"Aunt Zara, I overheard the king and master Valthor speaking last night." He paused then went on. They spoke about Carl, apparently rumors are circulating that he's still alive." 
Zara felt as if a bucket of cold water was suddenly poured over her. She couldn't breath or even find the right words to say. "Ar... Are you certain you heard it right? Her voice cracked when she finally managed to speak.  
  "I heard it right. The king told Master Valthor to get to the bottom of it."
***
After Zara left the Royal study, all she couldn't think of was her conversation with the children. Her brain kept repeating Eric's word but no matter how hard she tried to comprehend it she just couldn't. furthermore she didn't want to harbor false hope like she did for five years. 
If Carl was truly alive, why'd he not made any move to save them? Why was it only after five years were there rumors of him?
Zara felt her heart beating loudly against her chest, as she pondered over the matter. Soon she reached her room, and as she settled onto the mattress she made a decision_ whether her husband was alive or not, she'd use the news of him being alive to her advantage. For days, Zara laid low, planning her next move observing how the guards operate. They took turns, some guarded the palace during the day and at night, some guarded until the middle of the night, then fewer guards are left to patrol the palace ground until the morning. The routine was the same everyday, all she had to do now was plan on how to evade the guards. 
 
Heaving a deep sigh, Zara left her room. Her mind raced in fear with each step she took, the king had not summoned her since the last time, she'd also not seen the governor. Even the said banquet Myra had mentioned before was not held and she'd not seen the vile princess either. What were they up too? 
Zara pushed the thought away as she neared her destination. After evading several guards, she was now standing before king Luther's room. Surprisingly there were no guards and the door wasn't locked. Perhaps no one was foolish enough to sneak into the king's chamber hence the absence of guards. Still it did nothing to calm her raging heart. She was clearly treading down a dangerous path by coming here. If caught she'd be dealt with severely but she couldn't turn back now. 
Zara had no idea what she hoped to find in the king's rooms, she'd just hoped to find something useful. Taking a deep breath, Zara walked into the room cautiously. It was the same chamber she once shared with her husband. Although it was now unrecognizable due to the many changes that had been made. Not a single thing of theirs not even the paint on the wall remained the same. Zara was only taken aback for awhile, memories slowly creeped into her mind but she soon pushed them and began looking around the room. Zara heaved a sigh of disappointment after finding nothing or a clue of importance. She turn to leave but halted just at the door. As if remembering something she headed towards the stool, picking up an empty parchment and feather wet with ink, she scribed a sentence unto it before returning back to her room. 
The next day, Zara was summoned by the king. Her heart raced as she made her way into the throne room. King Luther sat proudly on the throne. Standing before him was governor Valthor, who shared a brief look with her before returning his gaze to whatever he was doing or whatever he was reading. Zara caught sight of a familiar parchment in his hand, and her heart began racing. Could she have been summoned because of it. 
She could've sworn that she saw an amused smile on Valthor's face when he looked at her. Zara's thought was put to an end when the king spoke. 
"You're here," King Luther's spoke the moment his gaze fell on Zara. There was an unreadable expression on his face. 
Zara felt uneasy with his hawk-like gaze fixate on her. Though she wanted to appear calm, she couldn't stop herself from fidgeting with her fingers.
"I summoned you here because I'd be needing an envoy. I want to convey a message to your father and the remaining two kings. I'd be hosting a banquet and I expect them to be present he announced, sounding like every other king was inferior to him. 
"You will go to the Merged Kingdom, alongside Valthor to deliver this message."
Zara almost heaved a sigh of relief but then the reason why king Luther would want her to deliver a message to her father, was quite clear to her though unspoken. He was using her as leverage to force her father and the other king's to come to his banquet. As for their safety, it wasn't guaranteed. Yet she couldn't refuse the king. Furthermore she could use this as an opportunity. 
"Don't even think you can do anything stupid because I allowed you to meet your father. If I sense something off, I'd make sure everyone single one of your people working the mines pay for it. Starting with former dowager queen catherine and her son Aiden," King Luther warned as if reading her thoughts. 
... 
Zara and Valthor set out at first light the next day bearing king Luther's message. They rode in a carriage alongside one hundred elite soldiers on horse backs. 
Sitting in the same carriage as Valthor, Zara couldn't help but feel uneasy. Although the man had said no more than a word to her or even paid her much attention since they began their journey. Valthor rested his back against the carriage with his eyes closed, while his fingers lightly drummed a silent rhythm on his thigh. 
"My skin might burn off, if you keep looking at me like that," Valthor suddenly opened his eyes, meeting Zara's gaze with his intense one.
They both shared a silent look for a moment, before the carriage abruptly came to a stop, causing Zara to leap forward toward Valthor. His hand shot forward immediately to hold her shoulder, stopping her from crashing right into him. Zara felt her heart drumming loudly against her chest at her awkward position. Her face was only an inch away from his, she could literally feel his breath fanning against her. Valthor lips slowly curved to a smirk, as his gaze dropped to her lips. 
"Governor, there a woman standing in our way," They heard a commotion outside. Valthor quickly pushed Zara back into her seat. 
"Stay here," he tells her, before leaping out of the carriage. 
Zara followed him with her gaze as she touched her racing heart. What was that? She pondered heaving a sigh to calm herself. 
The commotion outside had died down and an eerie silence took over. What was going on?Zara suddenly grew alert, poking her head through the window of the carriage. The air was strangely still as if time had frozen in place. Even the soldier were rooted to a spot, unmoving like someone had casted a spell on them.
Zara slowly got off the carriage, glancing around quietly. She was the only one moving, or so she thought until she spotted Valthor with a strange woman in a red cloak.