Aton looked at his brothers and sister, who stared back at him expectantly. Aton took a deep breath, then let it out through his nose.

“Did you have something to tell us?” Tido asked.

“Yes,” Aton said, but then stopped. Looking down to his side, with his left hand he wordlessly took hold of the single scabbard that hung there, grabbed the protruding hilt with his right hand, and drew the sword named Justice for all to see.

Domire and Misolfa inhaled sharply at the sight of the weapon. Tido made a clicking sound inside his cheek. “I see. Why are you carrying Father’s sword?” Aton responded with silence.

Domire spoke next. “I think a better question is, why isn’t Father carrying his sword right now? He never parts with it, as I don’t think I will, either, once I have mine in my possession.” His next question came out uncomfortably into the silence of the room. “Aton, where is our father?”

Again, Aton noted how the three of them stared at him expectantly. He took another deep breath, then finally spoke again. “Nobody knows. Mother and Father have both been abducted by an unknown party.”

Misolfa looked at him, wide-eyed. “What? When?”

“Not an hour ago,” Aton replied. Having arrived inevitably at the point of disclosure, he started speaking more quickly to get it all out. “I awoke in bed—something was odd. I arose to investigate and went to find Reedl to ask if anything seemed amiss to him. When I got to his home, I heard a shout of alarm from the palace. I ran back and when I got there, Mother and Father were gone. Father had left his sword on its rack next to their bed. I looked down from the balcony and saw scuff marks on the wall below. I ran back to Thallenrose Square and saw some people vanish from the Thallenrose. They’re gone.”

Aton finished and waited for his siblings’ reaction. They seemed to want more from him. He continued.

“Reedl tried to follow, using what I thought I heard their Sageman say. No effect. I evidently misheard them, but it was definitely no world we are familiar with. They were wearing a uniform that I have never seen before. It is nothing we know, not simply nothing we have seen personally. I learn all I can about diplomatic relations, and no nation that Grendhill is acquainted with uses these uniforms. Our Royal Guard did their job as best as could be hoped. There was posted, as usual, a double sentry outside our parents’ chambers, and they investigated when they heard a scuffle inside. The attackers departed too quickly, and the sentry found nobody inside. They were already gone. Reedl had a page awoken, and our parents’ council is being gathered right now. We came here to inform you and discuss. Also, we need to decide on a framework for a plan of action.”

As Aton finished, Reedl stepped forward to address the unasked questions in the incredulous eyes of the others. “It is true. Your parents’ disappearance is unexpected, of course. With Grendhill’s security and your own father’s constant readiness to face any foe, nobody could have imagined such an abduction possible, let alone so quickly accomplished. Nevertheless, it has occurred. I am here to guide you, though as you are of age, each of you on the cusp of Retrieval of your own Arms, I will try to act as a guide and resource only. Your parents’ Council is gathering, and you will need a plan before you meet with them if you expect to be heard properly, Council’s loyalty or no.”

Tido spoke. “How can this happen? How can they just break in and vanish? What are we supposed to do about it?”

Misolfa answered with anger in her voice and a scowl on her face. “We can’t let them get away with this! There is nowhere they can hide from us! We will hunt them down!”

Domire followed. “The cowards will—they’ll—”

Reedl cut in. “Young princes, princess, remember who you are. I do. I still remember the Impression I felt of each of you when you were born. True, an Impression is but a glimpse of the personality you are likely to grow into, but I expect you to fulfil every expectation. True, you are not yet your full selves, but you soon will be. You will feel and know yourselves as you are and as you ought to be.”

Reedl turned to each of Aton’s three present siblings. “Tido, look within yourself and find your confidence. It is in there, and if you do as you know you must, it will manifest itself for all to see. Misolfa, you have a kind heart. It is likely your kind heart towards your parents that generates this anger towards your enemies. Let your heart drive you, but do not swing as a pendulum. Domire, take a moment and find the answers within yourself. Your behavior will be above reproach and your wisdom will be uncontested. Do not allow this morning’s events to cloud your thoughts.”

Reedl turned to Aton. “You know I felt no Impression from you, and obviously you have no Arm to train with. Yet I have observed you for the past fifteen Turns. Your focus is unparalleled when you set your mind to a task. Your pragmatism has helped you overcome every obstacle you have found in your path. The current challenge is a new one, and daunting, but you know how to come ahead. Do as you have done for every other challenge before. Analyze it, find a way around it, and follow through. Let your inner light guide you.”

Finally, Reedl addressed the group. “Now, my young lords and lady, your parents have been carried away by some unknown enemy. How can I help you plan your path ahead of you?”

Reedl and Aton blinked against the sudden morning light as they landed on the Fassendais. Harrval’s pale sky greeted them out of the night that still prevailed in Grendhill. The pair made their way to Kascho’s home in silence, a heaviness hanging over them as they walked. Aton was armed, as was his custom, but today he did not carry his twin dao as he normally did. He felt the weight of the weapon he carried pulling him down, but at the same time the knowledge of its presence pushed him almost to take off running.

They presently arrived at the house and Reedl knocked curtly. Uillia smiled at them as she opened the door. “Come in, of course come in. Kascho’s out right now, but I suppose Aton is visiting his brothers and sisters? Well, brothers and sister, of course, the other sister being indisposed at the moment. Or at the week.” She let out a quick laugh. “Come on in, I expect they’re out back running through their forms like they do in the mornings. Should be done soon. Can I get you anything?” She let a quizzical expression slip through her friendly greetings, obviously curious about the Sageman’s presence attending Aton.

