Rick's heart raced as he heard the soft creak at the door. His eyes snapped open, and he strained to see through the darkness. The door to the nursery was slightly ajar, and a shadowy figure stood just beyond the threshold. Rick's mind raced, wondering if he had been discovered.
"Chick," Rick whispered mentally, "someone's here."
"I see them," Chick replied, his tone tense. "Stay calm. Let's see what they do."
Rick forced himself to remain still, feigning sleep as the figure lingered in the doorway. His mind raced with possibilities—was it the King's brother? One of his agents? Or someone else entirely? The seconds stretched on, each one filled with the tension of uncertainty.
Finally, the figure moved. A hand reached out, slowly pushing the door open further. Rick's breath caught in his throat as the intruder stepped into the room, their face still obscured by shadows.
But as the figure moved closer, Rick's tension eased slightly. It wasn't the King's brother. The silhouette was too slight, the movements too hesitant. This wasn't an assassin—it was someone who wasn't supposed to be here, but for a different reason.
The figure stepped into a sliver of moonlight, revealing themselves. It was Kael, the scholar Rick had befriended in the hidden library. He looked around nervously before his eyes settled on Rick, who still lay motionless in the crib.
"Kael," Rick whispered, sitting up slowly. "What are you doing here?"
Kael looked visibly relieved at the sound of Rick's voice. He quickly crossed the room and knelt beside the crib. "I had to make sure you were alright," Kael whispered urgently. "I heard rumors… about the King's brother. I knew you might be in danger."
Rick nodded, his respect for Kael growing. "I'm glad you came. But we need to be careful. They're watching us."
Kael glanced over his shoulder, as if expecting to see someone lurking in the shadows. "I know," he replied. "That's why I came now. I found something in the library—something that might help us."
Rick's curiosity was piqued. "What did you find?"
Kael reached into his robes and pulled out a small, worn book. He held it out to Rick, who took it carefully. "This," Kael explained, "is a record of the royal family's history, including the lineage of the King's brother. It's old—older than anything else I've found so far. But it contains information about a curse that was placed on the royal bloodline centuries ago."
"A curse?" Rick echoed, his mind racing. "What kind of curse?"
Kael shook his head. "It's not entirely clear. The records are fragmented, but it mentions something about the bloodline being tainted, and that anyone who tries to seize power unlawfully will face… consequences."
Rick's grip tightened on the book. "Consequences like what?"
"I'm not sure," Kael admitted. "But it might explain why the King's brother is so determined to take the throne by any means necessary. He might be trying to avoid whatever curse this book describes."
Rick opened the book, flipping through the yellowed pages. The text was faded and difficult to read, but he could make out enough to see that Kael was right. The curse was real, and it was tied to the throne itself. If the King's brother tried to take the throne through treachery, it could trigger something terrible—something that could bring ruin to the entire kingdom.
"We need to find out more," Rick said, his voice low and determined. "If this curse is real, it could be our only way to stop him."
Kael nodded. "I agree. But we have to be careful. If anyone finds out what we're doing, they'll try to stop us."
Rick glanced at the door, his thoughts racing. "We need to keep this quiet," he agreed. "But we also need to be ready. If the King's brother makes his move, we have to act fast."
Kael hesitated, then nodded firmly. "I'll keep digging in the library. There might be more records that can tell us exactly what this curse is and how it works. But you… you need to be careful, Rick. The King's brother is dangerous, and if he finds out you're involved…"
"I know," Rick replied, his voice steady. "But I can't just sit by and do nothing."
Kael placed a hand on Rick's shoulder, his expression serious. "I'm with you," he said quietly. "Whatever happens, we'll face it together."
Rick felt a surge of gratitude toward Kael. In this treacherous palace, where allies were few and far between, Kael's loyalty meant everything. "Thank you," Rick said sincerely. "We'll get through this. We have to."
Kael nodded, then rose to his feet. "I'll return to the library. If I find anything else, I'll come back as soon as I can."
"Be careful," Rick warned. "And don't let anyone see you."
Kael gave a brief nod before slipping out of the nursery, the shadows swallowing him up once more. Rick watched him go, his mind racing with new possibilities. The King's brother was a threat, but this curse could be the key to stopping him. If they could find a way to use it to their advantage, they might be able to turn the tide.
But first, they needed more information.
Rick glanced down at the worn book in his hands. The answers were somewhere in these pages—he just had to find them before it was too late.