less willing to accept a quarter Onderian (in the form of Aayra) as Queen. But it's all right. If Anny herself does not bear any female children, then there will be no other choice than Aayra. As long as there is not another option (and there really isn't - Anny's grandmother Elvira killed off other branches of the Royal family when she stop the throne from the true heir, her cousin), Aayra will be Queen.
The two parties finally separate and make to go back to their lands. Anny and Jun give a final send-off to their children. At first, A'Ni sits in Annira's carriage but soon becomes bored and asks to join Drag on his horse. Anny cannot say no to her pleading namesake and allows her to go. A while later, their party is ambushed. Anny's carriage overturns. She manages to escape and sees the terrible sight for her. Masked individuals have somehow managed to take the Onderians hostage, including her two personal guards Drag and Ali, and Archon Volsca and Chief Councilor Tacitus. Seeing that Anny is still unharmed and relatively free, Archon Volsca yells at her to flee while she still can. Anny cannot see A'Ni and becomes worried. She confronts the masked aggressors and ask who they are and why they are doing this. The Masked individuals reply "vengeance". Although fearful for her ward's safety, Anny still has a little aggression and arrogance, embers of the fire she was during her youthful years. She only smirks at the Masked individuals and ask them if they think their numbers are enough to take her down. She then uses her telekinetic abilities and her "light whips" to fight off the Masked people and to free the Onderians who help her fight back. During the fight, the Masked people's clothing slip to reveal their identities - they bear the characteristic markings of the Hua Tribe of Mar'Kaa (different Mar'Kaa tribes have different markings on their bodies). Anny is shocked! The Hua Tribe!!! What are they doing here? The Hua assassins continue to state that they want vengeance. Anny and the freed Onderians are able to fight off the Hua assassins until one appears holding young A'Ni as hostage. That assassin flees into the forests with A'Ni and Anny gives chase. Drag and Ali make to follow her but unfortunately, they follow their mistress too late because they had to save the lives of Tacitus and Archon Volsca. When they finally run into the forests to try to find A'Ni and Anny, they find no trace of the Heir to the Throne or her Mar'Kaa ward.
THE BLACKSMITH'S SON
In some random small town [TBD] on the continent of Istar, a scrawny boy named Eunson is chased into an alley by his bullies. As they are about to beat him up, we see a shot of Eunson's hand widening his fingers (basically doing the opposite of clenching a fist) and the leaves and dirt in the alley slowly rise up. However, Eunson is saved just in the nick of time by his close friend Saagen ae Thyrske (pronounced Thirsk-ka), the son of the town's blacksmith.
From their conversations, we learned that the two boys became friends when Eunson moved to the town a couple years back. Saagen always protects Eunson because Eunson is physically weaker than him. Eunson's family are traders so they go back and forth and are not in town for the most of the time, so Eunson usually has to fend for himself. The two of them go to a pub. Mira, Saagen's mother, runs the kitchens for the pubs. It is clear that Saagen is close to Mira. From their conversations, we learn that it is "about time" for their family to move around to another village. Saagen asks why they can't stay and why they move every couple years but Mira doesn't really give an answer, only stating that it's for their safety. Saagen doesn't want to leave Eunson alone at this village, so Mira says they can take him when they go. Saagen feels a little happier after that.
From the pub's inhabitants, we get some information about what's going on in the Western continent (our continent). The Onderians and Mar'Kaa are poised to re-start their war from eight years ago and it's making everyone real nervous. A bunch of sketchy people enter the pub but they are very quiet and do nothing. Given that Saagen is the blacksmith's son, he is asked about the supply of unther (Onderian metal) and it would be affected by the tension on the other continent. Saagen assures the townspeople that he and his father have it sorted and have stockpiled enough metal/iron for a couple years. Mira comes into the main hall from the kitchen to help the kitchen girls (short-staffed) serve the dishes and catches sight of the sketchy people and grows completely cold. She goes up to them and starts yelling at them to leave - that it's no place for them here. Eunson and Saagen are super confused but then try to defend Mira when the sketchy people become aggressive. However, the other townspeople (though also confused as to why Mira acted the way she did) decide to back her up. Mira, Saagen, and Eunson watch the sketchy people leave town. Saagen tries to ask his mother who they were and how she knew them but she just tells him to return to their house and start packing. They need to leave this village tomorrow. To Eunson, she invites him to come along with them if he wants. Then Mira goes back into the pub.
A very confused Saagen sidles back to his house where he spots his father, Ganuus, forging a shield using unther. Ganuus explains to him that Onderian metal/iron core is the strongest to exist - if the war does resume between their people and the Mar'Kaa on the Western continent, the supplies to Istar will surely be limited. Saagen (somehow) spots some structural flaw in the shield that Ganuus missed. On closer inspection, Saagen turns out to be correct. Ganuus remarks that Saagen has always had a gift for "finding structural flaws" in all the products they create. He was definitely born to be a blacksmith's son. Saagen jokes that he looks nothing like his parents, though. Ganuus accepts it - Saagen was adopted by them (they found him on the streets).
At that point, Mira arrives back at their house and is furious to find the father-and-son duo very calm and chilled out. She asks why they are not preparing to leave. Ganuus has no idea what she is talking about until Mira tells him what happened. Then he has also has a very violent reaction! He says there's no time to take anything and they must leave now. The two of them try to drag Saagen to the horses but he is reluctant - he wants to go and get Eunson. However, Mira insists that "there is no time". Saagen then becomes really angry. Before they do anything, he wants them to tell him the truth! Ganuus assures him they will tell him the truth on the way.
As the three continue fighting, all of a sudden the sketchy people from the pub arrive at their house. Saagen becomes scared. The sketchy leader just tells Mira and Ganuus to "hand over the boy" and "all will be forgiven", though the two refuse to comply. To Saagen's surprise, Mira and Ganuus start fighting the sketchy people and they do so pretty properly. In an effort to stop the sketchy people from getting Saagen, Ganuus is (most likely) fatally injured with one of the axes he was forging in his chest. The three manage to escape but do not get far before they are found by the sketchy people. However, all of a sudden, Eunson appears before them. Saagen tells Eunson to run because this doesn't concern him but again, to his surprise, Eunson just calmly shakes his head and then says, it does. Eunson then goes and stands between Saagen/family and the sketchy people (who are also confused). Saagen yells at Eunson to stop being an idiot but Eunson just looks to Mira and Ganuus and tells them that "as long as they can keep Saagen safe, their merits will far outweigh their sins." As the sketchy people make to move towards Saagen and the family, we see Eunson's fist unclench and a gust of air strike at the sketchy people. Eunson's robes also change color as they turn from gray to white. A staff forms in his hands and he fights the sketchy people. Before Saagen has any time to react, he is dragged away by his parents.
Ganuus is deteriorating quickly. He knows he is slowing them down, and so he convinces Mira to take Saagen away. They will not be able to get to a healer in time for him to recover. He will die soon anyways. A sobbing Saagen is forcibly taken away by Mira. The mother-and-son duo arrive at Starport where Mira secures safe passage on a ship, The Teary God, that will go to the Bay of Kalinga on the Western continent. She promises a shell-shocked Saagen that she will tell him the truth and whole truth once they are safely on the seas. However, as they board, she is attacked by the sketchy masked people. She holds them off long enough for Saagen to reach the ship. Mira's last words to him are, "Find the High Prince! Find the Onderians!" As The Teary God sets sails, a crying Saagen watches his mother die on the ports (surrounded by people who are trying to help her but to no avail). The sketchy people also try to take a ship to go over the Teary God, but the winds are too strong and push The Teary God forward that they end up losing the ship. We see a figure in white with a staff on a cliff watching The Teary God's "escape" (this is Eunson who has used his ability to manipulate air to push the Teary God forward). On the seas, the first mate takes pity on the shellshocked Saagen and gives him food and water. He asks Saagen where he's going and Saagen replies that he doesn't really know. He needs to find the Onderians? The first mate replies, "Well, there are plenty of Onderians in Kalinga Bay. I'm partly Onderian myself, like you." Saagen: "Like me? I'm not Onderian!" First mate Kaz: "You definitely have some Onderian blood."
THE FACE OF A FRIEND
The Teary God lands in the Port of Monglar in the Bay of Kaling. The Merchant Guild rules the three "free" cities of the South in the Bay, of which the Port of Monglar is one. A very confused Saagen disembarks and doesn't seem too sure what to do. Kaz asks him if he needs help but Saagen, not wanting to trust a stranger (even a kind stranger), says no. As Saagen stumbles into the city, Kaz watches him go and then tells one of his subordinates to report "the matter to the Chief immediately."
Saagen comes across a bunch of human soldiers who are chasing some thieves. He helps them apprehend the thieves but is injured in return. In gratitude, the human soldiers take him back to their Kalinga Center Office to get some treatment, food, and shelter for the night. There, Saagen meets one Clan Prince Mir Stryver of the Northern Nordea Principality, the commander of the Center Office. After hearing from his subordinates of Saagen's brave actions, Mir allows Saagen to stay the night - but only the night. A sentry comes in to notify Mir that the Hereditary Prince has arrived in the city. Mir excuses himself to greet his father but then stops in his tracks. He has a nagging sensation that he's seen Saagen somewhere - his face is so familiar.
Mir greets his father, the Hereditary Prince Valin Stryver of the Nordea Principality, Chieftain of the Northern Clans, and the occasional Regent of the Rylandar Kingdom. Mir is Valin's second son. The two discuss politics and the tense situation between the Onderians and the Mar'Kaa. The "Heir to the Throne" and the "Puyan heiress" still haven't been found for months and now the Onderians have set up camps right-off the Hanging City (of Pylos) [commonly referred to as the Gateway to Onderon]. In response, the Mar'Kaa have also set up camps. This is all happening only a couple days' journey from the Port of Monglar and it's causing quite a hassle for the trade towards the Human Kingdom of Ryland. "The Old King" (Colin Rylandar, King of the Humans) is having quite a headache with the hassle. Mir asks his father what Colin will do if the push comes to shove and the Onderians go to war AGAIN with the Mar'Kaa. Valin sighs. That is not certain. In the last couple of years, Ayden, the Prince Royal of Onderon has led the treaty talks between the Onderians and the Humans after two decades of practically ignoring each other. Though Colin will never accept his wayward son, the deposed Crown Prince Ganner (now High Prince of Onderon and consort to its Queen) as his heir again, at this rate, Ayden, Ganner's only male child, will be King after Colin. That is, of course, if the Queen of Onderon can let her beloved son go. Despite the enmity between the Onderians and the Humans thawing due to Ayden's efforts, still there is no official treaty signed. The Old King is won't to join a war that has nothing to do with him or the Humans. But, Mir interjects, it is his granddaughter, his blood, the twin sister of his presumptive successor, who has gone missing. Can the Humans really not involve themselves, completely stay out of this war? They stayed out of the first, but they might not be able to stay out of the second.
