Friday evening in the living room …

PHAE:

… Vanni, are you just getting home from work?

VANNI:

I took the long way so Pica could nap a little longer. She hasn’t

been sleeping well since Syrrah went to the Elvin realm. 

PHAE:

Aw, poor little thing. She’s missing her mother. 

VANNI:

She’s not the only one. 

KARANTHIR:

I see she hasn’t gotten over her obsession with that sucky thing.

PHAE:

Karanthir that’s a pacifier.

VANNI:

And lately, it’s the only thing that keeps her happy.  

KARANTHIR:

Yes, I remember. I spent a night with the little princess once.

PHAE:

You did?

KARANTHIR:

Zyfan volunteered us to be babysitters.

Truly, I don’t know what he was thinking. 

PHAE:

You mean you and …. Hahaha - I’m sorry. 

Somehow I just can’t picture it.

KARANTHIR:

Trust me, it happened. It was the longest night of my life. 

KARANTHIR:
… Speaking of Syrrah - Vanni has she contacted you concerning 

when she’ll return with my … our prince.

VANNI:

Not yet, sorry.

PHAE:
I’ve been thinking … isn’t it ridiculous that Zyfan is Syrrah’s
servant? Couldn’t she release him from this?

VANNI:
I don’t think it’s up to her. She originally requested he become her 

guard - for sole purpose of getting him here and away from Court.

PHAE:

He hates Court. He told me so many times  during

 our engagement festivities when we were there.

KARANTHIR:

Perhaps he wouldn’t hate so much  - if they 

let him enjoy his sabbatical. Honestly, every few months

they come up with an excuse to drag him back there.

PHAE:

They?

KARANTHIR:

The Council, the One, his mother, even Syrrah and her 

many errands - no offense Vanni. 

PHAE:

Do you realize that he’s on a journey, with no guards or assistance 

other than your little brother.  He’s the future One, the ruler of United 

Elvin Nation. He should have his own guards - don’t you think?

KARANTHIR:

I think he shouldn’t need to leave here at all.

PHAE:

Have I told you that my grandmother’s a lawyer. Her specialty is 

Law in the Royal Court. You may have guessed that my family’s been 

trying to make one of us the Heart of the One for generations. 

PHAE:
… Anyway, if Zyfan’s on sabbatical - then he should be left alone.

KARANTHIR:

You’ll get no argument from me.

VANNI:

I think we all agree on that.

PHAE:

Well, Grandma sent me the full Statutes of the Sabbatical. 

I’ve read every last one of them. It was a good read.

KARANTHIR:

Do tell.

PHAE:

I learned that the Sabbatical is to last 50 years, or to be very 

specific - 18,262 and a half consecutive days.

KARANTHIR:

Consecutive?

PHAE:

Consecutive - with two exceptions, the engagement 

festivities and our wedding. 

VANNI:

If that’s so, then technically Zyfan’s sabbatical has yet to begin.

KARANTHIR:

Cupcake, I could kiss you!

VANNI:

Phae, you need to bring this to the right person’s attention. 

PHAE:

But who? Do I write to the Council, the Mother Priestess of the
Daughters of IlluminatA, or the One himself? 

KARANTHIR:

I think you need to go higher still, all the way to the very top.

PHAE:

Higher? Who’s higher than …?

KARANTHIR:

Zyfan’s mother. 

VANNI:

Normally I’d agree with you, but we both know she wants him there.
I think this is a matter for his father.  Address the letter to both of
them. This way, if mother refuses to act on it - father will.