Essa and James sat on their thrones as light streamed into the open area. Their ten-year-old son, Jacob, lay on the floor between them with pencil and paper, his focus lasered in on what he drew and making sure every color was in the exact spot he wanted it. Essa leaned over the edge of her throne with a smile as she took in his meticulous work.
"What are you drawing, hmmm?" she asked.
"My world!" he excitedly responded and lifted the page up for his parents.
James leaned in to see the colorful mushroom people and sloppily drawn bear that looked like a penguin to him. Or was it a penguin that looked like a bear? He chuckled. Essa reached out and took the page gingerly to inspect it more closely. Everything about it was creative and full of life, but she paused at the corner with darker colors and what looked like a shadowy figure.
"What's this?"
Jacob stood and squinted before lighting up with a smug expression. "Well, that's the bad man! The mushroom people don't like him." He shook his head, lips turning down in a frown before lifting up again. "But the people are fine and he usually stays away," he spoke with a proud guarantee.
Essa returned the paper back to him, the boy instantly flopping back to the floor to return to his masterpiece. The moment he did, a messenger arrived and stood at the throne room doors, bowing and declaring himself.
"My King and Queen. I bring a message from Queen Eya."
James and Essa straightened, exchanging a quick glance as they simultaneously turned to Jacob. Essa stood and cleared her throat, her hand reaching to rest on Jacob's shoulder.
"Jacob, my little love, why don't you go play in the garden? Your father and I have some business to attend to," she gently encouraged.
"Do I have to? I want to hear!" he huffed.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" James whispered softly to Essa, glancing between his son and wife. "We gave Oscar the day off. You know how adventurous and wild Jacob can be and without a personal guard, he may be a handful."
Essa shook her head. "It's for a little while and we have plenty of other guards to keep an eye on him. He'll be fine." She looked back to Jacob and raised an eyebrow. "Go off and play, Jacob."
"I don't want to! I want to stay here and listen!" Jacob objected.
"Jacob." James's stern voice left no room for further debate and the boy stood, collecting his papers and pencils. His eyes narrowed at them both as he made a dramatic exit mumbling all the ways the act was beyond unfair. But he was on his way, nonetheless.
Jacob wandered into the garden ready to plop himself on the ground and continue his masterpiece. However, he came to a stop as a blue squirrel wiggled its way through a hole in the garden wall, the fascinating little creature sniffing around the ground with its bright, fluffy tail twitching. Jacob laid down his paper and pencils and began to creep forward.
The squirrel's head popped up, the two looking at each other before the animal dashed away and Jacob followed in hot pursuit. The squirrel jumped back through the hole it came from, leaving Jacob facing the wall. But he didn't let that discourage him as he ran to the gate not far away, fumbling with the lock for a second before it released. With a quick shove, he burst through and caught sight of the squirrel scrambling into the forest near the castle. Not about to lose the chance to catch the animal, he followed and plunged into the hoard of trees.
While Jacob was on his adventure, James was waving the messenger forward. "Tell us the message quickly. All the details you can."
The messenger bowed on one knee before them, head bent before he lifted it. He touched his wristband and the message appeared, expanding for both royals to scan while the messenger read it.
"Queen Eya of the Mother Planet is notifying you of her coming visit in three days' time. She wishes to visit with her sister and King of Potara, as well as meet her nephew. She sends her best regards and another congratulations on your marriage and child."
Essa stared blankly as the message disappeared and the messenger stood. James waved him away while the queen shook her head. "Why now? James, she hasn't come to see us since you were injured from the fight with Neil!"
"Perhaps part of her has changed," James offered hesitantly, though his voice betrayed his own disbelief at the statement.
"Changed? Eya?" Essa stood and wrapped her arms around her waist. "People like that don't change, James! You know the horrors she's committed! You have seen them with your own eyes! How could you possibly suggest she's changed! She didn't even come to our wedding! She has never acknowledged Jacob before! She must want or need something to turn up out of the blue. You can't be so naïve!"
Essa stormed away, shaking her head as her arms tightened.
