Chaos I had been performing my regular routine when word got back to me that there were two human borns on the land. A male and female! This was not enough to get my attention, it is normal activity! What I heard next got my attention, the female was able to see us! Even if a human born has the gift of sight! That human born should not be able to see past our wards! What was more surprising was the fact that she knew the name of one of my top servants, Sadragon. She knew that the human born male and Sadragon were mates! She knew more than what she should have. I was about to head to my top mage when my son told me that he had found the location the two human borns were staying. With a bow, “Father!” Ashur began, “They are staying at a cabin not far from here.” With one glance at my son I knew there was more, “Well out with it!” Clearing his throat, “The female is a hybrid that I am sure of … and …” “And what?” I was getting tired of this subject. “I think she is my mate!” He said so fast I thought I was mistaken. Our eyes were locked, “Mate?” I did not know how to feel about this. I wanted to be happy for my son, after all this time he had found his mate. Yet I remember clearly the pain of having a mate. How it feels to have the one that is to be your other half, killed and striped from your grasps. I may have been smiling at my son, but I had much fear for him as well. To have a mate means that he now has a weakness. The buzz that was going on around my castle was talking about the new hybrid that was close … too close to my portal! Everyone was wondering what would happen next. Up to this point, no rules had been broken. The human borns continued to wander my lands, as she spoke to the male! Telling him what she knew to be her truth. After their brief time, they respectively left my territory. To ensure they knew who the boss was, I made the female's rest time as uncomfortable as possible. Giving her warnings to leave and never return. What perplexed me was when I was told she was capable of shielding the location from my serfs, only allowing Sadragon to enter the dwellings. I had to think quickly, I did not want my son to endure the physical pain that I had endured many centuries back. The pain of having my heart being ripped from my chest. With the thought of my wife, I could feel the ping of pain disrupting my thoughts. I had thought I would never feel such pain again, it had been close to a hundred years since I felt this sensation.Again word got back to me that the male and female were departing the region. With them Sadragon followed his mate! Unbeknown to the duo … or at least I thought! I watched the female direct her sight towards my top killer. I stood in the cover of the trees! Astonished at her capabilities. ‘You have been warned!’ I thought loudly. What I had not anticipated was the female replying to me, ‘I know!’ I watched as this redhead drove away from the community gas station. ‘Who is she?’ The pain hit my chest again, almost crippling me to bend the knee. Clenching my fist, I turned away to head back to my castle. The redhead was gone, everything would go back to as it has always been. And with any luck Ashur would forget that he had spotted his mate, though I was not holding much hope on that. At my private study, I sat down at my desk. I could not help but notice a slip of paper that had been placed near the back of my manual. This was a peculiar thing to notice, since I was the only one that had free entrance to this location. All others had to announce their presence with my permission to enter. Pulling on the slip of paper out I realised that it had been sealed with my sigil name. Breaking the seal I read my own writing. A letter I am sure I would have remembered placing there if I had. Reading out loud, “You will not remember placing this letter in this manual. Do not think much about it! What you need to know is that a redhead may enter the territory. If this should happen do not engage even if she sets up dwelling on the land. Let the hybrid go along with the companions! This will go against the law, but this is important! The chain of events cannot follow as it had. Mannel is after the redhead hybrid, this is information the redhead will not remember. The redhead, she is the daughter of Pirapancam! It is imperative that the redhead be protected at all cost from your siblings! They are planning on wagering war and need the redhead!” I read the letter to myself, several times! Trying to comprehend everything as I slowly started to realize that there was a redhead on my land. She also came with a male! Though she and her companion did not set up a dwelling. I recalled how I was told that they hybrid seemed to know more than she should have. I re-read what I had once again to make sure I was not missing something. Good thing for the male and female that they had not set up temperature dwellings, if they had their fate would have been sealed. Without realizing it I would have captured her! I continued to read the rest of the passage on the page! “You had ordered Gwydion to make the redhead a medallion to send her back to her world. With doing this, it will be as if nothing happened. To live out her life as it was once before. You will notice discomfort in your chest … it will leave in time! As it did with our beloved wife! Knowing this, this decision was based on the protection of the species in all the realms and the redhead! Mannel will stop at nothing to get his hands on the redhead!”I sat there wondering what the last part of my message to myself meant! Not wanting to ponder on it, I continued to read the last bit of the message. “If Gwydion had done his job correctly, not only will the redhead forget but everyone here will as well. It will be as if nothing happened. To conclude everything, there are many spies among your ranks! Trust no one but your offspring, the need to get to the bottom of Parppavar’s and Mannel’s plan is important!” I flipped the page over, expecting to read a list of names, Yet there were none! “That is kind of cryptic” I thought outloud. There was pounding on the door! I shoved the letter