Vigilant left the throne room with his tail dragging behind him. He yawned and blinked, like he had not slept for days. The audiences had only taken four hours, but those hours had passed so slowly Vigilant may as well have watched paint dry. One noble lady had asked for massive grants of land in the Cat-paw islands. She had wanted to start up a sugar-cane plantation and a vineyard. Vigilant had told her to get out. She was not the first noble who thought the new monarch would grant them more land, and she would not be the last.

The requests from most of the nobles had either been outrageous or menial. One lord, a small and meek stallion who stuttered, had asked for a loan to repair his family’s merchant vessel. Vigilant had granted it and sent the noble on his way to the Coìches. One noble lady had requested that Vigilant attend a ball in her mansion. The prince had accepted the invitation and informed her of his coming visit to Silfy. The mare had hurried away to plan for his return. After the nobles and the merchants, the commoners had been allowed their audience. Most requests were for Vigilant to lend them money or bless a ship. One elderly stallion asked for magical help with his village’s crops. Vigilant had agreed and sent a messenger to Shamën Vitali with the farmer’s request. Most of the commoners asked for petty or minor things, to which Vigilant guided them to Beriit Olim or Shamën Vitali.

That was his job as monarch before he turned eighteen. Smile and wave in public and send ponies to one of the council members when they had a problem that needed to be solved. He sighed in frustration and hugged the brown parcel to his chest mumbling under his breath. The walk to his chambers felt longer than it had any right to be.

“The chef has prepared your lunch, your highness. It awaits you in your quarters,” one of the guards who followed him said.

“Good, I need food and rest. Tell the council that we need to speak as soon as possible about my trip to Silfy, and make sure Felreth Shield is in a good mood when you tell her. I would rather not deal with her being angry at me during the meeting,” the prince said.

The guard nodded. “Of course, your highness.”

Vigilant was led to his quarters by the two guards. He thanked them for their service and entered his room. The prince muttered darkly to himself after he had closed the door and he sat down by his desk. A plate of salmon and a large pitcher with water had been placed on the desk, and the food smelled heavenly. Vigilant could feel himself salivate at the scent and he magically grabbed the fork. He ate his food in silence and once he was done he pushed the plate and water aside. He placed the brown parcel onto the desk and undid the knot holding the paper together.

“Let’s see what you figured out, Kira...” he mumbled.

Vigilant unfurled the brown paper and revealed a stack of parchment and envelopes. At the very top of the stack was an envelope bearing his mother’s cutie mark. He stared at it for a second before grabbing it with his magic. He brought it close and his ears drooped. He closed his eyes, pressed the envelope against his forehead, and sighed before putting it next to the stack.

He wasn’t ready yet.

The prince focused his attention on the stack once more and picked up the first parchment. It was a detailed description of his mother’s health a few days before she had fallen ill. His mother’s entire diet was written down and he smiled at Kira’s dedication. His mother had apparently had some cake for breakfast on the fifteenth of Nara, something which Kira showed much disapproval for in the following notes. Starlit Eyes had then visited one lady Bater, where she had eaten a buffe of fish and meats. Vigilant skimmed among the rest of the meals his mother had on the fifteenth. He noted the names of a few diplomats and ladies, but nothing was out of the ordinary. Most food his mother had eaten still came from the palace’s kitchen, including many of the treats the nobles offered.

His mother had followed a very similar pattern on the sixteenth. Most foods was prepared by the palace staff unless she ate lunch or dinner with some noble. He noted that she had met with the Coìches and eaten some sweets. He took out a journal and wrote down the date, time, and what had been eaten. He also added the Coìches title to the note to know who his mother had seen. He continued and picked up a new parchment from the seventeenth. It read like the first two. Breakfast in the palace, lunch in the royal dining hall, dinner with a cousin of duke Garmain… None of it stood out. Fish, pork, beef, oyster, shrimp… Kira had written down every last meal and none of it seemed out of place or connected to the sickness at all. Vigilant sighed before he saw that Starlit Eyes had met with Deimrün Jiros for a drink. Silveltian wine had been served, specifically a decade-old bottle of Narou from the northern vineyards. Vigilant made a note of it and read on.

