"Heloise Amberstone, follow me." I knew that voice. And I didn't like that voice. But I think that seemed to be something that we had in common.

Damien stood outside of the room, his deep blue eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before he nodded curtly and turned around again. So much for being a gentleman. I quickly gathered my long skirt in my hands and grabbed my satchel to run after him. His long steps had already taken him pretty far ahead of me, so I had to hurry.

The weight of this newfound responsibility settled around me like a heavy cloak as I tried to prepare myself for the counsel meeting, while also keeping up with Damien. It was the first time I was part of something like that, of course, so I didn't really know what to prepare myself for.

"What sort of things are usually discussed at these meetings? Surely the King doesn't expect me to know anything about this right?" I questioned Damien, while trying to keep my cool.

"He doesn't expect YOU to do anything. Just stand in the background and try not to make a scene. No one really gives a shit about what you think. You're just a nobody, so you shouldn't really be there anyway." Damien had turned and moved to block my path.

"Excuse me?! Who do you think you are talking to me like that. Just because I grew up as a nomad doesn't mean that I have no clue. It's actually the other way around. I'll have you know, that I actually know a whole lot about our kingdom." Now I was insulted. This asshole.

"I am your Prince and you will do as I say." His eyes bore into mine, but I tried to hold my own. My hands at my waist, as I popped out my hips and starting tapping my foot. The audacity of him.

Instead of going further with the argument, Damien just scoffed and turned around again, walking up the last bit to the castle. Did he just expect me to follow him like a lost puppy? But his long steps had already taken him so far ahead, that I simply just had no choice but to follow after him again.

The inside of the castle was even more grandiose than I had thought. As children we had always talked about what we thought it looked like on the inside and what I could see now was even wilder than our wildest imaginations. Every wall was made from white marble, which had golden swirls in it. I wasn't even sure how that was possible. Even the floor and the ceiling were marble, which made the whole hall seem clean, but cold at the same time.

The hallway we walked through was lined with olive green and golden tapestries, which gave the sterile white walls a bit of coziness. Some of the spots on the walls were filled with portraits of former kings and queens, and other members of the royal family hanging on the walls.They were all looking down on us as we walked by, almost as if they were judging our every move. The hallway seemed to stretch out forever, leading us around corners until we ended up in front of a large double door.The dark wood had metal inlays that glimmered in the light. Carvings were embedded into the doors, depicting scenes from old wars and battles that had been fought long ago. This must be the Counseling Room!

Damien opened the door for me and motioned me inside, but not before he stepped inside first. So he definitely wasn't raised a gentlemen, I thought.

Inside I saw more marble, at this point I feel like I shouldn't really be surprised any more, along with finely crafted furniture made from the same dark wood as the doors and olive velvety cushions. The room seemed to be filled with a sense of grandeur and importance that only royalty can have. I straightened my back and cleared my throat as I followed Damien through the room until we reached to seats at one side of the room's large circular table.

That was when I noticed what was actually on the middle of the table. It was gigantic model of our lands. You could see everything to even the tiniest detail. In the middle was the Aranthia itself, a c-shaped land mass a few islands around it and a huge bay towards the Sapphire Sea. Inside this bay was Diamond's Deep, right next to the Pearl Insula, whose beach also seemed to sparkle even without the actual pearls or sun. In the west of the country I could see the Danburite Desert and Moonstone Marsh. And moving my eyes further north I could see the Fluorite Forest and Iolite Island, which apparently was the center of this meeting.

Except for us there were also several other people around the table, high ranking members of the king's council I'm guessing. We were the last ones to arrive, as the guards were already closing the doors behind us, halting all ongoing conversation amidst the members, as the King rose from his throne at table.

"Now that we are all here," He threw a quick but angry glance at Damien, "we can begin with the topic of this emergency meeting."

"Of course, Your Majesty." One of the other men, in fact, I realized, it was nearly all men, stood from his seat and addressed the others. "As most of you may have heard by now. The situation in the north seems to become more troubled with each passing day. What we first assumed was just a bad weather front now turns out to be a much more serious situation. The Fog, as we call it, has grown in size and started moving inwards. From what we gathered over the last few weeks, the Fog is a thick black smoke that slowly moves forward. The people going into it seemingly are never seen again."

What in the holy ambers was he talking about? Was did what Jasper had spoken about? Could it be that the counsel knew people were disappearing and just didn't do anything about it?

"Are you telling me, that you knew about this and decided not to do anything about it? Just leaving these people to suffer?" I was exasperated. How could they allow this?

"Miss Amberstone, you speak only when spoken to." said the man, who I believe must be some kind of Scholar, as he looked at me coldly. "But to answer your question. Yes we have heard stories, but up until the Summer Solstice it wasn't clear what was really going on, so we decided it would be better not to let a panic arise, while the festivities where still going on."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. They had allowed their people, our people, to suffer just to avoid a panic during a celebration? My blood boiled at their callousness. My gaze shifted to the king, who remained silent. He didn't look ashamed in the slightest.

