It was the night of his coronation as King of Tremont, Emperor of the Southern Territories of Inchar and Defender of the Gods. Temmin's chamber windows looked out onto the lawns of Tremont Keep and on into the King's Woods, but he saw himself reflected in the pane of glass as the day's light faded. He was no longer the shaggy blond youth he had been when he'd first come to the Keep. His hair was a darker color, approaching bronze, and a fine set of whiskers framed his face. His shoulders were broad, and so was his chest. His legs were long, thighs hardened from campaigning on horseback, and his blue eyes were calm and discerning.

At the sound of a familiar step, Temmin turned. "You asked for me, your majesty?" said a figure dressed severely in black and white.

"Ten years I've been your student, and you still look the same, Teacher."

"That would be because I am still the same, your majesty," replied the Teacher, making a long, graceful bow.

"No, you never change." He walked back into the room from the bay of windows. "Please," he said, gesturing to a seat and settling into a great tufted leather chair himself. "You know why I've asked you to see me tonight."

"Yes," said the Teacher softly. "This is the night my heart breaks again."

The king frowned slightly, but continued on. "I'm holding you to your promise to tell me everything about you."

"I've made the same promise to all of you, and those who take me up on it do so on your coronation days."

"Am I so like my ancestors?"

The Teacher looked away. "You're nothing like your ancestors, your majesty. Not in the ways that truly matter." The Teacher fell silent.

"Well?" said the king.

"I have told this story so many times," said the Teacher, head slowly shaking. "And I still don't know exactly how to begin it."

"Begin it as you always do."

The Teacher looked up and gave a small, sad smile. "Very well. Once upon a time..."

Temmin stopped the Teacher with a hand. "Let me get the book." He walked to a nearby table and picked up a dark red leather-bound book. Looking down on it, he thought about the last ten years, learning the history of his family with his Teacher. "I'm ready now."

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