Caldren was the first from the carriage once they arrived at the castle, ignoring the servants that greeted him as he stormed down the halls and towards the throne room. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he flung open the grand doors and stepped inside. The king sat on the throne, the seat beside him vacant of the queen. Standing before him, Caldren bowed. "My King, I returned as soon as I heard. Is there any news on the status of her Highness Ray'ven?" He questioned.

Ja'ule tapped his fingers against the armrest of his chair calmly, though those cold calculating eyes held other intentions. He hadn't told Caldren to leave his post. In fact, it was only to inform him of the current situation. There had been other savages patrolling the border, which Caldren should've been taking care of.

Slowly the king rose and punched Caldren straight in his throat before he would know what was coming. "I didn't request for you to return. I understand you wag your tail at my daughter despite the fact you'll never have the joys of marrying her let alone catching her eye. You're her head guard, nothing more. I'm very disappointed." He shook his hand around, his knuckles red from the force he'd struck the guard with. Again, he drew his arm back and sent his knuckles across the bridge of this disgraceful nose. "Now those other barefoot savages could March across my lands all because you want to play at love. You bastard. You have no faith in my daughter? How dare you mock me."

Bynx held back laughter as he sat on the opposite throne, his lips curling upwards into a gentle yet teasing smile. "Father, a man in love would do anything. Even get degraded and bitch slapped in front of others."

"Silence!" Ja'ule snapped. "You're no better. At least he does it for love. What's your excuse for tripping around stenching of ale, failure, and sweat?" When Bynx said nothing but flared his nose and tossed his head off, Ja'ule turned back around and wiped his bloody hand on Caldren's suit. "Since you're here, I guess I can use you. I've heard Eli'ak has a new guest. Send layla to investigate and send that, what was his name again, the one that looks like a Viking? Thrall. Send him back to the damn borders. You, you can clean yourself up and come with me to find my daughter. Not because I don't have faith in her, but to see if she retrieved my enemies head."

Caldren sat up from where he had landed after the king's harsh beating, clutching his throat. "There...is also other news for you my king." He rasped. He had after all expected this reaction, but any pain was worth his lady. "There have been sightings of the elusive thief Wynter in Shadowfair, rumor has it that she is allied with Krestov, but anytime our men corner her, she manages to slip away."

"Your men can't catch a simple whore and thief? I don't know whether to be disappointed that you left your post or that you can't train your men right in the absence of Rueborn. What a hopeless cause." The king narrowed his eyes and walked past the bowing worthless man. "Ready the damn carriage. Next time you come to me and things aren't done the way I asked, don't come back at all. I'll kill you myself. As for Ray'ven. Only one man came back because Razmyr spared them. She's alive. I won't be sending anymore men until a week has passed."

Caldren stood at the clear dismissal. "Yes, My King." To Caldren it did not matter what the king threatened. All that mattered to him was receiving his Queen. HIs eyes locked with the smirking Prince and he raised a brow. Caldren had once been his guard up until Ray'ven had been chosen as heir. To say that the prince was a bit bitter would have been an understatement. Without another word, Caldren turned and saluted before leaving to fulfill the King's orders.

 ***

Ray'ven giggled as she hid behind the large pillar, peeking around it to see her father sitting on his throne, seemingly deep in thought. The six-year-old grinned cheekily as she "stealthily" made her way behind him, sneaking up behind the throne. Giggling once more, she launched herself into his lap. "Gotcha Daddy!" She shouted, clinging to his shoulders so that she wouldn't fall. She gave him a wide smile as he raised a brow at her. "Did you see me coming, Daddy? Was I super stelfy?" She asked, blue-green eyes sparkling excitedly as she waited for him to answer.

Ja'ule could always sense his daughter whenever she was near, since her birth they had been inseparable: the calmness to his darkness after Aurelia had left him alone in the world to grieve. She had always wanted a daughter, yet they had a son. A son which he couldn't love. A son who'd left nothing but bitterness within. When his little Ray had come along, dark hair the color of a raven's wing and the ambition and strength Bynx should've had, she was like the son he never had born a woman. The king chuckled lowly and reached behind him, catching onto her shirt and swinging her over onto his lap. "No. You nearly gave me a heart attack. Seems as though I don't need to train you anymore." He feigned a frown as he teased her, knowing she'd beg him to continue the vigorous training although her mother wanted her to learn proper etiquette and literature of the courts.

Ray'ven gasped at her father's words. "No no! Daddy, you promised you would teach me to be the bestest warrior ever! You have ta keep training me or mama will make me wear a dress and and learn ethaquettes!" She said horrified, her small nose wrinkling at the very thought of a dress. "I wanna be strong just like daddy is! That way I can protect you from all the baddies."

Her father smiled and tucked some dark strands of her hair behind her ear. "And you will be feared more than I."

Ray'ven wrapped her tiny arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. "Nobody is stronger than you Daddy."

"Of course. Another lesson daughter," The king patted the back of her hand before turning its face upwards against his open palm. "When someone sets their mind out for what they want they'll do anything to get it, even if it's your crown. To control you whether it be by love or friendship. The power of determination can be equivalent to anyone's strength at times. So promise me, daughter, promise me you'll never suffer as I did. Love can be happiness, but it can also be the root of sacrifice and failure. If you are to be stronger than me….don't make the same mistake as I. Love. Trust no one. Not even me. If it comes down to your life and mine, choose your own, my daughter."