Page 3 of Quest

“But you’re not well. You can’t?—”

“It is my duty, daughter.” His gaze shifted to the prince with a respect that I couldn’t fathom. “I am at your service, Your Highness.”

I was exhausted from the fight, but though I’d already lost to my father’s usual stubborn determination, I couldn’t resist one final effort to the unsympathetic royal. “Please reconsider. My father can barely withstand a day’s travel, let alone whatever you need him for.” My voice was pleading now.

The prince turned his full attention to me, his gaze unsettlingly perceptive. “You certainly are stubborn, but I’m afraid no amount of fight will persuade me to change my mind. I assure you that your concern is noted, but your father’s knowledge is too crucial to embark on this quest without his expertise. We will take every care to ensure his comfort and safety.”

His reassurances did little to soothe my fears, but there was nothing more I could say. My father had made up his mind, and the prince was not a man to be swayed.

My reservations stemmed deeper than simply allowing Father to embark on a strenuous quest. The idea of entrusting him to the care of Lumeria’s suspicious prince made my stomach clench. Whispered gossip among the townsfolk spoke of his exploits, even sinister rumors that he had some involvement in the cursed darkness that had devastated our land. Furthermore, it was said he was a man who wielded his power like a sword, cutting through opposition without a thought for the consequences. Should any of these whispers prove true, my beloved, fragile father would be treated as a stepping stone for the royal’s ambitions.

The prince looked around the apothecary—not with the innocent curiosity I had witnessed from most of our clients but with a shrewd, almost calculating look, as if he was searching for something. My misgivings grew. His sudden interest in an aging herbalist reeked of hidden agendas…and after the recent warning from the scry pool, I feared he somehow knew of the apothecary’s secrets. Dread flooded through me as suspicion grew that this quest was nothing more than a guise to get his hands on the ancient spell we guarded. Father was trusting by nature and could easily have his knowledge exploited.

A sudden idea inspired one final effort to fight against the unfolding injustice. I squared my shoulders and evenly met the prince’s eyes. “Why not take me instead? As Father’s trained apprentice, I can serve your needs on this quest.”

The prince studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. “This mission requires his specific expertise.”

“But he's not strong enough for travel,” I pressed, my voice tight with barely contained frustration. “I am capable, and I can provide whatever you need from him.”

The prince shook his head, his decision unwavering. “It isn’t just about capability—there are elements of this quest that require his personal insight. Your father has experiences that cannot simply be passed down or communicated secondhand. Your skills are undoubtedly valuable, but forgive me for saying that I doubt you possess adequate experience.”

I flinched at the attack on that tender point. I opened my mouth to argue further, but Father laid a gentle hand on my arm. “That's enough, Mei,” he said, his voice more stern than I had heard in years. “I have made my decision. Please respect it.”

I bit back a sharp retort, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. Out of respect for him—and certainly not for the prince—I nodded stiffly, finally conceding the battle.

Prince Darcel gave a curt nod in return and turned to leave, but paused at the doorway to glance over his shoulder. He watched us a moment, his expression unreadable. Though his dark gaze remained merciless, I detected a subtle softness that hadn’t been present before.

After a moment he approached me, his steps deliberate. I stiffened as he leaned closer, stirring the air with the musky but annoyingly alluring scent of his cologne. “Your concern for your father speaks of great loyalty and love,” he murmured, his voice low enough to remain out of earshot of my father.

His sentiment was inadequate against my lingering suspicion. I met his gaze as he withdrew. “Just ensure he returns as you take him, Your Highness.” His title tasted bitter on my tongue.

“I intend to.” With a nod that seemed both a promise and a dismissal, his hidden gentleness faded in an instant. With a final dark glower in my direction Prince Darcel turned to Father. “You are to meet us at the designated meeting spot in three days’ time.”

Without another word he departed, the door closed with finality behind him, leaving me alone with my suffocating helplessness in the apothecary surrounded by the smells and sights of my life’s work.

The dam I had built around my worries finally broke. “Father, please. With your poor health, pains, and frailty, this trip could…” I swallowed hard, unable to finish the thought.

He sighed as he reached for my hands, his gentle touch offering little reassurance to the fears plaguing my heart. “I know my own body, Mei, and I know my duty.”

“But there must be another way.” Desperation wrenched my wavering voice, grasping for solutions in a sea of inevitability.

Father shook his head, his eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and resolve. “We are bound by the king’s command and we must serve, just as our family has always done. This is something I must do—not just for the prince or the kingdom, but for the legacy we serve. You must trust that I have the strength to endure this.”

I looked into his familiar eyes that had guided me through every hardship and joy, and saw buried with his resolve an unspoken fear that mirrored my own. Yet there was also a flicker of determination, an inward strength that had not weakened with his aging body. I knew then that arguing further would only strain the precious time we had left together.

“Let me at least prepare something to help you,” I finally said. “Medicine to ease the journey and keep you strong.”

He gave me a small, grateful smile. “I would like that very much.”

The weight of the apothecary’s magic pressed close, whispering of changes and challenges to come. I glanced towards the room containing the scry pool, its warning echoing in my mind, now more ominous than ever with the prince’s shadow casting across my father’s stooped shoulders.

As he rested, I returned to my workbench and started assembling ingredients. My hands moved of their own accord, selecting herbs for strength, endurance, and protection. All the while, my mind raced, seeking any strand of lore that might offer another solution, a better way to protect him.

The magic’s sudden whisper caressed my thoughts, offering a drastic solution that caused me to still as I pondered. Resolve began to form, a plan to protect him even as it was fraught with risk and filled with its own dangers…yet I couldn’t turn away from the pinprick of hope it offered.

I knew what I had to do, even if it meant defying the prince. Though the consequences would be disastrous should I be caught, it was a chance I felt compelled to take—for Father, for our family, and for the secret legacy we were sworn to protect.

I would find a way to go on this quest in Father’s stead.

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