"Essa. Essa, darling! I didn't mean to upset you!" James shouted after her. With no response, he leapt to his feet and strode across the room, catching her hand at the throne room entrance. He squeezed it softly and she turned, his free hand gingerly lifting to the left side of her face.
"I apologize," Essa sighed. "You meant the best and I know you don't trust her either."
"No need to apologize. I know how hard this is for you. I know how much we both fear her, but I know she is also your sister."
Essa leaned into his body, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her eyes closed and she offered him a light squeeze. "She acts as though I am dead. As long as she receives a portion of the harvest and trades, she's happy. She never even looks our way or has shown any interest to meet Jacob before. I know that is for the better, but it hurts and this fills me with fear."
James enveloped her in his arms and placed his chin on the top of her head. His hand circled over her back as he did his best to comfort her. "I understand. I know. She will sacrifice anything for her planet, but I think she will also do anything to protect you. Perhaps her intentions are to merely be sure all is well."
"I doubt it. There's something more, so much worse… Just believe me. I know my sister."
"I know you do." James leaned back and took her shoulders. "We can't do much about it now though. So, let's put it aside and go get Jacob for lunch."
Essa took a deep breath and composed herself. She nodded and smiled as she stole a kiss from James. The two walked side by side, a strong reigning couple that the guards and soldiers had come to respect. Many greeted the royals and bowed, each being acknowledged.
Stepping into the fresh air of the back garden, Essa sucked in another deep breath and let some of the stress wash from her shoulders. Everything felt so alive and safe here, their own little slice of paradise.
"Jacob!" she called, surprised he hadn't already come running to them or wasn't making some kind of noise.
"Jacob!" James called more sternly, but still nothing.
"Oh gods." Essa's gasp brought James to her side. She crouched down and picked up the drawing, panic rising in her face. She grabbed James's shirt, "He's gone! Where is he, James? Where could he have gone?"
"Maybe he went back inside and just left his drawing here. We'll ask." James took Essa's hand to give it a reassuring squeeze as his own nervousness rose. Together they walked back to the door leading inside, James asking the guard if Jacob had come back inside. A shake of his head, confirmed their worst fears and both rushed back outside.
"Perhaps he's hiding," James tried again to reassure, but Essa would have none of it.
"No! He knows better!" Essa's frantic look didn't last long when she noticed the gate. "Oh gods, James! The gate is open!"
James came to her side, his own heart sinking at the gate swinging with a soft breeze. The area beyond was silent except from the songs of the birds coming from the forest.
"You don't think-"
"I know," James swallowed, pointing to a footstep in the soft ground that led to the forest.
Essa brought her hands to her mouth, trying to stop the sudden urge to sob. Her eyes grew moist as panic completely took over. She snatched James's shirt again, shaking it as the tears began to flow. "He's a child, James! He can't be out there alone!"
"We will gather all the soldiers and guards and create a search party. He'll be alright."
"How can you say that?!"
"Essa! I'm terrified too! But we need to keep clear heads and be positive!" James took her shoulders, determined but gentle understanding in his eyes. "Come with me to get the soldiers. We will find him."
Essa fell silent and the two returned inside. In less than half an hour, all the guards and soldiers were gathered together outside the garden. Worried expressions were exchanged, the entire castle fond of the now lost boy.
"My son has run into the forest and we fear he's become lost. Whoever finds my son first will have royal favor and will be greatly rewarded with riches," James told the men, his voice carrying to be sure all could hear. He pulled at his shirt, leaning into Essa as she held his arm.
The men's eyes lit up at the idea of finding the prince and gaining so much. As James signaled for them to move out, he noticed a familiar junior soldier among the group, a handsome teenage boy with dark skin and a quick eye.
"Jonathan!" James strode over to him and stopped him with a hand to the nineteen-year-old's chest. "Where are you going? I need you to stay here."
"What for? Jacob is out there!" Jonathan objected, gesturing his hand towards the trees and the men splitting up to search. The young man had built quite the relationship with Jacob, seeing the boy as a younger brother and feeling the need to protect him.
