The king's eyes
The letter

This week has been awesome.

I took some initiatives in the militia of Keranite, they let me manage some events and organize the two meetings of the sector to inform about the decisions taken at the big gathering.

Ragorn continues to make me work my energy. I have to picture it, like an electrical network that runs through my body, via my nerve endings.

I must be able to make it concentrate in different places of my body, in particular, the hands if I want to transmit it or to use it to capture the energy of another being, or of the fire.

This is apparently easier because more at our disposal, fire is tempting and seductive, it begs to be manipulated, but it is dangerous. So you have to be sure to perceive its energy, to feel it perfectly, before trying to possess it.

For the moment it is still conceptual, but I do not lose hope.

I’m still frustrated thinking about my dad and even Iris, who were able to wield fire with no problem the first time around.

I saw my father manipulate fire as if he had done it all his life when it was the first time. But Ragorn tells me that there was a very powerful emotional background, and my father had reached a significant level of demonic power.

I’m still a long way off.

Iris too was in real distress... And she is an accomplished magical being.

I just need time and experience, according to him.

Romeo and I meet in the evening, late, when possible. I hope we can continue like this until the end of my stay here, scheduled for two months.

And then... we will see.

This morning I take my breakfast in the big room of the main building of Kortoga.

I see Zied come in and look around for me, I wave my hand and shake it to get his attention.

He joins me with a worried face... Damn... What’s going on? I’m afraid to know what it’s all about... Cherine had warned me.

“Satine... Your father sent a falcon to the aviary attached to Kortoga, with a letter for our attention. He wants you to join him at the castle, as soon as possible.

Nothing serious apparently, but he wants you to clarify some important points peddled recently to the court.”

And shit... I believed it, having no news for the week, I thought the gossip was a flash in the pan.

How can I still be so naive? Of course, people take malicious pleasure in spreading juicy information about the queen...

I want to assume my relationship with Romeo... But I wanted to talk to my father about it before anyone else. He must be disappointed in me and that hurts me.

"Okay...I’m leaving now..." I said.

"I will prepare a tank for you." He added.

"No no. I’m going to ride a terrabuse, it’ll go faster and it’ll prevent me from giving up my breakfast." I told him.

"Uh... They’re quite temperamental, you know?" He asked.

"Yeah... I know but I want to try it. Tell my uncles that I have to make a getaway to the castle, I hope to come back immediately afterward... I’ll keep you informed."

"Ok. Satine... Cheer up."

I thank him and waste no more time.

I return to my room to prepare myself for the crossing of about an hour that awaits me.

I put on sturdy leather pants, then soldier’s boots when I hear a knock on my door.

“Come in?”

Romeo opens my door.

"Satine, your cousin informed me of your departure for Amben?"

"Yes... My father asks me, he got wind of our... rapprochement, I think. It must annoy him that the court is gossiping around him about my... frolicking. He doesn’t like people picking on one of his own.

He wants me to come and explain myself... He surely hopes that I cut short all this by affirming that everything is false."

"I’ll come with you." He said, with no hesitation.

"Oh... I don’t know if it’s a good idea..." I said to him, puzzled.

"I am also the subject of these rumors, I also owe Samael an explanation, I don’t want to hide."

"Well... Okay.

Do you know how to ride a terrabuse?”

He replaces me completely crazy but agrees to take up the challenge.

We go to replace a breeder, then we explain our project to him.

He replies that it can be difficult but not impossible. They work as a couple so it’s good that there are two of us.

He designates us the most docile.

We collected some earthworms a little further, and we approach them.

They savor the worms and I decide to climb gently on his back. It starts running to get me out of there and I fall miserably.

Romeo is laughing... Ok, I haven’t said my last word.

I go back to see it, I caress it, I even explain to it, it costs nothing, and I start again, but I suffer the same fate.

Ah... I would like to leave quickly. Romeo tries to approach them in turn, but I feel that the beast does not appreciate it.

"Try the other one, this one will get you fired." I proposed.

"But the other is the one who rejected you!”

Mmh... I think I know why.

“Romeo, it’s a couple. The female won’t stand having a male on her and vice versa. She doesn’t want you, I can feel it, just like the male didn’t want me. They’re loyal, that is cute.”

I try with the female, I caress her, I talk to her. I start to climb on her... She doesn’t move. Progress... But she’s really not moving, and the idea is to go as fast as possible.

"Go ahead, go on the male, give him your hand so he can smell your scent, your nymph charm should work!" I said, teasing him.

"Hey! It’s not the time for jokes!

Oh, damn you’re right... I think he likes me."

"Come on, go ahead, we’ve already wasted time!" I pushed him.

Romeo climbs on the beast, which lets it go. He asks her to move on... Nothing.

Not knowing what to do, he gently taps his heels against the animal, which begins to move forward quietly. The female follows, great.

The breeder comes to us.

“Hehe!!! You made it! Congratulations young people, and now, gallop!!!”

It hits the hindquarters of the giant male mole, which immediately scurries straight ahead.

The female jumps and chases him, Romeo and I try somehow to stay on the backs of these mad beasts, it’s complicated but it’s hilarious!!!

We end up riding side by side at a manageable pace.

People look at us and greet us, it’s not common to travel on the back of a terrabuse, but I think it will become so.

Destination: Amben.