Valin sighs (for like the hundredth time during the conversation). He hopes this situation can be resolved and that war will not break out. The continent is still recovering from the after-effects of the last Onderian-Mar'Kaa war, which happened just eight years ago. The Onderians have barely rebuilt their capitol Aurain after it was burnt to the ground by the Kangli Emperor's Mar'Kaa forces. There is no Emperor in Da'Lyan and won't be for at least a couple years. No one, least of all the Onderians and the Mar'Kaa, can afford another war. Mir remarks that it's why Ceferyn and the Merchant Guild are working double time to help find the missing Princess and her Puyan ward. Ah, Valin replies, is that why he saw so many Guild agents out and about in not only Kalinga Bay but also the big cities (including ports) of all three kingdoms on the Continent, and even on Isle Therianth (where the shapeshifting Nagul reside)? Mir replies in the affirmative. Ceferyn is very keen on this peace going forward - for business (if the war starts, Onderian metal supply will be reduced/cut) - after all he was the one who oversees all the formal ceremonies between the two parties.
As the two are still talking, Saagen enters the tent to ask a question/speak to Mir. When Valin catches sight of him, he drops his goblet in shock. Mir and Saagen are worried and ask if Valin is okay. Valin can only utter the words "you... you... Impossible. It cannot be. They said you had died." Then he goes really close to Saagen and touches his face, "the spitting image..." All of a sudden, Valin becomes serious. He barks at Mir: who knows Saagen is here? Make sure no one here speaks of his existence to anyone outside the Center Office. After Mir makes the arrangements, he comes back. He asks his father to tell both him and Saagen what the heck is happening. Saagen is very confused. At this point, he is also very exasperated by all the things he doesn't know. Valin sits Saagen and Mir down. He asks Saagen to tell them everything that has happened to him. Saagen tells them the entire story from start to finish. After hearing his story, Mir tells him that he's sorry to hear of what happened to his parents. Yet, he still doesn't understand who Saagen is and why he has anything to do "us". Valin remarks on the last words of Mira: "Find the High Prince. Find the Onderians." His initial suspicions are further confirmed. Valin gives Saagen a breakdown of the political situation and history between the peoples of this continent and supposes that Saagen is the Lost Prince of Onderon, the third child of Adeline and Ganner who had died soon after birth from unknown reasons. Saagen is extremely shocked and stands up. Mir can't believe such a thing is possible - the High Prince himself announced the death of the child. That would mean he knew all along that Saagen was alive but sent him elsewhere? But why... then Mir trails off. He's about to say something when Valin gives him a piercing gaze and a quick shake of a head (Saagen's back is turned towards them). Valin: "Whatever the truth is, we won't find it out from speaking to each other. We must inform the High Prince. It is possible that the Queen herself does not know the truth of the matter and the Ganner kept it from her, and everyone else, all this time. This will further complicate the current situation."
Meanwhile, Saagen is still shook. He realizes that all his life, people have been lying to him. His "so-called" parents weren't his parents. Even Eunson, whoever he was and whatever his intentions are, did not tell him the truth. He turns around quickly and asks Valin about his friend Eunson. Valin isn't sure about that. Perhaps Eunson is another Onderian agent that his father the High Prince tasked to look after Saagen. But Saagen doesn't think that's the case because his parents, Mira and Ganuus, didn't know the truth about Eunson - they were equally surprised as Saagen was when Eunson displayed his abilities. Mir wonders how many Onderians are registered as an air-wielder (air elementalist). Once Saagen is returned to the Onderians, it shouldn't be that hard to figure out.
Mir thinks the next step is to take Saagen to his parents in Aurain but Valin quickly shuts that down. No one, especially the Onderians, must know of Saagen's existence until his father, Ganner the High Prince, has been informed and can tell them what to do next. Think about it, he says. The birth of a Royal Prince - a Blood Prince - is important to the Kingdom of Onderon. Not only Onderon, but to the Rylands as well given that any male child of Adeline and Ganner stands to inherit to the Human Throne. After all, when news of Adeline's second pregnancy came out, the Old King (Colin) looked to see if he could somehow snatch this unborn child, if it be a boy. Mir is shocked and so is Ganner. "The King tried to steal the child?" Valin shrugged: "we needed heirs." Then it looks like he has an idea! Back then, it was Ceferyn, the Chief Merchant (the leader of the Merchant Guild that rules Kalinga Bay) who informed the Vipers (the spy organization for the Human kingdom) of this pregnancy. And given that this entire issue of Saagen being reported as dead but somehow smuggled out to Istar with caretakers smells of Ceferyn. To take a baby child (Saagen) to Istar, the port of embarkation must have been in Kalinga Bay. Valin thinks that the Chief Merchant may have aided Ganner in his deceit/plans, whether or not he knew the whole truth of what Ganner was planning. If Valin and Mir are to safely take Saagen to his father without any "unnecessary people" knowing (to protect Saagen's life given that the masked people want to kill him and to protect him from the Onderians, because why else would Ganner lie about his son's death?), they need Ceferyn's help to get out of Kalinga Bay unnoticed.
Valin and Mir take Saagen to see Ceferyn, the Chief Merchant of Kalinga Bay Merchants' Guild. Ceferyn is an Onderian but it is not known which House he hails from - no Greater House of Onderon has claimed him. Perhaps he is a nulla domus, supposes Mir. Valin replies, perhaps, but he doesn't think so. Much of Ceferyn's past life before entering the Guild as an Onderian representative remains murky. Valin explains the Merchant Guild to Saagen. The Merchant Guild rules the three free cities of Kalinga Build and is ruled by a 12-member Merchant Council, composed of three members of each of the four dominant species of the Continent: Onderians, Mar'Kaa, humans, and Nagul. The Chief Merchant position is rotated amongst the four species. Currently, it is Ceferyn, an Onderian whose House affiliation is unknown, who leads the Merchant Guild as Chief. Ceferyn is a particularly tricky character. He has close ties with both Adeline and Ganner, and with Colin. Before Rayden's death, Ceferyn also helped Rayden when possible. The Merchant Guild is not loyal to any one species - they do as benefits their entire organization. Valin warns Saagen to be careful - they don't know what role Ceferyn plays in this entire situation.
To their surprise, Ceferyn is expecting them. Besides him stands the first mate of The Teary God, Kaz, who happens to be one of the Guild's many eyes and ears. Saagen is surprised to see Kaz and then becomes angry, wondering if Ceferyn was behind everything. Kaz explains that Ceferyn tasked them to be extra vigilant because of the kidnapping of the Onderian Heir to the Throne - they are to report anything that is even slightly suspicious to Ceferyn directly. Ceferyn dismisses Kaz. After Kaz leaves, Ceferyn goes to Saagen and grasps him by the shoulders, stating that last he saw Saagen, Saagen was but a mewling and irritable newborn. Now, he is the spitting image of his father, Ganner Rylandar, Child of Earth. This practically confirms that Ceferyn helped Ganner fake Saagen's death and later smuggle Saagen from this Continent to Istar. Saagen wants answers but Ceferyn tells him to be patient - he must wait to hear directly from his father, first and foremost. It is not a story that Ceferyn has the right to tell. Valin wants Ceferyn's help to take Saagen out of the Port of Monglar unnoticed and safely to Aurain. Ceferyn says he will help but Saagen cannot go to Aurain - at least, not without Ganner's escort. Things are highly unstable right now because of the face-off between the Onderians the Mar'Kaa. It will not do to send Saagen into the wild. Then where should Saagen go, asks Mir? He cannot stay in Kalinga Bay - it is too crowded and trafficked by many types of people from many organizations with many agendas. Even with the help of the Merchant Guild, the news of Saagen's existence may leak. Ceferyn states that Saagen must leave Kalinga Bay. He will go to the Onderian camps at Pylos, where his elder brother, Ayden the Prince Royal has recently arrived to oversee the defenses should there be an attack by the Mar'Kaa. Ayden, who is Ceferyn's disciple (Ayden mentored under Ceferyn in his youth), will surely ensure Saagen's safety until Ganner, whom Ceferyn has just informed of Saagen's arrival to the Continent, can go to Pylos.
Mir will escort Saagen safely to Pylos to meet Ayden while Valin will stay behind temporarily. He tells Ceferyn that he will have to inform the Old King (Colin) of these updates. He's sure the King will be happy to hear that he has another grandson, another potential heir. Ceferyn frowns at that. He only needs one, though (as in he only needs one heir which he already has in the form of Ayden). Valin smiles in reply though the smile doesn't reach his eyes. Ayden is a good boy and would definitely be a good King. Yet, he has lived almost all his life in Onderon. He would surely be biased towards the Onderians and their causes when he takes the mantle from Colin of King of the Humans. Whereas Saagen has no such affiliation to the Onderians... Ceferyn is not very happy with Valin's words. Of course, for Ceferyn, Ayden is his mentee and he would prefer Ayden to succeed Colin than the stranger Saagen. Later, Mir asks his father privately why he said such potentially dangerous and definitely inflammatory words to Ceferyn who will surely tell Ayden (while he's informing Ayden ahead of their party's arrival of Saagen coming to him in Pylos) now. Valin states that they must think for the future of the Rylandar Kingdom, as they are Stryvers - for centuries, they have been the chief subordinates of the Rylandars. Before, there was no other choice but Ayden. Though Ayden is not a bad choice by all means, he will undoubtedly favor the Onderians if not consciously, then subconsciously. If they take Saagen instead...
Ceferyn steals a chance to talk to Saagen privately. He wants to know if Saagen has any gifts, any abilities. After all, he is the child of Fire and Earth. His elder siblings, the twins Ayden and Annira both have powerful abilities. Ayden can wield raw and forged unther (Onderian metal) which makes him very dangerous, given that almost all metal-based weapons on this continent and Istar have some composition of unther. Annira is a telekinetic, the first in centuries (telekinetics are extremely rare) to appear in Onderon. What about Saagen? Saagen doesn't think he has any special abilities. Ceferyn tells hims he surely has - he just needs to be more mindful of what it is he can do that others cannot, or what he can do that is better than others. Saagen then starts thinking internally about how he has always been able to see flaws and faults in the metal weapons he and his father forged, or in inanimate items (like a table, or a building).
The next morning, Mir and Saagen leave Kalinga Bay for the Hanging City of Pylos. Valin and Ceferyn watch them leave. Unbeknownst to them, a Mar'Kaa spy also watches the entire leave-taking happen.
A BREAKING OF BLOOD
The audience is introduced to a new setting, the city of Das’Vengar, the capitol of the Reborn Da’Lyan Empire of Mar’Kaa. In the Imperial Palace, two children are learning archery although it is snowing. The elder child, an 8-year-old, bears the characteristic markings of the Imperial Tribe of Lian. He is Lian Yujin, the Second Prince and presumptive future Emperor – the only child of the deceased former Kangli Emperor, Rayden, Child of Water. The younger boy is none other than Teran, Blood Prince of Onderon. They are being watched by a Mar’Kaa man from a veranda who bears the markings of the Yela Tribe. One of the Second Prince’s attendants remarks that that the Imperial Noble Consort (Huang Gui Fei) will not be happy to hear that the Prince Regent is once again making her son practice archery under such harsh conditions.
