THE SECOND CALLING

Valerian was moved to the Five storied mansion of Greenstone house in the North.

It was dark and the convoy was travelled at night.

The carriage itself was ordinary and it had been intended to keep the people in the capital from thinking that something suspicious was going on.

Valerian travelled with the company of Helren and Gerald along with a few soldiers to ensure his security.

It had been discussed that the Queen needed time away from the capital to ease the pressure and friction that had prevailed in the kingdom.

His marriage with the King was not stable as well and in the end to give him the space that was necessary it was decided that he would travel to the isolated North.

The convoy arrived at Dawn of the following day and the moment that Valerian was set in the compound, he stepped out.

He was wearing an old but expensive velvet purple hood and a white silk gown that was small and gentle.

Valerian studied the whole place and he wore a gentle and simple smile.

"I haven't been here in a while." Valerian said as he walked towards the doorway.

"It hasn't changed that much your Majesty." Gerald said.

"Exactly, beautiful as I remember it."  Valerian said.

"Very true." Helren added.

The doors were opened and the few servants that watched the building bowed and curtsied as Helren passed.

He moved straight to the main living room as Helren and Gerald followed.

"I think I would prefer being alone, just have my luggage taken to the main suite upstairs." Valerian said.

"Alright then." The two replied and bowed their heads.

Valerian then began walking around the whole room as he examined the portraits and paintings that hung on the walls.

There were very many faces many of which he did not know but he was certain they were members of the Scoln Royal family.

At least he was certain they had been.

He stopped when he came to a picture he recognized so we'll.

It was a picture that seemed to have been of Alexander's family of grand parents along with his parents.

There were two faces that he was really familiar with and the others he had seen around oftenly.

Amongst these the two most outstanding ones were those of the late King his father in law and the other his uncle Alfred.

"Such an awkward family." Valerian said as he studied the facial expressions that looked rather serious than jolly.

It is not every day that you actually get to see someone angry in a picture that is supposed to be lively.

Every one even the three girls in the picture who appeared to be in their twilight years of teenage hood.

Valerian continued and moved around until he caught sight of the picture in one of the living room corners.

It was the picture of a woman, at least Valerian hoped, a woman who was very beautiful and looked manly as well.

"Are you wondering who it is your Majesty?" Valerian heard a voice saying from behind.

He turned around to see an old woman standing there being supported by a walking stick.

"Yes." Valerian replied.

"I am sorry if I interrupted anything." The old woman said.

"It is alright." Valerian calmly replied.

"Where are my manners, I am Regina, the governess of the mansion." The old woman said.

"I did not notice that the mansion had a governess before." Valerian said.

"I was transferred a couple of months ago from another imperial residence in the West." The old woman replied.

"That explains it." Valerian replied as he turned and looked at the portraits that hung above him.

"Beautiful isn't it?" The old woman said.

"Yes." Valerian replied.

"That is Queen Marlhor III." The old woman said.

"My rite is as strong as my determination." Valerian said.

"It seems that his Majesty is familiar with him." The old woman said.

"I read about him." Valerian said.

"Well, he is more than what the books actually say about him." The old woman said.

"Supposedly the first male Queen regnant in the whole world that has ever been known." Valerian said.

"He was strong and at the time that the people and other Kingdoms looked down on him, he took advantage of it.

He was charming and unmarried so he used his charm and with to win over the hearts of many foreign princes.

He had enough suitors who asked for marriage and these aided conquest battles in his name.

Primarily, Scoln is as big as it is today because of his sacrifice." The old woman said.

"Eventually he married one of his Dukes." Valerian said.

"He wanted no foreign power to wrestle for his crown that is why he saw it better to marry a Scoln Noble.

Moreover one who actually acknowledged him as Sovereign and Queen and the couple was a wonderful one." Valerian said.

"But with all that aside, it doesn't change the fact that he is the greatest and the best Scoln Sovereign that has ever lived." The old woman said.

He reigned for fifty six years." Valerian said.

"Prosperous, I have seen someone like him." The old woman said.

Valerian studied the face.

"Who?" Valerian asked.

"You." The old woman replied.

"We do not even look alike at all." Valerian said.

"I did not say that you did your Majesty." The old woman said.

"What did you mean then?" Valerian asked.

"Your will and determination, it pretty much feels a lot like his." The old woman replied.

"What do I have left to claim to be rightfully mine?" Valerian asked.

"Yourself." The old woman said.

Valerian studied the picture once again and the gown that the Queen Marlhor wore looked so expensive and heavy.

It was covered in so many pearls and the material looked very heavy.

"It seems that his Majesty was a heavy dresser." Valerian said.

"He strived so hard to be the centre of attention wherever he went.

It was clear to identify him as the Queen just from seeing him, one would." The old woman said.

"He Marvels me." Valerian said.

"And you marvel the Scoln people." The old woman said.

"You make it sound so easy." Valerian said.

"In the short power and time you have wielded it, you might have not noticed this but the reason the royalists could be angry is because your popularity makes them jealous." The old woman said.

She turned around and then slowly departed from the room.

Valerian was left there staring at the picture in front of him.

"Interesting." Valerian said and he turned around to walk away.

Valerian spent a lot of time riding around in the gardens and the fields that surrounded the mansion.

Once a while, he went and started planting flowers and watching them .

Eventually, it was a month past and Valerian was standing in the fields and feeling the rush of the morning air on his face.

He was wearing a sky blue and white dress with a blue tape on his head.

He breathed in and out as he watched the sun rising from behind the hills.

"Your Majesty." He heard someone call him and he turned around to see who it was.

"Gerald?" He whispered to himself a little bit surprised.

He studied the Gerald's expression and it looked worried that Valerian hurried over to him.

"What is it?" Valerian asked.

"There is a messenger here to see you from Endra." Gerald replied.

"What?" Valerian asked.

"Do you know why?" Valerian asked.

"Not exactly." Gerald replied.

"But he seemed to be too worried about something." Gerald replied.

"Take me to him." Valerian demanded.

"This way." Gerald replied as he led and Valerian followed.

The two rushed through the entire mansion straight to the living room.

As they passed the hallways, the servants there paid their respects to him.

Eventually, Valerian entered and the messenger who was seated stood up immediately.

"Your Majesty." The messenger said as he bowed his head.

"You must be here for me." Valerian said.

"Yes." The man replied.

"What is it that you want to tell me?" Valerian asked.

"His Majesty the King your brother asked me to come and tell you a message personally.

He needs your help." The messenger replied.

"What with?" Valerian asked.

"The King is sick and he needs your help to command his troops to defend our boundaries from the Nefarians." The messenger said.

"Isn't there any other general that can command them?" Valerian asked.

"You were the only one that he could trust at this point in time.

Your Victory over the Darians also served sufficient enough to help him choose you.

He has his highest hopes put in you at the moment." The messenger said.

"The Nefarians want to have a conquest battles?" Valerian asked.

"Yes." The messenger replied.

"Gerald, have everything here readied for my departure." Valerian said.

"Why your Majesty?" Gerald asked.

"We can go nowhere without the King's permission." He added.

"The people of Endra still remain my people as well and I can not watch them being threatened by any one at all.

I am going to Endra with or without you and my decision is final." Valerian replied.