I had gone straight over to my bed and collapsed on top of it.
I called for no one else although every once in a while one of the workers of the house would come in the check on me.
I stayed like that for most of the day, listening to my head and my heart tear themselves apart. But eventually I got up.
I had to plan a meeting. I quickly wrote out the order that Spymaster Dona, Royal Treasurer Zosime, and Commander Hadyn were to meet me in conference room A3 one hour before dawn.
I had little to do in the meantime except worry so that's ultimately what I ended up doing.
When it was finally just before dawn I wanted to sprint to the conference room, but being the herus I had to look composed in the public's eye at all time. Even if hope was failing me.
The halls were made up of dark wood but inside each of the rooms bits were carved out and replaced with much paler wood to make the rooms look like the night sky. There were different constellations in each room but the moon was in every room in different phases. And in addition to this the wood was slightly tinted differently in each room of the hall.
Room A3 had dark wood that was tinted with a blazing blue color that looked lighter on one end and darker on the other. The table in the middle was made of moonstone and sat in the center of the room. There were only eight chairs surrounding it as this room was used for smaller meetings that required less people. In the middle of the table there was always a white candle and a black candle. The white candle signified the moon, transformation, purity, protection, and freedom. The black candle represented the night, binding, and removal of negativity. And near the candles sat two small boxes of matches.
Rooms A1 and A2 both had table shaped to look like a crescent moon and the wall between them could be taken away and the tables were designed to fit together perfectly against the other if need for a big meeting should arise.
Commander Hadyn was already there moving chairs around to fit the meetings size. There were two chairs left at the table so I took one and carried it over to the wall where two chairs sat while Commander Hadyn brought the other chair.
I turned around and took up the seat that sat farthest from the door as Spymaster Dona walked in. Commander Hadyn sat in the chair to my right and Spymaster Dona chose the seat across from me. Royal Treasurer Zosime arrived soon after and sat in the chair to my left.
Commander Hadyn took a match from one of the boxes and Spymaster Dona did the same.
"To the light that allows us to fight." Commander Hadyn said as he lit the white candle.
"To the shadows that tell the secrets of enemies." Spymaster Dona said as she lit the black candle.
Then they joined their matches together and said in unison, "To the money that holds us and our country up and to the herus that leads it."
Then they blew their matches out and brought them over to the small tray on the low table next to the wall before sitting back down.
"Everyone is in attendance?" They each called out their names, giving testimony that they were there.
"Now if anyone does not know what this meeting is about please speak now before we go further." No one spoke up.
"Commander Hadyn have you found able men ready to make the journey with me tomorrow?"
"I have found five, ready and willing to make the trip but I am working to gather more. If Royal Treasurer Zosime would be kind enough to give permission for a bonus for those that make the trip we might be able to get more men."
"You have my permission to grant them more money if they make the trip. Herus Anana, what is your view on this?"
"You have permission to give them more money for this service. Royal Treasurer Zosime have you been able to gather the money we need?"
"Yes Herus Anana I just finished getting it right before the meeting."
"Spymaster Dona what do we know about the situation we are put in?"
"We don't know much but we are currently trying to gather more information on this... crisis. I will give you another report before you leave tomorrow. But as of right now we know that they are serious about their threat and have plans for you if you go and have plans for them if you don't."
"What are their plans?"
"We don't know at the moment but we can only assume the worst."
"I see."
"Herus Anana, if I may offer a suggestion?" Commander Hadyn said.
"What is it Commander Hadyn?"
"Well I would like to suggest that you train with one of my men in the little time we have left."
"That's not a bad idea. Which one, when, and where?"
"I would recommend myself as I'm trying to find men willing to go on the journey with you. So instead I recommend Guard Kersten just after noon."
"Is he one of the men coming on the journey for the exchange?"
"No."
"Then this meeting is dismissed." We all rose up and each got a chair from the wall and put them in their proper places.
Spymaster Dona was the first to leave followed by Commander Hadyn. Royal Treasurer Zosime stayed behind.
Only once they were gone did she start talking. "Anana can I talk to you?"
"Sure Zosime."
"Umm, uh, what's it like, without him, I mean."
"It's very hard. My head and my heart at constantly at each other's throat. But most of all I miss him not just as my mate but also as a friend."
"I'm not sure that I could live with that feeling in my life," she said as she came over to me and hugged me.
"Neither am I," I said as I cried onto her shoulder, her and the star-like wood around me being my only comfort.