2024

PHAE:
…. So, Wysh is now working at Magick School. Oh Zyfan, it’s been wonderful. She’s out of the house most of the day, and when she’s here, she’s so busy planning her lessons and grading papers that there’s no time for anything else.

 

PHAE:
… And  Karanthir made it all happen. He's a genius!

KARANTHIR:
Oh stop, you’ll make me blush.

ZYFAN:
I would very much like to see that. Still, I am so happy you thought of it. 

KARANTHIR:

Really Zyfan, it was my pleasure. I’m over-joyed to have  

that pixie out of our hair. 

KARANTHIR:
… And now Cupcake - you must tell our prince  what you 

discovered about the Sabbatical.

PHAE:
You mean you haven’t told him?

KARANTHIR:
It wasn’t my news to tell. 

ZYFAN:
Someone please tell me …

PHAE:

Well, while you were away, I became curious about the rules 

of the Sabbatical, so I wrote my grandmother. She sent me the 

laws pertaining to the One and … 

PHAE:
… Long story short - it is written that the Sabbatical is to 

be an uninterrupted 50 year period of time.  

KARANTHIR:
Did you hear that my prince - uninterrupted.

PHAE:
Which means, since you’ve repeatedly been summoned to court,
your Sabbatical has not yet  begun.

ZYFAN:
What? How is that possible? Are you certain of this? 

PHAE:
I am. Grandma specializes in the Laws of the Royal Court. She sent me 

the documents and it’s plainly stated. I’ve already sent a letter to

your parents reminding them of this …

KARANTHIR:
Yes, as we’re certain this has simply just slipped their minds.

ZYFAN:
Blessed ancestors! You wrote to my parents.

PHAE:

nodding head up and down
It was Vanni’s idea. He said this way I wouldn’t be going over your mother’s head, yet your father would be aware of it and see that it was carried out.

ZYFAN:
Vanni said that? He is very wise. 

ZYFAN:
… Phae, I am very interested in seeing these documents.

PHAE:
Of course. I’ll get them.  

Phae leaves. 

KARANTHIR:
Imagine it my prince - you’ll never be summoned away from me again.

ZYFAN:
It sounds … incredible. First Wysh and now this. It seems,
while I was away, you and Phae kept very busy.

KARANTHIR:
I must admit, she’s proven herself to be quite valuable.  

ZYFAN:
Apparently.

KARANTHIR:
All right, you have that look that tells me something’s up. Out with it.

 

ZYFAN:
It is just … Well, you and Phae have become so … familiar.

KARANTHIR:
You told me to look after her while you were away. 

I was only doing as you asked.

ZYFAN:
But, you and she now have this … relationship. Why, you almost 

finish one another’s sentences.

KARANTHIR:
We most definitely do not. Really Zyfan, I hope you’re not suggesting 

there’s anything going on between Cupcake and myself. 

I mean really, she’s just a child and … 

KARANTHIR:
… Oh now I see - you’re jealous!

ZYFAN:
That is not true. All I know is when I left - you barely spoke to one 

another and now you have this … this relationship.

KARANTHIR:

There’s that word again. My prince the only thing she and I have in 

common is you. We are nothing more than comrades in arms, 

looking after your best interest - and doing  an excellent job of it too.

ZYFAN:

Yes, you are right. I was being foolish …

KARANTHIR:
Not foolish, adorable.