Both Teran and the Second Prince manage to hit bullseyes. A proud Yujin turns around and yells at the Yela man who’s watching from the balcony: “Hwangxiong! I hit it!!” The Yela man is none other than Yela Yuvin, Prince of Yeling, adoptive son of the Kangli Emperor and the Hua Empress, now the Prince Regent of Da’Lyan. Yuvin looks down at his younger brother fondly and congratulates him on finally succeeding. He then thanks the archery instructor – since she started instructing the Second Prince, Yujin has improved rapidly. The instructor states that the presence of Prince Teran has motivated the Second Prince. The Second Prince agrees – he finally has a playmate, a younger brother (didi) to boss around. Can they keep Teran forever? Yuvin smiles down at the two children, and replies, “not forever”.
Yuvin is informed by his subordinates that General Puyan has arrived in the city. Puyan Jun arrives and bows, greeting Yuvin formally: “Puyan Jun greets the Prince Regent (Shezheng Wang)”. Yuvin pulls him up by the shoulder and addresses Jun as Jun Si Ge (Jun Fourth Brother). Jun sees Teran and yells down at him to be careful of the cold because he (Teran) is not used to it. Teran waves and tells Jun, addressing him as godfather still, that he will! Jun then worriedly asks Yuvin if it’s okay for the two young kids to be out in the cold and snow, but Yuvin replies that proper physical conditioning is important, especially for the lives the two Princes will one day lead.
While the two Princes continue practicing archery, Yuvin and Puyan Jun walk around the courtyard. Yuvin inquires as to the updates of the search for Annira and Puyan Ni, but Jun can only reveal they have found nothing. Yuvin tells him not to worry so much for Xiao A’Ni. If the Mar’Kaa are the ones behind the kidnapping, then they wouldn’t dare hurt the blood of the Great Tiger. Everyone knows the Puyan Tribe are only second to the Imperial Lian Tribe. Jun looks very pained at this comment. If the Onderians are the ones behind the kidnapping, Annira (whom he calls Yangjie, or adoptive elder sister) will do everything in her power to protect A’Ni. When he sees that Puyan Jun still looks worried, Yuvin assures that they will be found soon. The Onderians, the Mar’Kaa, and the whole of Kalinga Bay under the Merchant Guild are all searching. Annira is not dead (that is not a risk the kidnappers will take for they would face the wrath of her parents, both Children of the Allfather). If she was, Ayden her twin, would be able to tell. And there is no way that Annira would let A’Ni die before she does. If A’Ni dies, it will only be after Annira does.
Puyan Jun takes the opportunity to press the case that Teran should be returned to the Onderians. However, Yuvin strongly disagrees. The reason the Onderians haven’t made any aggressive moves and are remaining very cautious is because the Mar’Kaa have their Blood Prince, the eldest son of the Heir to the Throne who will one day inherit the Prince Royal Title. But Puyan Jun thinks that returning Teran would be a demonstration of good faith. It might persuade the Onderians that the Mar’Kaa weren’t behind the kidnapping attempts. Yuvin asks Jun if he’s so sure that the Mar’Kaa aren’t behind the kidnapping attempt. Jun states that after the Mar’Kaa delegation heard about the kidnapping attempts, an Onderian force came to kidnap Teran, presumably attempting to take him back. Isn’t it more likely that it’s the Onderians who are behind this whole fiasco? Not all of them were happy with the terms of the peace treaty from 8 years ago. Yuvin cannot say for certain. Kidnapping their own Heir is a little ridiculous, isn’t it? Anyways, Yuvin is adamant that they keep Teran for now. Returning him at this point would be too risky for Da’Lyan. Deep down, Fourth Brother Jun knows this too. Otherwise, why would he have come directly to Das’Vengar with Teran after the kidnapping attempt instead of returning Teran to the Onderians immediately? Jun has no reply to this matter.
It is now Yuvin’s turn to look worried. Puyan Jun asks him what is worrying him. Yuvin informs him that the Northern Liya Tribe of Das’Liyang have continued pressing the Regents’ Council to betroth their daughter to Yujin, the Second Prince. Obviously, they have done so with the Imperial Noble Consort’s blessing. Yuvin thinks it’s ironic that after generations of jockeying for the Empress position, the Northern Tribes of Yular (the Tribe of the Imperial Noble Consort) and Liya, once eternal rivals, are now close allies. Puyan Jun thinks it is not surprising given that as the biggest and most powerful of the Northern Tribes, the Yular and Liya Tribes had to lead Northern Mar’Kaa together for much of four decades while Southern Mar’Kaa remained occupied by the Onderians. Nothing like an external and hated enemy (aka the Onderians) to unify even the most aggressive internal enemies. If only such grace and forgiveness were granted to the Hua Tribe, replies Yuvin bitterly. (The Hua Tribe is his mother, the deceased Hua Empress’ Tribe. Unbeknownst to the Mar’Kaa, the Hua Tribe is suspected by the Onderians to be behind the kidnapping). Jun doesn’t know how to reply.
Puyan Jun asks why Yuvin doesn’t agree to the match. Yuvin wants Jun’s daughter, Puyan Ni, to marry the Second Prince instead, not the Liya girl. Jun tries to deny the match (as best as he can), but Yuvin is quite insistent. If not for the Puyan Tribe, who can he trust his younger brother to? Jun looks a little concerned by such a comment.
Yuvin continues that the Imperial Noble Consort suspects him for disagreeing with the betrothal. He sighs. They do not see eye to eye on matters these days. Before he died, the previous Emperor (Rayden whom Yuvin address as Fu huang, or Imperial Father) wanted to dissolve the Empire and move Da’Lyan towards a more democratic society. Kangli Emperor hated the idea that for millennia, bloodshed between brothers of the Imperial Family for the Dragon Throne, incited and instigated by the power-hungry maternal houses of the Consorts and Concubines, was inevitable. He wanted to stop this vicious cycle by ending the Lian Empire with him. That is what Yuvin is trying to do. Yet, Imperial Noble Consort wants her son to be Emperor. She thinks Yuvin’s ideas are crazy and that he only wants to implement them as cover for him to deny the Throne to the Second Prince. Puyan Jun protests that the Imperial Noble Consort knows best of all people how much Yuvin loves and cherishes the Second Prince. He thinks that Yuvin just needs a little patience. The reasoning for the former Emperor’s desire to dissolve the Imperial form of ruling was to prevent enmity between brothers. It would hurt Rayden greatly to know that enmity between his two sons arose because of Yuvin’s desire and intention to fulfill his wishes. Yuvin accepts Jun’s words, at least for now.
Puyan Jun mentions that during the Exchange ceremony, Annira asked him to ask Yuvin on behalf of her mother the Queen when Yuvin is getting married. Yuvin snorts and jokingly calls the Queen a “nosy old woman”. Jun remarks that she is truly fond of Yuvin. He doesn’t know what Yuvin did to Adeline, but she must truly love him for she made him her adoptive son – an Adoptive Prince of the Onderian Court, a first of any non-Onderian. Why does Yuvin keep getting adopted by Emperors and Queens everywhere he goes? This makes Yuvin laugh out loud. He is grateful for Adeline’s constant care, though he hasn’t seen her in a while. She adopted him to put Rayden’s soul at peace – so that Rayden will not worry about Yuvin not having parents to look after him once he and the Hua Empress have both passed. Adeline was sincere towards Rayden and is sincere towards Yuvin. She will know that Teran is safe in his and Jun’s hands.
Jun presses again on the question of Yuvin’s non-existent marriage. Yuvin says he’s not getting married – it’s too much of a risk. It would set off Imperial Noble Consort’s ire and suspicions even more. All the Tribes that have approached him only want their daughters to marry him because they think there’s a good chance that he will try to take the Throne from Yujin (and thus their daughters can be Empress). That makes them all unworthy! How dare they plot and scheme against his little brother? Yuvin states very adamantly that he would never take the Throne from Yujin. If someone has to Emperor, it will be the Second Prince – the only person who carries the blood of the Child of Water.
There is some skirmish between the Two Princes. The Second Prince accidentally injures Teran through an emotional burst of his “ability” (from his blood tie to a Child of the Allfather). Both Jun and Yuvin run down. Jun checks Teran to see if he is okay but Teran says he’s fine (he was just gently pushed). Yujin is crying because he feels guilty for hurting Teran. Yuvin gently consoles him by stating that it’s funny how he’s the one who hurt Teran but look at Teran, he’s totally fine. Why is Yujin crying? Yujin, calling Yuvin Da Ge (Eldest brother), asks if Teran is okay and Teran confirms that he’s fine. [Hwangxiong or Imperial Brother is the formal address. Da Ge or Eldest Brother is very informal address.] Teran and Yujin “make up” and go to play together, leaving behind a worried Jun and Yuvin. Yuvin remarks that the kidnapping incident happened at such a terrible time. The Onderians were supposed to send some masters to train Yujin properly, given that the Mar’Kaa have no experience in such matters. (While Onderians have gifts by birth, Mar’Kaa do not. Yujin is the first Mar’Kaa pure-blood to have such an ability because he is the blood of the Child of Water.) Yet, because of the heightened tensions due to the kidnapping incident, it will have to be delayed. Yuvin worries that the golden period for training Yujin so he can properly control his gift will pass before they can resolve the issue.
This entire incident is observed by Yular Langhua of Das’Yulan, Imperial Noble Consort Jing (technically, it should be Dowager Imperial Noble Consort) and her attendants. Her chief female attendant remarks that the Prince Regent truly cares for the Second Prince. Does Her Highness (nyaung nyaung) still have doubts towards him? The Imperial Noble Consort lays a hand on her belly as if she was remembering an important event. She does not doubt that the Prince of Yeling loves her son. She just doesn’t know if he loves Yujin enough to stop his ridiculous plans of abolishing the Empire and thus preventing Yujin from ascending the Dragon Throne.
Puyan Jun, Yuvin, and the Imperial Noble Consort are all summoned to an emergency Regents’ Council. The Mar’Kaa spies in Kalinga Bay report that there are substantial rumors that the third child of Adeline and Ganner is alive and has returned to the Continent (despite him being reported dead 18 years ago).
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Saagen and Mir travel to the Onderian Camps at Pylos. We see a short reveal of Saagen’s ability when he protects Mir from Onderian scouts who think they’re trespassers by accidentally shattering their Onderian armor. The scouts are super confused as Mir insists on seeing the Prince Royal.
At the Onderian Camps, the Shadow Master is informed by his Shadows of the existence and arrival of Saagen, the Third Prince. An Onderian Shadow coincidentally saw Saagen’s escape in Starport on Istar but was only able to report it now. Another Shadow based in Kalinga Bay heard rumors about Ceferyn sending some party off secretly, so the Shadow Master deduces that this Third Prince is heading to Pylos. The Shadow Master sets off for Aurain immediately to inform the Queen (and absolutely no one else) - “One child lost. One child found.”
At the Onderian Camps at Pylos, Ayden is with Lady Etta, Commander General of the Eastern Samara Army and Meria, Lady Commandant of the Aerial Legion. The Shadow Master arrives and tells him he needs to inform him of something urgently. However, before he can say anything, a sentry reports that the Stryver Clan Prince has trespassed onto Onderian territory seeking to meet Ayden. Ayden, not understanding why Mir would do such a thing at such a time, goes to meet Mir’s party. At the same time, the messenger from Ceferyn arrives at Pylos and asks to meet Ayden. She is told where Ayden’s party is. Ayden goes to meet Mir and is so confused. However, before Mir has a chance to say anything, Ceferyn’s messenger interrupts and hands over the message. Ayden wonders what all the fuss is about. He insists on reading Ceferyn’s message immediately and apologizes to Mir for the inconvenience (the message could be about Anny’s whereabouts). As he reads the message in front of Mir and Saagen, the color drains from his face. He then scans Mir’s party and locks eyes on Saagen. Ayden is so shocked that he is speechless. However, he suddenly has an attack and cries out “Anny” before fainting. (During this entire time, the Shadow Master keeps his hand on his dagger, in case this Lost Prince is amongst Mir’s party.)
