Chapter 42 - One Month

"So, tell me, why have you traveled all this way?" King Alexander asked Princess Alessandria while he sat across from her with his legs crossed.

They had just moved off into a more private room. Princess Alessandria had rested a full two days before announcing that she was prepared to meet with the newly crowned king. It took yet another entire day for King Alexander to clear enough room off his schedule to facilitate the meeting.

Once they had finally come face to face, they both had to endure all of the customary introductions that their positions required. Finally, after nearly an hour of formality, they could finally talk.

"First, I, along with the entire Kingdom of Morgania would like to extend our deepest condolences for the loss of your father. He was a wise and noble King, and I'm sure he will be deeply missed." Alessandria said in a soothing tone.

King Alexander gave her a half smile. "Thank you for your kind words."

Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Alessandria continued. "As far as my visit is concerned, it is mainly to secure friendly relations with the new monarchy of your kingdom. I know that was the purpose of your original visit to Morgania before the unfortunate events that took place. We, no, I, was hoping to continue where you had left off."

King Alexander's face had a flat expression, it was not what Princess Alessandria was hoping to see. "Speaking of those…. unfortunate events. Have you made any progress in finding the culprit?"

"Our people have been working around the clock and have followed up on several leads." She started to say, her face stoic as she spoke.

King Alexander interrupted her mid-sentence. "So, you have nothing? Even after all this time? Do we have to send our own people to 'assist' you in this endeavor?"

Princess Alessandria flinched at those words, her demeanor changing slightly. She quickly rebutted the new king. "That will be unnecessary. Although we do appreciate the offer, our men and women are the best in their fields. I'm sure we will apprehend the culprit shortly."

King Alexander narrowed his eyes, uncrossing his legs and reaching out to take a sip from his teacup. Princess Alessandria waited patiently for him to finish. He sat the cup back onto the silver tray then stood abruptly, causing Alessandria to instinctively jerk back.

"One month. Your Kingdom has one month to find the one who killed my father. If you fail to find them and offer us adequate proof, we will move in and do it ourselves." He said sternly, straightening out his suit before walking towards the door.

Princess Alessandria was taken aback. "I'm not one of your servants that you can threaten King Alexander. I am First Princess of the Kingdom of Morgania…."

"One month!" He yelled out cutting her off again, not showing her even the slightest respect.

"Be grateful I'm even giving you this amount of time; it is more than you deserve." He finished saying before leaving the room.

Princess Alessandria was shaking, not from fear, but from anger. How dare that man-child talk to her in that way. He was barely older than she was but acted like a spoiled brat that would act out if he didn't get his way. She took a deep breath once again to calm down, it seemed like she had been doing that a lot lately. She would let the man calm down for now, perhaps he just needed some time to see that they were not the ones to blame. She would try to talk to him in a few days' time, but until then she had a letter to write to her father.

King Alexander stomped down the carpeted hallway, a deep frown on his face. He had let his temper get the best of him, but it was already too late to take back what he had said. He could blame the stress and his lack of sleep for his poor attitude, but it really wasn't a good excuse.

"ARRGGH" He lashed out, punching a nearby wall.

What had he done? He threatened war on a neighboring nation for what? Because he was still angry over the death of his father? Because the one who did it has still gone unpunished? Those were all valid reasons to be upset, but not to threaten war. He was ashamed of himself. He was better than that.

He knew well enough that Morgania was most likely not the ones to curse him. Morgania had been on good relations with Amine for the last century. They had no resources that the other wanted, they each had access to the ocean, there was nothing worth warring over. So, who were the ones to curse him and why? It still vexed him.

The pain radiating from his hand worked wonders to clear his mind of the anger he felt earlier. He'd have to have the healers look at it later. The rest of his walk back to his office was used to mull things over. He had just made much more work for himself with his little outburst and was ashamed of how he had behaved. Although he meant what he said, he could have gone about it a much better way; it was too late for regrets now.

Opening the door to his office, he walked in to see Court Mage Reginald along with General Ushire talking amongst themselves. General Benedict Ushire was a middle-aged man that stood around six feet tall and rippled with muscle. He had been appointed to his position by his father, Hector. He was in charge of the entire army, Mage Corps included. Being that the meeting between the two royals could determine the future of Amine, General Ushire felt it poignant to speak with the King afterwards.

