I waited at the door for the line of people to file out of the queen’s office. Guards, ministers, and even healers were all stationed inside the room, at least ten people. Once they were out, Captain Fairchild announced my name and ushered me in.

  The office was different from the last time I saw the queen. This office was far more quaint and simple. It lacked excessive decoration and had a far more relaxed atmosphere.

  As for the queen herself, she had also changed. I thought she was nearly ready to give birth a few months ago, but for lack of better words, she was now ready to burst. I wouldn’t be surprised if she went into labor right at that moment.

  I gave a short bow as she smiled softly at me as she greeted, “Kaladin, it’s been some time.”

  “That it has, Your Majesty,” I said.

  Queen Maxweel smirked and, surprisingly, began to stand up. It was with great effort that she rose from her chair, using her arms to steady herself as she slowly walked around her desk, taking a seat on a long couch.

  She patted the seat next to her and said, “Come, please sit down. We have much to talk about.”

  I went to sit across from her, but she adamantly pointed at the spot beside her. “Spare me the pleasantries, Kaladin. Others surround me day in, day out, in the name of my health. It has grown rather suffocating as of late. Even though we have some business to attend to, I wouldn’t mind spending a few moments of reprieve together. I’m sure you’ve been busy as well.”

  I hesitated for a moment, but eventually I sat as she requested. It wasn’t an order, and I’m sure it was not only in my best interest to say no, but I could understand her point of view. The number of people she could have had a quiet conversation with as of recently was probably in the single digits.

  It also wasn’t as if I hated the queen. Perhaps we didn’t exactly…see eye to eye on things. But I understood her train of thought, most of the time, even if I did disagree with it. However, as of late, she has indeed been a reliable ally. And I can only hope she remains that way.

  She is also the mother of my friends…and very pregnant. Being kind here wouldn’t kill me.

  Instead of launching into said business, Queen Maxwell let her shoulders slump as she sat back into the folds of the couch, eyes closed as her hands traced her bulging stomach.

  With her eyes closed, she asked, “Have you been well?”

  “It’s been busy. And times are difficult. But I’m making do,” I said honestly.

  She let out a low hum. “Indeed, times are turbulent for everyone. And things will only be more chaotic. I—”

  The queen’s face twisted in discomfort as she rubbed a certain spot on her stomach. After a few moments of rubbing, she chuckled, “She is also proving to be a difficult one. She is practically begging for freedom with her kicks, yet doesn’t seem keen on leaving just yet. A stubborn one, just like her father.”

  “I can imaigne…” I muttered.

  Queen Maxwell cracked an eye open and smiled. She reached for my hand and said, “Come, feel for yourself.”

  “I—I don’t think that is app—”

  She gripped my hand harder and moved it toward her stomach. “Nonsense. You are a father as well, Kaladin. And although you skipped a few steps, this is one you will face one day. Have you never felt the pulse of a new life? It is one of life’s many miracles. There’s no shame in experiencing it. Here, just wait a moment, I’m sure she'll react to you.”

  I could feel the warmth of her body through her thin dress and only took a few breaths before the baby kicked at her stomach. It was…odd, but at the same time, fascinating, feeling the flesh move and pulse with each kick. To feel another's life while still inside their mother, I had honestly never experienced anything like it.

  “See? Not so bad, mm? I’m sure she will give you and your family many headaches in the future as well. Do treat her kindly, won’t you?” Queen Maxwell asked with a warm smile.

  “I’ll do just that,” I chuckled.

  After the queen released my hand, she just slowly opened her eyes and, while taking out a small piece of paper from her jacket, nodded to herself. But her eyes slowly betrayed her as they went wide in surprise.

  “Well…this is indeed an unexpected request, Kaladin,” she muttered.

  “Sometimes being unpredictable is the best option. Deceive your allies to deceive your enemies,” I answered with a smile.

  Queen Maxwell chuckled as she set the paper down. “If I didn’t know better, I thought you would have been body swapped with another. I do believe this goes against your initial wishes, but it’s true that times are changing. I’ll agree to your special knight order and both the measures and handicaps you want to place. You’ll have the full authority you require, but you do realise you need more than just a promotion, right?” she said.

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  “I do. If I could make a suggestion…” I trailed off.

  Queen Maxwell gave me a knowing smile. “Of course, Viscount Shadowheart. You’ll receive an undeveloped plot of land in the north. When and what you do with that…well, it can be on your own time. Try to keep that within one or two Human generations, if you could?” she asked.

  “I’ll do my best,” I said with a nod.

  “Good, then it’s settled, there won’t be a ceremony needed. We can wrap it up nicely with the other one. I also trust you can manage what needs to be done on your end. If you ever need help, you can reach out,” Queen Maxwell said with a hand wave.

