Large marble pillars framed either side of the corridor that existed outside. The sides were being fitted with sheer sheets for the upcoming summer. Attendants bustled with the peach fabric, toting it to and fro various locations where rings had been lain. 

Asura, Leila, Orson and Chrystoph walked together down the path, being led by a men who wore his glasses atop his head. He was very short and had a long nose, yet his eyes sparkled with youth under his bushy eyebrows. A long white beard was braided down his chest and swayed with his even pace. She caught glimpses of its end swinging past his robe on either side. 

Opening double doors, he brought them past four sets of guards, two of them heavily armored. They all nodded their head in deference to Orson and Chrystoph. 

“I’m surprised they still remember me.” Orson murmured to Chrystoph behind them. 

“You’re just a little bit more famous than you think.” He pinched his fingers and guffawed loudly, indicating he may have had a hand in their behavior. 

Orson shook his head in both acceptance and surrender as they reached the last set of doors. 

The braided beard man spoke to the armed knight at the inner doors, and they were accepted. Double doors swung inwards, and a man dressed in cream and red walked up to greet them almost immediately. He had a modest golden circlet resting on his peppery head, and a large ring with a sapphire rested on the middle finger of his right hand. 

“We greet the King of Abrulemonos. Long live the King.”

Leila spoke for them, and they kneeled on one knee, bowing their heads and crossing one arm in a fist over their heart, the other hand flat behind their back. They had practiced it on the way here so many times, Asura was sure she would dream about it. 

“Oh, yes, yes, enough of that. It’s been a long time, Orson!” The King pulled Orson into a firm embrace, clasping forearms with a smile. 

Behind the King, waiting patiently, was a young man, barely in his teens, with golden hair and green eyes. 

“This is my son, Lance. I just crowned him Crown Prince this past year.” He clasped his son on the shoulder proudly.

Asura waited patiently too, wondering why they were all summoned here before she was fully healed. Her eyes skirted restlessly around the room, meeting the eyes of the last person she ever wanted to see. 

Duke Pontius. 

His black eyes bore into her, and she immediately knew he recognized her from the first time she had visited the temple. She pretended not to notice and acted like a nervous eight year old girl who was impatient to be introduced. Chrystoph, however, met the Duke’s gaze in earnest, until eventually the Duke looked away. 

“Asura?” Orson called to her. 

“Oh, yes!”

 The King chuckled and held out his hand. She grasped his forearm firmly, and shook it. A jolt of electricity jolted through her with excitement. How many people could say they met the royal family?! She definitely hadn’t in her last life. Duke Pontius had poisoned the Crown Prince and the King had died of heartbreak shortly after, opening the path for the Duke to wage war without restraint. 

“It’s nice to meet you, Your Honor.” Asura spoke with a hint of reverence fueled by her current mask. 

“Your Highness, child.” Orson gently corrected her, but the snickers of some name adults made her face burn. 

“This way, come, come.” King Archer waved them all to follow him. He walked up the steps to his chair, and went past the heavy curtains that backdropped the throne. Asura couldn’t stop her eyes from genuinely soaking it all in, she was drawn in by all the beautiful refinery; especially the throne that King Archer sat upon regularly. 

The room opened up and a long table with numerous chairs were lined down it, fitting a dozen on both sides. King Archer sat at the head, while Crown Prince Lance sat at this right. Duke Pontius sat to his left. Although it would make conversation only a smidge more difficult, Orson, Leila, Asura and Chrystoph all sat on the Crown Prince’s side of the table. 

If it bothered him, Duke Pontius didn’t show it except for the small increased drag on his lips. 

Uglyuglyuglyuglyugly

Asura repeated the word in her head over and over in her head, directing all her energy into projecting it. 

The seat beside her grew hot, and she recognized Chrystoph’s boiling anger. Even the veins in his hands were bulging. 

The skin under the bandage on her face grew itchy. 

“Now, I am aware of a horrible circumstance that has sparked quite a few things. FIrst of all, Lday Asura, I cannot apologize enough to you for the hardships you had to endure while in that cave in my country. If it brings you any peace, raids are being orchestrated as we speak to root out any remaining traffickers. As a citizen, you deserve to be safe, and have a childhood. Both of which were robbed of you.” 

