Liam felt his heart skip a beat as the lightning sent a cataclysmic shockwave of thunder across the courtyard, illuminating the courtyard so brightly that he could see the outline of Borgia’s skeleton through his closed eyelids. Men screamed in pain as they were blinded and deafened by the calamity.

Oof… I was facing away from her and my eyeballs are still tingly! I bet these men will suffer some sort of permanent damage. Daaaammnnnn girl… That was a bit excessive! … And exactly what I asked for. Hopefully we can skip the foreplay and see the king now.

Blinking away tears, he stood, working his jaw to pop his ears. Nyota met his gaze, fervently looking around at the panic she had caused while nibbling her lip with nervous zeal.

“Excellent work my love. Now heal the watch captain so he can announce us to the king.” Said Liam, reassuring her with a confidence he did not feel.

Nyota found Gaius Borgia rolling on the floor, screaming bloody murder as he mourned the loss of his eyes and ears.

“Quiet down you big baby.” Chided Nyota, pulling the golden knight’s arms away from his eyes and covering them with her own hands.

Two quick chants later and the watch captain lay on the marble circle, his head resting on Nyota’s lap. Mouth agape in terror at what they required of him.

“Well captain. Will the king find the time to see us?” Inquired Liam.

“You’re insane! Why not just tell us of your power?” Blathered Gaius.

“We did, and you laughed. Now, I grow weary of your doubts, is another demonstration incumbent?” Questioned Liam.

“No sir! I will announce your arrival at once! Please wait here my lord.” Said Gaius, bowing deeply as he skittered away.

The sight of a royal watch captain stumbling over himself made Liam chuckle. Whilst Arlet scowled and retrieved his spear before moving amongst the royal guard, removing helmets and using hand signals to calm the deafened and half blind knights.

“Uhm Lord Liam, I feel bad for those mages.” Said Nyota, her tail swishing erratically.

“They would feel no pity for you if our roles were reversed.” Answered Liam.

“I know…” She said, ears twitching in consternation.

Long years of slavery had conditioned her to be seen and not heard. To listen and obey, never to ask for her own desires.

“You are too kind my love, heal them if you wish.” Said Liam.

“Thank you!” She cried, following Arlet’s path towards the knights.

Hey, she is going to heal eyeballs, maybe if I watch and practice I can figure out how to regrow hers!

Liam tailed his wife, examining the blind mages before and after she healed them. Nyota made it look so easy, singing the chant as she always had and letting the mana flow as it wished. With his levels in [mana manipulation] he was able to trace the flow, keeping track of the volume of mana and what structures within the eye the mana worked on.

After the first two patients he decided to implement his newfound knowledge, finding the mage Rhendal referred to as Soren, he took the man by the hand and led him a few paces from the others. Activating his [abbreviated cast] ability he limited his flow of mana to a single structure in the eye at a time, starting with the lens. A brief interrogation of Soren told him that his vision had improved, but there was still damage. Liam repeated the process five times, focusing on a separate structure in the eye until Soren reported clear vision.

“Thank you lord!” Said a red-eyed Soren.

“Any friend of Rhendal’s is a friend to me. My apologies for blinding you in the first place. Now onto the next man.” Said Liam, finding his next patient.

By the time he finished examining his second patient Nyota had healed the others and was watching him with a curious eye. Her head cocked sideways with her ears fully facing him. Liam ignored her, focusing entirely on his mana and the second mage’s eye.

The eye is simpler than I was thinking, magic really simplifies some of the finer details… If we break down the healing processes then it might be possible to grow a temporary orb or bulb and fill it with jelly in one step, then heal the optical nerve in a second step… With the nerves and jelly in place we can heal the bulb until it fills the eye socket. Then the sclera, lens, and pupil become a single cast away. Eureka!

Lost in his thoughts, Liam failed to notice the onrushing crowds. Dozens of people were running towards them, royal healers and gilded soldiers in the lead. Nyota tucked herself into his side, alerting him of the coming horde. Clawed fingers wrapped tightly around his arm.

