Arthur fell into step behind the group as they set off through the gardens toward the western edge of the palace, his Kidemónes escorts behind him while Menelaus and Atreus came together to speak quietly at the very front of their group.

Daphne and Stephanos had gathered around Circe, and Arthur allowed some respectful distance while the trio conversed—though the Seneschal did so with half his attention on the holographic screen he was even then manipulating with rapid and intentional movements.

“You handled yourself well.” Endymion muttered quietly from behind and to his left as they walked, and were able to find some privacy of their own with which to chat.

“Thank you.” Arthur responded with a glance back and genuine smile. “I felt at ease, though I suspect that’s as much to do with the Duke’s psions as it is my own confidence.”

“He was a gifted pilot.” Endymion confirmed. “Though his daughter reportedly outstrips him by the same capacity you outstrip her. It is… Mm.”

“Hm?”

“What Endymion means,” Perseus elaborated from his right flank, “is that you baffle us all still, Arthur. The sheer density of your aura is alarming. It’s almost like it’s growing in effect the longer we’re around you. When we first met you, it was a more subtle thing. You also seemed somehow more subtle. More, ah…”

“Simple. Veiled.” Endymion supplied quietly.

“Yes. Thank you, brother.” Perseus said in agreement. “More simple. It’s almost as if you’ve subtly become more complex the longer we’ve known you, and not in the way of revelation, but more so as if you’ve been waking up, in a way. It’s difficult to explain. It’s also markedly suspicious, if I’m being honest.”

“Suspicious? I guess I can understand that.” Arthur said with an honest nod. It was true, after all, in more ways than the Kidemónes could likely ever understand without first hand experience. His returned fragments of memory had changed him, and he felt almost as if his psions had somehow been muted prior.

It seemed as if Nataliya had not only wrapped his psyche in layers, but had also managed to somehow alter the nature of his psions’ aura.

Only now that he had started regaining his memories was that web unraveling, likely by design. The fact he did not remember whether or not he was currently at the true level of his natural psion density was in and of itself another cause for concern.

It was like walking into a room armed with a sword he could neither see, nor feel the true shape of.

“It is only because Lord Atreus seems perfectly at ease with the changes that we have deferred our concern.” Endymion explained bluntly. “Were it not for the Myrmidón’s confidence in what was happening, we may have reassessed your threat factor.”

“Well that’s not worrying at all.” Arthur said with mild, but companionable sarcasm.

“It isn’t meant to be a threat, Arthur.” Perseus said reassuringly. “It’s just the truth. You’re strange. Very strange. We don’t really have a precedent for this, and if not for Lord Atreus, we’d have already probably spirited you off to the Fortress of Ares for the Myrmidónes Strategos to interrogate. Truthfully, that may still be a possibility.”

“What do you mean?”

“Atreus may send for him of his own volition, or another House might intervene and demand you be examined by the Strategos instead.” Perseus elaborated while the group stepped through another wide, open archway and into a long and spacious marble-lined hallway. “I suspect the reason that Lord Atreus and Lord Menelaus are so intent on having you swear fealty is that it gives them some manner of legal avenue to oppose your subordination by the Kings.”

“And that doesn’t bother either of you?” Arthur asked with genuine surprise.

“We serve the Kings, Arthur, but we serve the Ascendancy before any individual. Even them.” Perseus explained while they progressed through the corridor, and turned left at an intersection. “House Leos is one of the oldest, and most fundamentally honorable Houses in the Ascendancy. They aren’t without their own controversies and secrets, of course, but no Eupatridae family is.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“But of the Great Houses, Leos is one of the few that has been truly good throughout the centuries.” Endymion added firmly.

“Which is why you took me to them.”

Endymion grunted in response.

“They claim descent from Leonidas himself, actually.” Perseus continued when Endymion didn’t. “The original one. From Terra.”

“That’s a pretty bold claim.” Arthur admitted.

“And backed by genealogy, thanks to the colonists.” Perseus confirmed.

“It explains their prestige at least.” Arthur said thoughtfully.

