* * *
"We must expand our search." Ibalize said slowly after Yaros had caught up to him. "There is only one place left."
"You cannot leave your army, brother. Their loyalty is already tenuous, if they were to find out where you went..." Yaros did not bother to finish.
"You're right brother, I can't go." He stopped, and Yaros almost crashed into him. "You will."
Yaros looked horrified. "We are forbidden. We do not know what lies beyond the great tears!" He stammered.
"That is the other reason you go first." Ibalize walked away.
Alkorn, Muda, Sophie, Yannick
"I have received a message. Much has happened since we left Sikeran." Yannick told Muda.
They had been at sea for over three months, and Yannick had been sober the entire time. Before they boarded he had demanded that the captain jettison all liquor. The sailors had grumbled at first, and many threatened to find other work, but when Yannick promised them more gold than most earned in several years, they grudgingly agreed. A few months of sobriety was well worth a year of drunkenness.
He had hidden a few bottles in his own chests, to ease the pain he told himself. He promised the goddess that he wouldn't touch them for at least a moon, but had broken the promise on his first night. He burned through a pint of brandy and passed out on the deck, much to the envy of several sailors who were nursing hangovers.
Muda had quickly understood Yannick's plan. When the old man passed out, Muda tried to go break into Yannick's cabin and find the liquor, but whenever he reached the door his sickness overcame him, and so he could only hope Yannick would find his own strength.
On the second night, the same thing happened. Yannick passed out, and this time, the sailors were a bit more vocal about their irritation. One sailor found Muda, doubled over outside Yannick's cabin, and lost his temper.
"Even the pup gets a drink, but not us sea-legs? Goddess' teats." He kicked Muda and started to walk away, but the young prince had an idea. He slurred his speech a little, and responded "Pfah to yoush. If yoush wantsh to have somesh drink yoush go ahead. Itsh inshide da chest." Then he fell to the ground, nausea overcoming him.
The sailor watched Muda for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders and let himself in. He grabbed a bottle, and wandered off to a quiet corner.
Muda soon discovered that sailors never were very good at keeping secrets, and within a bell four men had finished the bottle. They walked towards Yannick's room, swaying slightly.
When Yannick woke up the following morning he felt his head might implode. He dragged himself to his cabin and was horrified to find his belongings scattered about and not a drop of brandy left. He tried to find the captain, but his rage only made him sicker, and he passed out on the floor until the afternoon. When he awoke again he was mostly sober and his shame kept him from complaining to the captain. Thus began the longest sobriety of his adult life began.
Yannick had grown stronger in the three months, both physically and mentally. He dedicated a great amount of his time to training with Muda, who still lacked the courage to attack, but gave Yannick the opportunity to exercise. Muda himself grew quicker and stronger, and learned a little of tactics from the books that Yannick had brought.
But now circumstance required them to return to Sikeran.
"Sophia's mother has passed," he told Muda, "And this has left a void in the realm's leadership. Sophia will likely have made her own claims. She is more than competent, and her mother's name carries a lot of weight." Yannick stared at the approaching city. They would be there within a day.
"There are contenders." He continued. "Many tire of the complacency that has consumed the country. They crave glory, and dominion, and fear that Sophia will continue in her mother's path of peace."
"We are foreigners and guests, and cannot participate in this struggle." He cautioned, obviously trying to convince himself. "We are to remain neutral. I understand your feelings for Sophia, but you are not to interfere, am I understood?"
Muda had not taken his eyes from the city that had been his home for over a decade throughout Yannick's entire speech.
"Am I understood?" Yannick demanded again.
Muda turned slowly, and glared with an intensity that Yannick was not accustomed to.
"Sophia is young. Why would she be chosen? Why not someone older?"
"The Sikeran are strange, in this way. They believe in constant change, constantly adapting to new challenges and advances. You will see, one day, once a person reaches a certain age... It becomes more difficult to make these changes. Their elders are still allowed to advise, but choices are made by the young."
Muda considered this for a moment. "Sophia's mother wasn't very old. How did she die?"
"I am not certain." Yannick responded. "They are very secretive about such things. I have heard rumors that leaders are asked to step down at a certain age, and if they will not..." Yannick shrugged.
"But these are simply rumors." He concluded.
"What will happen to Sophia if she is not chosen?"
"I have no answer for that, either. Many contenders from the past have simply faded away from political life, others have themselves become advisers. Some do not survive the ordeal."
They were both silent for a time.
Finally, Muda spoke. "I will not allow any harm to come to Sophia."
Yannick snorted a laugh. "And what will you do to protect her?"
Muda drew back. Yannick felt a moment regret. "Your intentions are noble, as befits a king, but we cannot become involved. Even if you could become involved."
Muda stiffened, then turned his back on Yannick and left.
"Walking away again." Yannick muttered to himself.
It was far into the night before he finally went to his cabin.