The throne hall doors were shut and the guards weren't allowing anyone in. Not even the prince in front of whom they have silently but firmly crossed their poleaxes. His eyes, usually of soft brown colour, turned almost black, he pursed his lips and a few of his black curls have fallen on his forehead, as he took a sharp deep breath, nodding. Prince gave each of the guards a long glance before turning on the heels and leaving.

The young man in deep-blue attire with golden embroidery took a turn into one of the corridors, passing by half a dozen of doors before pushing one of them and entering the room. His footsteps here were silenced by the light-purple carpet. Nothing has changed here from the last time he visited it. Same purple velvet curtains on the tall windows, same light-purple wallpapers with her emblem of four-petal flower in thin silver lines – they were noticeable most of all at the sunrise and sunset, as she preferred to keep the curtains open. Same round table and two round chairs of dark wood next to it. The same bed where nobody slept from the time she was gone. Same fireplace and two armchairs in purple velvet next to a little table with a vase where fresh flowers were put every morning, no matter the season. Her favourite purple lilac.

Prince sat in the armchair, dropping his forehead on his hand. The images of the past were still fresh in front of his eyes. He couldn't forget the day when she left, her voice still sounding in his head.

"My mother needs my attention. I will return soon," she said taking a step out of her room, her green eyes shining bright.

Green as the spring meadow grass. That grass which turned yellow by now.

The young man has closed his eyes, his breath becoming shallow. He remembered this last time when she let him take her to the courtyard.

"Just one week, my prince," she said, walking down the staircase and into the yard, her soft white hand resting on his elbow.

White as the little clouds in the summer sky. The clouds have turned grey and heavy by now.

Prince clenched his fist until he felt his nails digging into his palm. He remembered the touch she gave him on that day.

"I will return before your fourth Red ray would begin," she said, brushing her small fingers over his cheek, leaving a cooling feeling on his skin.
The only person whose touches were soothing and could make the heat bubbling behind his back bearable. The cold winds crossing the castle of Dain-Tar that came after summer heat never could be any relief to him.

Prince's fist landed on the armchair's armpad, leaving a deep dent that was slowly returning to its original form. He remembered her melodic voice speaking to him for the last time before she has left.

"All will be fine, my prince," she said, getting into the carriage, her golden waves of hair shining on the sun.

Golden, as the leaves covering now the ground of the garden where she loved to walk.


The doors of the room opened, pulling the prince out of his memories, and he got up from the armchair, turning to face the visitor of this sacred room.

"I knew you'll be wasting your time here, Kiniar," the young man heard his father and bowed his head to greet the king of Dain-Tar, looking at the point of his dark-blue shoes. "I've heard you wanted to visit the council today?"

"I'm a prince, isn't it my duty to know what's going on in Dain-Tar first hand?" Kiniar looked straight into his father's perpetually black eyes.

"You'll be allowed there when you learn to handle your mood changes," the king pointed with his chin at Kiniar, but the prince felt it was aiming behind his shoulder.

"The healers couldn't help me," said Kiniar.

'But she could, and you know this,' he thought, lowering his glance. 'She's not here now, and I shamefully depend on a woman. I won't show you my weakness again.'

The heat inside him grew stronger, sweat covering his forehead.

"That's what I was talking about," nodded the king.

Same curls, as Kiniar's were adorned with a crown, but the time has drawn a few lines across his forehead and around his mouth. The royal blue suit was decorated with pearls instead of the golden embroidery of the prince's dress.

"I've heard your runaway Everia was seen crossing the Eastern border, but that's none of my concerns, of course. Don't stay here up till late," the king said and left the room without looking back again.

"Go after her, check every town and every village on your way to the Eastern border," said prince seemingly to nobody.

He closed his eyes and frowned, as he felt the heat leaving his body, giving him some relief.

"Sniff anything you want here and go search for her again."

A dark shade bubbled behind the prince, but he didn't open his eyes.

"I don't know what to do next, just find her and get yourself back here!" he raised his voice at the low growl the shadow let out.

The heat didn't turn any less and he could swear the shade behind him became thicker.

"Eat if you get hungry, just return by tomorrow evening and tell me how far did you reach this time," said the prince.

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