“Well, I suppose I could bring it up with the council at the next cycle meeting. I will look into it, and if I feel it is the right course you can count on my support.”

“I beg your forgiveness my lord, but this is something that we, that you, might have to do without the council. You can give the orders. You can call our forces to The Great Surrounding and start imposing the way of the Ancients on the people. “

“I would still like the council’s approval if possible and if this is something I actually deem necessary. Let me think about it until the dawn after tomorrow and we will meet again.”

Till looked like he wanted to say more, but he nodded. “Very well, my Lord. I will come to the palace to talk again then. If you need further guidance in the meantime just send a messenger.” Till rose to leave and Kedan rose with him.

Kedan saw Till out and then flopped back down in the chair. His tailor would come soon, but in the meantime he had much to think on.

Williams stood at his tall table next to the fireplace in his room. He turned at a knock and the door, already knowing who was there.

“Enter,” he called before looking back at the kettle over the fire.

Teryn entered and looked at Williams as he worked. He bustled around the room looking for ingredients. One he found what he needed he walked back over to the kettle and carefully added all he had gathered to his strange brew.

“How was your meeting with the young Lord today?” asked Williams as he looked up from his work.

“Short, interrupted,” said Teryn taking a seat in a chair close to where Williams was working.

“Interrupted by who?” asked Williams as he stirred the liquid in his kettle.

“Till. He came to talk to Kedan about something. I listened at the door for a bit, but I couldn’t make out much.”

“Hmmm,” said Williams . “When will you meet with him again?”

“Tonight. Though I don’t know how much talking will take place,” replied Teryn with a smug grin.

“Get him to talk somehow, wait till after if you have to. Find out what Till wanted. I can help you get what you want girl, but only if I get what I want first. I am close, but until I have figured things out, I need information.”

“You guarantee I can have whatever I want?” asked Teryn “Anything?”

“Well, anything within reason. What do you want?”

“I want him,” replied Teryn.

“It doesn’t seem you need my help for that. I think you already get your fill of him,” said Williams crudely.

“No, I want him always and all that comes with it. I want to be his Lady, to rule by his side.”

Williams looked up at Teryn. “Fine. If I get what I want, then you will get what you desire as well.”

Kyle reigned in his horse as he and Jareth, who was riding a dark stallion, started to move into a dense area of trees. He steered his own excellent large bay mare going a bit slower than before. Danin had given them two horses to use on their journey. Jareth had guaranteed the horses would be returned or compensated for if return wasn’t possible. They had ridden through the night, Jareth wanting to get a good start towards the village they were going. Kyle could see the sun was starting to rise through the trees up ahead. He was hoping they would stop for a rest soon, but Jareth seemed as strong as when they left.

“How far is the place we are going?” asked Kyle as they entered an area wide enough for Jareth to ride alongside him.

“I’m not sure I remember exactly. I usually travel to Abscon by magic, but I believe no more than four days. It may be less.”

“You do know how to get there this way, don’t you? We won’t get lost?” asked Kyle.

“I know where we are going, my king. I will not get us lost.”

“Please don’t call me that,” said Kyle with annoyance. “Call me, Kyle.”

“You will need to get used to your title. Those who you will meet soon will refer to you as the king.”

“I would prefer it if you would call me Kyle,”

“Fine, Kyle. “

The two hadn’t talked much since they had started their journey. Jareth seemed a quiet man, but Kyle had lots of questions. To this point, he had held them in, not sure how Jareth would take them all, but Kyle was very tired and thought perhaps some talking would keep him awake.

“So, you can use magic?” asked Kyle

“Yes,” replied Jareth.

“What can you do with magic? Anything?”

“No, not anything. There are limits and rules. You will learn soon enough.”

“I will try to learn if you want, but I don’t know anything about magic. I can’t use magic.”

“You can and you will,” replied Jareth.

“I never have before. I think at this point I would know if I could use magic. I’m sixteen, and if I had magic surely it would show up by now.”

Jareth sighed and patted his horse soothingly. “This is an impressive animal. It’s been a few months since I have been on horseback, but I do enjoy it.”

Kyle wondered why Jareth was changing the subject as he wanted to know more. “So, you were saying that I can and will use magic. How do you know?”

“It is in your blood and comes with your title. It has been suppressed for so long that it might be hard to draw it out, but it is there. It is one of the reasons you must start training now. It will help when you claim who you truly are. Magic doesn’t like those who don’t know themselves.”

“You talk about it like it is a living thing.”

“It is. Magic is very much alive. We can learn to work with it, but we can never truly control it. We can only trust that it is inside of us and let it guide us. You will have to claim who you truly are at some point, and when you do, I imagine you will be a powerful user of magic.”

Kyle didn’t know what to say to this. It was all so strange and new, and Kyle found he longed for what he had left behind. As they rode on, he thought of many comforting things. He imagined being in front of the warm fire in Danin and Jane’s house. He found himself craving warm bread and butter fresh from Jane’s kitchen. He thought of Katniss and the way her soft hand felt in his. He remembered how soft her lips felt on his cheek when she kissed him. He felt his eyes close as he nodded off for one second before he caught himself as he almost slid off his horse.

Jareth must have seen Kyle slip because he asked, “Are you tired, my king, I mean, Kyle?”

“Yes,” yawned Kyle, “and thank you for calling me Kyle.”

“You should have said something earlier. Let’s find a place to rest for a while. I am used to long periods without sleep, but I should have thought of your comfort.”

“It is fine,” said Kyle, “but some sleep and a little food and water would be nice.”

They found a very small clearing amongst the trees. Kyle got down slowly from his horse as Jareth dismounted as well. Jareth took the two horses to a small stream nearby and let them drink before he tied them up for the night with plenty of slack so they could eat the grass around them. Next Jareth went around in a circle waving his hands and muttering under his breath.

“What are you doing?” asked Kyle as he sat down on the ground and ate some bread and cheese Jane had packed for him.

“I’m trying to set up some protective charms around us. I want to make us hard to find, but this has never been something that has come easily to me.” He chuckled lightly. “A protector who is not good at protective charms.”

“Do you expect trouble?” asked Kyle as he finished his food and pulled out his blanket.

“No, but we need to be careful out here in the open. You are very important, Kyle whether you believe it or not.”

Kyle laid on the ground pulling his blanket up over him to warm himself against the cold night. His eyes were heavy with sleep as he heard Jareth rummaging around in his own pack, probably getting food. Kyle wondered if Jareth would be able to sleep. His eyes closed as the coming dawn surrounded them, and Kyle was soon fast asleep.