A Sign

"I looked for my nephew, but there was no trace of him. The people left behind claimed that he died but they would not tell me where he was buried. I suspected some foul play, but I had no proof and came back empty-handed."

Rhodri looked at the Guardian. The cloaked figure had paid rapt attention and had not interrupted once. It was nice for the king to be able to share all of his thoughts, but he wondered what the man across from him was thinking.

Silver nodded contemplatively. 

"Perhaps you could not find the child because the Fates were thwarting your efforts. I have a little experience in that area myself." Silver wasn't sure if it would comfort the king or not. Both men had tried their best to find children they loved. 

"That may be." Rhodri was relieved that there was no judgment in Silver's statement. "In the end, I had to stop looking, but I never gave up hope."

"Then you are a better man than I." Silver lowered his head. He had given up hope when he returned to Rynnlee and as a result, it had taken a literal push from Hanna for him to realize that his sister was before his eyes. 

"The truth, Guardian, is what I was after. I can say for sure now that, today, my hope has finally been realized. You see, I asked the Maker before you came to give me a sign if Ethyn belonged to my brother." 

Rhodi opened one of the drawers in the desk and pulled out a small cloth. 

"I keep this in here to remind me of him, especially when I am not feeling confident. Dayne was always brave to the point of being foolish. I need that bravery sometimes." The king slowly unwrapped the cloth to reveal the tiny pendant inside. "It is all I have left of my brother."

Silver stared, wide-eyed at the small piece of metal. "That's incredible!" 

The rubbing that Silver had provided and the necklace were laid side by side. They were a match.

"After I could not find the boy, I carved the image of this necklace into the tree. My brother is buried with the kings, but that place was Dayne's home. If it was Ethyn's as well, then that can only mean one thing. He is my nephew.

Rhodri motioned to the items on the table. 

"I asked for a sign and it was given. The Maker is truly gracious." The king saw the Guardian's eyes flash as his shoulders silently bobbed up and down. "What is it?"

"It's nothing," Silver chuckled, "Although I see no harm in telling you. My name--my real name--means the Maker is gracious." 

Those were also the words Silver had written to Rose which had told her his identity. 

"A second sign then," Rhodri smiled, reading the other man's thoughts, "And one I will keep to myself. Do not worry." It was the king's turn to chuckle. "Does that make us family? The princess is your sister, and you raised my nephew."

"I am whatever you would like me to be, Your Majesty," Silver answered obligingly.

Rhodri nodded his head in understanding. "I would like you to be a Duke."

"I would hate that," Silver wanted to stuff the words back in and use more polite ones, but the deed had already been done.

Instead of being offended, the king genuinely laughed. "Few who want to lead do so well. Your reticence does you credit."

"I hope you will find my refusal equally amusing, Your Majesty." Silver realized why the herald had called him 'lord.' He must have anticipated this announcement.

"If we introduce you to the Court as the princess's family, it would help if you already had a title to your name," Rhodri tried to explain. 

"We do not need to announce I am part of the princess's family. I am not ashamed of being her brother, but I have a lot of enemies from trying to keep Rynnlee safe." 'And also from my past life as a thief, though only Borit knows that secret. It shall die with him.'

"If you change your mind..." Rhodri saw the Guardian shake his head. "Very well. While I had hoped you would accept, I do have a second proposition. Would you accept a position in my kingdom? I would pay you well, I can assure you." 

"I answer only..." 

"...To the Fates, I know," Rhodri waved his hand in understanding, "and you should consult them before giving an answer. But I would like for you to not only be the Guardian for Rynnlee, but for all of Birle. With my acknowledgment, endorsement, and funding, I do think you can do a lot more good inside the law than outside." 

'He is trying to turn me into a law-abiding citizen by making the law bend around me. Not the worst idea...'

"I will consider it," Silver answered at last.

He liked the freedom of doing as he saw fit, but somehow he didn't think the king would try to restrain him.

"Excellent, because I do have a mission whether or not you take the position. I need someone to go to Lakyle to discover the situation there and intervene in Birle's best interest." Rhodri tried to lure the Guardian with the promise of adventure. 

"I will speak with the Fates. I can only go if they bid me." Silver thought of Sage.

Had she asked Hanna before appearing in his home? He doubted it. But he did not want to mess up the lady's plans by showing up without warning and interfering. A note to her was long overdue. He would at least include his opportunity and intention so she would not be caught off-guard. 

"I can ask no more than that," Rhodri was pleased with the outcome. "In the meantime, I will have a room in the castle designated yours. Even if you do not accept my offer of employment, I want you to feel welcome. What kind of king would I be if I denied a hero lodging whenever he came? And with your connection to the royal heir, I do think that you will be in need of a place to stay even after I am gone." 

"Is Ethyn officially your royal heir?" Silver sat up in his seat as he remembered, "Because Borit had the document from Kaarel..."

"That has been sorted and the document was destroyed." Rhodri was glad to see the Guardian relax a little. "As for my heir, I am at a bit of a loss. Legally it would be Ethyn, but as king, I have the right to change that at any time. I have promised the princess that she would rule, and I do not want to go back on that." 

"Perhaps you should wait a short time. The problem may resolve itself." Silver's eyes flashed. 

Rhodri's eyes crinkled as his mouth turned into a brilliant smile. "Ah, so you have seen it too! Do you think they are a good match?" 

"I think is it a match made by the Maker himself." The Guardian had no doubt on this fact. "But in my opinion, they are good for each other. If they want to bind themselves in matrimony, I am all for the match."

"I am glad to hear it. But I do not think I can wait to reveal Ethyn's heritage. The longer I do, the more people will find it suspicious since he clearly has the princess's affection. I will tell Ethyn in the morning. Unless as a Guardian you feel it is your duty..." 

"We are in agreement, then, that you will tell them in the morning." Silver had no desire for that kind of 'honor.' There was no telling how Ethyn would take the news.

Rhodri smiled mischievously. "I do hope you will decide to take the position. If you do, I promise to let you be there when I tell the prince and princess the news."

"I am not sure you can stop me if I want to be there, Your Majesty. The only reason I was caught the last time I snuck into your castle was because a Fate pushed me off a wall." Silver's eyes flashed, clearly amused. "But I will only come to the meeting if I am invited."

"You have called my bluff. Of course, you are invited, Silver. I think I may need your support as much as they do." Rhodri nodded.

 Silver looked down as the king held out his forearm. He reluctantly took it, feeling very improper by touching His Majesty at all.

The men parted ways. Silver went looking for Conall and Aiden while the king continued with his work. 

But they both had their mind on only one thing: the truth. And in the morning, it would be revealed.