Ryoe ran across the courtyard of the castle like a hungry wolf waiting for night to fall to kill the sheep. Alec had been in his father's room for over two hours. Ryoe was getting impatient.
He had spent the last hour looking for everything he needed and that had turned out to be more difficult than he had expected.
Ryoe hadn't taken much from his room, just a few clothes he needed for the trip and the usual odds and ends: lucky charms, parchment, quill and everything else he thought was important. Luckily he had met Neo on the way - he actually thought he was missing - and wanted to explain the situation to him, which turned out to be unnecessary as he already knew everything.
Since it was past noon, the streets of the city were busy and Ryoe had to fight his way through the crowds to get some decent food for the trip.He had received the money from Etenor's servant, who had stopped him after he had left the king's study.
When Ryoe had stalked all over town to buy good salted meat, he was beginning to feel more like Alec's page than his best friend.
Fortunately, Gaan helped him with the shopping so they could get things done quickly.
Now he was walking across the courtyard, aimlessly, hoping Alec would show up soon. Gaan had gone back to work and Neo had made himself comfortable on a large haystack nearby (to the annoyance of the farmer who owned the heap). There was nothing left to do but wait and as long as Alec wasn't there, there was no point in talking to Shadows, but that didn't matter ...
"Ryoe?" Asked a young male voice behind him.
He turned and looked into a friendly face framed by shoulder-length blond hair.
"Avenor!" Ryoe replied and bowed.Avenor was Alec's older brother and heir to the throne.
"I greet you," replied the young man. "Alec is not with you? Mh ... Then he's probably still with my father!"
"Yes…"