Leaving the room, Riley and Raynin headed towards the palace doors. "Raynin?"

"I don't want to talk about it right now."

Riley stepped in front of her and kept her from walking. "We're going to have to talk about it eventually. You've just made me a suitor for crying out loud."

"I am fully aware of our status and do not need to be reminded. We can discuss this when I'm ready."

"Well, sorry to burst your little bubble, Your Highness, but the sun doesn't rise and fall at your command." Riley started to walk away.

"Hey! You don't get to say things like that to me and then walk away. You want to talk so badly, talk."

"Oh, yes I can. And no, I refuse to talk to you while you are acting this way. Just drop it and let's go to our meeting."

Raynin took a deep breath. "Fine. Tonight then."

"Tonight. Now, come on, Joseph's probably tired of waiting for us." Riley touched Raynin's shoulder and teleported the both them out to the archery field.

A servant exited the field just as Riley and Raynin appeared. "So, you guys are engaged? It's about time," Joseph stated as they walked up to him.

"I forget how fast news travels in this palace. Wait, I take that back. I don't think anyone can forget how fast information travels in this realm period."

"We're not engaged. He's just a suitor now. That's all."

"Everyone knows you're going to choose Riley so there's no point in denying the obvious."

Raynin slipped out of her dress and shoes. She pulled up the straps of her tank top that were hiding underneath her dress and pulled down her spanks so that they covered her thighs more. "You know what, I wish everyone would stop telling me what I'm going to do." She took the socks off the wooden table and slipped them onto her feet. "Turn." Riley and Joseph faced the opposite direction as Raynin removed her tank top and spanks and put on her leather vest.

"Well, if you weren't so indecisive and pessimistic, we wouldn't have to."

"Riley, do you want to start the meeting off?" Raynin asked, ignoring Joseph.

Riley coughed to ease the tension. "Sure. As you both already know, I had a meeting with the High Council."

"What? I thought you meant you had a meeting with King Shaul and his council," Joseph exclaimed.

"That's what I said. You can turn around now," Raynin added after slipping on her pants and boots.

"Like I said to Raynin, why in the world would I meet with a bunch of corrupt royals? I don't want them meddling in my affairs."

"Okay. Continue." Raynin picked up the daggers on the table. She lined herself up with the target.

"As I was saying, I had a meeting with the High Council today. I requested an audience with them for two reasons. The first being that I wanted to know whether I was correct about my lineage and the second I'll state after I've given you more information on the first."

"Okay well, start explaining." Raynin said impatiently. She threw the daggers one by one into the center of the target.

"It turns out, I'm a pure blood Anciént Oné. My mother is actually Lady Eliza."

"But she's..." Joseph began before being interrupted.

"Darker than him? That's very common for Anciént Onés. They're not born to look like their mothers." Raynin explained to Joseph as she removed the daggers from the target.

"Exactly. How did you know that?" Riley asked.

"It's a long story. Irrelevant actually."

"Okay. Moving on. My second and most important reason concerned you."

"Me?"

"Yes, I wanted to know if I could still marry you even though I'm an Anciént Oné."

"And what did they say?" Raynin picked up the bow off the table.

"They said they couldn't answer that and said it depended on some things."

"I'd like to hear what those are tonight if you don't mind."

"Tonight?" Joseph passed Raynin an arrow.

"Raynin and I are having dinner so we can discuss our complicated yet inevitable relationship."

"Interesting," Joseph replied smugly.

Raynin pointed the bow and arrow toward Joseph and then back at the target. "What?" she asked with annoyance as she released the arrow.

He stepped back. "I just want to know why now? I mean, Riley has liked you since forever, and a day before you are to announce who you are going to marry, you add him as a suitor..."

"Joseph," Riley interrupted.

"No, it's fine. Let him finish." Raynin picked up another arrow and prepared to fire.

"What kind of person does that, Raynin? You knew how he felt about you and chose to ignore it. Was it a test? Look, I love you and wish you nothing but happiness. And that is why I'm saying this."

Raynin put the bow down and faced Joseph. "I know you think it cruel of me but I needed to be sure he loved me. His actions were not enough for me. I needed verbal reassurance as well. So, think what you want. It's not your heart on the line."

"I'm not going to hurt you, Raynin," Riley assured her stepping closer.

"Intentionally, no." Raynin picked up the bow and arrow and shot it. "Alright, enough with the heart to heart chit chat. We have important things we need to discuss. Riley, do you have anything else to add?" she asked, effectively switching the topic.

"No, I believe I've stated everything on my account."

"Joseph, you now have the floor."

"Okay. I did some snooping today and learned some things. One, it seems your father and King Orion are responsible for Colin's disappearance."

"I kind of figured that," Raynin interrupted.