Ayden has recovered from his attack. He feels everything that Anny feels, an artifact of them being twins. While most Onderian twins’ connection lessens over time, the connection has grown over time for these two, most likely due to their blood of the Allfather. Whatever Anny experiences he experiences as well. What happened to Anny was probably not a life-threatening situation, but it was enough to hurt her physically (and emotionally). He can’t believe the news about Saagen.
Mir comes to talk to him. Ayden is hurt that his father lied to their entire family about Saagen. Mir asks why the High Prince would do such a thing, but Ayden doesn’t reply though by his demeanor, we have an inkling that he does know. The relationship between Mir and Ayden is tense. Ayden asks Mir if “she is doing all right” and Mir becomes really upset at that question. He wishes Ayden would better protect “her daughter” – the news about Aayra not being seen fit to one day inherit the Onderian Throne in the eyes of the Elvin Conservations have also been heard in Ryland. Ayden thinks that “she” should not have sent Aayra to him – of course, what has happened would happen, but Mir contends that if “she” had kept Aayra in Ryland, Aayra would only be a bastard. Yet, in Onderon, she is a Princess – a potential Heir to the Onderian Throne (Onderians don’t see marriage as legitimacy of birth). Mir leaves the camp, having left Saagen in Ayden’s hands. As Saagen bids farewell to Mir, Mir tells him that they may yet meet again.
Ayden goes to see Saagen and the two have a heart-to-heart talk. Ayden explains the current situation to Saagen as best as possible. Annira, the Heir to the Throne, Ayden’s twin sister and her Mar’Kaa ward from the Exchange of Peace, Puyan Ni were abducted on their return from the Peace Exchange Children ceremony three months ago. There has been no trace of them since, even though the Onderians, the Mar’Kaa, and all of Ceferyn’s Merchant Guild have looked far and wide. The Onderians think it’s the Mar’Kaa who have abducted the pair while the Mar’Kaa think it’s the Onderians. The peace treaty that Annira and General Puyan Jun worked so hard to draw up eight years ago, from the aftermath of the so-called “Last War”, could go to waste if Annira and Puyan Ni, Puyan Jun’s sole child, are not found soon. Ayden has no idea why people are suddenly chasing after Saagen and how that is related to the kidnapping case. Ayden discusses the possibility of Saagen’s ability to be iron-weilding, as Ayden’s gift is. However, Saagen doesn’t think so.
Ayden and Saagen leave for Aurain the next day. The news of Saagen’s identity will leak soon so they cannot risk staying at Pylos, given that their mother the Queen has not yet been informed of the situation.
In Aurain, Ceferyn’s messenger (Kaz) arrives in the middle of the night with a message for Ganner, the High Prince. Upon seeing the message, he leaves immediately. Barely seconds after his departure, the Shadow Master arrives with a message for the Queen’s eyes. The Queen, the Captain of her Praetorian Guard, and the High Seneschal are woken up in the middle of the night. They think the news is about Anny. The Shadow Master insists on only telling the Queen the news and so everyone leaves the room except for the Queen, the Captain, and the Shadow Master. Upon hearing the news of her lost son returned, the Queen lets out a wail and falls to the ground. The Shadow Master leaves the room to give the Queen privacy. Adeline sobs her heart out and then becomes furious at Ganner, asking for his presence. When Tallus asks the High Seneschal for the High Prince’s whereabouts, he is told that Ganner has left Aurain.
Back in Das’Vengar, we see the Regents’ Council being informed by their Mar’Kaa spies of Saagen’s existence and arrival to the continent. (Yuvin thinks privately that he was always a replacement to Adeline for Saagen. Now that Saagen is here, she will no longer treat him so well.) “What luck for the Onderians. One child lost, but another found.” “A boy is of no use to them, though.” We see the tensions between the Prince Regent and Imperial Noble Consort. The Hua Tribe is accused of kidnapping Annira and Puyan Ni. They are defended by the Prince Regent vehemently. The council is abruptly ended when they are told that there was a poisoning attempt on Teran, though he luckily survived. Puyan Jun is convinced that they cannot keep Teran here – the attempts on his life will only get worse. There are Mar’Kaa who want the war to start again. Even the Imperial Noble Consort thinks it might be too much of a risk to have a Blood Prince die in their hands. The kidnapping of the Heir to the Throne cannot necessarily be faulted to the Regents’ Council but Teran’s death can. However, the Prince Regent insists on keeping Teran with the Mar’Kaa. Puyan Jun is very angry and unhappy by this decision.
Later, Prime Minister Yelu Xi discusses the growing power of the Prince Regent with the Imperial Noble Consort and her uncle, the Chief of the Yular Tribe and State Duke of Qi. Both the Prime Minister and the Duke of Qi both want to act swiftly against the Prince Regent and his hands: the Puyan and the Yela Tribes. All three are certain that the vengeful Hua Tribe is at fault for the kidnapping. They want to offer up the Hua Tribe as sacrifice to the Onderians if the Heir to the Throne is not found to resolve the situation and keep the peace, but they know that the Prince Regent will never let this happen. The Imperial Noble Consort is adamant that no physical harm must come to the Prince of Yeling (Prince Regent). She and her son, the Second Prince, owe their lives to him, after all. A debt is a debt. After she leaves the room, the State Duke of Qi says to the Prime Minister that “at the end of the day, the Imperial Noble Consort is a woman after all, with a woman’s soft and forgiving heart.” The Prime Minister thinks that’s a strange thing to say for it was an Empress of the Yular Tribe who started the trend of Emperors allowing their harem to participate in politics and warfare. The Duke of Qi backtracks quickly. He wants to secure the Dragon Throne for his grand-nephew, Lian Yujin, the Second Prince. The Prime Minister also disagrees with the idea of abolishing the Imperial system and moving towards a more federalist society (Yuvin’s idea) and so he is backing the Yular Tribe on this matter. The Duke of Qi insists that what the Imperial Noble Consort cannot do, they (he and the Prime Minister) should. They must prepare for the future. They cannot allow Yela Yuvin to ruin the Da’Lyan Dynasty.
Saagen and Ayden arrive in the Southern Twin Cities of Herlan and Heran. To escape potential spies and trackers, Ayden is taking the longer but less obvious path. However, Saagen’s assassins attempt to kill him again. He is saved by the timely arrival of Ganner, the High Prince. Meanwhile, Saagen was injured in the attack. When Ganner takes Saagen back into the cities so that he can heal his son, they are met by the arriving force of the Twin Cities’ high-ranking aristocrats, politicians, and warriors who heard about the attack. They are all shocked to see Saagen, who’s practically identical in features to the High Prince. They ask about the boy’s identity, but Ganner and Ayden remain tightlipped.
Saagen and Ganner have a chance to talk privately while Ganner heals him. Ganner explains that before the Last War eight years ago, he had the ability to bring people back from the brink of death. Now, his and Adeline’s abilities have decreased because of how much they spent (in ability) in the Last War and how they themselves were only brought back from the death by the sacrifice of Rayden, Child of Water. It takes him so much effort to heal others and he has lost the ability to heal himself. Saagen asks his father to tell him the truth of his birth. Ganner explains that the Onderians are superstitious people who put much stock in prophecies. When Adeline was found to be pregnant with Saagen, it was right after Rayden had been exiled from the Continent (he was incorrectly accused of kidnapping Ayden) and the bill to free Southern Mar’Kaa from Onderian occupation had been defeated/gotten rid of because of the kidnapping incident. A prophecy was spread around that time that the third child of Adeline’s blood, a son, would cause her death. When the Archons and state councilors and officials heard of this prophecy, they believed that it was the work of Rayden (vengeance) – that he had somehow cursed Adeline by cursing her unborn child. So, they pleaded for the child to be aborted. However, Adeline refused, despite the heavy protestation and a shutdown of the central government (as protest to her decision). She carried Saagen for nine months and gave birth to him safely. However, once the news of his birth was revealed, that it really was a son – the Archons’ and councilors’ protestations only got worse. To deal with the situation as best as he could, Ganner told everyone – including Adeline – that Saagen had died. Because at the time Ganner still had the ability to heal people who were near death, everyone including Adeline believed that he had either killed Saagen or let a sick Saagen die. Ganner secretly worked with Ceferyn to find human parents for Saagen and get him to Istar. (Ganner also was partial to believing the prophecy because he did dream of Adeline dying in childbirth when he was younger, but he didn’t know what the dream meant because he didn’t know who Adeline was at that time.)
Saagen processes the events. He is very hurt that Ganner sent away his own blood. Ganner stresses that nothing was Adeline’s fault – she knew nothing about what happened to Saagen. Everything was his decision. Adeline didn’t speak to him for a year after Saagen’s “death”. He hopes Saagen will not blame his mother who has only mourned him since. Saagen asks if Ganner ever thought of finding him again. Ganner says yes, eight years ago when he first started receiving visions of Adeline dying at the hands of Rayden. He second-guessed himself. However, since Adeline didn’t die at the time, Ganner couldn’t risk that the prophecy was true, though he really doubts that it was a curse from Rayden. Ganner also thinks it is the Fourth Child of the Allfather, the Child of Air, the only one of them who lives a truly immortal and transcendental life, who has been watching over Saagen in the identity of his friend, the small and weak Eunson. (Later, we will find out that Rayden, during his exile on Istar, also watched over Saagen.)
The next day, the party makes for Aurain. Ayden hopes that the rumors about Saagen’s return or the “third Prince” being found to be alive (as the result of people seeing Ganner and Saagen side-by-side) will not reach the Queen’s ear before they do. They arrive in Aurain where they are greeted by the High Seneschal. Ganner wants Adeline to meet them privately. He is surprised when the High Seneschal insists on them meeting Adeline publicly in front of the Archons and State Councilors. Adeline greets Saagen as her third son, the Lost Prince returned to them. She has basically declared his existence and presence publicly. Later, the High Seneschal takes Saagen to his entire wing of apartments in the Royal Palace of Kastus. Sensing Saagen’s discomfort, Ayden insists that Saagen live in his wing so that he is not lonely. Though, he warns Saagen to be prepared for his apartments are right next to Anny’s and so, you can always hear the loud screams and cries of the children.
