Haul walked over toward Eamon with a smile. “I’m glad to see you awake, Eamon.”

  Eamon sat up against the bedboard. “I myself am glad to be awake, but my body is still very much broken.”

  Haul nodded. “Yes, well, that will take time. Just rest, Eamon. You deserve it for saving the kingdom and its people.”

  Eamon smiled. “I saved the kingdom, my lord? You must be mistaken. If it wasn’t for you, I would be a dead man.”

  Haul and Eamon laughed. Haul gently put his hand on Eamon’s shoulder. “That may be true, Eamon, but you put your life on the line for the freedom of Enora. Not many men would do such an honorable thing.”

  Eamon couldn’t stop smiling. “Too kind, my lord. But that day before the battle, when it was just you and me on the balcony, you told me about your life and how you had a dream of being king, and how you would make life for all under your rule better.”

  Eamon paused while Haul interrupted, “I remember.”

  Eamon continued, “That is why I fought for you, why I would put my life on the line to make that reality a truth, not just fiction.”

  Haul nodded with a pleased look in his eyes. “You truly are something else, Eamon.”

  They laughed as Haul walked out of the room, but before he shut the door, he turned around. “Feel better soon, Eamon. I would hate to see you not at my wedding.”

  Eamon’s eyes widened. “Wedding? You didn’t tell me you are going to have a wedding.”

  Haul laughed. “Just did.” He closed the door.

  Haul walked through the halls and up the stairs to his chamber door and opened it. “Well, Leah, have you thought about what you want at your wedding?”

  Haul walked back to the table where Leah was sipping wine. “I have, but before I tell you, where shall this wedding take place?”

  Haul stood up and held out his hand. “I’ll show you.”

  Leah grabbed his hand, and Haul walked her over to the balcony and pointed to a domed-shaped temple. “Right over there.”

  Leah looked at Haul. “It’s so big from here, and it’s gorgeous.”

  Haul chuckled. “Yes, indeed it is.”

  Leah’s eyes sparkled in the sunlight. “What is it used for?”

  Haul thought for a moment. “It’s a temple used for worship to the Gods, but I don’t think the holy men will mind if we use it.”

  Haul turned his body toward Leah, and she turned hers toward him. They held hands and looked each other in the eyes, and Haul spoke with a soft whisper. “When you are crowned queen, this kingdom will be whole. You’ll be the best queen this world has ever seen, and if you so wish to have children, they will be a light in this dark world. The Blackmoors will rule with a just hand. I wish to make Enora a sanctuary for all who are in need.”

  Leah smiled. “You have such strong dreams and admirations. How can a queen keep up?”

  Haul chuckled. “You need not worry about that.”

  They both stared into each other’s eyes as the silence turned to lovers’ tension. They stood on the balcony, kissing each other as they felt the heat from there lips touch. They walked back into the room and over to the bed, where Leah pushed Haul onto the bed and helped him remove his clothes, and Haul helped Leah remove hers. Leah climbed into the bed, and they began intercourse . The sounds of moaning could be heard through the halls as the clapping and rubbing of skin echoed in Haul’s chamber. Sweat dripped from their bodies as heat filled the air. Leah and Haul switched places as Leah lay on the bed and held Haul while he made love to her. Many moments later, they lay in bed, naked and tired. Leah turned over to Haul as she tried to catch her breath and smiled. “That was fun.”

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  Haul smiled. “Indeed it was.”

  Haul and Leah embraced each other and fell asleep.

  Theodore was in his chambers writing some letters to send out when a knock on his door sounded. He looked up. “Come in,” he said plainly.

  The door opened. It was Jeremiah with a letter. “Theodore, I have urgent news from one of your birds. It’s about the Watchful Eye.”

  Theodore reached out his arm. “Let me read it.”

  Jeremiah handed the letter to Theodore. He grabbed it, opened it, and read:

  “Theodore, there are rumors of a second attack on Enora coming soon, but for now they are divided. Some of the party don’t want to attack, and some do. I’ve heard that the reason they are uneasy about a second attack is because of a soldier in the king’s army. They say his name is Eamon. They call him a demon. But this is all the information I have for now, so you have time to prepare.”

  Theodore looked up at Jeremiah. “This is not good, Jeremiah. If what my bird is saying is true, this kingdom will fall. King Haul does not have the manpower for a second war, and Eamon is in no condition to fight.”

  Theodore pondered. “I will bring this to the king once he is done doing what he is doing.”

  Jeremiah bowed and left Theodore’s chambers. Theodore poured himself some wine and took a sip. “This is no good at all. A war is impending, but this time we will not be so lucky to win.”

  Theodore grabbed his goblet, chugged his wine down, stood up, and walked out of his chambers. He went to the king’s chambers and knocked. No answer. He knocked once more. This time he heard, “One moment.”

  Moments later, the door opened. Haul looked at Theodore. “What is it, Theodore?”

  Theodore handed him the letter. “My lord, you need to read this. It’s quite urgent.”

  Haul grabbed the letter and began to read it. As he kept reading, his face turned to horror. When he was done, he slowly looked back at Theodore. “I knew this day would come. Do not worry. I will go and deal with this matter myself.”

  Theodore’s brows suggested confusion. “My lord, you will deal with it? How?”

  Haul handed the letter back. “I will invade their island and kill them myself.”

  Theodore did not know what to say but this: “Well, your grace, I strongly suggest against it.”

  Haul smiled. “I understand why you say that. I am king, and a king should not put himself in a position to be killed. But, Theodore, I am not a regular king, and I fight for this kingdom and its people. So I will be the one to fight this battle alone. I would take Eamon, but he is in no condition to fight.”

  Theodore was stunned at what he heard. “My lord, you are right about one thing—you are not a regular king. But if it is what the king wishes, who am I to stop it? However, my lord, you should speak to your queen-to-be. She might say no.”

  Haul smiled. “Yes, you are quite right.”

  Theodore bowed and walked back to his chambers. Haul closed the door behind him and turned to Leah, who was still lying in the bed. Haul got back into the bed.

  “My queen, I must tell you something of great importance. There is soon to be a second war on Enora, but we do not have the men to fight this war, and our greatest fighter is too damaged to fight at this moment. So I will go and fight them alone.”

  Leah’s face turned to worry. “Haul, I’m not sure about that. What if you don’t come back? You have no heir to the throne, and I will lose my soon-to-be husband.”

  Haul rubbed Leah’s arm. “I understand what you’re saying, but what choice do I have? The kingdom and its people will fall if I do not act.”

  Tears began to stream down her face. “I’m scared of losing you, but I understand what this means to you. So you better come back alive.”

  Haul held Leah close. “I promise.”

  The next day, Haul prepared. He told Eamon what he was doing. Eamon wanted to come but knew he couldn’t. The people of Enora heard what the king was about to do, and crying rang across the kingdom as Haul stood on the dock, hugging and kissing Leah. Haul then shook the hands of Theodore and Jeremiah.

  Haul was about to walk onto the ship when Leah cried, “You better come back to me.”

  Haul smiled. “I will.”

  Haul looked at Theodore. “Take care of her for me, will you?”

  Theodore nodded.

  Haul stood at the edge of the ship as the people of Enora gathered to watch him set sail. Haul raised his fist. “Do not mourn a death that has not come. Rather, rejoice for the coming day of peace.”

  The people clapped and shouted as they watched Haul sail across the sea to the island where the Watchful Eye lay.