Just as Kora was preparing to attack she hears Jolfri’s voice- albeit a slightly disguised Jolfri’s voice. 

“Can’t you see I’m trying to enjoy my break?” The hint of annoyance in his tone sounded real as he spoke. 

“Ah, I’m sorry man. I told you nobody would’ve made it here. Nobody is getting past one of our guys.” The soldier’s voice faded as he left the shed and closed the door behind him without so much as a question. 

Standing up alongside Nori, they make their way back to Jolfri and Sal and find them waiting with massive grins on their faces. 

“I didn’t expect that to work as well as it did, but the less fighting we have to do out here the better.” Sal says as she secures a dagger to her thigh. 

The two women left first, followed by both men as they entered the servant’s quarters. 

“Ah, there you girls are! They need you in the kitchen now! The King’s breakfast was wrong and the usual server was punished so severely she is unable to carry out her duties so you two are to fill in.” A random woman says as she grips their arms and leads them to the kitchen. 

The boys followed as closely behind as they could while maintaining a leisurely pace only to find themselves occupied with collecting buckets of water for the dishes as soon as they’d entered the kitchen. 

After a brief instruction on serving his meal, the two girls enter the dining hall. Sal laden with his drinks and Kora burdened with his appetizer, they efficiently placed his food in front of him, staring enviously at the servants serving the other guests. 

This being the first time she'd ever seen the enemy they were targeting, she tried to recall everything she knew of him. 

His name was King Niono and his right hand man Cragil was standing nearby. Although she had been holding onto some hope that he would be redeemable, this minute glimpse of his personality was enough to know otherwise. In the few moments since they’d entered the dining room, Kora had watched him berate one of the people at the table for their failure to procure the exact number of products by the specified deadline despite their proof that they’d done everything in their power to accomplish the task. 

In addition to the verbal assault, the man was forcefully removed from the room after the king ordered a bottle of wine to be poured over his head. Humiliated, but grateful that his life was spared, the man willingly cooperated, allowing the guards to drag him out of the room roughly, dripping wine all the way. 

After delivering the food and drinks as they were told, they returned to the kitchen to procure his main course. With a plate containing his meat and another one for each side, the cooks stressed that it was imperative that they ensure his food did not touch.

Carefully carrying the plants inside, they placed them in front of him quickly before retreating to their places against the wall. They would once again be needed to fetch his dessert, but were to stand in the dining room to attend to any needs in the meantime. 

The looks of fear on everyone’s faces were a clear indication of the type of kingdom run by Niono. Unfazed by his rude attitude, the girls only strengthened their resolve to free these people from the oppression imposed by their king. 

Fortunately the rest of dinner went as smoothly as one could hope.. They were able to deliver dessert without complaint and the king seems to take no special interest in the two of them. 

As they assisted with the dishes they were able to get a brief schedule of how the king normally spends his evenings. 

“He prefers solitude near his chamber and even refuses guards in the evening. However he does normally request a small snack and a drink right after his bath. After reviewing documents with Cragil, he doesn’t typically call for us again until morning. 

Storing this information to share with Nori and Jolfri, Sal and Kora simply nod in response, ensuring that they aren’t showing any special interest in the king’s schedule, especially as they were planning to be responsible for his upcoming death as well. 

As soon as they were excused, they began finding their way outside to find the men toiling away at the well. Although they’d finished with the water for the dishes a while ago, they now seemed to be drawing water to wash the buckets of clothing outside. Fortunately it only took a few minutes before they were able to slip away to meet Sal and Kora hidden behind the shed they’d been in earlier. 

Quietly they share as much information as possible and use a mirror to signal to the watchman in the trees that the plan is set to continue in the evening. Slipping back through the hole in the wall, they locate their weapons and lie in wait until it is time to attack. Just as the sun begins to set, they make their way back through the hole. 

Inconspicuously making their way back into the castle was easier than they’d thought and they were once again stopped by the same maid who proceeded to scold them for running off during dinner before ordering that they bring the King his nightly snack. Following Jolfri and Nori, the women confidently made their way to the King’s chambers. Once inside the room, they found King Niono and his aide Cragil staring at the growing chaos outside. 

“WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!” he shouts as he throws a glass of wine at the wall. 

In his anger, he hadn’t even noticed the four of them enter. Drawing their weapons, and in Kora’s case priming her essence, the snacks fell to the floor forgotten in their haste to defend themselves. Nori had quickly thought to lock the door behind them so there wouldn’t be any worry of anyone entering any time soon. 

Hearing the sound of drawing blades, Cragil quickly readies his own before King Niono notices that anything is amiss. 

“How dare they infiltrate my castle and come to attack me?! Finish them Cragil!” The King demanded as he dramatically pointed in their direction. 

The four looked at each other in shock at his behavior, expecting something much different from the tyrant throwing a tantrum before their eyes. 

Gripping onto their weapons, the four of them face the slowly advancing form of Cragil.