“I’m sorry master! Don’t let them take me!” She whispered into his ear.

“Have no fear Nyota, you wield the power of Therun Taloc, if anyone lays a finger on you, smite them. Show no mercy.” Said Liam, comforting her.

Nervous glances passed between the mages and they formed a loose circle around the pair, backs towards them. Liam smiled as he realized the mages were keeping the crowd away from Nyota.

“Your days of servitude are over, my dearest Nyota. I am your husband, not your master. If you need guidance, then I forbid you from apologizing to anyone, including the king. You are a Lightning Lord, and you must learn to embrace your own Thunder. Besides, I have a plan.” Consoled Liam.

Arlet stepped closer to Nyota, raising his shield high enough to obscure her from view.

“I wish you had mentioned a plan earlier!” Muttered Rhendal to no one in particular.

Around them the healers moved amongst the knights, quickly finding that their skills were unneeded. While the royal knights arrived to find a shabby noble and his three attendants, the very picture of mundanity. They set to questioning Borgia’s squad about the source of the lightning strike, but the leaderless squad gave them conflicting answers, speaking of a champion of lightning and restoration.

“Knights! I am a Lightning Lord, Escort me forthwith to the grand entrance of King Aldric's court. It is imperative that we refrain from subjecting His Majesty to the inconvenience of our tardiness upon his summons.” Called Liam, leaning fully into his role as a pretentious ne'er do well.

“Yes m’lord!”

“Yes Sir!”

Shouted two knights in a discordant unison. At their command the formerly blinded knights formed a semicircle in front of Liam, escorting him and his companions across the parade grounds that served as the king’s courtyard. In times of celebration this courtyard could hold hundreds of merchants and thousands of people. While a similar number could be corralled here in times of siege.

Liam silently took it all in. Baron Green had never visited this palace, only attending to the king during winter in a palace that lay further south, near the Kheresh wastes. That means this is a memory only I, Lord Liam, will make…

A memory that only he could enjoy. Nyota’s hand shook in terror, clutching his with all her strength.

Nyota, that’s starting to hurt. How are you this strong?

Bringing her hand to his lips he kissed the back of her hand, simultaneously relaxing his own.

“Oh, I didn’t realize m’lord.” She said, letting go of his hand.

He was not about to let his wife go, stepping forward he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into him. Close enough to smell her closely cropped platinum hair. The scent of freshly washed sheets and a midsummer storm entered his nostrils.

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“You are shaking like a leaf, shall we leave and return another day?” Asked Liam.

Gasps of shock whooshed in unison as the royal guards and mages froze in terror. Nyota’s ears shot straight up.

“I would die of shame! Don’t even joke like that!” She hissed at him.

“Ha, I would be lost without you, *sigh* I guess we can make time for the king.” he said with a grin. “But do not disguise your nature, raise your ears and tail for the entire court to see, hiding them will only make people suspicious of you. My champion of Lighting.” Said Liam.

Whispers burst from the mages Nyota had healed, a testament to their understanding of magical theory.

“Does he speak the truth, master Rhendal?” Asked Soren.

“Indeed, but shuush! Observe with your eyes instead of your mouth!” Said Rhendal.

They had seen her cast the lightning, but now they were confronted with the facts without the pain of blindness. Lightning lay in true opposition to healing, it was not possible to wield both! Yet, they had seen her dual magicks with their own eyes.

Nobles and their attendants were still exiting the great hall, brawny northern swordsmen carried unsheathed blades while soft southern heiresses clung to their knights for safety; evacuating the king’s court while servants cleared the broken glass. Many were covered in small cuts and bruises, some covered their eyes and ears, undeserving victims of Liam’s thunderous gambit.

“Ahem, royal mages, if any of you are healers I would ask you to attend the court. Our display was meant to be a spectacle, not an assault. These windows should have sparkled with my champion’s light…” Liam gesticulated towards the injured, waving one hand towards the shattered glass.