"What are we going to do to help these people?" I spoke up again, not caring if I was spoken to or not. "We can't just sit here and do nothing while innocent lives are at stake. They had the right to know what is lurking across our country's doorstep, even if it would have caused a panic. Ignorance is not bliss, it's deadly."

The Scholar, as I now called him, scoffed. "And what do you propose we do, Miss Amberstone? Are you saying you want to volunteer as tribute to go into the Fog?"

"Well, no, but..."

"No buts." The King exclaimed, "If you can't keep you opinions to yourself, then I must see to it that one of my mages will do the job for you."

"That will not be necessary, Father." Damien said, as he squeezed my thigh tightly under the table, it was almost painful.

"As I was saying," the scholar continued, "as was shown to us by the gods and goddesses during the summer solstice the answer, unfortunately, seems to lie with you, young lady. Why the gods have chosen someone as incapable as you is beyond our knowledge, but alas nothing can be done about it now. Priestess Elenanore?"

He motioned to the only woman in the room, I hadn't even noticed her until now, because she didn't sit at the table, rather stood in the corner behind me. In graceful steps, almost floating across the floor, she walked up to the head of the table, next to King Aldric.

"The prophecy that you heard at the Summer Solstice, the one you seemed to accidentally stumble into, wasn't the whole story. A few hours earlier, when the sun was at it's peak, our most skilled priestess, a priestess of the sunstone, spoke another part of the prophecy."

Of course she did. I just couldn't seem to catch a break. However, I noticed how Damien seemed to grab my thigh even tighter underneath the table, while Elenanore spoke.

"In the glint of the moonstone's light,

where shadows dance and ravens take flight,

A song will rise from a cat's soft purr,

while the goldfish recites an ancient slur.

In the land where the sapphire roses bloom,

amidst the chaos and impending doom,

A horse will neigh in the language of men,

and the stars will align, yet again.

The silverfish will conduct the dawn's choir,

as the turtle, by the fireside, weaves tales of yore.

Beware the rabbit with the emerald eye,

for it tells truths wrapped in a lie.

In a realm where gemstones hold the key,

the diamond duck shall rule the sea.

Beneath the twirling jade tree's shadow,

where the wind whispers tales of sorrow,

A snail shall race against the falling tide,

it's victory marking the great divide.

During the reign of the ruby queen,

an era of mystery, the likes never seen,

Frogs will sing, and pigs take flight,

in the amber's glow, on a starlit night."

Silence filled the room. True and utter silence. That is until I couldn't hold in my laughter anymore. She couldn't be serious.

"Hahaha." I wiped a single tear from my cheek.

"That is the best thing I've heard in a long time. A diamond duck." In this moment I was blissfully unaware of the stares I got from the rest of the room, but as my laughter died down, it become clear that I was the only one, who found this even the slightest bit funny.

A heavy tension hung in the air and Elenanore's expression had changed from one of bliss, to a stern and serious look.

"It is not a joke." She said slowly, her gaze unwavering. "For those with the power to see, this poem can tell you your future."

The room was still as I contemplated her words. Was I really looking at my future written in verse? Could this be true?

But what the hell was it supposed to mean ? Frogs will sing and pigs take flight? That didn't make any sense at all.

All these questions raced through my head, and I just stood there in silence. Elenanore just stared at me with an expectant look on her face.

Finally, after what felt like ages, I spoke up. "So.. what do you think it means?" I asked hesitantly.

She smiled knowingly and walked closer to me. "I think it's up to you to figure out," she said, before turning and walking away.

With that cryptic remark hanging in the air, Elenanore exited the room, leaving me in stunned silence. A murmur spread among the council members before one of them, a man with a grizzled beard and hawkish eyes, took charge, swiftly steering the discussion back on course.

"The affairs of the north cannot wait any longer," he asserted firmly, his gaze sweeping across the room, "Reports from the iolite islands have been increasingly troubling."

The Iolite Islands, a string of islands up north known for their unique blue-violet gemstones, had always been a place of mystery and intrigue. But now, apparently they were a source of concern as well. I had heard the stories from other traders that were also moving across the country. Unprecedented environmental changes, coupled with a sudden influx of unidentified creatures, were posing a significant threat to the balance of the realm.

Council members exchanged worried glances, their joviality evaporating as they launched into a heated debate over the best course of action. Some advocated for direct intervention, others suggested diplomatic efforts with the island inhabitants. However, amidst all the uncertainty, one thing was clear - no one had the slightest idea what these events in the north signified or how they tied into the foreboding prophecy Elenanore had shared.

As the debate continued, it became increasingly apparent that a solution was not within immediate reach. It was in this moment of stalemate that the man, the scholar from the beginning of the meeting, stood up again.

"I propose," he began, silencing the room with his commanding voice, "that we send her to the Tourmaline Temple. She is the Bráran, it his her duty to help. We should seek guidance from a source higher than us, the Oracle."