Ganner and Adeline finally have a private talk after the public scene. Ganner really disagrees with what Adeline did. She has put Saagen at risk. Adeline is so furious with him. She really hates him right now. After everything they have gone through, she thought he would be honest with her. After they literally returned from death, shouldn’t he have told her the truth about Saagen? Ganner argues his POV – since they returned, there was still the risk of the prophecy being true. Ganner makes Adeline even madder when he accuses her favoritism of their sons over Annira, even though she is her heir. When Ayden was kidnapped, Adeline risked war with the Mar’Kaa (it did lead to the Last War). Now she’s stirring up a storm over Saagen. And yet, she’s barely moved a finger in the last three months to look for Anny. Adeline doesn’t even seem to care! And Anny is her heir! Adeline insists that she doesn’t want to make the same mistake that she made after she falsely accused Rayden of kidnapping Ayden and starting the war. The two of them are at such odds they cannot even speak to each other without getting angry. Adeline orders Ganner to basically get out, to leave the palace. Ganner leaves the palace, but not before retorting that he’s going to do what she’s not – look for their daughter. Tallus tries to talk Adeline down but to no avail. She’s too upset with Ganner. On the bright side, Tallus points out that Ganner didn’t kill or let Saagen die.
Ayden takes Saagen to meet Talin Tykrana, House of Goral (Tallus’ nephew), Prince Onderion and the consort of Annira, Heir to the Throne. They are greeted by two four-year-old children, Yawain (Anny’s and Talin’s second son) and Aayra, Ayden’s daughter by a human woman, who is presumed heir after Anny. Talin was about to leave Aurain to look for Anny, but Ayden reminds him of the deal that the two of them made with Ganner. Of the three, only one at any time will be out in the field searching for Annira so that the children are not left alone. First, it was Talin. Then, it was Ayden. And now, Ganner has gone. They also explain to Saagen about Teran, who remains still in the custody of the Mar’Kaa as an Exchange of Peace.
Saagen finally meets Adeline (and Tallus). They have a good talk and relationship. Under Ayden’s and Talin’s tutelage, Saagen learns about the history of the Onderians and the other species on the continents, receives fighting lessons, and learns how to expand his ability, which we learn is “shatterpoint”: the ability to find and exploit flaws, faults, and fault-lines, the weak points in the composition of material and physical objects like a piece of armor to a building or of immaterial concepts like an organization (e.g., a nuclear family) to a living being (what organ system is the weakest). He can shatter objects like a breastplate or bring down a building by exploiting a structural flaw. In living beings, he can sense physical weaknesses like old wounds and cause them to reopen.
Saagen wakes up one morning extremely early (at the earliest break of dawn) because he cannot go to sleep. When he goes to the training grounds to practice his swordsmanship, he sees that Adeline and Tallus are about to leave the Palace. He catches up to them. Tallus asks why he’s awake so early and Saagen replies he couldn’t sleep well. Tallus invites him to join Adeline on her once-a-month excursions into the city of Aurain, at the break of dawn before the shopkeepers or traders start their day. Saagen and Adeline stroll throughout the near-empty city and discuss a lot of things, from Saagen’s upbringing to Adeline not being able to forgive Ganner for what he did. Saagen asks his mother if she is truly willing to sacrifice a daughter who is also her heir for the sake of keeping peace between the Onderians and Mar’Kaa. To Adeline, she is Queen above all. She must think of the greater good of her people. She remembers when Rayden and his avenging army burnt down Aurain just a decade ago. She cannot let anything like that happen again. Of course, Adeline has no desire to sacrifice any of her children. It was Anny who convinced her to sue for peace with the Mar’Kaa. Of all people, it is Annira who would want least for a war to break out again – this time, over her case. Saagen points out that perhaps that is what his father was trying to do by sending him away. By sacrificing one child, Ganner could save her, as his wife and as Queen of the Onderians.
Adeline asks Saagen if he does not blame Ganner for what happened to his life. Saagen replies that he cannot lie, he did initially. However, if there is anything his eighteen years of living as a blacksmith's and a tavern matron's son, it is that the world does not solely revolve around him. He then recounts experiences in his life when he was harmed as a side effect of some other greater issue etc. Would Saagen prefer than Ganner prioritized him, his own blood son, above everything else? Perhaps so, but it was not to be. Ganner had other considerations and he made what he believed was the best decision at the time. Unfortunately, it was Saagen who got the short stick. Yet, he lived a happy though tough eighteen years. Not the worst life to lead. Adeline commends Saagen for his considered thoughts. The twins Ayden and Annira are both good children and are worthy of leading nations in the future. They have been trained properly. Yet, they do not know how to think about these things that affect the common people's daily lives as Saagen does because they did not live the life that Saagen has lived. Everything they do matters - it can affect a lot of people's lives. Yet, Saagen has learned the opposite. However, it should not be automatically thought of as a weakness or a flaw. In a way, perhaps Saagen is the most fit to rule because he has lived the life of a common person.
Adeline takes Saagen to her favorite breakfast place. She tells him that the cook and owner don't know who she is, but Saagen finds out that they do when he goes with Tallus to pay for the meals in a funny moment. They just wanted to let Adeline believe what she wants to believe.
We return to Das’Vengar where there has been another attempt on Teran’s life. Not wanting to risk Teran’s life a third time, Puyan Jun defies orders and flees for Aurain with Teran and his Puyan guards. Before he goes, he asks permission from his mother, the fearsome and infamous Puyan Di, the Great Tiger of Guilin Hill. The Great Tiger tells him to follow his heart and do what he thinks is right. Though the Regents will not be happy with what he will do, she states that she still has enough influence to protect him, her only surviving child of the Last War. She will once again join the Puyan Army at the Gates of Pylos (where they are currently camped right now facing off against the Onderian Eastern Samarah Army). Puyan Di does not think the Regents’ Council members will act hastily against Puyan Jun if she leads the Puyang Army personally. They are still wary of the power and might of the Puyang Army as well as the sect blood of the Yellow Tiger, her sect master/mentor.
As the Puyan mother-and-son duo leaves Das’Vengar, Yuvin finds out but not in enough time to stop them. He is angry at Puyan Jun for his actions. He decides to leave Das’Vengar to go after Jun and Teran, though he is advised not to leave Das’Vengar in the hands of the Imperial Noble Consort and her people. The Imperial Noble Consort and the Prime Minister Yelu Xi watch the Prince Regent leave Das’Vengar. From their conversations, we see that it was their plan all along to fake the assassination attempts on Teran so that Puyan Jun would be forced to return him to the Onderians (the Imperial Noble Consort thinks it is also better to return Teran to show the Mar’Kaa’s good faith towards the Onderians. Since Puyan Jun is loyal to the Mar'Kaa, he will not correct the Onderians when they assume the returning of Teran is a show of good faith by the Regents' Council) and Yuvin would be forced to chase after him. Additionally, she also predicted that the Great Tiger would go to join the Puyang Army in the South to guard against her. Now, Das’Vengar is under her sole control. Yuvin will be exiled from Mar’Kaa territory and removed from his Prince Regent position. Her son, the Second Prince, will be crowned Emperor. Once the Puyang Army has faced reality, they will be allowed to return to the fold. The Prime Minister thinks it is too risky to keep the Prince Regent alive, but the Huang Gui Fei insists on preserving Yuvin’s life. If she killed him, how can she face the former Emperor (Kangli Emperor, Rayden, Child of Water) in the Hall of Judgment? This is the only way/method to preserve Yuvin’s life while preserving Yujin’s ascendancy to the Throne while also preserving the peace with the Onderians. The Imperial Noble Consort thinks Yuvin will be totally fine in Onderon. He is the adoptive child of the old Queen herself - she will surely shelter him. The Prime Minister asks her if she is sure that the Onderian Queen will not help Yuvin conquer Da’Lyan. The Imperial Noble Consort replies that to make sure Adeline doesn’t, they need to find the Heir to the Throne first and if they cannot, offer the Hua Tribe as culprits. The Prime Minister wonders who are behind the kidnapping. Huang Gui Fei orders the Prime Minister to prepare to move the Hua Tribe members south. When she leaves, the Prime Minister thinks privately to himself that what the Imperial Noble Consort cannot do herself, he will do for her (implying he will try to kill Yuvin).
Puyan Jun and Teran make it through the mountains and into Silva’s Forest. However, the Prince Regent’s Yela Inner Guards, the Yelingzi (the Children of Yeling), find them to retake them on Yuvin’s orders. In the nick of time, Ganner arrives. With his abilities, he can successfully escape with Jun and Teran. However, the Yelingzi pursues them and catches up to them once again at the doorsteps of Aurain. However, this time, the Queen herself, along with Talin and Saagen (Ayden has gone back out to Kalinga Bay to continue the search for Annira) confront the Yelingzi. Adeline asks the Yelingzi if they know who she is. They reply that she is the Queen of Onderon. She asks again, "and what else?" She states that she is also the adoptive mother of their lord and master and as such, they cannot and will not harm or hurt her, or stand in her go. Not being able to deny such logic, the Yeilngzi let them go. Adelin tells them that she will be waiting for Yuvin in Aurain. Talin reunites with his son. Puyan Jun returns with the party to Aurain. He thinks he’s committed treason now. On the way back to Aurain, Adeline and Ganner have at it again. Saagen asks Tallus if they are always like this, and he replies that only since Saagen’s so-called death. They went from being very lovey-dovey for ten years to fighting so constantly afterwards his eardrums are probably damaged beyond repair at this point.
On the return to Aurain, Adeline and Ganner finally manage to converse properly without descending into a shouting match. Adeline tells how Saagen tried to defend him. Ganner praises their son and wishes she could understand his POV like Saagen does. Ganner tells his wife that he does not regret what he did and would do it again, if it would prolong her life. She thinks that's a ridiculous thing for the Child of Earth, the Guardian of the Gate (to the Hall of Judgment) to say. That may be so, Ganner replies, but if he must pay the price for his sins, he will. It wasn't easy to do what he did (give up his own flesh and blood) but he doesn't regret it. Adeline is silent for a while and replies that of course, she knows why he did what he did and that he doesn't regret it. It's just that for eighteen years, Ganner has carried this burden in his heart by himself. It hurts her to know that he felt he had to do such a thing. Ganner replies that he didn't want to burden her with the truth - he is happy to sacrifice for her. Adeline scoffs: "where have I heard that before?" When they finally arrive back at the Palace, Ganner helps Adeline down from her horse and she lets him. This is a sign that the tension between them has mellowed significantly.
Later on, from another of Ayden's episodes, we learn that Anny is actually pregnant (she was pregnant when she was kidnapped). The Archons and the State Council think the issue is even worse now! Anny could be carrying the future Queen of Onderon (assuming the child is a girl). The search renews with urgency. Puyan Jun also reveals the secret of his clan - that Puyan Ni is the first child of Mar'Kaa descent to be born with the ability to feel a limited amount of pain. Only he and his mother, the Great Tiger, and other senior members of the Puyan Tribe know of this. Not even the Prince of Yeling knows. Of course, Jun had to tell Anny the truth when they exchanged children, in case something happened to A'Ni. Ayden hypothesizes that is why Anny has not used her telekinetic abilities to break free of her prison - A'Ni is probably being used as a hostage to ensure her good behavior.
For a training session, Saagen is told to “read” Ganner and find his weaknesses. At first, it is pretty basic. As expected, Ganner is strongest when in direct contact with the Earth and his strength flows to him from the Earth. Saagen spots his “weak” spot to be a thin circle scar on his wrist which he realizes is somehow connected to Adeline (she also has the same thin circle scar). He tells Ayden and it seems to confirm Ayden’s suspicions that the lives of their parents are tied together. When one dies, possibly the other would too.
