20. Fersen

Chapter 20

Fersen

T he Enchanter's workshop was in a distant part of the castle, which meant they received few visitors. Usually, someone summoned them. Thus, it came as a surprise to Fersen when Kitsuki entered.

The king's terse expression made Fersen tone down the enthusiasm of his greeting as he gave a formal bow. "You honor us with your presence, Your Majesty." Fersen was always careful to use honorifics in public spaces. The king was only Kitsuki when with family.

"May we speak privately?"

It confused Fersen as to why the king would visit the busy workshop instead of summoning him if he wanted privacy. But the shifter monarch surely had a reason.

The unicorn shifter gestured for Kitsuki to follow him to an empty room full of multicolored potions swirling in their bottles with unused magic. He erected a soundproof barrier before using an enchantment to make anyone who passed by see them without paying attention to the details. "We may speak freely in here."

"Do you have the ability to enchant something to protect a non-magic user?" Kitsuki asked after a prolonged pause.

The only human without powers Kitsuki would care about would be Auslin's younger brother. "Is Sephen in danger?"

"No. This is for someone else."

Fersen thought he knew the answer, but he asked his question anyway. "Is this person able to come here?"

Kitsuki shook his head. "It must be done without anyone knowing who it is for."

"Unfortunately, I will need some details to tailor an object to them."

The king was quiet for such a long time Fersen thought he would refuse the request. But Kitsuki eventually spoke. "Uncle Jaega will be aware of this situation, but other than him, this cannot be discussed with anyone."

Fersen gave a formal bow. "I will maintain strict confidence."

There was a perceptible shift in Kitsuki's demeanor as he lost some of his defensiveness. "Forgive me, Fersen. I did not intend to imply I distrusted you. You are one of the most loyal people I have ever met." Kitsuki rubbed his forehead with a sigh. "I am uncomfortable with this situation."

"I'll do whatever I can to help. You know I won't judge you for anything," Fersen gently reminded the king. "You're one of the rare people who can do no wrong in my eyes."

A heavy sadness weighed on Kitsuki. "I wish that was true. But I am here because I put someone in danger with my thoughtlessness. My guilt demands I right this wrong to the best of my ability. But I cannot do that without your help."

Fersen couldn't imagine Kitsuki acting thoughtlessly about anything. He was a man who considered every action carefully. "Whatever happened, we can fix it. If you are looking to protect a non-magic user, I can create a ring to enclose them in a permanent barrier. As powerful as you are, the barrier should be near indestructible."

"Does it have to be a ring?" It was the first time Fersen had seen Kitsuki seem uncertain. "I worry it might send the wrong message."

"An amulet can easily fall off while traveling or be ripped off someone's neck. If it's not touching the wearer directly, it won't work. A ring is less likely to be separated from its owner."

Kitsuki sighed. "Yes, you are right, of course. I trust your judgment to do the best thing."

"Who is it for?"

Once again, Kitsuki fell silent for a few moments. He finally said a name so quietly, Fersen almost missed it. "Maseo."

It took every ounce of self-control not to react to the unexpected name. "Is this the same Maseo who traveled with Kio?"

Kitsuki looked down, the shame rolling off him in waves. "It is indeed. He is the son of Nasume."

The reminder of the wolf shifter made Fersen wrinkle his nose in distaste. "Oh, he was awful the last time he was here for your three-hundredth jubilee. He must be the worst king in Talwyn."

"I do not disagree." Kitsuki rubbed his temple as he took a moment to compose himself. "He snuck in here earlier, and in the heat of my anger, I made some implications about his son that I fear put Maseo in danger. I cannot feel better about the situation unless I find a way to protect him with more than a mere warning."

To say Fersen was shocked was an understatement. But he kept his reactions to himself. "May I?" Fersen gestured he wanted to touch Kitsuki.

Kitsuki nodded permission, so Fersen put his hand over the ruler's heart. It surprised him to feel it racing despite the king's calm outward demeanor.

"I need you to picture Maseo as clearly as you can," Fersen instructed. "Think about how much you desire to keep him safe. Vividly imagine yourself using your magic to save Maseo from Nasume. The deeper your emotions run, the more powerful the ring will be when I extract it from your magic." Fersen hesitated before adding, "Do not think about your guilt. Any negative feelings or doubt will weaken the ring's power to form an effective barrier around him."

Kitsuki took a deep breath before he closed his eyes. Fersen gave him time to focus before he extended his magic to touch the king's. It gave Fersen a disorienting rush to experience direct access to Kitsuki's considerable magical powers.

Due to Kitsuki's reticence in discussing Maseo, Fersen had expected it to take the king some time to begin the formation of the enchanted ring. But it was quick to start. Fersen focused on reinforcing the thoughts he had told Kitsuki to imagine.

Once the center stone formed, it began drawing Kitsuki's magic into it. It stunned Fersen at how strongly the king's magic formed a protective bond for Maseo.

He was endlessly curious about where Kitsuki's strong feelings to keep Maseo safe stemmed from. Although he didn't know all the details, Fersen knew enough to understand Kitsuki should have despised Maseo because of his connection with Kio and Nasume. But the powerful magic pulsating in the ring told a much different story.

When it finished, Fersen used his magic to pull the ring from the depths of Kitsuki's heart and into his palm. It was a stunning piece of platinum in the shape of a dragon protectively wrapping its wings around the large center stone, which swirled with Kitsuki's silver dragon fire burning brightly in the center. It looked like the kind of ring he should have been giving to Auslin, so it left Fersen endlessly curious why he would create something so meaningful for a man he was supposed to hate.

It was a testament to the dragon king's powerful magic that the ring's creation had not physically affected him. "Here." Fersen offered the ring to Kitsuki. "As long as Maseo is not attacked with a Divine weapon, there is nothing in the Living Realm that can break the barrier this will create around him."

Kitsuki accepted the ring, taking a moment to study it. "I did not expect it to take this form."

There was no delicate way to tell Kitsuki the truth. "That is your dragon's influence on the magic. He wanted to send a clear message about who exactly was protecting Maseo."

Kitsuki absentmindedly rubbed his hand over his heart with a conflicted expression. "That is…troublesome to hear."

Fersen attempted to refocus the king on what mattered most. "The important thing is it will keep Maseo safe from anything Nasume could do to him. Regardless if it is magic or a weapon, the barrier your magic will erect around him will deflect it all. There is nothing else in this realm that will protect him as well as this."

"Thank you, Fersen." Kitsuki closed his fingers around the ring. "I will feel more at ease knowing he has this to thwart whatever terrible thing Nasume may try to do to him."

Fersen tilted his head. "It was my honor to help, Kitsuki. If I may be so bold, I think you've done the right thing by making this for him."

"This is such a strange impulse." It clearly troubled the king. "I do not understand where it stems from."

"Based on the power contained in the ring, I'd venture to say it is from the depths of your heart."

Kitsuki fell quiet again. His voice was soft when he mused, "Perhaps it is so deep that it only exists in the fathoms unknown to me."

Fersen didn't dare tell the king that his dragon was hiding secrets from him. But the truth shined brightly in the ring, which drew considerable strength from an undercurrent of love lying beneath the magic.