She left Avalon.

Marcella picked up one of Raisel's dresses and sniffed it before bursting into a fresh bout of uncontrollable tears. It had become her habit since she woke up that morning to find out Raisel wasn’t in bed, not only that, but she had also left Avalon. She couldn’t say she hadn’t seen it coming. Raisel had always been stubborn and done as she pleased.

This one time, however, Marcella had hoped she would listen and forget all about the heart of magic but once again she was wrong. It was all her husband Ryker talked about. He had wanted to find it so badly. Sometimes he would be out for days before he returned, empty-handed. At that time she had played it down as nothing. One faithful day he had given Raisel the ruby he wore on his neck and she too had grown curious overnight.

They would both stay all night talking about the heart of magic like it was all that mattered. Afterwards, he went in search one more time and that was the last time she saw him alive. They had stayed months without hearing a word from him before news of his death reached them. Raisel had gone down that path now, probably lost somewhere in search of what was impossible to find. She wasn't so sure it even existed any more...

There was a rapid knock on the door, interrupting her musings. She wiped at her eyes and rushed to the door to find a brown-haired man with distinct green eyes, one she wouldn’t have missed anywhere. One that was similar to her long-time friend Hannele's. It was the Prince of Avalon, Prince Allerick.

She opened the door wider, “Your Highness”

“Good day ma’am”

“How can I help you? will you sit…”

“No, do not bother. I’m here to see Raisel…”, he paused for a brief moment before adding, “On my grandmother’s request of course, she hasn’t dropped by the castle for a long while now”

“Rai…Raisel…Raisel has gone”

“What?, What do you mean by gone?”, Allerick asked alarmed.

“She left Avalon”

***

They had been riding for a long time at high speed when Dragomir was sure they were not followed, he slowed down.

“There’s no sign of human life around. The roads are dangerous at night, we will camp here till morning and continue”

She was too tired to protest or argue. She tied Fury to a tree and kissed him goodnight, “Sleep well, my boy”

She spread the coat he had left with her when they first met.

He noticed, “You still kept this?”

“Huh?, I needed something to sleep on”, she said inaudibly.

He smiled.

He turned around to remove his shirt, “You can change into something comfortable. We will leave at first daylight. The woods are not safe. When you’re well rested in the morning we will talk. By the way, what’s your n…?”

He heard a thud behind him and before he could stop himself he turned to see what had caused the sound. The sound was from her as she dropped to the floor. She was already fast asleep, her long black hair sprawled out underneath her. He smiled at the sight before him.

***

Raisel woke up with a start, her back felt somewhat uncomfortable against the ground, but, she felt somewhat warm. She was draped in a large piece of clothing. Instinctively she sniffed it, she knew immediately it was Dragomir's. Her eyes adjusted to her surroundings slowly, she saw trees, she looked around, and there were more trees. She sat up uprightly. She turned beside her to see Dragomir deeply asleep. She roused him from his sleep.

Raisel was surprised, she didn’t expect to see him when she woke. He could have left with her ruby, the book and even added a horse and supplies for his trouble.

However he didn’t, there he was beside her unclad in the upper half of his body like it was the most normal thing…

“Are you not cold?”, she blurted out before she could stop herself. It was not what she intended to say.

He raised an eyebrow inquisitively, “What?”

“I thought you would have left?”, she asked again, “With everything I have left…”

“I’m no thief”, he stated.

She nodded, “You have my gem…”

He grinned at her, “You could have taken it while I slept and left with it”

She shrugged.

“Good”, he sat up, “Now we have established that we are both not thieves and not out to cheat the other. Let’s move on to much more pertinent issues”

“And what is?”

“Why is the gem so important to you?”, He questioned.

“My father had given it to me before he left…”, she paused and said inaudibly, “Just before he died."

“Oh”, he looked at it, “It is very special to you then..."

“It is”

“Why did you take the book on the heart of magic with you?, What do you need it for?”, he asked again.

She stared back defiantly, “I could ask you the same.”

“Well you seem like a trustworthy person, so I’ll tell you I need information about it, you know…”, he hesitated for a short while, “Everything there is to know about it”, he replied.

She nodded, “My reason is the same as you. Your intentions are what?”

“Purely good”, he stated simply. "So are we doing this together?”, he questioned, “You could use my help”

“Really?, Or you could use mine. I was pretty fine on my own”, she answered packing up her things.

“I technically just saved your life. If it weren’t for me you’d probably be dead”

Raisel scrunched her nose, he had a point. She set up Fury for a ride.

“That reminds me what’s your name again?”

***

“Your Majesty, King Nickolas, someone demands an audience with you”

And who will that be”, he questioned perplexed.

One frail man walked in, utterly terrified, his eyes darted from one corner of the throne room to another. This couldn’t possibly be the man who wanted to see him. Everyone feared him, no one who he hadn’t exclusively invited would demand his audience ever. Not this frightened man.

His guards drew out their swords and brandished them in front of them. He told them off, the frail man approached the throne, “Your majesty, someone seeks an audience with you”

“Who are you?”

“I’m Cillin, my master demands an audience with you”

“And who might your master be?”, he growled.

“It is…”

“Lord Votigern”, a loud voice resounded in the room.

King Nickolas stilled in his seat, he waved his guards away.

Votigern got to Cillin and smacked him to the floor, “Get away you flimsy scoundrel!”, He smirked evilly, “Nickolas I’m here to see you, do I still need to wait…”

“No of course not”, King Nickolas answered quickly.

Votigern smiled widely, “Good, I believe we have an understanding on these matters. I’ll hate for things to go differently... from what we planned. I’m sure you know that wouldn’t bode well for you”

“What is it you want?”

“The heart of magic...”

King Nickolas stared wide-eyed, “I do not have it”

“Definitely!, I do know that. You couldn’t possibly have it. Have you not heard, however?”, Votigern asked puzzled when Nickolas stared back at him clueless, he cursed under his breath, "My worth has lessened that I have to resort to spreading gossip like a peasant. What do you even do as kings? If you are not abreast with your environment, how do you even rule your people!”

“Votigern…”

“It’s Lord Votigern to you!”, he retorted. He pushed his face further into Nikolas's, “You cannot begin to fathom all the pleasures and power that awaits you if you side with me”

Votigern poked Nikolas on the forehead, “Your small head cannot envision it. This can only be made possible if I can lay my hands on the heart of magic again”

“I do know that”, Nikolas stated, “I want it, I want all the power that comes with it, but how can I help it if it is missing? I mean you had it for that short ti…”

“I did, its energy was so strong”, Votigern interrupted him, “It radiated all around it, so overwhelming. Nothing like you have seen before. I need to get my hands on it!”

“How can I help?”

“Word has it that two people a lady and a man stole the only written book on the heart of magic. Couldn’t have been a mere coincidence. They left with it! They’ll currently be searching for it…”

“In Molvania?, How did it happen?”

“Do you doubt me?”, Votigern growled aloud and clenched the robe of King Nikolas.

“No of course not”,

“Good!”

“I want them found and brought to me”, Votigern smirked maniacally, “They’ll be needing one or two lessons on the consequences of going after something that doesn’t belong to you!”