Yuvin finally arrives in Aurain. Though some of the immigration officers try to make things difficult for him, he drops his "adoptive son of the Queen" card and they let him through. He and Adeline finally reunite after eight years of not seeing each other. Adeline is not so pleasantly surprised by the change in Yuvin's personality - he has grown more cunning and calculative since she last saw him. Yuvin defends himself by replying that for the last eight years, everyone has constantly questioned his intentions towards his younger brother. He has had to be more calculative to protect himself and the people he cares about. Adeline scolds about his stubborn and aggressive attempt to change Mar'Kaa society in a decade. There is no way that Rayden would want a divide forming between his two children. When Yuvin admits that Jun has already told him what she has, she asks then why he continues to be this stubborn when in his heart, he knows she and Jun are right. Yuvin doesn't want his adoptive parents' death to be vain. Adeline assures him that they will not be. As long as Yuvin raises the Second Prince right, Yujin, as Emperor, will make the right choices in the future, in the direction of Rayden's dreams of a federalist society for all Mar'Kaa. However, Yuvin remarks that as living creatures with the power of will and desire, greed will surely claim their hearts. Imperial Noble Consort Jing wants the throne for her son because he is her son. What is to say that Yujin when he grows up won't be the same? What if he wants the Throne for his son, and his son for his son?
Their conversation turns to Saagen. Yuvin casually remarks that Adeline has no need of him now that her "real" son has returned. Adeline scolds him for saying such a ridiculous thing. Her heart is big enough to hold four children. Yuvin: "Is it though? Why haven't you acted more aggressively when Yangjie is missing?" This pokes at Adeline's weakness - her lack of affection for her daughter compared to her outward love for her sons. Adeline admits that since the twins were born, it was always easier to love the boy over the girl. For in Anny, she sees only her mortality and legacy. She and Anny have moved past a lot of that in the last couple of years. Adeline does not want to ruin that. She thinks that negating the peace treaty on account of Anny will hurt Anny most of all. "It is her life's work. I cannot ruin that. What kind of mother, what kind of ruler would I be then?"
In Yuvin, Saagen sees Adeline's replacement for him too. He feels a little jealousy and anger towards Yuvin who seems to know more about his mother than he does. Yuvin and Saagen finally talk and Yuvin assures him that as a parent can love more than one child, a child can also love more than one pair of parents. That is something Yuvin and Saagen share in common. Saagen has two sets of parents, one adoptive and one of blood, as Yuvin himself does (his Yela parents who died when he was very young, his Imperial parents who took him in as their own, Adeline who decided to also take him as her third Child after his second "orphaning"). This comment makes Yuvin realize that since he is older than Saagen, Saagen should addressed him as San ge (Third Older Brother) and Yuvin will address Saagen as Si di (Fourth Younger Brother). Saagen thinks that makes no sense since Adeline and Ganner only met Yuvin after they "met" Saagen. Yuvin explains to him that everything in Mar'Kaa culture is ordered by birth numbers. Yuvin: "In Mar'Kaa culture then, I would be the Third Son. You are the Fourth. Ayden and Anny are the First Son and Second Sister."
Eventually, someone thinks of the fact that the one place on the Continent that has not been searched yet is the Forest of Herne, where the natives live. Though the Forest of Herne is technically under Onderian jurisdiction, given that it is a semi-autonomous region, the native tribes keep to themselves and the "settler" Onderians leave them alone. Anny tried to change that during the Last War, when she saved the Ney'shi (one of the native Tribes of Herne) from slavery by the Mar'Kaa Khitar Tribe. However, the Khitar Tribe retaliated against the Ney'shi and so the Native Tribes of Herne decided to join the war effort against the Mar'Kaa. They were really upset and unhappy by the terms of the Onderian-Mar'Kaa treaty which didn't allow them any opportunity to seek vengeance against the Khitar Tribe. Kai'leen, now the Great Mother of the Ney'shi, specifically blamed Anny for this situation for it was Anny who tried to recruit them to joining the war effort which resulted in the Khitar Tribe burning their villages in a pre-emptive strike.
Talin and Ayden go searching and they are able to locate Anny. However, because of the structure of the prison, they will need Saagen's fault-finding abilities. Saagen and Puyan Jun join the two to break Anny and A'Ni out of the prison.
Meanwhile, in Aurain, Yuvin finally receives the news about the coup by Imperial Noble Consort Jing. He has been stripped of his Prince Regent position (though he has been "allowed" to keep his Prince of Yeling title since it was granted by the deceased Emperor) and exiled from Mar'Kaa lands. However, what infuriates him even more is that the Regents' Council has claimed that the Hua Tribe is responsible for Anny and A'Ni's kidnapping and have now offered them to the Samara Army and the Aerial Legion at Pylos. To save his Imperial Mother's tribe, Yuvin goes to Pylos. Worrying for his safety and needing to resolve the tension between the Onderians and Mar'Kaa now that the true culprits have been found out, Adeline and Ganner go after him.
In Das'Vengar, the Imperial Noble Consort realizes what her uncle and the Prime Minister have been planning. They are using the Hua Tribe as bait in Pylos to kill Yuvin. She is absolutely furious when her uncle calls her weak. Has she not forgotten the death of his brother (her father) and nephew (her brother) at the hands of the Hua Tribe? Does she not want her son to be Emperor and for her to be Empress Dowager? She should have been the Empress, not that deceitful and power-hungry Hua bitch! When the Imperial Noble Consort commands him to stop the plans, the State Duke of Qi reminds her that he is the Chief of their great Yular Tribe and she must do as he commands. The Huang Gui Fei spits in his face - he is only Chief because he was a coward and allowed her father and brother to put themselves at risk and get killed. She shows her power and authority by having the Imperial Guards restrain and imprison him. The State Duke of Qi is furious and asks her how she can dare to do so. Though she may have married into the Imperial Tribe of Lian, she is still of the Yular Tribe - has she forgotten what markings she bears on her body? The Imperial Noble Consort leaves in a hurry to Pylos to stop the Prime Minister from killing Yuvin.
Talin, Ayden, Saagen, and Puyan Jun save a pregnant Anny who is in labor and A'Ni. Saagen uses his abilities to break his sister free. The truth of the kidnapping is now revealed. Apparently, the Ney'shi still seek vengeance against the Khitar Tribe. The only way to get vengeance is to restart the war between the Onderians and the Mar'Kaa. Kai'leen had learned from some of her contacts in the Merchant Guild about the existence of Saagen on Istar and used the opportunity to cause some chaos and conflict in Onderon. She wanted to frame the Mar'Kaa and Onderian officials who were still very famously unhappy about the treaty for the situation with Saagen to sow unrest, distrust, and confusion. Talin is about to kill Kai'leen but Anny stops him. They cannot do that for it would cause long-lasting enmity between natives of Herne and the Onderians. The Onderians have barely recovered from one generation-long species hatred, they cannot afford to start another one. She insists on letting Kai'leen go. Kai'leen asks Anny if she does not hate her. Anny replies that she wants to, for "all that she suffered these few months" at her hands, but she cannot find in her heart to do so. Anny also blames herself for this situation - for prioritizing the peace with Mar'Kaa over justice for the Ney'shi. Before Kai'leen leaves, she warns Anny that there are "many" who run in the high circles of Onderian society and government who are truly unhappy about this peace treaty and Anny's aggressive attempts to appease the Mar'Kaa. Still waters run deep. Anny should be very careful when she ascends to the Throne.
Because Anny is in active labor, they cannot move her far. She gives birth to twin boys. However, from all the physical stress and emotional turmoil of her four months in captivity, she is extremely weak. It is only Ayden's presence which is keeping her alive (their special twin bond). Yet, Anny implores Saagen and Jun to immediately leave for Pylos to inform her parents that she and Xiao A'Ni have been successfully rescued and the Mar'Kaa were not involved in her imprisonment/kidnapping. This should stop any attempt to restart the war between the two people. (During her imprisonment, Anny overheard of the increased tensions in Pylos due to the Hua Tribe. She doesn't know it's because of Yuvin.) Anny can strongly feel the hand of another behind Kai'leen. Whoever this person is they will use the situation at Pylos to further ignite the flames. She thinks she has only survived for so long in imprisonment because Kai'leen couldn't kill her. But Kai'leen tortured her and used A'Ni against her, says Talin. Anny thinks it was all Kai'leen could do to preserve Anny's life. To show enough but not go all the way. Jun is reluctant to leave the party, especially a weakened Anny, but she implores him strongly... "Ya'wen, I have never forgotten what the Last War cost your family. Let us speak the truth now. Your Da Jie, I killed her. We can refuse to talk about it, we can pretend that you no longer hold such grievance in your heart or that you have long since forgiven me. But I remember, as you do, what I have done. I cannot truly repay you and your family for the death of your eldest sister, as the Greater House of Kastus cannot repay the Lian Tribe for our sins of greed...but this peace treaty can go a long way in ensuring such tragedies will not happen again. Let me do my penance. Please, save our peoples." Jun is still reluctant but Talin reminds him that Anny needs a healer and the greatest healer on the Continent, despite his powers being severely weakened in the recent years, is still the High Prince. Annira loses patience and commands Saagen (as Heir to the Throne) to take "Ya'wen" immediately to Pylos. Saagen and the father-daughter duo leave for Pylos.
In Pylos, there is only chaos. The Prime Minister Yelu Xi has arrived, offering the Hua Tribe up as the true masterminds behind the Heir to the Throne's kidnapping. Lady Etta Nan Wei, House of Kallys, the Commander General of the Samarah Army (current stationed at Pylos as ground support for the Aerial Legion) asks him if that is so, if the Mar'Kaa have found the Heir to the Throne then. Yuvin arrives. Given his status as an adoptive child and therefore Prince of their Court, the two Onderian commanders have to let him pass. Yuvin vehemently protects the Hua Tribe - he orders the Puyang and Second Lianmeng Armies to stand down. Prime Minister Yelu Xi reminds Yuvin that he is no longer the Prince Regent. Thus, he does not have the authority to command the armies of Da'Lyan. However, the Great Tiger appears and orders the Puyang Army to do as the Prince of Yeling commands, which they do of course. Watching the entire situation occur, Lady Etta and Meria, the Lady Commandant of the Aerial Legion, look at each other and agree that this scene is yet another Mar'Kaa drama - their royal family is so confusing. "Why is it that the fate of Onderon is so heavily tied to the dramatics of the Imperial Tribe of Lian?"
Adeline and Ganner also arrive on site. They are accompanied by Vice-Chancellor Volsca and Chief State Councilor Tacitus who have also come to enjoy the drama. The two give their testimonies that they did see members of the Hua Tribe attack their party and kidnap the Heir to the Throne. Yelu Xi is smug and now, Yuvin is placed in a tight spot. However, the Great Tiger posits that those assassins could easily be Onderian skinwearers who took on the appearance of the Hua Tribe members. Adeline cannot deny that is such a possibility. Vice-Chancellor Volsca strongly advocates that the Onderians act first and apologize later if they are wrong. Let the Shadow Legion interrogate the Hua Tribe and see what they can come up with. The Heir to the Throne is at stake here. Yuvin refuses to allow this to happen and Adeline is conflicted.