“That and the Lion symbol makes them heavily scrutinized, given its importance to our culture. It’s resulted in an unapologetically honor-driven culture within the House.”

“Which makes them worth bending the rules for.” Arthur surmised while listening.

“Only to a point.” Endymion muttered.

“It helps that House Leos has birthed three Spartan Kings,” Perseus added enthusiastically. “And in every major conflict we’ve faced, they've reliably sent out heroes when Graecia needed them most.”

“That explains your deference, at least.” Arthur said while the pieces started clicking together. “I’d read that House Leos had strong ties to the Spartan throne, but I hadn’t realized they’d actually produced Kings—more than one, at that.”

“Our Kings are selected differently based on which of the two capitals they represent. In Athenai it’s all about intellect, debate, philosophy, and economic capability.”

“In Sparta, it’s martial skill and proven honorable conduct.” Endymion cut in when Perseus finished. “Spartan Kings are decided by duels. Always, these are to the death—either between the incumbent and the reigning monarch, or between the two most qualified candidates if the King announces a retirement prior to being legally challenged.”

“But Kings from both cities can only be challenged thirty years after their inauguration, right?” Arthur asked.

“Correct.” Perseus said with a nod. “It stops things from being too chaotic. Every new King is granted thirty years to rule unopposed, as long as they don’t violate the tenets of rule. In addition to that, every time a Spartan or Athenian King is installed their counterpart receives a ten year grace from challenges, so the more senior of the two can help the new Monarch find their feet and learn the proper balance between their roles.”

“That’s both extremely complicated, and extremely simple at the same time.” Arthur said with a shake of the head. “I can only imagine what your elections are like.”

“Don’t get him started.” Endymion warned. “Andino is far too obsessed with our legislature.”

“Spoilsport.” Perseus said good-naturedly.

Arthur opened his mouth to poke the can of worms just as Menelaus’ voice carried back to him and drew their attention.

“Here we are.” the silver-haired patrician said with his gaze focused on Arthur, while standing before what looked to be a reinforced pair of starship-grade blast doors. “The private hangar of House Leos. If you choose to swear fealty to me, ser Magellan—” the fact that the patriarch was acting as if it were not a given spoke positively of his respect for procedure, if nothing else “—and become a member of my House, this will likely be where you spend most of your time. If you are at all like most of us who pilot Eidolons, you’ll probably make more use of the quarters here than the ones in the residence.”

“I’d deny that possibility, your grace, but I fear it would make me a liar.” Arthur said with an agreeing smile.

Chuckles from Menelaus, Circe, and even Stephanos filled the quiet corridor at that.

“Normally we would have members of the Lion Guard stationed here, but for this, I have asked my First Captain to give us privacy. Once your inauguration is concluded, they will be installed here to defend you while you work. My understanding is that you will be building your own machine from the ground up?”

“That is correct, my lord. Yponávarchos Leos’ offer to that effect is a large part of why I am here, after all.”

“Good. Then Daphne shall ensure you are given all the security possible while you commence your work.”

The First Captain bowed her head at her liege’s words, and fixed Arthur with another assessing stare in the same moment as both Circe and Stephanos did as well.

It seemed that Menelaus had not until that moment made that part of the deal open knowledge.

Judging from the hungry look in Circe’s eyes, she was already thinking about the technological advancements a Fringe-born pilot might bring, and the unvarnished desire for the upgrades that filled her gaze almost made Arthur blush.

“If you are ready, Ser Magellan, we shall enter the hangar for the tour. In a week, this is where you and my daughter will prepare for your duel.”

“Will it be simulated, my lord, or live?” Arthur asked curiously.

This time when Menelaus laughed, amusement appeared on the faces of everyone.

Even dour Atreus and reserved Daphne.

“My dear Knight-Errant,” the Patriarch said with a sly grin. “This is House Leos. We are the bloodline of Leonidas the Lion.”

As if for effect, the massive blast doors started to rumble open while Menelaus spoke, and Arthur looked toward them with a heart-palpitating spike of anticipation.

Menelaus’ grin remained when he continued.

“We always do it live.”