Villandra pulled Adireal along, making their way through the gathered crowd. Adireal stumbled along behind her, dodging folk as well as he could, keeping his cane from hitting people they passed.

"Where are we going," Adireal asked. "I, um, I can't move too fast and probably will have to rest soon."

Villandra stopped for a moment, pulling him under the sign of a shop, and giggled. "Don't worry, my Prince! We are going to one of the restaurants my family owns. Plenty of opportunity to rest and . . . Discuss our future."

Adireal looked her over briefly; she wore an expensive looking silken dress, and smelled pleasantly of flowers. Even as he caught his breath, his face split into a frown and he quietly replied. ". . . Our future?"

She pulled on his hand again, and began leading them deeper into the city. "Of course," she giggled again. "The future of Elveen-kind!"

Adireal took a deep breath, and followed the best he could. Normally, he would be able to outpace the woman, even with his lack of strength, but his lack of coordination hampered him severely. It was unlikely he would hurt himself, but he could not risk hurting any of the townsfolk. As they paused at another corner, Adireal caught his breath again and asked, "So . . . Um, you see . . . Huh, you see yourself as a big part of . . . the people's future?"

As she turned to him, clasping both of her hands around his, her eyes sparkled. "Of course! My family is from the people, and understand the common-folks needs far better than," she looked at Adireal, stopping midsentence, and coughed. "I mean," she started again, "We are not isolated from the commoners as . . . people of your station tend to be, and have observed . . . situations and consequences of the decisions of our leaders that may have . . . not been obvious to them." Taking a deep breath herself, she closed her eyes, scrunched her nose, and continued. "It takes people who are close to the heart of a matter, in order to solve it. Many of us feel as if the Clan Leaders and the Royal House have drifted too far . . ." Villandra had opened her eyes at this point and saw that she had Adireal's attention. "Wha-What is that look for?"

"It sounds like you practice that speech a lot," Adireal said, watching her curiously. Folks in the castle rarely got so animated in a discussion . . . In fact, some of the etiquette training Adireal had revolved around keeping an impassive face, regardless of what the discussion centered around.

"Oh, I do, thank you for noticing--hey! What is that supposed to mean?" Villandra's face quickly shifted from prideful pleasure to irritation.

"Well, you looked like you were concentrating hard, trying to remember what to say. Though I do think that you believe what you are saying . . ." Adireal looked behind them, vaguely in the direction they had come. He could still hear the announcer at the gathering, though the voices of the crowd had diminished greatly. "Just like I think the people back there believed what they were saying . . . But I could tell you that my family all believe that they are doing what is best for everyone too . . ."

The Elveen woman dropped his hands, balled her own into fists, and put them on her hips. "And what are you? Some sort of magical lie detector?"

"No . . ." Adireal replied, "But people tend to . . . act certain ways when they lie. Have a certain look. Say certain things. 'I only wish you the best, M'lord.' 'The Gods surely favor you, Adireal.' 'It is always a pleasure.'"

Villandra paused a moment, then cocked her head. "Hm. Well then, how about, 'I'm hungry. I don't mind missing my father's announcements,'" she paused and looked around quickly before continuing in a quieter voice, "'Though my father will CERTAINLY yell at me later for it . . . And I don't mind spending the afternoon with you.' How does that sound My Pri--um . . . " Villandra's gaze shifted for a moment before she looked him in the eye. "Would it be too bold to simply call you Adireal?"

Adireal could feel his pulse quicken again, and he glanced around once more. Though a few people were looking at them, no one should be within hearing range. At least, probably not, Adireal figured. Leaning in close, his snout almost to her ear, he whispered to her, "I, uh, certainly don't mind. However, uh, Villandra, there are those at court who would likely have you whipped . . . publicly . . ."