On the eighteenth, his mother had met with the entire council for lunch. All kinds of food had been served, from meats to fruits, to vegetables. His mother had eaten it all. After lunch the council had enjoyed some cake and tea brewed by the high priestess, a tea Kira had tasted herself. The healer had noted down it tasted sweet with a bit of honey as an aftertaste. Kira had scribbled a note at the bottom of the rapport as well.

11 am, 18th of Nara.
Complaints of bowel movements and sensations of sickness. Informed her that eating that much cake was not healthy for anyone, especially not her. Suggested it could also be due to stress. The meeting got heated due to some legislation regarding the situation on the continent. Will recommend meditation and prayer.

Vigilant skimmed through the rest of the eighteenth and grabbed the document for the nineteenth. He breathed in deeply and steeled his nerves. The nineteenth had been the first day when his mother had started to feel ill. He looked down on the paper and saw many scribblings by Kira. Fish, shrimp, pasta, rice, tea, wine, ale. His mother had eaten and drunk what she normally did. Some meals were shared with important nobles while others with the council. Yet it was here Kira’s notes began their record of Starlit Eye’s sickness.

10 pm, 19th of Nara.
Labored breath, headache, dizziness, fever. Could be the flu, will prescribe medicine and rest. Will inform Felreth Shield that no audiences can be held tomorrow.

7 am, 20th of Nara.
Calm breaths, no headache, no loss of balance. Fever still lingers but is better. The new medicine works better than expected.

9 am, 20th of Nara.
Breakfast with Deimrün Jiros, tea and milk was served along with sweets. No progress on fever, but other symptoms have not returned.

1 pm, 20th of Nara.
She slept for five hours, looks better already. Fever is almost entirely gone. Says she will happily attend court tomorrow. I was worried about nothing.

8 pm, 20th of Nara.
Meeting with Beriit Olim and Shamën Vitali. Shared a glass of wine and cake. Must tell her to ease down on the sweets. Fever and other symptoms have not resurfaced.

10 pm, 20th of Jara.
Evening tea brought in by servants. She had three cups. Commented on its sweetness. Must ask the chefs for some later.

The parchment ended there and Vigilant swallowed thickly before reading the next entry. He remembered quite well the twenty-first of Nara. His mother had been holding court and he watched from her side. She had suddenly collapsed and the throne room had erupted into chaos. Kira had been panicked and called for the other healers. They had carried Starlit Eyes to her chambers and he had been forbidden to follow. His place was by the throne according to Sacred, not in a hall of healers. A stallion held no place in such an environment. He growled and started to read.

8 am, 21st of Nara.
Some complaints of lightheadedness. Suggested a strong shot of rum and to wait with holding court for another day. She was adamant to hold it. Fish for breakfast and some water.

10 am, 21st of Nara.
Collapsed in the throne room. I ordered the healers to have her carried to her room. Examined her and found the fever had returned. Restless sleep, nightmares. Prince wanted to see her, denied entry by Felreth Shield. Illness could spread to him too.

Vigilant blinked at that and looked to the side. The prince pondered on those words. Did the Felreth care more for him than he had thought? He sighed before he continued to read the notes.

1 pm, 21st of Nara.
Awake and feels ill. Complaints about headache and sore throat. Will recommend that she takes more medicine and rest. The flu is particularly bad this season it seems.

7 pm, 21st of Nara.
Been asleep for a few hours now. Her fever is better and her breathing is normal. It comes in waves. Behaves unlike any flu I have seen before. Must ask the university for aid.

11 pm, 21st of Nara.
Evening tea was served much to her enjoyment. No sweets this time, I forbade her from having any. Condition stable, no coughing, sore throat, dizziness, or fever. She seems tired. The flu is taking its toll. Took blood and saliva samples.

The note ended there and Vigilant picked up the document written on the twenty-second. He remembered that Kira had informed him of his mother’s condition that day. The healer has said Starlit Eyes had contracted a strange form of flu. He gritted his teeth and read on.

