�How dare you!� Quivern had jumped to his feet, but Darien showed no visible reaction. Indignant rage poured through Quivern�s limbs, threatening to break free violently.
�Sit down!� Darien�s command was sharp and forceful. It was more forceful than anyone other than Duke MacKain dared to use towards him. Quivern could be violent, but Darien knew he wouldn�t hurt a person without a good reason. He locked eyes with the older man who was in so many ways younger as well. He prayed he wouldn�t have to give him a good reason.
�Sit down.� He pointed to the chair Quivern had leapt from. His tone was soft but no less threatening.
Reluctantly Quivern complied, unsure of what to think. Darien had never acted like this before. He had never been so bold as to tell Quivern what to do. He had cajoled and urged him but never commanded. He silently wondered is his friend could back up this newfound authority he had adopted.
�Quivern you are a fool if you think your father is out to destroy you. He is trying to make you stronger. If not wiser.� His mischievous smile returned. �Being the Duke of the First Kingdom is not as shallow a position as you believe. If he left you with no knowledge of the corruption of life and the injustices of the kingdom it would be worse than passing mantle of power to a mere child.� To Quivern, Darien sounded frustrated. �You need to realize that you father�s greatest concern in teaching you to fill his shoes when he is gone. He is laying the groundwork for your reign. You will be able to make changes that he never could because of his efforts.� Darien sighed again at Quivern�s expression. �Don�t you see? You, Quivern MacKain, could sit on the thrown of the First Kingdom someday.�
As the last statement registered in his mind grasped for a grip on his emotions. The thrown? He had never even presumed to imagine. �How do you know all this?� It didn�t fit. Darien was a servant.
�Your father hired me to subtly drive you towards his purpose.� He admitted with a grimace.
�This is not what I�d call subtle.� The nagging feeling of foreboding was slowly returning now.
Darien offered up his hands in surrender. �I�m tired of this.� His boyish face looked ten years older just then. Quivern hated his father all the more for driving such a young man to serve such an adult purpose. �I cant lie to you anymore and��
Quivern could no longer ignore the gut-wrenching feeling that was screaming out a warning to him. As much as he treasured his friend�s confession and the information he offered he could not ignore the warning bells ringing in his mind. �And?� He absently asked as he glanced around the antechamber again.
�I hoped my honest offer of truth would earn enough trust to ask you for help.� Darien�s tone was solely returning to its previous sarcastic, boyish quality.
Quivern was certain there was someone there. He could feel a presence somewhere close. Not a maid, the footfalls were too light, too careful. Beside even at this late hour the staff never bothered to quiet their movements. He couldn�t help getting out of his chair and investigating.
�What help could I give you that my father couldn�t if you asked? He is your employer.�
Darien winced at the biting barb. �You see, he can�t know about this Quivern.� He stood to follow his master around the room.
Quivern turned to the window hopefully, but no one was in the secluded garden below. He had spent many nights sitting alone in that garden enjoying the night blooming flower and their aromas. It had been a safe haven when he fought with his parents. �Why mustn�t he?� He had to fight the urge to jerk away from the grip Darien had on his shoulder. Besides being a gesture his father often repeated on him the touch only reminded him that he had learned to trust this man, only to find out he was his father�s advocate.
�Lives depend on it. Precious lives.�
�Whose lives?�
Darien sighed surrendering his frantic tone for a more hopeful one. �Three Coldlings and a girl, their guardian.�
�Coldlings?� Quivern had never seen one himself but he had heard myths about them. They were magical creatures that supposedly lived on the freezing southern ice sheets. What one was doing this far north was a mystery to him. Bit it was more than unusual for one to be in the First Kingdom. It was illegal. Magical creatures were forbidden in First Kingdom. Not one had set foot over its immense well guarded borders in over two centuries. Magical creatures had all but killed every last man on earth during the Fire and Ice wars.
�Coldlings.� He repeated to himself then looked questioningly as Darien. �Are you mad?� Darien was committing a capitol offense harboring the forbidden creatures. No wonder he didn�t want the Duke to know about this. �If he finds us he�ll kill you and force me to marry the most awful stiff of a woman he can find, you know.�
A mischievous smile brightened Darien�s serious expression. �Us?� he squeezed Quivern�s shoulder. �Then you will help me?� Quivern marveled at the changes his young friend had just gone through. He silently wondered how many different men were trapped inside Darien�s mind.
�Take me to these coldlings.�
In a sudden rush Quivern realized why they were called coldlings. He hadn�t even laid eyes on one yet and he was already freezing.
Darien noticed his shiver. �There are three of them together so it�s going to be very, very cold. I�ve never dealt with more than one at a time. It�s a miracle the entire First Kingdom hasn�t been consumed in a massive blizzard.�
�Their magic can do that?�
Darien shrugged. �Magical creatures are the same as people. Some are strong and some are intelligent. There three are young only about two hundred.� He noted Quivern�s raised eyebrows. �Coldlings can live for more than a thousand years when they are healthy.�
�Do they make it so cold on purpose?� He bent his body against the wind that was not biting at his skin.
�They don�t have very much control over the magic inside them. Some of the older coldlings know how to suppress it. Most of what I know is only rumor so I could be wrong. My knowledge of them is especially limited because of their origins. People aren�t supposed to come into contact with them. Coldlings were meant to preside in the southern regions alone. They supposedly generate winter storms and a few other things. Forgive me if I can�t answer all of your questions.�
