Breakfast ended without any fuss. The King excused himself, looking like he could use another week of sleep, and everyone else gradually drifted away. Zilra was quick to stand up, not wasting any time to get on with the day. She glanced over at us, a sigh following shortly after.

“Come on,” she said, sounding more resigned than excited. “I’ll show you the rest of the palace. Try not to get lost again.”

Rheka practically bounced out of her chair, ready to explore as always. Meanwhile Tavrin looked like he’d rather curl up and go back to sleep. That brat had been nothing but sleepy ever since we got here. I followed along because, well, I didn’t have much else to do. And besides, getting to know the layout of the palace could be useful - especially if things went south and we needed to make a quick exit. Things could never go south, of course.

Zilra led us through the winding halls once again, and I once again lost track of where we even were. So much for the layout. Everything just began to blend together - statues, tapestries, and even more dragon motifs. It started to feel more than a little excessive.

Our first stop was an open courtyard. The sunlight hit me like a warm embrace, and the air smelled fresh, like flowers in full bloom. A stark contrast to the rest of the palace. In there every room just had the odor of steamed ham. In the middle of the courtyard was a massive fountain shaped like a coiled dragon, water streaming from its mouth into a sparkling pool below.

“This is the Garden of Scales.” Zilra said, barely glancing at the fountain. “Nobles like to hang out here when they’re bored. It's not really my thing, but if you’re into sitting around doing nothing, go wild.”

Rheka’s eyes lit up as she took in the colorful flowers and neatly trimmed hedges. “It’s so pretty! Tav, look! The flowers are shaped like dragon wings!”

Everything. Is shaped like dragon wings, darling. How Rheka hadn't yet grown tired of this was beyond me. And there wasn't even any Dracofarn.

I'd give this place a solid... 3/10.

Tavrin, who looked like he was about two seconds away from dozing off, gave the flowers a half-hearted glance. “Yeah… real nice.”

I had to admit, the courtyard was neat enough, but something about it felt a little too… perfect. Like it was designed more for show than actual relaxation. Still, I could see why people would come here to get away from the constant palace drama.

Zilra was already on the move again, barely giving us time to appreciate the scenery. Not that I actually cared. But she could still slow down a peg. We followed her through more corridors, passing by rooms that all looked way too similar. I couldn’t help but wonder if even the royal family got lost in here sometimes.

Next up was the library. Thank goodness there was one. It wasn't the biggest out there but it still had a respectable size. Shelves packed with books stretched up to the ceiling, and the whole place had that distinct smell of old paper and dust. Light filtered in through stained glass windows, casting colorful shadows across the floor.

“This is the Moonfall Library,” Zilra said, waving a hand at the shelves. “Don’t touch anything unless you want to get kicked out.”

Tavrin looked like a kid in a candy store, his eyes wide as he scanned the shelves. “So many books…”

Rheka, on the other hand, was already off to the next room. I heard a "What's this?" from a distance. She still hadn't developed that taste for literature.

I couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of books. There was no way anyone had read all of these. Yet. But then again, maybe that wasn’t the point. Like most things in this palace, the library seemed more for show than actual use.

Zilra didn’t stick around to see if we’d find something interesting. She was already heading for the door to catch up to Rheka. Tavrin and I followed close behind, though Tavrin kept glancing back at the shelves like he was already planning his next visit. I wondered what was necessary to actually get access.

Finally, we ended up in front of a set of large double doors. Zilra paused for a moment, her hand resting on the handle.

“Alright, ready for something a bit different?” Zilra asked, looking around to see if we were being watched before we would enter. We were, by the way. At all times. There were guards practically everywhere in this place. But I supposed she was checking for someone specific.

The room was a mix of battle gear and interesting marketplace finds. High ceilings gave it an open feel, and the walls were packed with everything from swords and shields to exotic trinkets. It looked like a shrine to adventure, with each item hinting at some story to be told.

“This was one of her favorite places.” Zilra said, a hint of nostalgia in her voice. "I used to come down here whenever I'd feel sad. Despite my father telling me not to. He and my mother collected all this stuff during their travels."

Her mother, huh? I had completely forgotten about that. I realized then why the queen didn't strike any resemblance to her supposed children. Zilra had mentioned that her mother was... gone. So the King must have remarried. The current queen was Zilra's stepmother then. She did a great job of playing into the generic stereotype.

I wandered over to a display with a bunch of fancy swords. The first one's I'd seen this close. They were impressive to say the least, with intricate designs that made them look like they’d seen some serious action.