violently into my pocket “Enter!” I shouted. Sadragon stormed into my quarter. One glance at him and I could tell that he was angry. With a bow, “Master, I would like to speak with you freely!” Thinking this had something to do with his mate, I was willing to listen to his sorrows. “Speak my friend!” Sadragon glanced around, “is there a location we could speak where the walls do not have ears?” I raised a brow! It is not often that this was required, since no one would dare to eavesdrop on a conversation, everyone here knew the punishment for doing so. Then I remembered the paper I shoved not too long ago into my pocket. With respect Sadragon continued, “It is about the redhead, Master! What I have to tell you is a story you do not want anyone to hear!” I led Sadragon to my personal portal that even my offsprings were not allowed to use without my presence. We had gone through a portal to my homeland, the one and only place I know that no one can spy on us! “Speak now my friend, I am losing patience! What do you have to say about the redhead!” Sadragon appeared nervous, possibly scared, “You placed an amulet around her neck before you pushed her into a portal. Making it that she was to forget her memory. The problem is … she remembers everything!” I thought about the letter I had read not too long ago. Forgetting I had someone with me, “That is impossible! How could that be?” I thought out loud as I paced the location. “So it is true then … you remember?” Sadragon seemed angry. Of all the time I had known him there was only one time that he showed me this temper. I thought we had grown past such childish behaviour. My eyes narrowed on him not appreciating his disrespect. “I do not know what you are speaking of! I only know what I read from a letter that I apparently left for myself about a redhead. It was cryptic nethertheless!”Sadragon exhaled loudly, “Then it is also true, you have forgotten!” I was losing my temper, “I value our friendship and for this … this is the only reason I am putting up with your childish temperament but you better explain what is going on and make it fast!” By the time Sadragon had finished his tale, I felt pale, the weight of my body pulling me to the ground! The universe and all the realms felt heavy on my shoulders. My past fears and memories were slapping me across the face. Slowly speaking, “A mate bond is sacred … if I had done this there had to be a reason greater than a bond between one and another … or … in this case three! What am I going to do? If they find out …” I swallowed the lump in my throat. I snorted internally remembering how not too long ago, I tried to scare the redhead away to protect my son. Now I find out that I pushed our mate away. For reasons unknown! ‘What is going on?’ “My king, we will figure this out. If I may be honest … You need to get over the past so you can live in the now! The pain only lasts as long as you allow it to exist.” My head was whirling with so many thoughts. “I also have to mention … My mate told me that we have many spies among our ranks!” Sadragon paused not wanting to continue with what he had to say but struggled to withhold such information, “Even those of your blood and those you housed after the last purge!” I roared, “My offsprings would NEVER DARE …” Sadragon placed a hand on my arm, “Not them my king! The … o.th.er.s!” “Could it be that the spies are dead?” I remembered how there were no names mentioned but there was mention of spies. “Do you have names?” I inquired with much rage. “My mate does not have names! As you and I … My mate has no memory of what had happened! My love tells me that his kindred spirit does not have all of her memories.” Sadragon bowed, “My king if it were not for the fact that I watch Merna react in a way of losing a mate, I would say this is fraud. A human born making up dreams!” He paused, inhaling, “The things my mate told me, makes me believe that foul play is afoot! I believe we have to assume that this is true and we have spies that are of your blood … who eat the food you provide with no payment in return.” I rapidly paced the location, my mind was drifting in several different locations. I needed more information. What I do have is cryptic and not much for me to work with. “You said that the redhead …” Without missing a second, “Merna!” Sadragon corrected me. Inquiring further, “She can see you and more … and has memories that we do not?”“Yes!” Sadragon bowed, “That she does my king!” I thought about it long enough to make a temporary judgement call, “Your order is to follow Merna!” I said the name of the human born slowly. “I would not send a mate away without just cause. I would not ruin my son's prospects of a future and family for spite! To protect him from the pain I have endured, yes, but not animosity!” I raked my hands down my face, “See what memories she remembers. When there is enough information, bring it back to me!” Sadragon smiled, “As you wish my king! I have one other thing to ask of you?” I raised a brow, “Name it my friend!” Sadragon was grinning from ear to ear, “My mate is making plans to leave his kindred spirit! He wishes to be with me …” I smiled at my long time friend, “Speak no more my friend! The second your mate joins my land … you may collect him and join together. I will even give you time so you may mark mate and be merry!” I knew the cost of having a mate, so did many others! I saw them as a weakness, something that could be used against you. While others thought of them as a strength, Sadragon was one of the many that differed from me. That did not mean I would shield him from his fate! Though at this moment I wish I could! I had never seen Sadragon so happy since his chosen mate's demise. “I will have to make a dwelling grand enough for my mate!” I slapped my friend on the back, “Do not think of it! I will instruct the labourers to dig a dwelling that would impress me!” I opened the portal to my castle. “Complete the task at hand! I will finish the rest while you are gone!” As I watched Sadragon leave the location, I slumped in my chair wondering what I was going to do about the whole mate thing.