Akira let Ehren lead her into the castle. Though it made her feel like a child, she really had no choice in the matter as he had threatened to carry her to her rooms over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. While Akira may have laughed at such a silly threat under normal circumstances, the current set of circumstances she found herself in were anything but normal. So, she followed the Prince to the rooms his mother had arranged for her. She hated leaving Askel so far away but she knew moving him now would likely kill him.

When the Prince stopped suddenly, Akira was either too lost in her worry or too tired to notice and ran smack into him. Ehren steadied her before opening the door he stopped in front of.

“These are your rooms for the time being,” he told her. “Please make yourself comfortable and if you need anything do not hesitate to let one of the maids know.”

“This is too much,” she whispered.

“I admit, my mother probably went a little overboard when she insisted your brother be seen to by a doctor,” he sighed. “This room is actually meant for the princess as my room is just down the hall.”

Akira began to say something but Ehren cut her off.

“Please, do not fear. You haven’t displaced anyone. I’m sure my mother thought it best that you be close to someone somewhat familiar to you in such an overwhelming place.”

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“Strange,” she said.

“What is?”

“It seems my brother was right,” she said, ignoring the fact that Ehren had asked her a question. “They are conspiring with him or they were. All of this just so we could meet and for what?”

She turned back to Ehren.

“I think we both need some rest,” she told him. “It has been a long and emotionally draining day.”

“As my lady commands,” he replied.

Akira laughed.

“I am the furthest thing from a lady, my prince,” she answered.

“As you say mon petit pirate,” he said with a flourishing bow.

“Why are you bowing to a pirate, my prince?” she asked holding back a laugh.

“Because this particular pirate is more of a lady than many who call themselves so,” he replied.

“Call me a pirate if you like but don’t you dare refer to me as a lady, my prince,” she told him.

“As mon petit pirate commands.”

“Are you saying I am your captain now?”

“Oui, mon capitaine.”

“My prince, I think it is wise for you to bid me goodnight before I smack that smug grin from your face.”

Ehren rose from his bow looking as contrite as he could, which was not at all. Akira rolled her eyes at him.

“Away you saucy, errant, impertinent prince! Thou hast infected my ears with your frivolous fawning long enough. Get thee gone!”

These three sentences had them doubled over laughing as soon as the last word left her mouth.

“Where did you learn insults like that?” Ehren asked when they could quell their raucous laughter.

Akira shrugged. It was well known she had a sharp wit and an even sharper tongue. But what most didn’t know was she usually took a page from Shakespeare when it came to insults, especially when they were said in jest. Akira liked keeping that little tidbit of knowledge to herself so it couldn’t be used against her. Though, the very same insults plus her firey temper had gotten her in great heaps of trouble at the nunnery, especially when she’d called the Mother Superior a hell-hated scut.