10 am, 22nd of Nara.
Ham sandwich for breakfast along with water. Fever lingers but other symptoms are gone again. Advised against her holding court and she agreed. Had a meeting with the Beriit about some legislation and then one with the Coìches about tax revenue and investment.

11 am, 22nd of Nara.
She was served two glasses of wine by Falkreth Weis during a meeting about border security. Advised that she should rest instead, was dismissed. Will go to the university with the blood and saliva sample I took.

2 pm, 22nd of Nara.
Handed in the samples to the university. Will take them some time to process. Asked them to find any irregularities with healing magic. Sent a request to the Silveltian institute of medicine for them to send master Healing Symphony here.

7 pm, 22nd of Nara.
I have researched different kinds of recorded flu in the royal library and the university library, nothing I have found matches the fluctuating symptoms. I saw references to the plague, but she has no scars or pimples. Asked Marcis to record what she had eaten for lunch and dinner, a lamb steak for lunch and nothing for dinner. She feels ill again.

10 pm, 22nd of Nara.
Evening tea, no sweets allowed. She fell asleep shortly after. Will inform the council that they will have no meeting with her in the morning or afternoon. She needs rest. The prince tried to break into her chambers to see her but was denied by Sacred Shield. An illness that can bring down a strong mare would pummel his body, she said.

Vigilant flushed at that and growled. He remembered how he had forced the guards aside and tried to enter the room. Sacred had grabbed hold of his collar and dragged him back. She had the guards escort him away and told them to not let him leave his room. What was he? A child? Even if his mother had been sick he would have gladly seen her more before the end. He had not been there the night she died, and it still stung.

Vigilant sighed and skimmed through the three other notes. They spoke of Kira’s struggle to understand the sickness and how his mother became more and more bound to her chambers. He frowned at the pages and looked at the twenty-sixth. The only thing of note was that Kira had gotten a response to the letter she had sent to master Healing Symphony. The master had left the same day he received the letter and would be there soon. The prince had never seen this master of the Silveltian institute around the palace, nor had heard anything about a stallion who had helped Kira. He looked to the twenty-seventh and found something interesting.

2 pm, 27th of Nara.
I visited the university and they had lost the samples. Never trusting that senile mare with anything again. Will have to take new samples and give them to the university again. Was given orders to check up on the prince. Was denied access to his room and almost blasted with magic. Must speak to Starlit about his hormones and anger issues.

“I do not have anger issues!” Vigilant growled.

He took a deep breath before he continued to read.

5 pm, 27t of Nara.
I was able to check up on the prince after promising to let him see her. Breathing normal, heartbeat calm, no headache, fever, or dizziness. Displays no symptoms like hers. Will inform Sacred Shield to give him one hour with her tomorrow. I fear she'll flog me for suggesting it, but the boy needs to see his mother.

Vigilant pressed his ears against his head. He had been allowed to enter his mother’s room on the twenty-eight, though it had only been for a few minutes. He did remember the promise Kira had made, but he had not even thought about how hard it must have been to convince Sacred to let him see his mother for even just a few minutes. ”Thank you, Kira…”

9 pm, 27th of Nara.
Received word that master Symphony’s ship should arrive tomorrow morning. It was spotted north in the strait. Starlit had crab for dinner along with some white wine. Odd combination. Symptoms once again better, but she is more tired.

Vigilant grabbed the notes about the twenty-eight. It was the end of the month and he remembered it clearly because it had been his last visit to see his mother. He prayed to Demos for a moment before he continued to read.

10 am, 28th of Nara.
Felreth Shield allowed the prince a few minutes to see her. Informed me she had been paid well to keep the prince safe from disease. Always about money for that mare. Starlit’s conduction is worse than before. The ebb and flow of the disease are odd. Much ask the master when he arrives. I worry for the queen.

3 pm, 28th of Nara.
Met master Symphony and his son in the harbor. Was not informed his son would come with him. Never seen a spiritborne before. Odd glowing eyes and an apathetic tone. Named Qurous of Uther. Moves gracefully and quickly. The master was older than expected but held a kind disposition. Hired a room at the Salted Clam by the harbor. Wanted to see the samples.

