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I had a responsibility to both her and the people.
I looked up at the tree. “Rupert, are the training grounds, to the left or right, the snow’s falling very hard right now.”
“L-left sire.”
Left it was.
I turned on my heel and walked until I hit the hunting grounds, a place next to the castle, the barracks for the soldiers if need be, though they all had homes on property.
And then I thought about it, stopping in the snow, making a crunching noise as I really thought about it, where was the army the most strong? Not the barracks, not even at home, it was when they were together.
Together.
Eating.
Feasting.
I took another left and went to the army dining hall and shoved the doors open and there on the table was another note.
“Well done, son. I’m cheering you on from the grave. Brilliant of you without much training, but where do you go when you need a reprieve?”
I wracked my brain again and quickly knew.
It didn’t take long.
I ran to the servants’ kitchen.
And sure enough it was empty and taped to the freezer was the next clue.
“Who does a king go to when he needs counsel?”
I wanted to run to the Prime Minister’s house but thought better and ran to her room. To Samira’s room and inside, next to her small lit up Christmas tree in the corner of her desk was the next clue. Taped to a black box was a note that said, open me.
I opened the box inside was a picture of my parents when they got engaged, my father was down on one knee, looking up at my gorgeous mom with stars in his eyes, they had gone riding I believe by their attire and she was down on her knees across from him, both of their black coats looked filthy, her hand was without gloves and he was putting a ring on her finger.
“One of my favorite memories. I’m glad you can see it now, fully. Her favorite food was found in the garden, do you remember the journal entry about her gardening?”
I snatched the picture, shoved it into my pocket and rushed toward the back gardens, when I got there a small post was lit up with Christmas lights and attached to it was another journal entry and instructions. “Find the ring.”
The ring?
What ring?
I didn’t remember a ring! It died with her. It was lost during the coup!
Had I only gone nearly halfway, and I can’t find the ring?
“That’s it?” I screamed at the sky. “Find the ring! Find the ring?”
I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to think.
The ring.
What ring?
The only ring I knew of that existed was mine. And it was in the vault near the back of the castle, it used to be a dungeon but was converted over eighty years ago.
Feeling morose, I started walking toward the vault. I had full access and headed down the stairs, the guard said nothing as I pressed my thumb against it and opened it.
