Palm looked into the viridian eyes of his brother and attempted to speak, but words failed him. Silently, he laid his head on his brother's shoulder and shut his eyes. A deep, shaky sigh left him. He was tired and wanted to do exactly as his brother suggested, but he would not. He felt Alder wrap his arms around him and took great comfort in his warmth and nearness. Absently, he wondered if Ream had felt the same comfort when he wrapped his arms around him and put his head on his shoulder. He hoped he did.

Finally finding his words, Palm whispered, "I'm okay. I can keep going."

"Are you sure?" Alder asked, gently running his fingers through his brother's dark hair. "I know that I asked you to do this on your own, so if you need to rest, I want you to take a break. Okay?"

"...okay." Palm replied.

The youngest prince took a moment more to rest on his brother's shoulder, then took a deep breath and sat up.

"Alright, I'm going to head to the livery." Palm said, with renewed determination.

Alder smiled warmly at his little brother. "Alright. Go straight to the stables. Chet, Hale, Destin," he said, turning to three of the search men, "please accompany Palm on his way to the livery. Some of our people have been lost along the way, but I have an assignment that I need him to complete. Please, would you mind gathering our departed countrymen?"

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