Swoop shifts around restlessly on my shoulder, clearly bored.
"Yes, yes, I know...but I can't tell them yet, Adaleus is...was the third greatest city, until it "vanished." Just wait, Swoop..."
He caws and I flick him gently.
"Quiet, I'm the first one since the disaster."
A girl walks up to me.

"So, I hear your name is Jason, and you're a king. A king of what kingdom?"

"Uh....errr, Aleus!" I stammer.

"Never heard of it." She shrugs and walks away.

I wipe sweat off my brow.

"That was close...too close."