5 pm, 28th of Nara.
Master Symphony became very concerned when investigating the blood. Said he needed his son to fetch proper tools. He suspected it was more than flu. Left the university to let them handle it. Was informed by Marcis that the queen had nothing for dinner, she felt too ill to eat.

11 pm, 28th of Nara.
She had her evening tea. Coughing is worse and she gets it more often. She acts brave, but I can tell she is scared for her safety. Must ask the master and his son to work fast.

The prince read about his mother’s fear for her own life and closed his eyes. He swallowed thickly before grabbing the first document of the new month. It was only a little over a week old, and he hated that it had been so recent.

6 am, 1st of Veras.
Was woken up and told she had puked. The fever was strong and she coughed often. I barred the council from summoning her and canceled all her meetings. I ordered the palace healers to gather as many healing remedies as possible. Must go see the good master.

10 am, 1st of Veras.
The master is certain it isn’t any known flu or disease. He ruled out the plague, pox, and any other form of pestilence. He seems close to discovering something. Met his son, anti-social and reluctant to talk. Seems nervous about being here. Said there is a tear in the city. Can spiritborne feel when the veil between the physical world and other realms break? Master Symphony said it was likely a natural tear due to the history and magic in the city. Qurous says otherwise.

6 pm, 1st of Veras.
Left the master and his son to study the samples. Healing Symphony is almost certain it was caused by something she digested. I am more willing to believe it is an illness until I see proof. I was told by Feris that she had eaten dinner, salmon specifically, and it had stayed down. All food is cooked in the palace, I highly doubt it would be something she had digested.

11 pm, 1st of Veras.
She had her evening tea, some sweets (I could not say no when she is so miserable), and some cough medicine. Will let her sleep in tomorrow.

Vigilant started to see a pattern in the text, but he was uncertain what it could mean. He grabbed the next parchment and skimmed through it. No report from the master or his son. His mother was only becoming more ill. She had an episode in the morning and was held down by Marcis and Feris. He cringed when he read it and thought of his mother’s pain.

The notes on the third made Vigilant more interested again.

3 am, 3rd of Varas.
Was woken by Starlit moaning and screaming. The attack came unexpectedly and the coughing made it worse. Gods preserve her, I fear she will die if this goes on for any longer.

4 pm, 3rd of Veras.
Have searched for the master and his son all over the city. They were not in the inn and nowhere around the university. I need to return to the palace and check up on the queen. Ten attacks today and her breathing is ragged. The fever is worse than before. Ordered the servants to put a damp cloth on her forehead. Will find the master and his son tomorrow.

11 pm, 3rd of Veras.
The queen fell asleep after her evening tea. Had a few more attacks and episodes. Has not eaten much at all. Her breathing is getting worse. She vomited before having the tea.

Vigilant looked at the new date. The fourth of Veras was the day his mother had died. He grabbed the notes and began to read.

8 am, 4th of Veras.
She had been struggling with breathing and speaking all morning. The choughs have drawn a little bit of blood. She is tired and has no strength to walk. I have sent a messenger to look for the good master and to bring the university's results. If I do not know what is wrong she will not survive the night.

2 pm, 4th of Veras.
The queen has ordered me to prepare her will. I refused at first, but she demanded I do it. All her possessions fall to Vigilant once he is of age, until then it is to be guarded by the council. She ate nothing for breakfast or lunch, she just pukes it up again. Liquids seem to work. Water, wine, and the tea stay down. She complains about muscle pains. My messenger has yet to return, I hope he bears good news.

5 pm, 4th of Veras.
My messenger found nothing. The master and his son are nowhere to be found. Why would they leave when I needed them the most? Something is not right. I can’t go look for them myself, the queen is having more and more episodes now. She will not survive I fear.

8 pm, 4th of Veras.
I did as ordered. The letter will find its way into Vigilant’t paws.

The prince eyed the envelope bearing his mother's mark before he continued to read.