The Oracle was a children story that we told each other at the campfires of the caravan, when we wanted to startle the younger children. But it was nothing of this age, I don't even believe that it was ever truly real. Maybe a long time ago, but now it was a mostly forgotten tale. When I was a young my sisters used to tell me that the Oracle was directly sent from the gods to guide our people. But it had a mind of his own, often making it's prophecies hard to understand or redundant just to spite the people. But the offerings became less and less and as people became more driven by magic and started distrusting the Oracle, they stopped completely,, leaving the Tourmaline Temple and the Oracle to rot.

"The Oracle is nothing more than a story now. It vanished a long time ago." , one of the other members piped up. He was young, for a council member at least.

"You are misguided." said Elenanore. "Despite of what we have the people think they know, the Oracle still exist on the Island of the Tourmaline Temple. And judging from our dire situation, it is the only thing that would know what to do. If it is willing to help us."

And so I just sat there, my heart pounding in my chest. My gaze was glued to the probably ancient stone floor, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Although I tried to be a picture of stoic calm on the outside, my face a mask of neutral intent, inside, I was anything but. Worry gnawed at me, a beast of anxiety that refused to be tamed. The weight of the decision lay heavily on my shoulders, the potential consequences of my actions echoing in her head. Why did I have to be so clumsy and trip into the Blessing? I should have never been there in the first place. I wanted to stay at the Tipsy Pegasus, but no, we just had to go and watch the Blessing.

The council's words swirled around me like a harsh winter wind, their implications chilling me to the bone.

"Then it is decided. You leave at dawn tomorrow morning for the Temple." The Kings voice suddenly sounded into my ears. I didn't even have time to question anything as the council members started to stand up and move out of the room.

Damien grabbed my arm, pulling me up with him, rather roughly might I add, and practically dragged me out of the room.

"Hey, what are you doing? Let me go!" I exclaimed, trying to pull myself out of his steel grip. Once I got his hand of me I stumbled back from the force of it. Hugging my arms around, out of his reach, I looked at him expectantly.

"What the hell is going on? You can't just send me after some fairytale Oracle, that is supposed to save us, from whatever the fuck is going on."

"Lower your voice." He whispered, looking around the wide hallway for people to eavesdrop our conversation.

"I just think it's crazy, sending one twenty-one year old to save us all. Hell I just recently became of age." I said hushed back angrily.

He sighed. "You don't have a choice, the priestesses believe that the gods send you and that you have some kind of power to stop whatever is going on right now." He paused for a moment before continuing.

"It would be in your best interest to just follow along with their wish. We go to the Tourmaline Temple, search for the Oracle and when we can't find it, we can come back and tell them that the Oracle is just myth."

"We? What do you mean we?"

"As if I would just let you go by yourself. You don't even have the slightest idea of what is going on. I'm coming with you." He said, his voice full of determination and something else. Something that I couldn't quite place my finger on. He then straightened up and motioned for us to go.

"I demand to speak to my parents." I said, trying to put my foot down. i wasn't just some girl they could push around, doing their bidding. Royalty be damned.

"Of course, the little girl wants to speak to her mommy and daddy." He chuckled. "Well go on and run to your parents, but make sure you are here tomorrow morning. And you are not allowed to talk about this mission with anyone. This has to be a secret, we can't risk anything. "

Risk? Secret? What was he talking about. Did he think that people hear would sabotage the mission? What kind of mission were we getting into? I shivered at the thought but then pushed it away, not wanting to think about it.

We walked in silence for the rest of the way and when we reached the edge of the castle , I quickly said goodbye before walking inside. Not even waiting for his goodby. I was too full of thoughts and emotions - fear, excitement, confusion - that I just needed some space to sort my thoughts out.

Just as I had left it, my family's quaint little caravan sat nestled amidst the other nobility's grand tents. The lanterns casting a warm hue over its simple yet cozy interior. I pushed open the door and was immediately greeted by the comforting scent of home - fresh bread and the faintest hint of lavender. My parents looked up from their nightly routine, surprise mirrored in their eyes at my early return.

"Maman, Papa," I began, doing my best to keep my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions within me.

Their expressions morphed into ones of worry, the lines on their faces deepening. I quickly recounted what had happened to me since the Blessing, leaving out how my friends had broken into the castle and how I was basically sent out into a suicide mission.

My parents listened attentively, their eyes growing wider with each revelation. My father's weathered hand reached out to grip my mother's, his dark eyes reflecting a mixture of concern and awe. My mother's mouth opened and closed a few times, clearly struggling to process the weight of my words.

As I concluded my story, they exchanged a glance that clearly spoke volumes - a shared understanding developed over years of partnership. "This could bring us unprecedented opportunities," my father finally spoke, his voice gruff with emotion and possibilities. My mother nodded slowly, adding, "If we align ourselves tactfully with this situation, it could potentially elevate our status, attracting more buyers to our business. Possibly even the royal family."

They both seemed to have a newfound energy, their minds already racing with plans and strategies. Even amidst their concern for my safety, they were small business owners at heart - always seeing opportunity amidst adversity.

The rest of the evening was filled with hushed conversations and quiet preparations - a stark contrast to the storm of thoughts raging in my mind. I was stepping into the unknown, and all I could do was hope for the best.