“This makes no sense, Mother. We know too little to be so calm about the situation.” rang a shout from behind the door.
“I agree with Nikolaos, we should just refuse them and see how the Empire responds” came another voice.
Alexander rushed through the doors immediately, with the rest of the group following closely behind.
Queen Theodora had her eyebrows flared up, but held her composure in her reply. “You claim to have heard whispers of something big, Niko. But whispers aren’t nearly enough justification to turn away an Imperial Delegation. Anna, surely you understand the weight of such a decision.”
“Her Majesty, makes a valid point my Prince.” chimed in Prodos, immediately after entering. “It is far better to conclude this incident without giving them any excuse for provocation.”
Niko clicked his tongue at Prodos’s interjection, he didn’t need to deal with another headache at the moment. His mood improved slightly when he saw Alexander and his friend Ervinos walk in, along with his uncle.
“It’s not so simple, Uncle.” retorted Prince Nikolaos, “The Diaf have brought a mage and want to conduct examinations of all noble children to confirm that they haven’t learned to use magic. They’ll have the entire nobility of Ikona in a single room, imagine what they could do!”
“We are in the Royal palace of our very own capital, Nikolaos.” shouted Theodora Ikona, slamming her hand on the table. “The Diafthoreat delegation is only 15 men strong, we have the royal guard and the Mukuru have also brought back 30 Hatha. If we cannot face them here, then where else?”
Nikolaos kept quiet this time, he had a problem but did not want to discuss the issue any more if his Mother would not entertain a different option. “Will I be declared successor then?” he asked in an annoyed tone.
“I’ll let them know” replied the Queen nonchalantly.
Ervinos turned to Aikaterine to see her reaction. As expected, the girl's face showed a great sigh of relief. She was always worried that she’d somehow end up burdened by the responsibilities of the crown, she would much rather be a Grand Archon instead.
“Cousin Prodos. Please ask the nobles to gather their children and come to the throne room. We will finish this pointless charade here.”
“At once, Your Majesty.”
“Mukurus, I leave me children to you” waved the Queen, as she turned around and stared out the window.
-----
The Mukurus left immediately after, with the Royal Twins alongside them. As they headed out of the palace, they ran into a man in an odd white cloak. He wore a loose sleeveless garb that revealed a full set of chain armour underneath. He stared straight at the group, with a mystical golden shine illuminating his eyes.
The man approached Aikaterine and Nikolaos, who instinctively moved behind Anna Mukuru. He continued staring for a minute, then turned and left without saying another word. As he walked away, Aikaterine got a clear look at the elaborate pattern on his back - a golden, radiant sun in the centre and a silver crescent moon lying beneath.
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“I thought the Empire had turned against the followers of Rihla?” quizzed Ervinos, who recognized the symbol immediately. “What’s one of them doing in the Imperial delegation?”
“The path of Rihla is more complicated than we thought.” answered Nikolaos, who had heard enough from his sister to say at least this much with authority.
“The Lightseekers of Rihla aren’t a single organization, but rather a label, there are several groups with differing leadership originating from all over the Southern Continent.” explained the princess, “As far as I can tell, the Emperor grew angry with the largest Lightseeker group around the Imperial capital of Noirfort and eliminated them, but they did so with the support of other competing Lightseekers.”
“What about the attack on the Holy City? Surely that enraged the followers of Rihla in the population?”
“That’s what we don’t quite understand,” continued Nikolas, “But from what Katerine can tell, Rihla worship is so old that it looks different in different regions. Maybe the people don’t really see Bāb Al-Nūr as a Holy City any more?”
It was idle speculation that gave them no help in their current predicament, but Ervinos was sure of one thing after seeing the glow in that man's eyes - he was a light mage.
The Mukurus regrouped with the Hatha outside the palace, while Ervinos introduced Symeon to the twins for the first time.
“This is Symeon Umpetha, son of the Hatha Commander Alcides Umpetha.” announced Ervinos, “He is one of the most capable Hatha in our army, some would say second only his father - the Magektonos.”
“Sir Mukuru gives me too much praise, Your Royal Highness.” said Symeon stiffly as he kneeled before his future monarchs. Ervinos, meanwhile, was reeling from hearing Symeon call him ‘Sir Mukuru’.
“Didn’t Ervin tell you anything about me?” complained Aikaterine haughtily, “Don’t bother with these formal greetings, I never once cared for them.”
Symeon immediately shot a stare at Ervinos, who was struggling to keep his laughter contained. Ervin had in fact told him that Aikaterine was “A traditional noble lady, proper and formal as can be” and that he should “take care that his etiquette doesn't upset her and ruin his chances of becoming the next Hatha commander”.
Nikolaos, meanwhile, greeted Symeon with a formal royal bow and ordered him back up to his feet.
The warrior rose awkwardly and began to speak just a little less formally. “My father informs me that Ervin, and I am to stay by the two of you at all times. Your safety is assured with us by your side.”
Ervin nodded with seriousness, wanting his friends to know that the two of them would put their lives on the line if anything were to happen. Since they were all the same age, they would be allowed to stand with the rest of the children in the Imperial magic inspection, and so would never have to leave the twins’ side.
“Also, Niko. Congratulations on being declared successor!” chided Ervinos teasingly.
“Should I congratulate you for inheriting your families name as well?” shot back Niko at the single child.
Symeon, however, was shocked to see the Princess’s reaction, or rather lack of it. Did she not care at all about being denied the throne?!
The two acquainted themselves with Symeon, and half an hour quickly flew by.
-----
“Sir Mukuru, the arrangements are ready. The noble families are to assemble in the throne room, while the children will proceed to the great Hall for the magic test.” reported a Royal butler.
The general turned to face his child - “Ervinos, these two are your responsibility. If you see something suspicious, act without hesitation.”
Ervinos nodded his head in understanding, and watched as Alexander took Alcides and a handful of Hatha to go serve as the Queen's guard.
“Your Highness, if you will follow me.” requested the butler with grace, as he offered to lead the children towards the hall.
“If you don’t mind, I would like to take the long way there. Through the courtyard and around, should be good.” requested Prince Nikolaos, in a commanding tone that left the recipient with little choice.
“As you command, my Prince.” he acquiesced elegantly, as he began walking forward. As they walked into the palace gates, the guards at the front split into groups, with a couple of them following the royal entourage.
The walk took over 10 minutes, Nikolaos took them past nearly every other open area possible on the way to the meeting hall, and took his time to greet as many people he saw along the way whether he recognized them or not.
“Your Highness. I worry the Imperial delegation may find our tardiness…disrespectful.” cautioned the butler, with a delicate and measured tone.
“Why, of course!” laughed Nikolaos as turned around at smiled at one of the four guards around them. “How silly of me. Let’s proceed immediately.”
He then leaned forward and whispered in Ervinos’s ears. “Don’t react. Don’t say a word. The enemy has taken control over the Royal Palace. Get us out of here, now.”