Both General Ushire and Mage Reginald gave Alexander a respectful bow then waited to be excused before standing again. King Alexander sat behind his desk before giving the two men permission to stand, then waited for them to take a seat as well.

"That was much shorter than expected. Did things not go well?" Reginald asked, putting his eyes on the King's injured hand.

Hiding his hand, although it was too late, under the desk. King Alexander explained what had happened. As Alexander narrated the events, he could see the expression on General Ushire's face change. The general didn't even try to hide his feelings, which was mostly disappointment.

As a soldier, General Ushire had learned long ago that anger was the death of reason. Every good soldier knew better than to let his emotions make the decisions for them. What King Alexander had done was impulsive, and it showed just how far he had to go to be a good leader let alone king.

He had watched the young king grow up over the years. He was a good lad, always eager to please and treated people fairly and with the respect they deserved. That was what made this so hard to watch. He could see that the stress was getting to him, but it was his responsibility to bear. There could be no mistakes, not with lives in the balance.

Once the King had finished his retelling of events he settled back into his chair, waiting for the two men in front of him to speak. He didn't have to wait long. "Should I prepare the troops Your Highness? Many of them have already been deployed towards the border, mainly on the east side where the plains stretch between the mountains. We can be inside Morgania within two day's march." General Ushire explained mechanically.

King Alexander shook his head. "We're not to that point yet. I gave them a month to produce results so I will abide by that time."

Nodding his head, General Ushire said no more. He was a man of few words and would listen to his King's decision, no questions asked. Mage Reginald on the other hand had a sour expression on his face and looked like he wanted to say something.

"What is it, Reginald?" King Alexander asked.

Mage Reginald opened his mouth to speak but paused, glancing at General Ushire.

"Go ahead, nothing you say will leave this room." King Alexander said, alleviating Reginald's worries.

"Why don't we use 'him'?" He proposed to the King.

Lacing his fingers together, King Alexander leaned back into his chair. "How do you suppose we do that?"

"Well, Your Highness, he is the one that was able to dispel your curse. He would be the one most likely to be able to trace whoever had used it. It would also get him out of the capital, he wouldn't be our problem anymore." Mage Reginald explained.

"You've read the same report as I have, that changes how we can deal with him."

Shrugging his shoulders, Mage Reginald continued. "So what? We can't touch him as it is anyway, let somebody else deal with him."

General Ushire narrowed his eyes, looking between the two other men. "You're talking about the necromancer, aren't you?"

King Alexander tried, but failed, to hide his surprise. It was a state secret what the 'King's Shadows' had discovered that night. Then he remembered that there was another group that had been observing Mage Kalcifer as well. Whoever had hired them must have been the one to leak the details.

"What have you heard?" King Alexander asked General Ushire.

Without an ounce of expression on his face, General Ushire explained. "Simply that there is a professor in the Academy that is practicing the dark arts of necromancy. Of course, those are all just rumors that I have heard from my men."

Rubbing his temples, King Alexander looked down at his desk. "Do you have any idea where they would have heard that from?"

"None, Your Highness. I did not inquire further, as far as I was concerned any rumors are just that, rumors." General Ushire explained.

"Reginald, go speak with Mage Kalcifer. See what it would take to have him go to Morgania and look for the one who cursed me." King Alexander said with a tired sigh.

"I don't care what it takes, I just want him out of Amine." He continued.

Reginald looked at the King with wide eyes. "M..me, Your Highness? I would really rather not."

Looking up from the desk, King Alexander glared at Reginald. Ever since that day, Reginald had been a shell of his former self. The once proud Court Mage was now scared of his own shadow. He had lost almost all of his confidence, the King's as well. King Alexander was seriously considering starting the search for his successor.

"You will do this, that is an order. It was your idea anyway." King Alexander said in a stern voice.

Looking down at the floor, Mage Reginald nodded. He looked a little pale.

"Your Highness, what about the situation with Morgania?" General Ushire asked, only caring about his men, not about how they handled a single necromancer.

"Prepare the men, I've given Morgania a month, we'll wait until then."