A sullen look conveyed the King’s remorse. She was aware that her parents had been working with a representative of the King for medical care, including counseling.

“Secondly, Chrystoph, your role in identifying this issue was pivotal, and you’re encouraged to request a reward. Is there anything you want?” 

Chrystoph tapped his chin for a moment, then jerked his thumb at Asura.

“A good magic teacher for the dove. The Salamander, if possible.” 

“She’s not really known for her teaching skills. Knowing that, you still want to request her?”

“I do.”

“Consider it done then. I’ll send word when she’s on her way. Congratulations on acquiring a Talent, Lady Asura.”

He smiled, then made a note on a slip of paper and handed it to one of his attendants, who took it and disappeared into one of the many doors that lined the room. 

“As for you Orson, who defeated two of the underground’s most notorious assassins, you are also due a reward. Please give some thought to it.”

To protect Asura, they had decided as a family that Orson was to assume responsibility for the defeat of their attackers. 

As the men continued to speak, Duke Pontius’s gaze was ever absorbing details of them all, lingering on Leila a little too long for Asura’s comfort. She didn’t have to do anything though, because Chrystoph was staring parallel holes whenever Duke Pontius looked at either Asura or Leila. 

She wondered if they had been sat between the men for this purpose. She would have, in their shoes. If so, it brought her a little comfort; she just wished she hadn’t been seated next to the extra large heater. 

“Father, could I take Asura to play?” Crown Prince Lance spoke up during the lull in conversation, perking Asura’s ears. 

She had been shamelessly hoping she was due a reward too for freeing the children, but assumed that Chrystoph would be given that as well. 

“Sure! And Lady Asura, I was given a report that you were the one leading the children out of the cave before Chrystoph came upon you. I would like to reward you for your bravery.” He smiled warmly at her. 

A shiver went up her spine only to be extinguished when Duke Pontius set his eyes on her, tilting his mouth up.

Can I request for that ugly man to be quartered? 

Or perhaps a custom made sword? A last name? Quinny’s last name? Her cheeks heated with the notion as her mind whirred with ideas excitedly. She wondered how the children were doing, especially that feverish boy that had to be carried. Maybe she should have her wish to go see them. 

“May I think about it?”

“Of course! Please be gentle with her, Lance, she’s still recovering.”

“Certainly, Father.”

Crown Prince Lance got up from his chair, and held out his arm to escort Asura. She reached up to take his arm, and they walked towards a side door on the other end of the room, away from the way they had come. 

She met the eyes of Chrystoph, a wordless conversation passing between them.

Protect Mother.

He nodded his head with an offended look, as if her request was a given. 

She dared one last look at Duke Pontius, his eyes glued to her as she was leaving with the Crown Prince. She hated that face.

Uglyuglyuglyuglyugly!

She shouted in her mind, glad to be rid of those disgusting tar orbs on her. 

When they were a good distance away, the Crown Prince whispered to her. 

“There’s someone who wants to meet you.” He smiled reassuringly, and wondered if it was who she was thinking it might be. 

“Does your face still hurt very much?” 

“Yes, but it’s getting better.” 

She wasn’t about to tell the Crown Prince of the country that sneezing hurt like a bitch. 

They rounded a corner together, and he patted her hand on his arm. The gesture reminded her strongly of the king. Like a father, comforting a child. 

“When you’re able to smell again, I’d like to take you to the gardens. They cheer me up when I’m sad, because Mother made them for me.”

She felt like this wasn’t the right time to ask where his mother was now. The absence of the Queen in the throne room, along with his words just now confirmed enough for her. 

Instead, she responded with gratitude.

“Thank you, I’d like that.”

Reaching a door decorated with two plants on either side, she overheard the bickering of two voices she recognized through it. Her suspicions validated, she was led into the room where Kiln and Prince Adanian lounged on several chairs. Colorful papers were spewed about and a pile of coins, pieces of jewelry and other goods were piled on the floor between them. 

Upon seeing Asura, Prince Adanian jumped up from his seat, taking out what looked to be a pencil out of his mouth and tucking it behind his ear. 

“Hello, friend. Long time no see.” He greeted her warmly, a genuine smile lighting up his face.