"Your Highness!"
We both turn to see Ingrid walking our way. I sigh. "You don't need to title us."
Ingrid offers a curtsy to both of us. She then captures my arm. "Uncle said you should see the letter."
"If it was that important, it would appear here..." I pause looking around. Maybe not. I definitely have 'enemies' around. I force her to release me. "I'll head back to my room, then. Is there anything more you need, Ingrid?"
"I can..." Ingrid stops. Jessica is glaring at her. "Or I'll be around if you need me, Your Highnesses."
"Yeah." Did the two use telepathy? Jessica looks to have stopped Ingrid from whatever her first plan was. Ingrid runs off instead of making further comment. "Did you want to find out what Odin is up to?" Last I knew he was going on 'dates' with my mother. Who picks picnics where it's likely a yeti will appear? Or an enraged boar? That's the dates they're picking. Specific areas where they are just existing in danger. My father may hate the concept or is supporting it. It's another question to ask.
But I didn't think they had a date today. Did something change?
"I... Probably wouldn't be useful." Jessica ducks her head.
"More than me." I shrug. "You know where my room is." She doesn't follow me directly, but maybe she'll decide to once I leave her sight. Once my door closes, Odin's letter appears before me. Ingrid suggested I needed to see it now. Why did he sent it to me?
Opening the letter has me teleporting.
The letter I had is gone and I'm standing in the forest next to Odin.
"See it worked." Odin says. Not to me. I notice seconds later my mother is standing in the shade of a tree. I'm not glowing... So is this in the capital somewhere?
William appears seconds later. "I can't pull you..." He stares at Odin. "Well, that explains why. Hello, Master."
"Sorry for testing you, William." Odin offers him a grin while placing a hand on my shoulder. So I don't leave? "I created a letter that causes teleportation. I'll explain how later." He focuses on me again. "If there is a red line across it, it's for teleportation to me."
I stare at him. "A new spell?"
"Yes." Odin nods. I know mages are always trying to figure out more, I just didn't expect this to happen. "So if you need my assistance, just open the teleportation letter. Keep it on hand." He hands over a letter that I can now see has a red line across it. "You never know when you need support."
"Or when you'll need it, Odin." I pocket the letter. Odin stares at me confused. "I'm not that much of a kid."
"Mhm..." Odin glances to my mother. She's holding in laughter.
"So... Where is your date today?" I ask looking around.
"We're actually in the park." Mom comments coming to my side. She moves past me to show off a landmark I know. So we are in the capital. Although I don't think this was part of my allowances before. There is too much empty space for them to feel safe. "You gained allowance when you became a knight."
"Okay."
William nods. "If I knew about what you were doing, I would've ignored it. But you went from your rooms in the knights hall to the park. Had to assume things." He scans Odin. "Testing a new spell and testing me. Sounds like expectation. How often did you do this to us?"
Odin grins. "It's how we live. I am heading back to the castle. Do you need my assistance going where ever?"
"Um..." I hold up my hand while turning to my mother. "Mom? I want to talk to you. We can do so here... I guess."
"Doesn't need to be secret?" She asks me.
I think it over. "Then we should make a campfire at least fifty meters from other human activity."
"You have a point." Mom crosses her arms. "We can talk here." She looks to Odin. "I can handle him. Report to the king."
"Can I make outlandish comments again?" Odin grins wider. What is he talking about?
"You know who needs to be around for those comments to matter. Don't insult my husband just because."
Odin clicks his tongue. "The only reason I did nothing was because I knew you still love him. I won't hurt him on purpose." He reaches out to take my mother's hand. "As I mentioned years ago, we can always leave together. When you wish to do so, I would be happy to oblige." He kisses her hand before disappearing.
William nods. "Call me, Thomas, if you need me." He waves and disappears.
Mom motions me to walk. "We denied you a lot, but I didn't even realize you never once tried to come here. You never sought the comfort of nature. You were just trying to escape humanity. I am truly sorry that you felt escape was the only real option for you."
