Hunters Moon, 505 SM
Maryere, the Mountain Realm
Josef curled his short brown hair with his finger while flipping through a thick old book. He had to save to save his sister. How? He groaned at the question, wishing things were easier. It seems life isn’t easy at all.
Jaslyn’s dirty face appeared in his head. What are you doing, stupid? She echoed, repeating the words she had said earlier. He remembered her stubby little fingers tapping on the cover of the book that sat beside him. You shouldn’t be reading this here. People will see you.
He rolled his eyes at his sister’s concern. I’m reading something they don’t expect me to read. The news will spread to my parents, which might get them to do something. Alice needs to come home, and they are trying to be patient. Falk has no patience, I can tell. We must do something now.
Josef sighed and returned his attention to the book. Saving Alice comes before everything. He examined a map of the Kingdom of Valley Pines. Traveling by sea would surprise Falk, he strategized. The easiest way to get to Kingment by water is to sail from Blackwater; he traced a route with his finger. Would Father be willing to travel by boat? Has he ever been on one? Where has Father traveled to? I have only seen him leave Maryere recently, and that trip tore our family apart.
“Jojo, what’s up?”
He blinked emotionlessly before looking up. Leith.
Josef Wayward didn’t understand Leith. He had tried to explain that he wasn’t interested in a friendship, yet Leith wouldn’t leave him alone. I must not mind too much since I still visit the library daily, studying the boy’s happy face. “I remember allowing you to call me that.”
Leith sat at the table. “I know you don’t care.”
Josef shook his head, holding back a chuckle. Leith was right—Josef didn’t care. He only cared about bringing Alice home. I feel like the only one. The rest of my family seems to be worried about other things.
“You look exhausted. What’s wrong?”
It was a simple question, but Josef’s inability to think of a coherent answer drained his energy. “So many things,” he exhaled. Leith knows what is happening with my family, but he asked me anyway. Everyone else just looked at me with pity. “Do I have to elaborate?”
“Is that why you are reading this book?”
His brown eyes focused on the pages in front of him. “Aye, I’m trying to learn about sea travel.”
“Well, what you have there is an old book written by a horrible scholar,” Leith huffed. “Let me get you something better.”
The library boy jumped to his feet and left before Josef could respond.
Alone, Josef studied his small, childish hands. I shouldn’t have to do this, he resented. Alice is a person, not a political tool. Why doesn’t my family understand that? They acted so distraught at first and then did nothing!
He crossed his arms and looked around the busy library. I can’t do this alone, he realized, sighing. I can barely trust my family; how can I trust anyone else?
Josef pictured his Father, Mother, and Jaslyn standing before him. I can’t trust Father, he decided immediately. Father’s literally in power and did nothing—he has always done nothing—that is why this family is falling apart. Tears brimmed Josef’s eyes at the thought. I must save House Wayward from ourselves.
He thought about his mother then. Can I trust her? His beautiful imaginary mother still stood with her hands clasped together. He took in her eccentric Summeran features, airy voice, and piercing blue eyes. The woman’s constant intensity and ambition filled Josef with hesitation. His mother was an entity far above anything Josef could touch. Would she even allow me to work with her?
Josef gulped at his unending thoughts. I don’t know my mother at all.
He gripped at his hair and moved on to his sister. Maybe I should team up with Jaslyn, he wondered desperately. Would that help? He shook his head. Jaslyn wants to be queen. She wants to make the Mountain Realm hers. I can’t trust her. He mulled over his thoughts. Can I trust anyone?
The one person he didn’t think about appeared in his mind. Alice. He observed her bony body, flushed face, and greasy thin hair. No one did anything kind for Alice when she was here. He wanted to punch himself for that. I should have tried to build a genuine relationship with Alice. Our was so shallow, as if we were afraid of each other. He pressed his hand on his chest. I wasn’t scared of Alice, was I?
Weak coughs filled his mind, causing gooseprickles to cover his skin. He pictured Alice lying in bed in the Bloody Tower on the edge of death. The sight made his stomach flip, and he wanted to cry. I was afraid of my sister dying, so I pretended I didn’t have a sister at all. Yet Josef constantly found himself thinking about his older sister. Why was Alice continually sick? Why can’t she get better? Is there anything that anyone can do?
The constant swirling questions forced Josef into the library, where he now spent most of his afternoons. I learned so much so quickly, just from reading. He pressed his hands against his cheeks. I need to know more, but how? Who will tutor me? A Savant? Will I have to teach myself until I come of age? Will Father be the one to teach me? Does he even have anything to teach?
His mind continued to race as Leith approached with a large book. The library boy gave a big, bright smile that seemed to steal what little energy Josef had left. When was the last time I slept? He had done nothing but read, study, and plan. When Alice returns, I will spend all my time by her side. I will cure her and ensure she lives a long, healthy life. If my parents don’t do it, then I will.
“What did you find?”
Leith placed the book on the table and pointed at the cover. “Everything you need to know about boats will be in this book.”
“Thank you, Leith.”
The library boy sat beside Josef and stared directly at him. “So, what are you doing?”
Josef’s eyes grew wide. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve been spending a lot of time here recently. You rarely talk to anyone else, even in your family. You’re making yourself an outcast.”
Josef frowned at Leith’s observation. “I’m just a ten-year-old boy curious about boats.”