Tavrin was checking out a set of white gauntlets and a big, blue crystal shield that looked like it had been crafted right out of a mountain of minerals. “These must have some awesome stories behind them.” he said.

“I wonder if..." Tavrin paused. "Do you know any of the history?”

Zilra’s expression dimmed a bit. “I’ve heard bits and pieces. Most of this stuff comes from big fights and trades. I wish I knew more about the stories behind them. But father never really talked about any of it with me.”

Rheka was busy inspecting a jar of spices and what I assumed to be alchemical ingredients. “These smell so different! Are they from all over?” She asked, making a face at a jar with a sweet but weird scent.

I wandered over to a wall covered in maps and trade routes. “Woah. These maps are amazing.” I said. And I meant it too. It was the first time I'd actually seen any map from this world. I couldn't make much sense of any of the continents but one - ours. Solida. There it was. Almost smack dab in the middle of what I assumed to be a crude world map. It was the only continent with a name written next to it. And it was huge. Somehow I couldn't help but feel it looked... familiar. Almost oddly so.

As we finished exploring the room, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this place than met the eye. It was steeped in stories and magic, and it felt like it held secrets just waiting for me to uncover them. Just like back then with the old man's basement. Plus we were also not supposed to be here, apparently.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

***

We were walking down another one of a thousand hallways when we heard voices ahead. Zilra slowed her pace, her expression tightening. I could see why a moment later, when we turned the corner and nearly ran into Valira and Orindra.

"Ah, little Zilra.” Valira said, her voice dripped with that mock sweetness of hers. I'd noticed at the breakfast already. That she'd dressed differently from yesterday. Instead of an elegant dress she wore sturdy leather pants, a fitted tunic, and a long cloak that made her look more like a mercenary than a princess. She smiled, but it was the kind of smile that made you feel like you’d missed the punchline to a joke. “Off on a grand adventure, are we?”

Zilra crossed her arms and glared. This was her signature stare. “Just showing our guests around. Not that it’s any of your concern.”

Orindra, who had been quietly reading a book while she walked, looked up, her eyes barely flickering toward us before settling back on the pages. “So serious, Zilra. You really should lighten up.”

Valira turned her attention to Rheka, her smile widening. “And look who we got here. The little dragon’s keeper! Or are you just playing bodyguard again?”

Rheka stepped closer to me, her face scrunched up in a protective hug. “He doesn’t need a bodyguard. And you still can't have him.”

Valira’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Oh, but we were hoping to take him for a flying lesson! Surely, a dragon needs to learn how to soar, doesn’t he?”

“Not interested.” Rheka snapped. Her protective instincts were kicking in full force, and she practically growled at Valira. It was impressive for someone her size, and definitely one of the sides I preferred in her.

Zilra, clearly fed up, cut in. “We’ve got places to be. If you’re done playing your games, we’ll be on our way.”

Valira chuckled, raising her hands in a mock surrender. “As you wish, little sister. Don’t let us keep you from your… duties.” She winked at me, then turned on her heel, strolling down the hallway with Orindra following silently behind.

I exhaled a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. Valira’s teasing didn’t seem malicious, it was mere child's play. But still. There was always something unsettling about her. She seemed to know too much - like she was always one step ahead, even when she was just messing around.

“Let’s go.” Zilra said, her irritation plastered across her face. We all fell in step behind her, and the tension in the air slowly began to ease as we moved away from the sisters.

After what felt like an eternity of winding through a million more of the palace’s endless halls, Zilra led us toward a quieter section. The tapestries here were darker, more subdued, and the air felt cooler somehow. We were passing by a side corridor when I heard quiet voices drifting from one of the rooms ahead. Zilra didn’t seem to notice, but I slowed down. I was eager to join in on that. The smell of steamed ham filled my nostrils as I began to listen.

“I don’t care about the King’s approval.” one voice hissed. “We need to move quickly, or we risk losing everything.”

The voice was familiar. It was that advisor with the blackened ears. The one who had spoken about burning down all of Rhodentum at the conference. His tone was sharp, cutting through the stillness like a knife.

“I’m aware of the risks, but caution is our best ally right now.” another voice responded. This one was smoother, more calculated. And it was familiar as well. It was Hern's. Somehow it never failed to make me uneasy. He was once again smoking one of his crude cigars. How those things even existed was still a mystery to me. It did explain the smell though. For the entire palace, actually.

Something was going on. They were plotting. This was the stuff I mentally prepared myself for. Hopefully it would suffice.