11 pm, 4th of Veras.
She had her evening tea (this time sent by the high priestess) and then another attack. Gods protect her. It is getting worse now, we have to hold her down so she does not hurt herself. She is becoming less and less aware of where she is. I will try my best to keep her alive.

2 am, 5th of Veras.
She passed. She fought unlike anyone else I have ever seen, but she died all the same. Gods protect her. The queen is dead, long live the king.

Vigilant slammed his paw into the table and yelled out in fury and loss. His mother had struggled for hours before the end had come. If she had been poisoned then he would kill whoever had done it. He would bathe their household in blood and throw them into the south sea. He sniffled and looked at the last few notes.

9 am, 5th of Veras.
I visited my office and found it ransacked. Notes and journals had been thrown on the floor and all cabinets had been thrown open. I am lucky I decided to hide the notes in my clinic. If they had found them I would surely be dead. Higher powers are working against us. I must warn the prince, will see him during the funeral.

7 pm, 5th of Veras.
I was a fool. The master is dead. I was told in the morning. Someone did not want him to speak about his findings. They say his son did it, that he was caught by the guard. I think I agree with the master’s assessment. On the eighteenth, the issues started after having lunch with the council. It only grew worse each day since. One of them must have fed her something, poisoned her. It had to be a slow poison, for it took several days to kill. Perhaps they fed it to her several times. I don’t know who did it, but one of the council is responsible. I warned the prince during the funeral. I must get him west as she wanted. He is not safe in Cosea. I will go to him tomorrow, I have to find Qurous first.

9 am, 6th of Veras.
The spiritborne is in jail by the docks. The guards will not let me see him. They will hang him for murder in a few days. They say some clergy mares caught him with a knife in his father’s heart. Perhaps spiritbornes truly are insane.

2 pm, 6th of Veras.
I will hide these notes for Vigilant to find in case I should die. Not many knew that I have a clinic in the red-light district. I should be fine. Ever since my office in the noble district was destroyed I have a hard time sleeping.

8 pm, 6th of Veras.
The last note I make before heading to the palace. I have prepared for attackers and brought a knife. I bought one with a green handle from a vendor in the red-light district. Hopefully, it will serve me well. They will execute Qurous in three days, I hope it is a quick death. May the gods bless my path and save the prince from many terrors.

The notes ended there and Vigilant took a deep breath before going over the facts. He knew that his mother had first been poisoned on the eighteenth. Or at least that was his assumption. That meant some of the food she had eaten or things she had drunk had contained the poison. That would mean anyone in the council could have done it, and Vigilant hated that fact. The uncertainty. It felt like they all stood behind him and smiled. He shuddered and looked at the notes about master Healing Symphony and his son. Qurous had to know something. Vigilant had no idea why he would kill his own father, but those would have to be asked to the stallion in question. Perhaps the spiritborne could shed some light on why the university had lost their samples as well.

Vigilant straightened his jacket and put on a golden band around his head. He neatly placed the notes in the parcel and looked at the letter marked with his mother’s cutie mark. He went to open it, but he shook his head and put it into his pocket. Not yet. Vigilant brought the parcel with him and opened the door. The guards tilted their heads at him when he exited his room and Vigilant stood tall, or as tall as he could.

“We are going to the harbor. I need to visit a prisoner in their jail, preferable before he is executed,” the prince said.

One of the guards shook her head. “Your highness, Felreth Shield has forbidden us from-”

“If I told you that there would be a thousand silver shells involved, a thousand each, would you be interested then?"

The two guards looked at one another. The one that had spoken to Vigilant shrugged and the other nodded.

“Lead the way, your highness.”

And so they left the palace. No one questioned their departure, not when two armed guards accompanied the prince.

'I must really tell, Sacred to improve our security...' Vigilant thought as he descended towards the harbor.

Author's Note

Hey guys! Thank you for reading the new chapter. I would appreciate comments and feedback since it helps keep me motivated to write and it helps improve my grammar and plotting. If you see a plot holes then yell out an 'objection!' and I will fix it. Thank you for taking time out of your day to read my chapter.