Puyan Jun, A'Ni, and Saagen all arrive. (Everything is going to be arrivals now.) They inform everyone that Anny has been rescued and has given birth successfully. Of course, Tacitus immediately wants to know the sex of the child and is severely disappointed to learn neither of the twins is female. The Mar'Kaa were not involved in the situation. It was some disgruntled lower-ranking Ney'shi clans people who were at fault. Tacitus thinks that makes no sense. The Ney'shi do not have the ability of skin wearing and hate Mar'Kaa. So who were the assassins that attacked their delegation after the Exchange ceremony? However, now that Anny has been rescued, everything can be slowly investigated, says Ganner. Let us all calm down. Unfortunately, Yuvin is furious with the Prime Minister Yelu Xi and cannot let it go that he was about to sacrifice the Hua Tribe for no reason. The Puyang and the Second Lianmeng Armies clash. Yelu Xi's second-in-command tries to kill Yuvin. However, Puyan Di (the Great Tiger) steps in the way and takes the hit. She dies almost immediately in the arms of her son and granddaughter (and unfortunately, Ganner no longer has the ability to bring people back from the death). Yuvin is very shocked by the situation. The Puyang Army is now super furious and want to kill Yelu Xi and his second in command. Even Adeline and Ganner are not sure what to do.
Imperial Noble Consort Jing arrives. As Imperial Noble Consort, she has the authority to command armies. She tells the Second Lianmeng Army to stand down. When Yelu Xi tries to disobey, she asks him who he is to challenge her authority as Imperial Noble Consort who was raised to this position by the former Emperor? She tries to explain to Yuvin that there has been a misunderstanding. Yuvin should come back with her - he will be given his Prince Regent position as an apology for the incident with the Hua Tribe. Unfortunately, Adeline is not convinced. Who is to say that she won't murder Yuvin on Mar'Kaa land? Yelu Xi's SIC tried to kill Yuvin and successfully killed the Great Tiger. Where is the accountability? Sorry, but she cannot allow Yuvin to go back with Imperial Noble Consort as she cannot clearly ensure Yuvin's life.
Adeline takes the opportunity to remind the Imperial Noble Consort and the Prime Minister of the "secret" clause in the peace treaty that Anny and Jun negotiated. For there to be peace, they must ensure the safety of the Prince of Yeling - otherwise, the contract is null and void. How can they forget such a thing and do what they did? Rayden is probably shaking in anger in the Hall of Judgment right now. Yuvin is shocked! He read the treaty front to back and saw no clause like this. The Imperial Noble Consort admits that Adeline wanted them to keep it a secret from him. Yuvin only believes this when Jun, one of the two negotiators of the treaty along with Anny, confirms it. Only now does Yuvin realize how much Adeline loved him and wanted to protect him.
The Prime Minister scoffs. He cannot believe that the Queen of Onderon would throw away the peace treaty for a boy who is only her son in name. She didn't negate the peace treaty when her heir went missing - why would she now for Yuvin? To everyone's surprise, it is Ganner who responds. "It is what we, Adeline and me, owe to Rayden, the Kangli Emperor. The price he paid for our lives was too high." The Imperial Noble Consort takes this opportunity to implore Yuvin for forgiveness and understanding. She realized she was wrong and she wants to make things right. She too has not forgotten what he sacrificed to save her and Yujin's lives. The Prime Minister takes the chance and tries to kill Yuvin. Only this time, the closest person to Yuvin is Adeline. She takes the blow and dies almost immediately in Ganner's arms. Her last words to him are "Told you..." And so the prophecy of the Cursed Child came to pass, but not in the way it was interpreted originally. It was Adeline's third Child, a boy, who "caused" her death. Yet this Third child was not Saagen as expected, but Yuvin, the child she did not give birth to but claimed as her own late in their lives.
Chaos ensues. No one quite knows how to react. In horror, Saagen watches as his father gently lays his mother's dead body onto the ground and closes her eyes. He can see the thin gold circle on Ganner's wrist flickering wildly. Tallus is so shocked by the situation that he has practically frozen. In what seems to be slow motion, Ganner slowly gets up. He then proceeds to literally drown Yelu Xi and his second-in-command with the dirt of the earth (normally, he would have sucked their life force out but like his healing ability, that ability is lessened greatly).
THE TEARY GOD
Ganner watches over Adeline's body in a private tent. Given his incapacitation, the duty and burden of managing the Onderians fall onto Saagen. He is unsettled to find everyone coming to him for orders but adapts quickly, handling what he can and delaying what he cannot to await for Ayden's arrival. Ayden finally arrives in Pylos. He can barely believe what has happened but commend Saagen for handling the situation. Saagen asks how Anny is doing. She has been stabilized by the Royal Healers. The twins are fine. They haven't yet told her of Adeline's death. Anny is very different now. She is extremely weak, emotionally and physically weak right now. Ayden asks after the Mar'Kaa. Saagen informs him that the Imperial Noble Consort went back to Das'Vengar with the main armies. Puyan Jun and Puyang Army also left with her to prepare for the Great Tiger's funeral. Only Yuvin remains now. He has barely spoken a word since Adeline's death.
Saagen takes Ayden to see Ganner. However, before Ayden enters the tent, Saagen reminds him of his suspicious regarding how tied Ganner's and Adeline's lives are to each other. Ayden tries to convince his father to take rest but Ganner refuses to leave Adeline. To bare eyes, he seems fairly normal. He is not crying or extremely obviously sad. He just seems a little lost but somehow still mildly resolute (the air of someone who can see what is coming soon and has accepted it). It is only when Ayden asks where Tallus is does Ganner react alarmingly. He suddenly realizes that he hasn't seen Tallus since they moved Adeline's body to the tent. Fearing for Tallus' life, Ganner, Ayden and Saagen go on a hunt until they find him by a lake. Tallus is about to kill himself (honor killing) because "no Praetorian Guard should outlive their mistress... They have all left, and now, only I remain." However, Ganner goes to him and aggressively tries to negotiate with him. "Tallus, Tallus, believe me when I say I know the pain in your heart. But please..." And then Ganner starts coughing. He then coughs blood. Tallus becomes alarmed and helps him stand up. "...please, you know best of all that I cannot stay much longer. Adeline is gone now. You...you must be here for our children... Anny...the boys. They need you. Please. Think of what Adeline would want. Think of what Cassander would want." Ganner then faints which knocks Tallus out of his reverie.
Everyone returns to Aurain. Ganner awakes from his coma. He is severely weakened and Ayden and Saagen are really worried about him. However, he insists on seeing Annira. It must be him who breaks the news to her that she is now Queen regnant. Ganner goes to see his daughter and they have a teary reunion. Ganner's heart breaks looking at the terrible physical state that Anny is in. Only after seeing her father does Anny break down in his arms. However, Ganner does not let her sob for long. "Anny, listen. There is something I must tell you, my child. It will not be easy to hear but you must hear it. For the unthinkable has happened..."
Over the next days, Ayden and Saagen manage the Onderian affairs as Ganner grows weaker and weaker. There are many rumors now about Ganner's impending death.
A solemn Tallus goes to see Annira and Talin. He gets down on his knees and asks if she can forgive him for not protecting her mother the former Queen with his life. Annira tells him to get up: “I cannot release you, Uncle Tallus. Look at me now. You must be strong in my stead. For you, there is much more suffering to come. You cannot leave so easily.” Tallus bows and accepts her request that he continue in his position of Captain of the Praetorian Guard. The Archons and the State Council are not so happy about this. They are looking for someone to blame for the Queen’s death and they have found it in Tallus. They insist that just because Tallus was Adeline’s friend of youth, he cannot escape punishment for the lax in duty. Even if he is to be punished, how can he be allowed to protect the young Queen when he failed to protect Adeline? Ayden and Saagen do their best to defend Tallus, but it is only when Talin, who is now addressed as “High Prince”, delivers Annira’s decree that Tallus will continue in his position is the matter closed. (Ganner is now addressed and referred to as the Prince Father). The matter of Yuvin remains, however. He has become a living ghost. It is only when Saagen goes and deliberately starts a fight with him (“You killed Mother! It’s because of you that I was exiled for so many years!”) does Yuvin finally get everything off his chest and sob his heart off. He has outlived three sets of parents: his Yela birth parents, his Imperial parents, and now Adeline and soon, Ganner. Ayden eventually goes looking for his missing brothers and find them totally drunk and morose. He joins them in the drinking for the night.
The day of the funeral arrives. In attendance from the Mar’Kaa delegation are the Imperial Noble Consort Jing, the new Prime Minister Yuwen Qi, and Puyan Jun. Ceferyn and the rest of the Merchant Council also attend, as do the Nagul of Isle Therianth. Unexpectedly (or expectedly to some), the Humans also send representatives in the form of the Esteemed Clan Princess Nelia Nenge of the Western Afrann Principality, the Trent Baron of Hylar, and Clan Prince Mir Stryver of Nordea. The Clan Princess is suitably alarmed by the obviously deteriorating state of Ganner, the boy she had raised. (The Clan Princess is not married and has no children of her own. She has accompanied the Old King since youth.) However, she does take the opportunity to carefully examine Saagen, the Lost Prince.
The Kastus Royal Family accompany the body of Adeline. To the surprise of many, another guest arrives in the form of the transient Child of Air, the Fourth Child of the Allfather – the only one of His Children who lives a truly immortal life. The last time he was seen and recognized on the Continent was during the funeral of Rayden, Kangli Emperor of Reborn Da’Lyan, the Child of Water. Saagen, especially, is surprised to find out that the Child of Air is none other than his friend from Thyrske, Eunson. Adeline’s body is cremated. After the ceremony, many reunions and conversations are had.
Puyan Jun comes to greet Annira and Talin: “Your Majesty” and “High Prince”. Now, Annira and Jun have another thing in common: the loss of their mothers. Annira apologizes for not being able to attend the Great Tiger’s funeral. In A’Ni, does Jun see the hope for the future. Though he is an apt martial art practitioner, he was never able to achieve the level of his mother. Before her death, Puyan Di saw A’Ni as a potential worthy successor of inheriting the Tiger’s mantle. Jun, along with the remaining sect siblings of his mother, will train A’Ni to the best of their ability. He thanks Annira for protecting his daughter with her life and Annira thanks him for doing the same. The three examine the Onderian government officials: the many scheming Archons of the Greater Houses, as well as the Grand Secretariat and other members of the State Council. Jun wonders who will replace the State Council members (these are people jointly appointed by the Queen Regnant and the Grand Chamber) but Talin, speaking on behalf of Annira, answers that there will be no replacements – not just yet. Jun is surprised but Annira explains that many questions remain to be answered regarding her kidnapping incident as well as Saagen’s return. She is sure someone, either an Archon or the State Councilors, is involved and wants to draw them out. Only by letting them run free can she determine the identity of the instigators. Someone tried to harm her, their future Queen, the blood of the Allfather and the descendant of the greatest families this Continent has ever known (the Greater House of Kastus, the Sazoryn and Rylandar Clans), and her unborn children. Annira will not let such a slight to her go unpunished. “I am my mother’s daughter, after all. No matter that she did not see it.”