I motioned for Rheka and Tavrin to stay quiet, pressing myself against the wall to listen. Zilra was still walking ahead, oblivious to our pause.

“If we wait any longer, the Eclipse’s control will begin to wane.” the advisor's voice continued. “Do you really want to risk the King losing faith in us? If he starts to doubt, everything falls apart.”

Hern sighed. “Yes, yes. But there’s more at stake here than just the King’s trust. The realm is watching. One wrong move, and we'll have a tight noose around the neck before we even realize it.”

I peeked around the corner, just enough to catch a glimpse of the two. The advisor with the black ears was pacing, his golden robe trailing behind him. Hern stood still, his arms crossed as he listened. His eyes were sharp, like he was calculating every word before responding.

Blackears' frustration was palpable. “We’ve dealt with worse threats before. I can handle anything anyone would dare throw at us. But we need to act, and soon.”

Hern nodded, though he didn’t seem entirely convinced. “Perhaps. Perhaps not. I've waited twelve years for this. I can wait another twelve if I have to."

As we crept closer to the voices, trying to make out the conversation, we didn’t notice the footsteps approaching from the other direction. Before we knew it, the advisor and Hern had rounded the corner and spotted us. Blackears’ sharp gaze landed on me, and Hern’s expression quickly shifted from calm to cautious.

“Well, well.” the black-eared advisor said, his voice a mix of surprise and irritation. “It seems we have some unexpected company.”

Hern’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I see you’ve found us. Did you come to give me your answer?”

I took a tiny step forward, trying to stay relaxed despite the sudden shift in atmosphere. “We didn’t mean to intrude. Just happened to pass by.”

Zilra, catching up with us, looked between the two adults and me. Her confusion was evident.

Blackears gave a thin smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “My princess." He paused before he turned back to me. "Well, it’s not often we have company in this part of the palace. My name is Krypteios. It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. Properly that is."

"Argius.” I said, meeting Krypteios’s gaze. “Though I think you already knew that.”

"Indeed. After all you made quite the scene yesterday. It's not every day a dragon returns from the dead." Krypteios said with a smile that didn't seem to soften.

I nodded, trying to keep the conversation light.

Then he turned to face Rheka, kneeling down to her level. "Crimson red hair... I take it you're Ursus' child?

Rheka looked up at him, a mix of curiosity and wariness in her eyes. “Yes, I am!" She struck her signature pose. Fists to her hips, flappers up straight. "And you are...?”

"A friend to your people. It's always a delight to be around your father."

Rheka, still a bit unsure, offered a polite nod. “Okay? Nice to meet you too, I guess.”

Krypteios straightened up to face me again. He looked down on me. “Well, Argius the dragon, it seems our paths have crossed under unusual circumstances. I trust you’ll continue to enjoy the palace. I’m sure you’ll find more than a few surprises along the way.”

With that, Krypteios and Hern exchanged a final glance before the black-eared advisor moved on, disappearing behind the next corner.

"So." Hern said, looking at me with his calculating gaze. "Have you decided?"

"I have." I replied, trying to fill my tone with as much confidence as I could. "I will join you in your siege."

"Good. Then-"

"If. Rheka is allowed to join as well." I interrupted him. I could tell it was something he wasn't used to.

Hern raised an eyebrow.

"You want a child to accompany you on the battlefield?" he said.

"Yes." I said firmly. "I am Rheka's Forpal. Without her I'm practically useless. And I won’t be making any decisions without her being included."

I glanced over to her to see her reaction. She just looked at me with a blank smile on her face. Then she gave me a thumbs up. Girl. Do you even know what's going on?

"Very well. If that's your condition. I’m sure it can be arranged. We ride tomorrow, I'll have one of my men pick you up before we leave." He gave a curt nod after he'd finished speaking.

And with that he took his leave, tossing his cigar and heading the way we had come from. I watched him go, feeling a mix of relief and uncertainty.

Rheka, glowing probably from the fact that she was simply included, bounced on her toes. “This is going to be amazing!”

I chuckled, trying to match her enthusiasm despite my own lingering doubts. “Yeah, it is. But we should probably get some rest now. Prepare mentally for tomorrow."

After Rheka gave me a reassuring pat on the head, we joined back up with Zilra and Tavrin who'd been waiting for us nearby. They didn't seem to care much for the political bickering of adults. It checked out. For Rheka too. They were just a bunch of brats, after all.

As we continued walking one thought suddenly struck me:

We hadn't even... asked Urs for permission.