Me: Yes, it’s a space you are comfortable with, nothing too strange for you, in a place even your family could see us. 

We were outside of his house, in the backyard on a stone table he created for us to sit at. It was a nice place, situated in the grass by his large oak tree, which cast a shadow over us. The sun was up, making it warm, but a cool breeze swept over us a few times. I could see the empty fields around his house, the many plants that grew around. From above it probably made a shape. 

I could hear the water of the fountain and his family speaking inside the house, they had their windows open in case I did something. I paid no attention to them, I was here to focus on Merlin. He promised none of them would come out and interrupt.

Merlin: Okay, am I supposed to do something? Answer questions, maybe tell you something? What’s your name again?

Me: Drew, I’m an assistant. I’m here to ask you some relatively easy questions. Though if you choose to tell me something, I’ll accept it.

Merlin: What are these questions? Personal or knowledge that everyone knows? I don’t really like answering personal questions for a stranger.

Me: I understand, I’m thinking we’ll do a bit of both. I won’t pry, nothing serious either.

Merlin: Uh… okay. You can start. 

Me: You are the wizard of Camelot, right? I’ve heard a lot of stories.

Merlin: Like which ones? Oh, and yes, I am. The wizard of Camelot, King Arthur’s best friend.

Me: Good, I have the right Merlin… (Merlin stared at me in confusion) So I’ve heard the story about you getting a sword only a true and honorable king could wield. Is it true?

Merlin: Indeed, but it wasn’t easy, nothing about creating Camelot was. (He tapped his foot nervously on the floor)

Me: Creating? You use the word creating, you didn’t build it? (I wrote in my notebook, drawing his attention for a few seconds)

Merlin: Not exactly. 

Me: Don’t worry, no one else will read this. You’re allowed to explain with detail.

Merlin: You said you heard a lot of stories, so you must have heard how I created Camelot.

Me: Maybe, but I wanna hear it from you. Why don’t you explain how you ‘created’ Camelot? (He shook his head) Really? Okay fine. How about we talk about your home realm.

Merlin: Okay, what do you wanna know?

Me: (I pushed my lips together as I thought about what question I wanted to ask first) What is it like in Resnik? Are there normally dangerous things or lots of crime? 

Merlin: (He shook his head) Hardly ever, there hasn’t been a war in years. Within our region, the king is a good man, the queen has four kids. My family is safe. As far as I know, Resnik is a great place.

Me: And you have sisters? 

Merlin: Indeed, older and younger.

Me: Can I ask anything about them? (Merlin shook his head)

I nodded and tapped my pencil against the notebook. I didn’t know what to ask him about, not without ruining the story. I thought for a bit, Merlin just stared at me. 

Merlin: Um… who is it? Your boss, you said you’re an assistant.

Me: Yep, but I can’t tell you. All you have to know, she is great.

Merlin: Alright, I’ll take your word for it. Can I tell you something? 

Me: Of course, I said I would accept whatever you have to say. (I got ready to write down anything he would say)

Merlin: I found a realm, a small one. My family doesn’t know yet… it’s full of witches. (He had his hands folded on the table, kind of leaned in, his voice was quiet) 

Me: (I leaned in a bit, staring at him) Witches? Aren’t witches and wizards like… enemies? 

Merlin: Yes, but this realm… it’s exciting. I explored it a bit. I have magic so the witches can’t catch me. They don’t even know I’m there.

Me: It sounds very dangerous.

Merlin: Not more dangerous than searching for Arthur’s sword, don’t worry Miss Drew, I’m Merlin the great and powerful. I’ll be fine. No one has killed me yet. 

Me: I guess not, thank you Merlin. I hope you’re very careful and safe. Maybe we’ll do this again, sometime in the future. (I wrote all the things he mentioned as quickly as I could)

Merlin: I certainly hope so, I should get back. My father has my sisters and I training. Goodbye Miss Drew. 

Merlin waved me goodbye as he left, I sat in my seat. I looked at my notebook. I had a few notes down, but nothing important. I opened a portal of my own to return home.

Me: Well, well. Look who finally showed up. 

Auberon: … 

He didn’t look amused. It had taken a lot of convincing to get him to come here. He was a commander, a prince, a twin. He probably had a lot of things to do and talking to some random girl about his life was not appealing.  

Me: Sorry, I’ve been waiting, I thought you’d never show up.

Auberon: I have a lot of things to do, while I may enjoy time spent with a commoner who doesn’t hate me, I still have priorities.  

Me: Of course, I didn’t mean to offend you. Can we talk about you? These priorities, what are they? (He took a seat in front of me)

We were inside of a small house, located not far from the castle, but within the walls. A hidden place so no one found him, his reputation meant everything to him. So we snuck in, hours apart, the area wasn’t very big. A ten by ten foot room, with two wooden stools sitting across from each other. I sat with my notebook and pencil. 

Luckily it was magical, showing up to the eyes of whoever was around as whatever kind of pen and paper that was in this era. Auberon saw a quill and leather journal. 

Auberon: Commanding the army, watching over my men, keeping as many commoners as I can in line. I don’t do anything prince related. No speeches or balls or women. 

Me: So young? Controlling the whole army of the island? (I pretended to be surprised with a mix of excitement)

Auberon: Yes, but I’m not that young, I’ve been a man for a while.

Me: (I smiled brightly at him) I don’t doubt that. So did you imply you have no interest in women?

Auberon: I don’t, there are more important things. My men for one, I can’t abandon them or choose a family over them. The king hates them all as it is.

