There was no time, so the note on the parchment was brief.
But Annan had never expected it to be Prince Aidan...
Was the letter a warning, or a reminder?
As he pondered, a haze of magical light suddenly washed Annan in color. He looked up and watched a Magic Gate form inside the Wooden Cottage.
"Aidan, you—Annan Reeves?" A richly dressed blond man stood beyond the Magic Gate.
"He's gone."
Annan remembered him: Aidan's Older Brother.
The Royal Family did share that distinctive blond hair.
Aidan's Older Brother said nothing. He studied Annan, seemingly hesitant.
"I'm not involved with him. Like you, I'm looking for him," Annan explained.
"...This has nothing to do with the Kingdom."
After a long pause, the blond man sighed.
"The Elves won't believe that."
Neither did Annan. A prince of the Paem Kingdom had attacked the Elven Royal Court. Could he really have acted on his own?
Annan's interest stirred as he recalled the final words on the Parchment Scroll: "Losthome"...
"The Elves are on their way here. Annan Reeves, I make this request on behalf of the Kingdom." Perhaps pressed for time, Aidan's Older Brother lowered his tone. "Please find Prince Aidan before the Elves do and hand him over to us. You'll have the Kingdom's friendship and assistance."
"I can't. This is Elven territory, and I'm Aidan's friend. They'll be watching me." Annan shook his head and declined.
Of course he intended to find Prince Aidan, but not for the Kingdom.
A trace of complicated emotion crossed Aidan's Older Brother's face. As hurried footsteps sounded outside, he quietly attached a wisp of Magic Power to Annan's Mage Robe and dismissed the Magic Gate.
Annan turned and watched the Elves burst into the Wooden Cottage.
"Annan Reeves?" Their leader was his old acquaintance,