What do I even say to that? Whenever my mother was on top of me, I was safe. But being queen... And Father as king... They could've give me proper time. I didn't grasp that before. I blamed my parents bad relationship as if that was the reason I ended up captured or lured out.
I was escaping them not just all the villains I didn't understand. My life was always... Different from everyone else's.
"Thomas?" Mom stops before me. We're just wandering the park.
Given no one has passed us, I'll assume Mom has a cloaking spell up. If that's the case I should be fine talking about anything. "Mom?"
"Yes?" She reviews me. "Are you upset I am separating Jessica from you? She does need time practicing the royal requirements and the past mission suggestion it truly is a contract."
I look aside. "The problem wasn't Jessica."
"I hope not. You should tell me if the relationship truly is impossible. But we have time. I think you'll do each other well when you get a little older."
Yeah. I'll agree with her on that. In my head. Not out loud. I don't want my mother realizing anything to do with my relationship. "The Telligence..." I sigh. "Warton has more guards than they need. They are managing to pull more from the knights. Many times we would talk to someone only to have them suggest being a Warton guard was a better choice."
"Jessica being a obvious connection." Mom pulls me in for a hug. "What do you think we should do?"
"The real issue is the higher chance of death in the knights." Which is why prestige gets higher. "Can you gift anyone who joins a one time reincarnation spell? Delayed effect? Like the curse given to children?"
Mom looks at me shocked. "I know I gave you my spell book... But how did you learn about that one?"
I shake my head. "I assumed because you can revive someone and you do know the curses. And you've been spending a lot of time with Odin lately."
"I figured that out before Odin." Mom releases me to just give me proper notice. "I cannot offer that spell too often. It exhausts me. And I do not know anyone else who can. It does require several different spell groups."
"I will... In the future..."
"Yes. And you cannot cast it on yourself." Mom waves me to walk. We're just creating a circlet. I may think to come here at another time to just walk the park. "Maybe I'll offer it. Anything else?"
"They should be blue knights mostly. We need more of them. My mission was going to fill our trainee group. Trainees take time to be useful."
"You have a point. So we should organize tests to prove levels."
"Yes."
"I will add it to my requirements with Jessica. Since her connection to Warton and this issue created strife between the two of you, it would suit us better if she handled things."
"Thanks, Mom."
"Was there something more?"
"Yes." I pause. How do I ask about the goblins?
"Well?" Mom looks at the sky. "We should get back. If you cannot figure out how to ask your questions, then..."
"What do you think of non human citizens?"
She stops to just stare at me. "Like elves?" I don't give her an answer. "I really can't mind them as long as they learn the language and act civilized."
I frown. The goblins... Probably can't do that. Not when we're talking the entire clan. They're a city unto themselves.
"There's more to this question." Mom watches me.
I sigh. "Yeah... I mean the goblins in Dragit."
"The ones you chatted with before?" Mom's intentness of me unsettles me. I nod though. "Do you not think they'll manage to speak our language? Or act civil?"
"I don't know. I cannot even say if all the goblins can speak our language. Goblin is a very different language. Agoin can. So can Al. And I know several can. But... Everyone?"
"I see..." Mom starts walking again. I follow. "I wish I had a better answer for you. The country has a language. To be a citizen you must be able to speak it."
I sigh. "I... I can talk to Al about that when I see them next." Or Agoin. That's why I'm going there. To figure out the goblins. "They'll be living in our country. We have peace talks going. I want to make them citizens."
Mom pats my shoulder. "You can decide what your thoughts are. Just know citizenship does require knowing the language."
"How well?" I ask. "What if they learn to read instead of speak?" Or if they can understand you even if they can't answer you?
"Those are not my questions to answer." Mom holds out a hand to me. "Your father would be the final decision. I can teleport us to him." She pauses. "Or outside his office. He has a meeting going on."
"Yes. That would help. I was planning to see him today." I take my mother's hand. Teleportation this time is expected.