The hall was eerily silent.

I’d expected the extravagant stonework that decorated nearly every part of the room. Where most of the ‘important’ places that I’d been had paintings hanging on the wall, the palace had statues. I couldn’t believe the detailed craftsmanship of each one of them. There was something that buzzed on my skin as I approached a statue of an Insikkar. The native race were heavily muscled and stood as tall as an Elf. Their monkey features and villages built in trees had created a lot of jokes at the race’s expense, but I knew that many of those adventurers and rangers who made the jokes rarely went into a forest that was guarded by the Insikkar. Trespassers were never heard of again. You just didn’t mess around with them on their home turf.

The thing that interested me the most was that I could feel something that seemed like it was alive inside the statue. It was much different from the feeling that I’d gotten back in the abandoned Exindo city. This one felt more primal, almost like it was only a heartbeat without any emotion.

I turned to the Dwarf that had escorted us to the palace. The short bearded man was wearing a suit similar to mine and standing very rigidly by the door on the opposite side of the room from where we had entered.

“What’s the deal with the statues?” I walked over to the next one, which was a Lebak, a large feline monster that could get as big as four hundred pounds. The same buzzing was inside this one as well.

“They are Elementals to guard the palace.” The Dwarf’s sharp voice cut through the silence like a spell being broken. “Now come with me.” He eyed the two of us. “Have you ever been in the presence of royalty?”

I thought about reminding him that I was a prince, but Starna elbowed me in the ribs before I could say anything.

“We have and will conduct ourselves with grace and respect.” Starna’s voice had become as smooth as silk since we’d left the jewelry shop.

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I felt the pull to follow her and help her with whatever she asked. I could see that our escort was feeling it too as his face softened. I blinked a few times and focused on the mission. I couldn’t have Starna charming me right now, though that would be an interesting talent to explore later.

“I will go announce you to the king.” The escort slipped the door with more grace than I had ever thought possible from a Dwarf. Once he was gone, that left only the two of us in a room with a lot of statues that were sort of just sleeping.

“That thing you did.” I gestured at where the escort had been. “With your voice. How’d you do that?”

“It’s a soothing spell, sort of.” Starna looked me over. “I inherited it from my dad… You could see it working but it didn’t affect you?’

“Oh, I felt it.” I grinned. “But my mind is a little stronger than what it takes to resist what you let out. I wouldn’t mind letting you try to charm me once we get back to Hepool though.”

Starna blushed again, but before either of us could say anything, the door opened and motioned for us to follow him.

The throne room had even larger statues, but these were all monsters. The most impressive one was the four headed hydra that was looming over the back of the throne. Almost as if it was daring anyone to try to get past it to hurt the king.

“Your Majesty.” Starna and I spoke in unison, though while she knelt down on one knee to bow, I only gave a slight bow at the waist. I could see our escort trying to get me to kneel too, but from what I remembered about protocol in these situations, royalty didn’t kneel in front of other royalty unless they were acknowledging that they were in a position of servitude. In most cultures, being older in the line of succession would have made me first in line for the throne. The way our culture worked was that the oldest grandchild of a king was given the role of protector of the throne, while the second oldest was given the crown. Alessa and I were the only grandchildren, and she had even offered to forsake tradition and give me the crown. I hadn’t wanted it though. Taking the title of prince and keeping my freedom was good enough for me, plus I didn’t think I’d make a good king. My cousin was much better suited for that role.

The veins in the Dwarf’s neck looked like they were about to pop, so I decided to save him some anxiety.

“King Arcus Deepvein, I am Prince Sectum Gravis Malus Irongut of Hepool and it is a pleasure to meet you.” I straightened up and looked straight at the old man.

It was time for the meeting to start.