“We are your escort Lord Green, we musn’t leave you unattended.” Said Soren.

Liam thought for a moment,

“Rhendal spoke kindly to you Soren, so you have my respect. . I could not, in good conscience, allow your noble soul to endure hardship on my behalf. By the sacred name of Therun Perun Taloc, I pledge to conduct myself with the utmost decorum while your esteemed magi attend to those I have wronged. Should you harbor any trepidation regarding the king's ire, then I shall delay my entry for you to complete this noble endeavor. Pray tell, does this proposition meet with your esteemed approval?” Asked Liam, offering the man no choice.

Liam could hear wood creaking from Arlet’s spear, wondering just how strong his grip strength was in order to make the wood cry. Sorry Arlet! This will all work out. I hope… Quetzalcoatl showed me the day I will die, and it didn’t look like this palace. We will be fine… I think. Thought Liam, trying to shake the vision of a five towered castle.

Three mages looked nervously from Liam to Soren, waiting for his signal before they acted.

Now that I look at them side by side, Soren’s robes look different, gaudier and a bit redder with more flames, like a Guy Fieri shirt…

Soren was the first to break contact, he waved a hand, silently ordering them forward. Three mages from their entourage broke into a run, sprinting to the aid of the nobles. Liam stared after them with a jealous gleam in his eyes. He would have liked to see royal magicians ply their trade, but dared not cause any further disruptions. Smashing King Aldric’s stained glass windows was already going to cause enough trouble. If Greenwood emptied their treasury and doubled taxes for the next twenty years, it would not begin to cover the cost of those prismatic windows.

Looks like we’re starting out with a debt to pay… King Aldric, if you’re innocent of the portals I am like, super-sorry.

Nyota’s hand quivered in his, making Liam turn to her. Gently squeezing her hand as he examined every inch of her. The dress she wore was borrowed, and hastily tailored to fit between monster incursions. It carried no form of house crest or finer embellishments like interwoven silver wires, making it a conspicuously plain outfit amongst the extravagance of the royal court.

“You deserve so much more than hand-me-downs. One day, I wish to cloth you in dresses of silk and let you sing to the children you were never allowed to hold.”

Nyota’s cheeks turned a rosy red. A lovely shade she tried to hide in Liam’s chest, he held her close, stroking her short hair with the tips of his fingers and wishing this moment could drag on into eternity.

Hurried footsteps approached them. Captain Borgia was returning, this time with a dozen robed priests and a score of additional footmen. The twelve robed priests were covered in white robes inlaid with silver and embellished with gold. Their atrociously tacky attire struck Liam dumb. He could only stand and marvel at their staggering wealth, while idly wondering if the garments doubled as armor.

“His majesty wishes to hear the intentions of the Lightning Lord before he will permit your entry to his court.” Said Watch Captain Borgia, directing his words towards Nyota.

Liam watched him carefully, as well as the attendants with him. None of the new arrivals noticed the real target of Borgia’s words, mistaking his downward gaze as some form of deference to Liam. The presence of the priests concerned him more than their hollow eyes, save for one bishop who stood in the back, older and greyer than the others.

Why are they here? The church should be my ally, but their faces look troubled. Like Satan just slapped their grandma’s buttcheek… Arlet and Rhendal are known quantities, no problem there, why are they– oh– Nyota…

“Gaius Borgia, My intentions have been stated clearly in word and deed, barring a single accident which we have already made amends for.” Said Liam, gesturing towards the healed mages and knights.

Not wanting to hear Gaius’ excuses, he pressed on, raising his voice so all priests could hear.

“My purpose is twofold: herald the emergence of a Lightning Lord and to formally introduce my retinue to the court, in accordance with the law. Should this proposition arouse His Majesty's disfavor, I humbly request an audience to beseech his assistance in repelling the invasion afflicting my realm. If the king finds either cause acceptable, then we will wait for Soren’s healers to return and greet the king with a full complement of guards and magi, as is proper.” Answered Liam, drawing the attention of a number of court mages and onlookers.

