“Father, your favorite son has returned victorious!” Howl burst into his father's office, clutching his prize to his chest. Howl ignored the fact that he was, in fact, Count Valin's only son. “I caught the Golden Goose! Well, technically Camis caught the goose - but I helped! It was a group effort, and we were all rewarded with a golden egg and– Father?!”

  Count Valin was not sitting at his desk, where he’d been every day all day for as long as Howl could remember. No. His father was standing at the window, holding something completely unexpected.

  “Is… is that a capybara?” Howl asked, amazed.

  “This is Mr. Snifflesworth the First.” His father explained. Closer inspection revealed another shock; his father’s eyes were wet with barely held back tears.

  All elation was gone, replaced with cold dread. “What happened?”

  “I don’t know where to start.” His father said quietly, absently patting the capybara. He met Howl's eyes. “Your sister is gone.”

  The stomach dropped out from Howl’s stomach and his voice caught in disbelief, “No...”

  His father nodded, “Married. To a knight from Peldeep.”

  The news was like whiplash, dragging him out of the well of grief he’d fallen into. “She’s alive though?”

  Count Valin frowned, “She’d better be. They just left two hours ago… but I don’t trust there isn’t danger following her. The crown arranged her marriage to a Peldeep noble without consulting us - and I know how they work. If she survives Rowen’s antics, she could very well be assassinated by Queen Terran just so she can cripple Peldeep in the trade agreement.”

  Father scratched Mr. Snifflesworth the First behind one ear and then placed the capybara on his desk chair. The creature kneaded the plush upholstery with its claws, letting out a satisfied chortling sound when father offered the creature a fennel root from his official Prime Minister’s storage ring.

  “Let me get this straight - my sister has been given away in a marriage of convenience by our royals, shipped all the way across the continent to Peldeep, where she will most certainly be assassinated - and you are just sitting here in your office petting a capybara!?” Howl thumped the golden egg onto his father’s desk with more force than he meant to, startling a glare out of Mr Snifflesworth the First. Instinctively, Howl told the creature. “Apologies.”

  The thirty pound egg was twice as large as a normal goose egg, and one of the few eggs found in and around Sumbria during the hunt. Howl, Camis and Locke had joined in the chase after class, and continued combing the forest all night in hopes of finding the mythical bird.

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  Howl, who specialized in wind magic, was able to knock the Golden Goose off balance. One of the only ways to affect the Golden Goose, since it was immune to most skills. His best friend Locke was able to [Tree Speak]. Legends said that the Golden Goose could sleep inside trees, so Howl and Caris would comb the area while Locke asked the trees if they’d sensed the goose or knew where it was sleeping.

  Caris was the star of the show, as usual. Her teleportation skills were on another level. Once the three had found the Goose using Locke’s abilities, Howl had controlled the bird's movements and Caris had teleported close enough to catch the thing.

  The victory felt like the crowning moment of his youth - to be called before Queen Terran and the entire court, celebrated and rewarded with the Golden Egg.

  Now the memory was ruined.

  “Peregrine wanted to go.” Count Valin stated.

  “You can’t be serious.” Howl retorted. “My sister? The one who never asks for anything? It took me, Lish, and Malory three months of weedling out information to figure out what she wanted for Kale’s Gifting? That Peregrine?”

  “She said, and I quote, ‘I’m hoping that you’ll accept Bastian’s suit’.” Father didn’t bother trying to sound like Peregrine as he quoted her, simply stating fact. “And your mother approves–”

  “That doesn’t surprise me.” Howl’s mother was as adventurous as his sister. Quiet, yes, but destructive and vindictive, and prone to running off in the night. Countess Primrose had risen to head clothier because she’d travelled across Valaria in her childhood - making friends along the way. The same friends who now sent her rare crafting materials to make exceptional clothing that kept her indispensable to the court.

  Peregrine spent half her time quietly floating through high teas and royal gatherings in the social circle… and the other half disappearing off to the Glades, or spending a week hauled up in some dungeon or otherwise leveling up.

  “Speaking of your mother,” his father frowned, “I need your friend at school to send a message for me.”

  That got Howl’s attention. “Wait, really?”

  “It’s past time we invited your friend over for dinner. Don’t you think?” The count leaned over his desk and picked up a scroll sealed with the telltale fern insignia.

  “Absolutely!” Howl carefully took the letter and slipped it into the inner pocket of his school uniform vest. “When can we host them?”

  The count shook his head and picked up another scroll. “You won’t be joining us–”

  “But!”

  His father grabbed his hand and slapped the scroll into his palm. “-because you’ll be at the wedding.”

  “Ah.” Howl wrapped his fingers around the scroll, noting the Prime Minister’s seal.

  “Official Fern business, I’m afraid.” His father nodded. “Deliver the letter before the wedding… and make sure Peregrine makes it to the wedding. Or home. As you see fit.”