While Kathryn was setlting into her room, Ren was examining his much less spectacular quarters. He had been placed with other guards, despite his title as a general. But he didn’t feel there was any reason to complain. In fact, he rather preferred the plain lodgings. The company of the other guards, however, was not something he particularly cared for. They all glared at him with expressions of such hate he could feel them even when he was focused on sharpening his sword for the tenth time. "So, this is where Navinor's finest hang out, huh?" Ren commented loudly to no one in particular, drawing the attention of the guards. One of the guards said, “General Eldric. Permission to speak to you, sir.” Surprised by the politeness of his words, if not his tone, Ren replied, “Sure. What’s up?” The guard looked momentarily confused, but he quickly recovered. “We were wondering, General. Did you fight in the war?” “Uh…no. Did you?” “We all did,” another guard put in. “If you didn’t fight in the war, how are you a general?” “It’s just what we call the princess’s bodyguard where I come from.” Ren glanced around. “Is there any place where I can train?” “There are training grounds near here,” a young captain said gravely. “But I don’t think you should go there, respectfully, General.” “Why not?” “Because not everyone there will be happy to see you, and you could find yourself in…difficulties. Respectfully.” Ren rolled his eyes. “I’m not really worried about that. So, can you show me the training grounds?” Grudgingly, the captain complied. But when they reached the edge of the training grounds, the captain exclaimed, “Prince Gregory?” The eldest prince was simply standing there with four of the protectors by his side. Ren instantly stiffened. This was an enemy to be reckoned with. He could tell by the man’s eyes and the way he moved as he walked towards him. Ren put a hand on his sword without realizing it. The Protectors instantly drew their daggers. “Don’t!” Gregory snapped. The Protectors withdrew. “You must be General Ren,” Gregory remarked. “Yeah. You’re the crown prince, Prince Gregory.” Ren was so busy studying him that he almost forgot to bow. He remembered at the last second and inclined his head awkwardly. “Your highness.” “Yes. How fortunate that we should meet each other here. I have been hoping for an opportunity to see Iridalys’ Champion in action. I would appreciate it, General, if you could be so kind as to spar with the captain here.” Ren glanced at the captain. He said, “Uh…sure, if you want me to. But won’t that cause an international incident or somethin’?” Gregory laughed aloud. The sound chilled Ren, who instinctively tensed. “Of course not. You’re our guests. And the captain won’t hurt you.” “I wasn’t worried about that.” Ren smiled, walked over to the training weapon rack, and picked out a staff. “I’d hate to mess up his pretty face is all.” Gregory cocked his head while the captain started in annoyed surprise. The crown prince said softly, “Well, this should be interesting.”

General Ren was a curiosity to the guards: he was a general who had never led troops, who was of noble birth yet talked like a peasant, who served as a bodyguard to the very proper and powerful princess of a kingdom, but dressed no better than a lowly squire. The soldiers and Protectors alike gathered around to watch this curiosity spar with their top captain. 

Ren never minded an audience. He twirled the staff in his left hand to get a feel for the balance, and the captain asked, “Are you planning to fight left handed?” 

“I use both,” Ren said casually. “You’re a lefty though, right?” 

The captain was surprised, as he hadn’t even picked up a weapon yet. But he only said shortly, “Yes.”

“Then for this fight, we’ll say I am too.” Ren took his place at one side of the grounds. His stance was fairly casual, but his eyes were darting back and forth among the watching crowd, sizing them up, looking for potential threats or weaknesses. There was one face in particular that stood out to him. A man with dark, solemn eyes, long black hair, and a massive scar on one cheek was watching. Something about him was familiar, but Ren couldn’t place what it was. 

As the captain took his position with a training sword he said, “You don’t seem to be paying attention, General.” 

“Oh, I am,” Ren assured him. “Uh…How do we do this, prince? Do you say ‘ready, set, go,’ or something like that?” 

“Hm? No. Here, we simply say ‘fight.’” 

“Simple,” Ren said approvingly. “Just the way I like it!” 

Gregory smiled. “Now that you are both in position…FIGHT!” 

The captain sprang forward, putting all of his body weight behind a violent strike aimed at the young general’s head. The watchers had seen this same move end dozens of foes on the battlefield in one hit. 

Ren angled his staff expertly so that the practice sword glanced off, throwing the captain off balance. He couldn’t stop himself from staggering forward when he met no resistance, and as he passed Ren, the young man hit him in the back of the head with his elbow.

The watchers stirred in confusion as the captain collapsed to the ground. “Oops. Didn’t think one of your fighters would be that light-headed. Next,” Ren said cheerfully. He was feeling remarkably happy about the chance to knock a few Navinorian heads together without any consequences. He felt he’d exercised enough restraint for a lifetime. 

Gregory raised an eyebrow. “You mean you want to continue?” he asked. 

Ren shrugged. “I’m always ready for a fight.” He glanced over at the man with the scar on his cheek. “What about you?” 

The man raised an eyebrow and glanced at Gregory. The prince shook his head ever so slightly. “General Xian doesn’t do casual sparring matches. I have a better idea,” the prince announced. “You can spar against some of my other men. I think it will be useful experience for them.” 

Before Ren could reply, Kathryn’s handmaiden reached the training grounds. Panting, she called, “General Ren! The princess requests your presence.” 

Several guards chuckled or made mocking comments under their breath. Gregory was fascinated to see that Ren didn’t seem to hear any of it. He simply dropped the staff and instantly followed after the maid. 

Gregory walked over to the scarred general who had watched the fight. “What do you think?” the prince asked. 

“Impossible to judge his strength accurately from one engagement,” Xian responded. The scar on his face had slightly deformed his mouth, so the words came out somewhat slurred. “I would have liked to make a more in-depth investigation myself.”

“I agree. Not only that, but he held himself back.” Gregory nodded at the captain, who was already rising, rubbing the back of his head, but otherwise all right. “He may be somewhat more intelligent than we’d heard. But I don’t want you to fight him just yet.” 

“Yes, my lord. What about the others?” 

“Arrange sparring matches when you can. Continue to observe. After all, it’s to our advantage if we know what sort of an individual we’ve invited in,” Gregory said with a grim smile. 

In the meantime, Ren arrived at Kathryn’s chambers. He glared at the “Protectors,” who looked back impassively. Then he knocked at the door. 

“Enter,” Kathryn called. 

The maid went in with him, but Kathryn, who was turned away from the door, said, “You may leave, Dena.” 

“Oh…yes, your highness,” she stammered. 

As soon as she went out, Ren remarked, “What’s going on, princess? I thought you were worried about what people would think, now that you’re getting married and all.” 

“I can’t stand this.” 

Ren was bewildered. Then Kathryn, still without turning around, pointed at the vanity. 

Ren walked over to it and saw the opal. His eyes widened and his fists clenched. “Those pieces of trash,” he said between gritted teeth. 

“Ren.” 

“I can’t believe they did something like this! I bet it’s that prick Lorrin.” 

“Ren!” 

Ren stopped as Kathryn whirled on him. He was shocked to see tears trickling down her face. His anger vanished. He pulled her into his arms and held her as she cried silently. 

The fire opal glittered away in its setting, and it was only their eyes that saw the significance in its glowing surface. It was something they would have preferred to never remember; a day that quickly became the worst in their lives.