Ceferyn and his disciple-mentee, Ayden also have a quick chat. Ayden asks Ceferyn when he’s leaving Aurain but his surprise, Ceferyn reveals he is staying in the capitol for a while – at the request of Ayden’s father, the Crown Prince. “You mean the Prince Father?” “Hmmm…” Ceferyn points out the Human delegation: “They have come to look at your younger brother, the Lost Prince lost no more. You must understand, my boy, that to some, he would be a more suitable and most certainly more pliable candidate than you for the Rylandar Throne.” Ayden is annoyed by the turn of the conversation – he doesn’t want to discuss this right now. Ceferyn becomes angry with him for his naivete – he didn’t spend all the time and resources over the last two decades training and mentoring Ayden for nothing. Obviously, he has been prepping Ayden for the eventuality of him taking his grandfather’s Human Throne. “Imagine. Your sister rules Onderon. You, her elder twin, rules the Humans. And over in Mar’Kaa, your adopted brother guards the shores of Da’Lyan. Peace… one that could be forged into eternity.” Ayden snorts and retorts: “Sounds like a monopoly.” Ceferyn replies seriously that it will be “this life’s work” – he must see it done before he goes. Ayden becomes alarmed: “Are you also dying?” Ceferyn: “Not quite. But I am entering the sunset years as Chief Merchant. The other Council members have starting yipping and yapping at my shadow. It will be time soon for me to leave.” Ayden still doesn’t seem very happy at the thought of him having to fight over the Human Throne with Saagen. Ceferyn tells him to be realistic and asks him why his father called him over. “Your father is dying. You, the peddler, and the Allfather know that. I have relayed this information to your grandfather the Rylandar King – he will be coming here soon. It should be of no secret or surprise to you that the Crown Prince is preparing for you to ascend to your grandfather’s Throne.” Ayden is surprised – he thought his father let go of such ambitions and claim to the Rylandar Throne a long time ago. Ceferyn replies that Ganner did let go, but only for himself – not for Ayden. Ayden is left to ponder such a statement.
Yuvin also has a reunion with the Imperial Noble Consort and the rest of the Imperial courtiers and government officials. He is surprised to be addressed as “Prince Regent”. Huang Gui Fei wants to extend an olive branch: the Hua Tribe will not be persecuted any longer (she did sincerely think they were at fault for the kidnapping incident) and Yuvin will be welcomed back onto the Regents’ Council. However, he declines. Yuvin doesn’t want to make things difficult for Xiao Jin (Little Jin is what he calls the Second Prince). He hasn’t let go of his desire to see his Imperial Father’s dying wish, though he doesn’t want that to be a cause of conflict between him and the Second Prince and the Huang Gui Fei. Yuvin will need some time to think of a way to get what he wants and what the Huang Gui Fei wants as well. He entrusts the safety of his Imperial Mother’s Hua Tribe to the Imperial Noble Consort while he is gone. The only recommendation he has left to give her is not to betroth Yujin to the Liya girl – she is not suitable for him. To his surprise, the Imperial Noble Consort agrees – she has decided to forgo any marriage alliances or agreements for now. Better to let the Tribes think there’s still a chance so they remain on good behavior. Yuvin smiles at that.
The Imperial Noble Consort asks Yuvin where he will go. He looks over at the setting sun, settling onto the distant-ish figures of Ganner and the Child of Air who are speaking to each other. Yuvin: “I will remain in Aurain, at least until the nosy woman’s husband follows her to the Hall of Judgment. He is, after all, my Yangfu”. He then looks at the Imperial Noble Consort and smiles a little sadly and wearily: “Another parent I must say farewell to. Three sets I have outlived. Perhaps the fate of being a son is not suited to me.” The Huang Gui Fei consoles Yuvin by saying that though he may have outlived three sets of parents, he has been fortunate to have had all three – all of whom were sincere towards him. Many people only have one pair and even that one pair may not live up to expectation. Yuvin thanks her for her words, addressing as “Jing nyaung nyaung” (he has always addressed her by her formal title, Huang Gui Fei, and never so casually before). Noticing the address, the Huang Gui Fei reminds him that for as long as they live, she and the Second Prince remain his family, and as family, they will be patiently awaiting his return. All idealistic conflicts between family can be resolved.
The Imperial Noble Consort makes to leave. However, Yuvin stops her. He asks again: “If I am the Prince Regent, I still have the powers invested by the office to act on behalf of a reigning Emperor?” The Prime Minister Yuwen Qi replies: “Yes, of course.” Yuvin: “Then, Prime Minister, since the Minister of the Internal Department (the department that handles all Imperial Family affairs) is not here, you will do me the favor of hearing my imperial decree. From henceforth, I raise Imperial Noble Consort Jing (Jing Huang Gui Fei) to the position of Dowager Imperial Noble Consort Jinghui (Jinghui Huang Gui Tai Fei). May my Imperial Father, in the Hall of Judgment if he still remains there, cast his blessings on us all.” The Lian courtiers and government officials all bow to Yuvin and the Dowager Imperial Noble Consort. (This is a big deal because only Emperors can formally grant Dowager positions to their fathers’ harem. For eight years, the Imperial Noble Consort has had to live with an inappropriate title. This new title will recognize her status as a consort of a deceased Emperor.)
Yuvin joins a waiting Saagen at the foot of the hill. They watch as a very weakened Ganner stop talking to the Child of Air to cough profusely. Yuvin goes up the hill and says to Ganner that he’s here to escort him back to the Palace – he needs rest. Ganner jokes weakly to the Child of Air that he always thought, as a human, that he would have daughters in his later years to fuss over his health. But, the Creator (the Allfather) has seen fit to grant him three meddling sons. He introduces Yuvin, the Third Son, to the Child of Air. Yuvin addresses the Child of Air as “Kongqi Xiao Shu” (Air Uncle or Air Father’s Younger Brother). This makes the Child of Air smile briefly and he replies by granting Yuvin his blessing. Yuvin takes Ganner away. Then, Saagen goes up the hill to speak to the Child of Air, his friend Eunson.
“You are no longer my friend Eunson. But my spirit uncle.” The Child of Air explains to Saagen that as the Fourth Child of the Allfather, the only one who is not reborn into existences, he can seldom interfere in the affairs of the people. Saagen asks why then he spent years as Eunson accompanying him. The Child of Air replies that “perhaps he needed a break of his traveling lifestyle”, but then reveals that it was a last request from his sibling. Saagen is confused and asks which sibling. His father? The Child of Air says it was not Adeline or Ganner who made the request. Adeline didn’t know Saagen was alive and Ganner had no reason to think Saagen would be endangered. It was Rayden, the Child of Water, who asked him as a last request in this life. Saagen doesn’t understand why Rayden, someone he has never met in his life, would ask something like this to the Child of Air. “You’ve never met him? Are you so sure?” The Child of Air reveals to Saagen that Rayden spent his seven years of exile on Istar (before returning to the Continent as the Last War started) watching over Saagen for Adeline’s sake (Saagen realizes Rayden was this schoolhouse teacher he really liked). Rayden had such a magnanimous heart. Even though at the time, Adeline (and his childhood friends such as Cassander and Tallus) had betrayed him, had faulted him unfairly, he could still forgive – he could still think for their sake. That was Rayden’s weakness in this life. To always be slighted, yet to always forgive. The Child of Air wishes Saagen good fortune in his new life. They will meet again soon, he says, when he returns for Ganner’s body.
When Yuvin helps Ganner get into bed, Ganner says he’s more filial, due to his Mar’Kaa upbringing, than the other three. Yuvin says he’s only doing this so that the nosy woman in the Hall of Judgment cannot criticize him. Ganner laughs at the reply. Yuvin asks him if he is not afraid (of his impending death). Ganner smiles weakly but contently: "Of all the moments in this life I have lived, I find myself the least afraid now. I was able to choose my end. And even now, I do not go blindly into the void. I know where I will be and who I will be with. In this world, who else can say that?" Before Yuvin goes, Ganner asks him for a favor. We don’t see what he asks though, just that Yuvin promises to do his best. Ganner closes his eyes. The last image he sees is of the first time he met Adeline, three decades ago.
That night, Ganner Rylandar, the High Prince and later Prince Father of Onderon, once the Crown Prince of the Humans, Child of Earth and Son of the Allfather, the Blessed Healer and Guardian of the Gate, dies in his sleep. The next morning, his children and grandchildren bid him farewell. Little Aayra holds her father’s hand to comfort him.
An unknown number of days later, we see a shot of the Old King Colin, Ganner’s father, receive the news of his son’s passing. A son he had not seen for near three decades.
As the sun sets, Saagen looks upon the horizon of the Crater City. He thinks, what a strange city and what a strange life he finds himself in. He could not imagine this was where he would be months ago. And he cannot imagine where he will be in a few months’ time. All he knows is that he must try his best to be worthy of those who came before him, and those who will come after. Yuvin comes to fetch him – Ayden has requested that they attend the Court meeting to discuss Anny’s coronation and the impending visit of the Human delegation to Aurain, the first in three decades. Saagen tells him he will be there soon. Yuvin then leaves.
The last shot we see is from Saagen’s perspective: in the near distance, we see the white figure of the Child of Air come to take his last remaining sibling from this Continent. And now, the Age of the Creator's Children comes to an end.
EPILOGUE
Kai’leen arrives at an unknown location for a meeting. She is surprised to find a bearded and weary man in front of her. He tells her that he was invited to the meeting too. We then see who it was that invited the two. Vice-Chancellor Danae Volsca of the Grand Chamber, the Archon of the Greater House of Volsca arrives. She introduces Kai’leen to the bearded man. He is none other than Hektor Belleron, House of Vasilus, who was once the Commander General of the Western Elva Army, now disgraced and removed from his exalted position.
From their conversations, we learn that it was Vice-Chancellor Volsca who worked with Kai’leen to instigate the whole business with the kidnapping of Anny and the return of Saagen to the throne. In her House, she has a bunch of underlings who are skinwearers – they disguised themselves as the Hua Tribe when kidnapping Anny and Puyan Ni. Hektor wants to know what motive Vice-Chancellor Volsca has for undermining the peace treaty. She replies mysteriously that in time, all will be revealed.
Archon Volsca tells them the reason for the meeting. All three of them are wary of the new Queen’s closeness to the Mar’Kaa. All three of them want to see the Mar’Kaa annihilated from the Continent. There is a way to do all this. Change the Queen. Both Kai’leen and Hektor are suitably aghast. How is that even possible? There are no other claimants to the Throne unless Archon Volsca is suggesting Annira be replaced by her quarter-blood niece.
Archon Volsca reveals that there is a surviving member of the branch of Ilana, daughter of Maeve the Peacemaker, the rightful Heir to the Throne whose life and throne were stolen by the power-hungry Elvira (Adeline’s mother and Annira’s grandmother). Elvira framed the murder of Ilana on the Mar’Kaa, which resulted in the entire mess of this current generation. If not for Elvira’s desire to fight for what did not belong to her, would thousands of Ney’shi people have been killed, their villages burnt to the ground? Would the Elder Lord Luka have died at the hands of the Mar’Kaa? Why should Elvira’s branch be allowed to rule Onderon – blood of Allfather or not? Ilana was the rightful Heir to the Throne. Her branch is senior to Elvira’s. Thus, there is another with a stronger claim to the Kastus Throne.