Leith matched Josef’s frown. “That might work on the Lord Protector and Lady Wayward, but I know you better than that. You are a genius. You’re planning something, aren’t you?”
He rolled his eyes. “Not really. I’m trying to get the ever-watching eyes to tell my parents what I’m reading. It might get them to do something about my sister.”
“The queen?”
“No, the sister who was taken from here against her will, and my parents just looked around confused.” Silence engulfed the pair, heightening Josef’s anxiety. “I’m bringing Alice back,” he whispered. If Leith betrays me, I will know that no one is trustworthy.
“That’s very admirable of you.”
Josef leaned back in his chair, uninterested in the praise. “Yeah, well, it’s hard as shit. I can’t figure out a plan.”
Leith chuckled. “It doesn’t sound right when you curse.”
Josef replied by playfully pushing Leith’s shoulders, intensifying the boy’s laughs. Leith might be a little annoying, but he gets me.
“So, you plan to sail to Kingment?”
“Was,” Josef corrected. “The Mountain Realm doesn’t have battleships.”
Leith shook his head. “You’re thinking too far ahead, Jojo. First, you need strong allies who won’t tell your father.”
He thought about the library boy’s suggestion and wondered if Jaslyn had received the same tip. “Do you think Jaslyn has strong allies?”
“I know she does,” Leith insisted. “I practically live in this library, and significant people are always filtering through.” He paused, shrugging carelessly. “And sometimes I eavesdrop.”
“Who are her allies?” Josef questioned, his tone a bit more serious.
“Definitely, Lord Dawphrey. I think he has a crush on her,” he whispered, leaning in.
Josef stuck out his tongue. “Gross. That means his grandfather, Lord Payne, is her ally, too?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised.”
His eyes narrowed on Leith. “Who do you think I should align with?”
“Honestly, Jojo, none of them. Every highborn house has its motives. Some still support your father because he is the Lord Protector. Some support Jaslyn because they think she is strong mentally and physically. Some even support your mother and would prefer her to rule.” Now, a sad hopelessness twisted in Leith’s tone. “But no one supports you. They all think you’re a child.”
Realization struck Josef. I act like a child to conceal what I do so all the adults genuinely think I am a child. What can I do to change their mind? What did Jaslyn do to convince her supporters? “Jaslyn is only a year older than me,” he grumbled with his arms crossed.
Leith shrugged. “I’m just telling you what I know.”
House Dawphrey and House Payne are out of the question, he noted, understanding more about the kingdom that would one day be his. “House Myster is the richest house in the Mountain Realm. Should I speak with Lady Joan?”
“No. She has other plans, and luckily, they don’t concern you. I wouldn’t even approach that woman.”
Josef raised his eyebrows at Leith’s continued seriousness. What all does he know? He wanted to trust Leith, but he was still unsure. I must ask the right questions. “What are Lady Joan’s plans?”
The library boy shrugged again. “She always has those other highborn ladies around, so I can’t hear her when she is talking. She doesn’t like your mother or father. I know that much.”
Josef frowned. I will force Lady Joan to return to Bear’s Creek when I obtain power. I know I can’t trust her. She’s too ambitious, even for an old woman. “What about House Mason?”
“I don’t know, Josef. I read a lot about this house and that house and eavesdrop on every conversation I can, but I don’t know everything about the highborn. I am a commoner.”
Josef paused. He had forgotten the harsh reality that showed its ugly face increasingly.
Some people are more important than others.
Spring flowers were blooming when Josef first noticed it. He casually munched on a carrot, leaning against some old lady’s stall in the ever-expanding Vegetable Market. His eyes scanned the crowd that moved around hurriedly, buying, selling, and haggling. A skinny girl younger than him caught his attention, and he immediately frowned when he saw her awful condition. He took another carrot from the stock and cooed the girl over to him. She approached nervously, and Josef could only extend his arm silently, offering the carrot. The dirty girl snatched the carrot and ran off, reminding Josef of a deer.
My lord, you shouldn’t have done that, the old vegetable grower’s warning echoed in his head. Won’t do her no good. She’s an orphaned peasant. They can’t do anything and are worthless compared to us working people. She’ll be dead in a fortnight.
Josef snapped back into reality, frowning harder than ever. Just because a person is a peasant doesn’t mean they are worthless. They are still a person. His hands squeezed into fists determinedly. I will prove that everyone is a person worth treating as an equal. His eyes narrowed on Leith, who stared back curiously. “If you were me, who would you speak to?”
“None of them.”
Josef sighed. “I have to speak with one of them. I need someone to be on my side.”
“I’m sorry, Josef, but no matter who you ask, no one will truly support you here in Maryere.” Leith paused before a devious smile appeared on his face. “Wait, you want your father to know what you’re doing, right?”
“Aye.”
“From what I’ve observed, you can trust only three lords: Lord Ward, Lord Fletcher, and Lord Embrus. Those lords haven’t shown any signs of support for anyone yet. I would speak with them first. Tell them something stupid and childish like ‘rally your men!’ If your father finds out, ask who told him. Then you would know who you can trust and plan accordingly.”
“Leith, I’m starting to think you’re the genius.”
The library boy looked away, blushing. “I am humbled by your words, Jojo, but honestly, I want what’s best for you.”
“Why?” Josef questioned, not understanding the boy’s intentions.
Leith gave a reassuring smile with his thumbs up. “Because you’re my best friend!”
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