  “Yes, but I’m rather surprised you agreed so readily. I imagine there must be a catch coming, mm?” I asked.

  Queen Maxwell shrugged a shoulder and slid her hair behind her ear. “Honestly, this is a far better outcome than I expected; you’ve reduced my stress by some. With your achievements, what meaningful award can I give you at this point, Kaladin? Most men would be red in the face, awaiting an award so grand it would shake the foundations of the kingdom and history. But a simple knightly promotion, a lesser noble title, and some unused land? Most would consider that a slap in the face, yet you requested it yourself. Naturally, you will be given much more when the time comes,” she answered.

  I adjusted myself in my seat and nodded in agreement. “I understand. Then what was it that you wanted to talk about?” I asked.

  Queen Maxwell’s face darkened slightly as a scroll appeared in her hand. She handed it to me with a weak smile. “A request. From my husband to you,” she said.

  “What? His Majesty woke up? When?” I said, unable to hide the surprise in my voice.

  Queen Maxwell shook her head. “A few days ago, and not for long. He regained consciousness for a brief period. He gave a few orders, one of which was for you. He said you would be the best fit for the job,” she said.

  I looked at the scroll in my hand. It was relatively small—a single piece of paper. If King Maxwell made the request himself, then it must have been important.

  “And what is this request?” I asked.

  “How much do you know about the far north of our kingdom?” Queen Maxwell answered with a question.

  “It’s a wooded land up against the mountains. Very few towns, not even a single major city. Lots of logging and monsters, right?” I answered.

  "That is what most would believe, yes. The deep north is a very well-kept open secret of ours. In truth, the north is one of our strongest strategic spaces of resources in the entire kingdom. Yet we barely have control over it,” she said.

  I couldn’t help but be skeptical as I raised an eyebrow. “Even more so than the salt and iron mines? in the south and east?” I asked.

  “Double if not triple the importance,” Queen Maxwell said with a firm nod.

  “What in the world is out there?” I muttered.

  “An untapped, wild land. Dungeons are abundant, and so are the monsters. The taxes we collect from those two alone are a massive source of supplies and income. We have a tight means of coordination with the Adventurers’ Guild. They use it as a proving ground. Up and coming groups go into the deep north, receive experience and spoils far more than they would elsewhere if they survive the endeavor. The average group leaves at Amethyst, and it’s not a shock to find Sapphire or even Emerald level groups.”

  Emerald level? Only the Twilight Knight was at that level. You mean to say there are small groups of people with the skills and power of a War God roaming the north in secret?

  Queen Maxwell contiuned, “We also have multiple towns built over profitable dungeons and in regions of value. At least two are built over a dungeon, producing Mythril. Others have access to abnormally high drops of dungeon items. There is also gold in the rivers; we have groups panning for it.”

  “This is…an immensely important area then. What do I need to do, then?” I asked.

  “Not only is what I said true, but there is another secret in the north. One that even I do not fully understand. Only my husband did. It should be in that scroll, one he left many years after heading there himself,” she pointed with a finger and said.

  I broke the seal holding the scroll, and it read, “To any future descendants, if the forces of Amoth descend upon us. Go into the northern reaches and seek out The Wardens. They may be our greatest ally in the fight. And never, give them cause for harm lest they be our greatest enemy.”

  “The Wardens? Who are they?” I asked.

  Queen Maxwell could only shrug as she explained, “I do not know. All I know is there is a group hidden in the northern mountains. My husband gave them his word that they could remain anonymous and autonomous as long as they did not fight a war against us, did not aggressively claim land, did not disrupt our rule or profits in the region, and paid a tax. But what do know that for the last eighteen years, they have paid their tax on time in the form of large quantities of dungeon core shards. Whoever this group is, they are not normal.”

  A group that paid taxes based on the number of dungeons they conquered? Just how powerful were they? Why would the king allow such a mysterious and powerful group to set up a base in his backyard?

  But the answer is in the scroll.

  Did King Maxwell really foresee Arotal becoming a problem in the future? If it was, then his foresight was frightening. And these…Wardens would become an enemy of Arotal to such a degree that they would flee from the continent and head here. They were clearly a unique group.

  The enemy of my enemy is my friend, I suppose.

  “I’ll do it. Is there a strict time I need to set out?” I asked.

  “No, you can leave when you need to, just before the end of the year. Personally, I’d recommend you go before the first snow falls. Roughing the north during winter would be ill-advised even for someone of your caliber,” she suggested.

  “Noted. In that case, I would also like a favor,” I said.

  Queen Maxwell raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And what might that be?”

  “I’d like to have a meeting with whoever breeds and trains your Gryphons.”