By The Lake

***

"Where is His Majesty the king?" Lucas asked William, who was struggling with the pile of papers on Ronan's desk.

"He went somewhere," William said simply.

"Where to? Hasn't His Majesty only been asleep for two hours?"

William let out a long sigh and scratched his head in frustration. He laid his head on the pile of paper. "I don't know, Lucas. I thought I could sleep all day, but the guy woke me up and told me to finish the appeal with Thebis shortly, and he's gone somewhere."

Lucas poured a gin concoction meant for Ronan into a glass and then gave it to William.

"His Majesty just wants to get this over with quickly so that Princess Arielle returns here as soon as possible. Drink this first so you get back to health," Lucas said understandingly.

William stretched out his hand limply and drank the potion in one gulp. He shook his head and patted his cheeks to get fired up again.