Mother didn't want me to come. She said she needed me after what happened to Brook. I know she truly doesn't miss Brook. It's not a secret. When the two of us were born, I was stronger. That's why my name is River. A river is more powerful than a brook. No one even thought Brook would survive. I suppose they were right.

Seventeen years later, Brooke is dead of the illness I lived through, at least physically.

Sickness has been running through the land like wildfire. All of the healers have left; their magic seemed not to have worked. The king won't do a thing about it. Instead, he locked the gates of the castle to anyone with any symptoms of the disease. I was going to march through those gates and demand someone do something about this illness.

If I could get past the front gate.

"I've had the fever! I'm not contaminated!" I insisted.

"We'll have the court physician determine that," the guard said.

I huffed. What did they think I was trying to do? Kill everyone?

The gate opened and an old man stepped out.

"I'm the-"

"Court physician, I know," I finished. "Can you please hurry? I'm rather in a rush."

"What could be so important?" He sounded slightly offended.

"Business for the King," I answered curtly.

Soon enough, the examination was finished.

"The girl is clean!" the physician shouted, and the gates instantly opened.

"Thank you," I said to him as I ran inside.

"Ho there!" someone yelled.

"I need to see the King," I told him.

"About what?" I hoped he could help.

"The epidemic. I think I know how a cure can be made," I said, rather quickly.

"I will escort you."

"Thank you, sir."

"Thank you, Your Highness, for listening," I finished as I curtsied.

"You are proposing an outrageous idea! There is no chance I will send my men on what could very well be a wild goose chase for an herb that may or may not be a cure," the King answered.

"I will go myself, if you could just lend me some provisions and a horse," I pressed.

"How do I know I will receive a return on these items?" he asked.

"Your Majesty, I believe it would be worth it for-" I began.

"Father, I will go with the girl to find this herb she talked about." A new man spoke from behind the throne. He had escaped my notice previously, but I knew him. His face, anyway. He was the prince.

"Asher, you cannot," the King said.

"I can, and I will. I am required to do all I am able to for the kingdom and this is necessary," the prince countered.

"You pose a valid point."

Please don't say he'll be my escort. Prince Asher didn't quite have the best reputation.

"You will accompany the girl to find the herb."

Damn it.