"I don't want you galivanting in the forest after Jacob and both of you end up lost. I can't have both of you in trouble at the same time."
"With all due respect, I am the best warrior you have! I have passed every test and topped every soldier. So, I am going to find Jacob."
James shook his head, "You remind me so much of your father. We fought side by side and shared many battles. Your father was always generous with his help to us. He is allowing me to take care of you, and I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if something happened to you. Which means you stay in case Jacob returns." James patted Jonathan's shoulder and waved for three guards to stay back with the teenager.
"Really? Come on!" Jonathan called after James, but the king ignored him and joined one of the search parties. Jonathan looked at the guards and huffed as he crossed his arms. The guards glared back, and the small group settled into an irritated silence.
After a while, one of the men shifted and groaned. "I don't get why we have to watch this kid. We've lost our opportunity to find the prince and move up in life," he complained to his companions, pushing his dark hair back.
"You don't have to watch me. I never asked for babysitters, now did I?"
"Maybe the king will reward us handsomely for this," the shortest of the group pitched in.
Jonathan laughed. "Oh, I highly doubt that. You guys are just low-ranked soldiers doing a simple task given by the king. That's paygrade material."
"You better watch your mouth kid," the eldest snarled.
"Or what?" Jonathan taunted, a grin growing across his face.
"Or we'll shut it for you."
"Oh please! Be my guest. I would hardly call the three of you soldiers. I could beat you all with one hand tied behind my back." Jonathan yawned, raising an eyebrow.
"You're a cocky little-" the dark hair one snapped, lunging forward. His companions grabbed him and pulled him back before he could finish his sentence or do anything.
"He'll just tell the king if you touch him. He's in good favor, practically like a son," the eldest informed his frothing companion who glared with at Jonathan with the desire to beat him into the ground.
"Nah. I'll tell you what. Frothy over here really wants to rip my mouth off and go look for the prince, and I want to go look for him too. So, if you agree to fight me now and stop acting like little girls and you win, I'll give you my very nice room and my barrack perks. If I win, I get to be on my way."
"Deal!"
The other two soldiers snatched their angry friend away, pulling him down into a huddle. Their voices murmured back and forth before they straightened, the eldest stepping forward.
"We agree under new terms. We don't trust you not to run to the king if you fight with one arm behind your back. You can claim it was a set up. You fight with both arms and we take the deal."
"Fine, have it your way. That was to make it a fair fight but! So be it!"
"I am going to beat that arrogance right out of you!" The dark-haired soldier charged towards Jonathan, opening his swing with his full weight behind it. Jonathan side-stepped it with ease, the soldier throwing punches at random in his fit of rage. Jonathan stepped side to side, ducking and twisting. He chuckled, turned with a twist, and brought his fist into the soldier's throat in one smooth movement.
The soldier dropped, clutching at his throat as he gasped for air. He bent over, rocking against the ground with desperate inhales that choked him.
"Now, I know the two of you aren't going to try to take me one-on-one. I think your friend here is a good lesson on that." Jonathan gestured at their struggling companion and opened his arms wide in invitation.
The soldiers exchanged a look before running at him together. The shorter one swung low and the older one swung high, calculating their moves to try and catch Jonathan between them. The teenager was too quick for them, however, easily blocking one blow and slipping past the other. He brought his fist around from behind, slamming it against one head as his leg shot out and tripped the other aggressor. Both stumbled away in opposite directions.
It didn't take them long to turn and rush at him once more. Jonathan ducked, tackling the older one's legs, throwing him to the ground. He rolled to his feet instantly and aimed two well-placed gut punches into the shorter one. As the soldier leaned over, Jonathan's boot met with the other's face, slamming him back to the ground.
"Do you boys want to continue?" He was met with silence, the last soldier on his feet glaring at him. Jonathan raised a brow, "I'll take that as a yes."
Jonathan began his onslaught of punches, striking over and over until the final soldier collapsed. The boy wiped off his hands and chuckled at the broken-down men. Satisfied with his job, he turned and jogged towards the forest.