He had again eaten little, then gone off to be alone, sitting with his back up against a tree. He was monotonously sharpening his dreggan blade with a whetstone. As the stone slid down the sword’s edge time after time, the crown prince of Eutracia simply stared into space, like he was the only person left in the world. Since the death of his beloved Celeste, they all knew that when he was like this, it was best to leave him alone.

Sighing, Shailiha looked over at the First Wizard.

“You have been with him when he endured so many of his losses,” she said softly. “Each time he has returned to us. Will he do so this time as well?”

Taking a deep breath, Wigg leaned over to rearrange his robe. As he did, the Paragon dangled forward to twinkle in the firelight.

“Yes, but I cannot be sure when,” Wigg answered.

“How can you know?” Shailiha asked.

“Because he must,” Wigg answered simply. “He understands that. His nation needs him. His blood has finally returned to its natural state, and his training in the craft must start. More important, he is the reigningJin’Sai. Despite his recent behavior he understands his destiny far better than ever before.” Pausing for a moment, Wigg picked up a nearby stick to casually poke at the fire.

“He worries us all,” the wizard went on. “His personal losses have been huge. He so loved his parents, and the late Directorate of Wizards. He loved Lionel and Geldon, too. But he loved Celeste in that special way that only lovers’ hearts can become entangled. She was the single greatest loss of his life. His blood has such strength that I believe he loves more deeply, hates more deeply, and struggles against his enemies with more intensity than the rest of us could ever know. We must be patient with him. But besides the fact he so loved Celeste and that she was his wife, there is another, even more meaningful reason why he grieves so deeply for her.”

“Why?” the princess asked.