"Raynin, let's keep the interruptions down to a minimum of none." Raynin rolled her eyes. "Second, King Shaul is going to declare war on Amiriel. Kieran reported that King Amir plans to pass the Crown of Amiriel to you. That just further solidified his plan to declare war."

"My grandfather is giving me one of the most coveted objects in the Guardian Realm?"

"Technically in all the realms. But yes, which means, you're the heir to his throne."

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"Nope." Raynin shook her head. "I don't want it."

"Why not?" Riley asked surprised.

"I don't want to have to deal with the trouble that comes with having the Crown."

"That's too bad because you really don't have a choice. And besides, you have to find all seven parts of the crown first before you can even wear it," Riley remarked.

"I could always decline."

"You could, but you're not going to. You love your grandfather too much to disappoint him," Joseph pointed out.

"I need to warn him now."

"You can't do that. It'll draw unnecessary attention to us. We're leaving for the Chosen Realm in two days so hold out until then, and we'll stop by Amiriel first."

"Fine. Is there anything else, Joseph?"

"One more thing. Shaul plans to involve Meela's brother."

"Azimuth? I thought Meela had him sent away." Raynin walked over to the target and removed the arrows.

"She did. Your father told her to stop being childish and to kiss and make up with him." Joseph said once she returned.

"That can't be good. Make sure you guys are packed tonight. I want to leave immediately after I announce who I've chosen to marry. If Azimuth is involved that could only mean bad news for us."

"Will do." Riley looked up at the sky. The pockets of light were high in the sky. "We need to start wrapping this meeting up. I have other matters to attend to. Raynin, what news do you have?"

"None that you guys don't already know."

"Then this meeting is over. I'll see you later, Raynin. Bye, Joseph." Riley teleported out of the archery field.

"So, I'll drop in if I happen to get anymore news." Joseph started to leave.

"Wait." Raynin picked up her gun and loaded it. "Thank you."

Joseph smiled. "You're welcome." He walked off the field leaving Raynin alone.

Raynin continued her lesson. She cocked the gun and pointed it toward the target. She closed her eyes and turned her head. She fired the gun five times and then opened her eyes. She walked over to the target and smiled. She managed to shoot a bullet into each ring and right into the bullseye. She walked back and placed the gun back onto the table and retired to her room. She rang the attendant's bell and began to undress.

"Yes, Princess Raynin? You rang?" Larissa asked standing in front of the door.

"Yes. Can you prepare my bath now? I need to wash this morning's troubles off me. Oh, and please make sure the water is hot. I was freezing after five minutes last time."

"Yes, Princess Raynin. Will that be all?"

"Yes. Thank you. When you're finished, you may take the rest of the day off. I don't think I'll be needing your services anymore today."

"Thank you, Princess Raynin," Larissa said with excitement.

"You're welcome." Larissa bowed and left to attend to Raynin's bath. Raynin sat on her bed for a while before getting up. She opened her door and beckoned to one of the guards stationed on her floor. "Mick, have this floor cleared in the next two minutes."

"Yes, princess." He immediately got to work and evacuated the floor.

Going back into the room, Raynin removed an exact replica of her current outfit from out of the wardrobe. She grabbed her boots and then left out the room.

#

Elsewhere, Queen Meela barged into King Shaul's meeting with the Duke's and Lords of the near kingdoms. "Why are you so blind to your daughter's evil ways?" she exclaimed, interrupting Shaul as he spoke.

"Would you excuse us please?" He nodded to his guests as they left the room.

"She and Riley are obviously planning something. Come on, she doesn't even like him in that way."

"I don't know, Meela. The love they have for each other seemed pretty genuine to me."

"Yes, that says a lot." Meela remarked. "You know nothing. You're on your second marriage!"

"And you have forgotten your place," Shaul exclaimed firmly grabbing her hair and tilting her head back so that his mouth met her ear. "Try to remember it next time or this won't be the only scar you receive here at this palace," he threatened, touching the scar on her neck. Shaul let go of her hair and then beckoned her to sit. "Now, like a more civilized person, address me again."

"It is my belief, my lord king, that Raynin bringing in Riley as a suitor is some kind of trick or something that's going to be bad for all of us. They're already powerful individually so just think how much more powerful they'll be when joined in marriage."

"You're overthinking this. There is no harm in the two of them getting married. Not everything they do is an act against us."

Clayton walked into the room unannounced. "You wanted a word?"

"Get out," Shaul commanded. Clayton turned to leave. "Not you, her." Meela took leave and didn't even bother greeting Clayton. "Did you show up to Raynin's room?"

"Yes, I did. I saw nothing wrong with it," Clayton boldly confirmed with a shrug.

"You saw nothing wrong with it? You crossed the line. Men are never to show up to a young woman's room. It's inappropriate."

"With all due respect, Your Majesty, you've tried to kill your daughter several times so you have no more right than I to try and judge anyone on what's immoral and inappropriate."