Me: Why does he hate the soldiers he requested into the army?

Auberon: While knights are meant to be of noble birth, most of ours are commoners. Not a problem with me, I will treat them like men nonetheless, but… King Mathew… 

Me: Your father, the king. (He stared at me, with no emotion. No indication he would respond to that) Moving on. How did you become such a young commander? 

Auberon: At the request of my uncle. King Amend of Emerion. He’s a great man, who taught me everything I know.

Me: You live on Royal City right, the island? 

Auberon: I do, I was sent to Emerion when I was eight, I stayed for five years, then went back to the island. I was considered a man, old enough to do things on my own. Alarik was crowned prince, and I was claimed commander by my uncle. 

Me: That must have been hard, leaving your twin, your older brother, your sister?

Auberon: (He shook his head) No, I was raised differently, I was able to be good. I’m nothing like them.

Me: Okay then. What is it like, living on the island? Do people like you?

Auberon: Nope. Being related to Mathew comes with downfalls. Like a good royal name, the commoners think I’m evil.

Me: Are you? (I watched his eyes flash with annoyance, he stood up)

Auberon: No. (His voice was firm) I’m not evil, the other royals are. Ask one more question and I have to go. 

Me: (I nodded and thought about my question) You buy horses, right? Do you have your own horse? 

Auberon: Of course I have a horse, her name is Coffee Bean. I also buy horses, yes. For the army and kingdom, from a great merchant. I have to go, what was your name?

Me: (I chuckled) Drew.

Auberon: You’re welcome for this and be careful. 

Auberon left the room, closing the door behind him. I smiled and looked at my notebook, writing down all that I could remember. Once I finished, I opened a portal and left.

This time, my interview was a bit different, I couldn’t speak to the people I wanted to, not directly. Only because of the rules set by their father, Richard Pierce. A very protective man, only his son left the property, and even when they did, they hardly spoke to anyone. They sold horses for a living, and today they just happened to be at the market in Middle Town, giving me the opportunity to speak with them. 

I strolled through the market, making my way casually to the men selling horses. Father and son, both with their noticeable orange hair. One with bright blue eyes and the other with emerald green eyes. I smiled sweetly as I made my way over, no notebook this time. 

Me: Hello, Richard Pierce, right?

Richard: Yeah that’s me, do you need something, Miss? (His son, Kingdom, finished a deal with another buyer and walked over)

Me: I’m doing a… story you could call it. About merchants, could you answer some questions for me? For my story. (I smiled at them both. Kingdom looked at Richard)

Kingdom: Sure, why not? It’s not gonna do any harm. 

They had a wooden booth set up in front of the stables, located at the end of the road. Kingdom stood behind it, leaning on the counter. It was a relatively nice day, besides the sun beating down on everyone, not much of a breeze either. The humidity made it worse. 

Richard: Sure, ask away, but don’t scare my customers, I need to sell these horses. 

Me: What is it like selling horses?

Kingdom: Um… fine? It’s like selling anything else.

Richard: It’s hard work.

Me: I could understand that, you raise all your own horses? Bred them too?

Richard: Yes we do. All on our own farm, with my wife and three daughters at home.

Kingdom: We all have different chores when it comes to the horses. 

Me: Really? Well that’s amazing, can I have their names and ages? (Richard shook his head, Kingdom frowned)

Kingdom: We don’t give that information out. I’m Kingdom, the oldest of his four children. (I nodded) 

Richard: Are you interested in buying a horse? (I shook my head) 

Me: I have nowhere to put it at home. So how do you raise a horse? 

Richard: Well, you have to care for it, like any other animal. We have stalls for every horse, large areas for them to roam, lots to eat, we groom them, buy horseshoes, train each horse. Half for the army, half for the commoners folk.

Me: That is amazing. How do you keep them in winter? 

Kingdom: We don’t. We try to raise them and sell off as many as we can to the army or common folk. It’s hard to keep a horse in the bitter cold. 

Me: Why’s that?

Kingdom: (He chuckled and looked around) Well you have to keep a horse from freezing, it gets pretty cold out there. We can’t constantly be keeping the place warm, we don’t have many coats for them. Food is hard to grow for a whole herd, and it’s only six of us.

Me: (I wasn’t sure how to respond) Well thank you for that information. What happens when you can’t sell them all off before winter? 

Kingdom: (He slid his finger across his neck. Richard smacked his son) Ow!

Richard: Don’t scare her, your sisters hate it when you do that! I’m sorry about him, we only slaughter them when we have to. It’s rare that we ever do. We stop selling when the snow gets too bad. We have six horses that stay with us on the property all the time. We all own our own horses.

Me: That’s wonderful. So I can’t ask about the family… can I ask about your property?

Richard: (He took a deep breath, motioning Kingdom to take one of the customers) Look Miss, whatever this story is for, my little horse farm won’t make it a greater story. I told you as much as I’m willing to give out. My family, my farm, I don’t speak about it with strangers.

Me: Of course, I’m sorry. I’ll be on my way, thank you so much for helping me out. It means a lot… can I ask one more thing? (I tried to seem sweet, to seem innocent. Like a child who didn’t know better. He sighed and motioned me to ask) Whose Mason?

The color drained from his face, he looked ready to collapse. I turned, starting to walk away casually. I slipped past people easily as I listened to shouting, yelling, and Richard demanding I stop. It was fair for him to be freaked out. I shouldn’t have asked, but I did. I couldn’t help myself.