Aine has been perusing the dreary castle for a while, desperately avoiding her room. She wishes to do anything but sit in that room and bask in memories of her mother. Braelyn's unexplained absence makes the whole situation more frustrating.

No one is shadowing Aine, she figures it is because Vulstis Keep is the most heavily guarded place in the kingdom, and finally decides to sneak off to the armoury despite Sir Davys's earlier warning. His wink makes it seem like the worst that could happen if she gets caught is a scolding from him. That is just embarrassing more than anything. She has not picked up a sword in what feels like an age, and fulfilling that urge to practice swordsmanship is worth the embarrassing lecture.

Aine bustles along the corridor, the vast emerald skirt billowing behind her, swerving around the servants and squires as she navigates down a familiar spiral staircase and exits onto the courtyard. She pauses for a moment at the sight of the large statue of foxes fighting that used to feature in many of her childhood nightmares. Their emerald eyes are barely visible in the pale light of the day but their bared, pin-like teeth are still as menacing as ever. The flowing water feature beneath them retains their hind legs in a constantly wet state. Not many plants grow in this courtyard as the weather in Vulstis is much colder and harsher than in Nocriam, which begs the question as to why the Vulstis Court insists their Ladies wear such revealing outfits. As if on cue, Aine feels a chill crawl up her spine and jumps back into action, instinctively taking the path to the left of the statue.

The armoury is just as she remembers it. Bullseye targets set up to the right. Sword stacking stations to the left. Aine almost giddily skips towards the swords, failing to notice the young man exiting the main armoury shed.

"What are you doing here, m'lady?" he questions, gently placing the broken bow he was fixing on the floor.

Aine turns around in surprise, eyes wide like a deer in headlights. Someone has not snuck up on her undetected in a while. She frantically grasps behind her for a sword handle whilst scanning the man's face. His features are gentle, giving the impression of a child, but the thick angled eyebrows, scarred upper lip and scruffy hair tied lazily into a low ponytail are a giveaway that this is definitely a grown man. She stares into his hazel eyes and immediately pieces everything together.

"Rian?" she asks, still cautious.

"Yes?" he confirms, confused.

Aine smirks, finally securing a sword and swivelling it around to point it at his throat. Rian's eyes widen.

"Rian Davys, we meet again. Looks like I'm still better than you at...well, everything." Aine teases.

"Aine?!"

"Obviously. Who else around here has hair as red as mine? Honestly, do you live under a rock?" She lowers the sword and uses it to lean on.

Rian sniggers. "My father tries to make it that way. The further away I am from King Min, the better. Although, he's a bit of a hypocrite considering he's now Sir Davys of The Royal Council."

The two laugh at the irony of it all, old friends enjoying the moment as if no time has passed between them. Aine, even for a second, is allowed to be the young adult that she is. The world feels slightly less lonely as she recounts childhood memories of Sir Davys overseeing duelling lessons between Rian and Aine as Ciar Highmarch, Lord Berach Highmarch's eldest daughter, cheered both of them on. Aine would tease Rian everytime she won a duel, but Sir Davys would always remind her to be honourable. Ciar would be the peacemaker and compliment both of them on their performance. Vulstis may not be perfect but King Min really did ruin what was good.

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"What happened to Ciar? I haven't seen her around." Aine enquires.

Guilt and sadness carves itself onto Rian's features, and to Aine who is used to seeing this man as nothing but energetic and happy, it is discomforting. "Her father was concerned she was spending too much time with me, a man without status, so he married her off to some Belltorian Lord General. He's trying to do the same with her sister."

Aine's jaw slackens. The elegant and kind Ciar in the military state of Belltoria? They would have eaten her alive by now. But what could Rian and Aine do for her? "Poor Ciar. Her sister? What was her name? She was so young when I was here, and her mother insisted on keeping her at Arionnach Hill." Aine inquires, mind blanking at the youngest Highmarch child's identity.

"Braelyn. Lord Highmarch is trying to marry her to King Min."

Aine feels sick to her stomach, but it makes sense. She has been suspicious of Braelyn for a while, and now she knows the reason why. Hopefully marrying King Min will be her karma- that man is incapable of being anything but cold which will make her nothing but miserable.

"Your father warned me against coming here, by the way. So are you going to at least pretend you tried to protect the armoury?" Aine swiftly changes the topic, challenging Rian to a duel to distract herself from the revolting thought of Braelyn Highmarch being Queen of Vulstis.

Rian chooses a weapon from the stack and their swords clash, both of them grinning.

"Bring it on!"

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King Min had overseen the entire interaction at the armoury from the grand balcony in his quarters. He continues to peer at the two as the clanging of Aine and Rian's swords echo across the courtyard. He would allow himself to admire Aine's skills if he did not despise her so, especially as she does not seem to let the restrictive dress bother her. If anything, it makes her movements more elegant, as if she is doing some kind of dance.

King Min sucks his teeth, reprimanding himself for allowing his mind to think something so positive about his enemy.

"Your Grace." Lord Highmarch announces his presence, to which King Min accepts without even turning to address.

"What is it?"

"I have come to talk about the situation with my daughter, Braelyn." Lord Highmarch begins.

King Min sighs, glaring from over his shoulder at Lord Highmarch through his scarred eye. Lord Highmarch cowers a little.

"What about it? She did her job well, we learnt about Caylus's plan to tell Aine to treat me like King Ailill Olom and wrap me around her little finger. She's relieved of her duties as Aine's maid." King Min states nonchalantly, as if that is the end of the issue.

"She is grateful for your praise, Your Grace. But there is something else I wish to discuss regarding Braelyn..."

King Min raises a questioning eyebrow.

"She has long admired Your Grace from afar but has never been able to get close enough to truly express her affections. With the current conflict with Nocriam, Vulstis is in need of an heir to secure its future. I would like to suggest a marriage between yourself and my daughter, a true Vulstis Lady." Lord Highmarch proposes, bowing at the end for good measure.

It is silent for a beat, then King Min simply tsks.

"I do not need nor want a Queen. Tell me, what do you think Caylus Sampson would do once he hears that I have a Queen? It is one more thing that makes me weak, one more thing that can be used against me. That is not what I need right now." King Min sneers, pain flickering behind those dark eyes. Those are not just the words of a King, but the words of very hurt man- the words of Min Yoongi.

"But, what if, Gods forbid-"

"Your Grace!" Lord Highmarch's reparation attempts are interrupted by a squire bursting into the King's quarters unannounced.

"WHAT IS IT?!" King Min yells, rounding on the squire.

"Caylus Sampson...he's taken Coimeach Pass! The flag of Nocriam flies over its turrets!" the squire informs, out of breath.

King Min stares in disbelief for a moment before taking to pacing the length of his quarters, rubbing his temples. "Get Advisor Hwang."

"I tried...but no one can find him."

"What? What do you mean no one can find him?! Go again and look harder! Lord Highmarch, make yourself useful and fetch Sir Conall." King Min spits.

Both men scurry out of the room. This is bad. Caylus Sampson is home, and he is out for blood. He wants his daughter back.

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