"I have no idea what the hell is wrong with you and Meela, but if the two of you don't learn your place, I'll have you removed permanently. Let's not forget who's really calling the shots. Now get out. And call the men back in here." Clayton left the room, sending back in those men who were waiting in the hall. "Damn fools think they're king." Shaul laughed as everyone took their seats. "Now, where were we?"

"You were just about to sign the Treaty of Naiéth ér Tovi," Lord Michel said sliding the treaty over to Shaul.

"Before I sign anything, I want to hear what this treaty entails." King Shaul started flipping through the pages.

"The treaty plainly states that on no means can you declare war against any of us without probable cause."

"This says all of that?" Shaul continued to flip through the treaty.

"It also includes the consequences for breaking the treaty," Lord Michel added, looking at the other men in the room.

"What are you looking at them for? Huh? Just by looking at the first two pages I've found errors and things I don't agree with. Are you trying to con me out of my land? Is that what this is, a conspiracy against me?"

"Absolutely not. We are merely ensuring the treaty doesn't get broken and that our people remain safe."

"By putting my territories up for barter? I think not." Shaul flung the treaty at Lord Michel. "You don't come back here until this treaty is revised to my liking." Lord Michel got up from the table and left the room. "You guys are giving me a headache with your staring. Get out." The men gathered their things and left King Shaul to himself.

#

Sometime later, underneath the palace, Riley and Raynin trained inside a simulation. Lying on the ground, Riley grabbed Raynin by her ankle as she tried to run past him causing her to fall flat on her face. Smirking, he got up and ran past her toward her sai.

Raynin slapped the ground in anger and waved her hand, throwing Riley into a boulder. She rose from the ground and ran and picked up her sai. "You're getting slow," Raynin pointed out, twirling the sai in her hand.

Riley dusted his dark pants off and straightened his gray long-sleeved shirt and blue vest before he unsheathed his sword. "You talk an awful lot for someone who's lost the last two battle rounds." Riley ran toward Raynin, teleported behind her, and slashed her back.

Raynin let out a cry and fell to her knees. She struggled to get back up at first but quickly regained control. Her eyes were no longer dark brown but shone red. Focusing her mind on several large rocks along the perimeter of the field, she lifted them into the air and hurled them at Riley. He teleported out of the way to in front of Raynin. She attempted to stab him in the heart but was blocked. Riley knocked one of the sai's out her hand. "Let's keep the fight fair." He dropped his sword and picked up her sai.

They continued to fight, blocking and dodging each blow the other tried to execute. Raynin finally gained the upper hand and wounded Riley. Blood started to seep through his sleeve.

Triumphant in the moment, Raynin let her guard down. Riley took notice of this and side stepped her. He thrust her sai into her stomach and she began to power down. Her eyes turned back to brown before the simulation ended.

They both awoke in a tank of bio gel inside a dimly lit room. An elderly man stood in between the tanks and motioned for them to do another round. Raynin shook her head and removed her oxygen mask causing the fluid in her tank to drain. Riley removed his mask as well to let the bio gel drain. Once drained, they stepped out of the tanks completely dry and spat up water due to the side effects of the simulation.

"What the hell is your problem?" Riley demanded.

"Nothing. And don't talk to me like that. I'm allowed to make mistakes and be normal just like everyone else."

"Except for, we're not like everyone else."

"Enough," the man finally interjected. "Watch how you speak. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Master Sy."

"Good. Now give us a moment please." Riley glanced at Raynin and left the room. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"It's nothing. I'm just having an off day."

Master Sy shook his head. "I know you a little better than you think."

Raynin sat down. "It's this whole engagement thing. It's very distracting. I mean, I love Riley, I'm just scared."

"Of what exactly?"

"I don't know. Why am I telling you all of this?" Raynin stood up.

"Because I asked." Master Sy continued to write notes down on his clipboard.

"Yes, well, you're here as our trainer not our counselor. Let's remember that."

"Well, since I'm the trainer and you're not, you will do as I say next time when in the simulation. And you'd do best to remember that." Riley walked back into the room.

"Master Sy, there won't be a next time. Unfortunately, Raynin and I no longer require your service. We haven't for a long time. Our powers have grown way beyond your understanding and I don't believe there is much you can do. We've been selfish in keeping you here all these years so we do apologize for that. You have done a lot for us, so thank you."

"Very well. It's been a pleasure to serve you both. I'll leave you two."

Riley handed Raynin her apple and waited for Master Sy to leave. "I apologize for how I reacted, but what was all of that earlier?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Stop doing that. You're pushing me away, Raynin. Every time things get too sentimental or serious for you, you draw back."

"It's because I'm scared," Raynin said defensively.

"What are you so afraid of? You know what, never mind. Don't answer that." Riley left out of the room and then came back in. "Are you coming or not?" Raynin grabbed her belongings and left with Riley.