Reedl spoke. “Please gather the three of them. We need to speak with them as soon as possible. That is all right now, thank you.”

“Alright, one moment.” Their hostess disappeared towards the rear of the house.

A few moments later she returned, trailed by Domire, Misolfa, and Tido. The three were catching their breath and glistening with a thin layer of sweat.

Reedl addressed Uillia. “Madam, I apologize for our odd visit, and I apologize that we are not going to explain it at this time. Is there a room where the five of us can speak with greater privacy?”

Uillia nodded. “Yes, I will show you now.” She walked down the hall to lead them to a bedroom. “I understand you folks have important business all the time. It is no trouble. Besides, Kascho and I are paid so that we will accommodate such things, aren’t we? Now, is there anything I can get you to make you more comfortable?”

Aton, Domire, Misolfa, and Tido filed into the bedroom while Reedl stood in the doorway. Reedl paused a moment before answering the question. “Yes, please. Could I get some plain hot chocolate? And some for Aton, as well? It’s a very early morning for us.”

“Of course, as quickly as I can,” Uillia answered. She looked at Aton expectantly.

“Extra milk, please,” Aton answered the unvoiced question.

“Alright, I’ll be right back.” Uillia left and Reedl entered the room entirely, closing the door behind him.

“Aton, I will leave this to you—where would you like to begin?”

Aton stood in the darkness, dumbfounded. Somebody had just carried off the king and queen of Grendhill, right out of their own bed! With Guard standing sentry, somebody had dared to attempt abducting a Farella with Aguneg’s Gift giving him an edge. How… Aton shook his head. Where had they gone? He had not heard very well their instruction to the Thallenrose, but he was sure their destination was no place he had ever heard of. It only worked for finite destinations though; one could not simply make one up.

A guard came running down the street from the same direction Aton had come, red-faced and breathless. “What happened, my prince? Are you well?”

“I am fine,” Aton replied. “They’ve gone, though.”

“Who’s gone?” the Guardsman asked.

“I don’t know. I never heard…and they have my parents,” Aton answered in disbelief. “Go get me Captain Bailen! I need to speak with him at once.”

“Yes, prince.”

“And Sageman Reedl!”

“Uh—yes, prince.” The guard turned to go and nearly ran into Reedl walking up behind him. “Oh—I’ll go ask for the Captain, then!”

Reedl stepped aside to let the man pass. “What is going on, Aton?” Reedl asked with a probing look in his eyes.

“My parents have been abducted! We have to go find them,” Aton said urgently.

“Yes, yes, as soon as you have a proper escort gathered,” Reedl said. “Did you hear where they went? Wait—first, tell me what is going on. We must understand the full situation.”

Aton did not like the sound in Reedl’s voice. It sounded like he wanted Aton to slow down, but Aton just wanted to rush off to stop the abductors. “Yes, uh, they wen to…” Aton was trying to piece together what he had barely heard whispered as the party departed. He spoke quickly, trying to get it all out. “Well, I don’t know what’s going on. I just woke up, and something was weird. I followed it and found myself near your house, so I decided to ask you. I’m sorry I left you standing there suddenly, but I had to come find out what it was, and—”

“Very well, but now tell me where they went.”

“Yes, they went…I could barely hear him, Reedl. And I think Aguneg’s Gift let me hear him at all. He was all the way across the Square, and he was whispering, and I don’t think anyone else—”

“Where, Aton? I need to know where.”

“Right, of course. It was…at least, I think…it was, umm, ‘Artcha?’”

Captain Bailen came running. “Prince Aton, what is going on? Why did you run off?”

“My parents are gone, Captain. Somebody climbed the palace walls, in and out like lightning.”

“What do you mean? How?” Bailen quizzed.

“I don’t know how,” Aton said, “but there were scuffs on the toeholds outside and below my parents’ balcony. I ran here and saw them vanish off-world.”

Bailen looked alert again. “Where did they go? We will get a contingent and go find them.”

Aton looked at Reedl. “Can you take us there?”

“’Artcha?’” Reedl repeated the word back to Aton. “I’ve never heard of it. I’m almost sure it doesn’t exist.”

“But we have to try, Sageman,” Bailen pressed.

“Oh, I will try it right now,” Reedl said as he strode from the edge of the Square towards the middle. “I will try it alone. If it works, I will return as soon as I arrive. Don’t hold your breath.”

Aton and Bailen watched as Reedl covered the distance, mounted the Thallenrose, and spoke, “Andi mito mito ‘Artcha’ niti nun pondere!” Reedl looked back at them from where he still stood, blinked, stepped down from the platform, and calmly walked back to the edge of the Square.

Aton sputtered. “But it has to work. You have to take us—”

“Aton, it is apparent that you did not hear them clearly,” Reedl interrupted. “There is nowhere to go that we know of. Come.” Reedl turned to Bailen. “Gather your top staff. I will have the King’s and Queen’s advisor council woken. We will discuss what must be done.”

Aton couldn’t believe Reedl’s calm next to the rage he felt inside. “But we must—”

“And we will, my young prince. I only need to wake one messenger and he will do the rest of the gathering. Then you and I will meet with your siblings while your parents’ advisors are being collected.”