Attendants and noble hangers on began to whisper at his insolence,

“-make the King wait for him?”

“A Lightning Lord!”

“Did that arse break all the windows?”

Liam began to wonder if they should leave, the day had gotten off to a rough start with the broken windows and injured soldiers, maybe coming back another day would allow more rational minds to prevail. But what kind of lightning lord sent a dozen heads to the king, showed up to break his windows, and then left?

Oof. That will get twisted faster than a Twizzler. Crap, Nyota painted us into a corner! No, she did everything I asked her to do, the fault is mine alone. It’s my responsibility to salvage this.

Sweat appeared on Gaius’ brow, and Liam suddenly became aware of how much gray was in his beard.

“Ah, the letter we received did not mention an armed escort. My sincerest apologies to Champion Arlet. Please come right this way with your lord.” He said, fabricating a diplomatic solution.

Arlet did not budge. His gleaming plate reflecting the noonday sun like a beacon of chivalry. If any member of Liam’s band demanded attention, it was him, catching the eye of a dozen nearby nobles. Liam counted fifty people in the courtyard now, and wondered how many people were left inside.

“Oh, that’s my mistake general.” Interjected Rhendal. “I wrote how Lord Liam would be presenting his household to the king. Did I not?”

Fresh whispers were born at Rhendal’s question.

“The lightning lord has a household!”

“So he has a wife.” Murmured several disappointed women.

“I only see a slave cat with him. Where is his wife and heir?”

“Don’t tell me that knight is his wife!”

Color drained from Gaius’ face as Rhendal spoke, eyes going wide as they moved from Liam to Nyota’s bare neck and then to Arlet.

“I see. May I request you announce your house at this time so I may assist your lordship in preventing future misunderstandings?” He said with a bow. Sweat beads running down the tip of his nose.

“You are acquainted with my champion of combat,” Said Liam, gesturing to Arlet.

“So let me present Sage Rhendal, Master of the college of fire and my champion of fire and darkness,” Rhendal inclined his head with a smile.

“And finally my Threefold champion, the Lady Nyota.” Finished Liam.

Arlet lowered his shield to reveal the blushing Eclispiarch. To her credit, Nyota found the presence of mind to curtsey, schooling her face with a wan smile to hide her embarrassment. Borgia went stiff as a board and averted his eyes, mumbling regrets under his breath. A knight in golden trim jabbed an elbow between his armored plates, jolting the watch captain back to the present.

“Yes! Three champions! One of them a threefold champion! Most unexpec -Ahem- most impressive Lord Baron. Follow me.” He said, spinning on his heel and marching up the stairs as quickly as he dared.

Whispers and rumors flitted from one noble to another, igniting their imaginations with idle chatter. A formal champion was generally someone who had attained level nine or ten in a field, making threefold champions exceedingly rare. Regardless of the kingdom they hailed from. Someone who was renowned enough to attain the rank of champion in three separate fields was beyond remarkable. They were a candidate for royalty. Though most nobles took this as an insult to King Aldric, for their wonder was matched with thinly veiled insults denigrating the ‘poorly dressed slavecat’ at the champion’s side. Liam’s blood boiled as they insulted Nyota, glaring death at any who dared to insult her directly.

As if sensing Liam’s angst the royal knights tightened their cordon, blocking the insults with their armored bodies. They surrounded them, pushing through the thickening crowd. Mages took up the rearguard, forming a tight hemisphere at Rhendal’s command, leaving Liam to wonder who they were protecting; him, or the king.

Gaius pushed his way through the throng of nobles, slipping into his old habits. Gruffly ordering poorer nobles out of his way, only to bow and scrape before nobles of greater influence or wealth.

Green has no memories of this kingdom being corrupt, so why do I feel like Gaius is taking bribes? Wait… Hold the phone! Is that why he didn’t help Arlet all those years ago? Did Blackwood buy him off…

A darker thought entered Liam’s brain.

Is Blackwood still paying Borgia…?