Letting her fists drop, Villandra shifted her weight from one foot to another, and distractedly chewed on her lip. "You see . . . Ah, Adireal, this is what I am talking about. What sort of life is it if I have to be worried about the authorities coming to take me into custody and whipping me for simply not calling you, 'My Prince?' We are a society seemingly stuck in a perpetual war with the menfolk, and it has taxed us for far too long. Should we not focus on defending our people, not subjugating them?"

With another long look at the commoners going on with their daily lives, Adireal came to a decision. He nodded to Villandra. "Lead on," he whispered, "And I will do what I can."

*****

After a long afternoon of eating and chatting, Adireal was on his way back to the castle. Even as Adireal approached the gate, he could see half a dozen figures waiting. "The guards are gone," he muttered. "Those are . . . Royal Knights. Fuck." It was possible that they weren't there for him. Possible, but unlikely. It would take an order from someone in the royal family to get these knights to do something so menial as guard the gates. Adireal knew from past experience that if they were looking for him, they would be at every entrance and gate; the last time he had angered his Grandfather enough to be forcefully sought out, there were guards waiting inside his bedchambers, just in case he managed to fly up to his window. Gritting his teeth, Adireal finished approaching the gate.

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"My Lord!" The group's leader called out, raising a fist to signal the other knights. "Prince Ranvaas has requested you to attend him, posthaste. We have been assigned to accompany you, in order to accommodate his Lordship's wishes." Though his face was hidden by his helm, Adireal could hear the strain in his voice. The other five knights quickly surrounded him, and Adireal glanced at each impassively.

'Fuck,' Adireal thought to himself. Keeping his face and voice as neutral as possible, he nodded. "Sir Derris; I thank you for your attentiveness to his Lordship's wishes. May all who serve the Crown have your grace and poise." The knight sighed in relief; Adireal had long been known to run from such encounters. They didn't need to know that he was exhausted, though they likely knew that he couldn't run even if he wanted to. Tapping his cane against the ground twice, he nodded to the knight. "Lead on."

They took him into the castle, staying on the bottom floor. This was something Adireal could be thankful for; the stairs would be his last task for the day. He was fully prepared to rest in bed after heading up them. Passing several meeting rooms, the group finally came to a stop in front of one of the smaller rooms. Four guards were posted outside, and one of them nodded to Sir Derris as they approached.

"He give ya much grief 'is time, Derris?"

Sighing loudly, Adireal's escort shook his head. "No, sir. Lord Adireal was a perfect gentleman today."

The guard laughed loudly. "Well, certainly a welcome first! He's prolly just too tired from bein' a 'gentleman' to 'is lady friend! Never thought I'd see the day when the lad discovered what to do wif 'is--"

A muffled voice from within the chambered called out. Since Adireal couldn't make out the words, he was sure no one else could either. However, the knights guarding the door immediately stood ramrod straight, and the door began to open. Esventin, the manservant of Ranvaas, pulled the thick door open. Amazingly, no one gagged at the manservant's smell; anyone besides Ranvaas's personal servant would be demoted for such bad hygiene. Looking past the portly Elve, Adireal could see Adonis and their Grandfather sitting in the back of the room, next to a wall sized map and surrounded by piles of papers.

Esventin bowed, and motioned the group forward. Adireal and the knights approached as Ranvaas began to speak.

"I said, 'Even if he is Lord Tamnin's son, and the surviving member of his house, it would be a shame if we had to flog him like a commoner for having a loose tongue. Worse still, if we had to confiscate his familial holdings after we liberate them from the enemy, because he no longer held enough esteem within our court.' That certainly would be a shame, wouldn't it, Sir Farvis?"

To his credit, the knight at the door didn't so much as flinch.

"Yes, your Lordship. Thank you for your consideration, your Lordship!"

"Bah." Ranvaas motioned with his hand. "Thank you, Sir Derris. I appreciate the alacrity you accomplished your task with. Kindly take Sir Farvis and . . . remind him what happens when such foulness of mouths go unchecked. Hmm?"

Sir Derris nodded, and bowed. "Yes your Lordship. It will happen at once."

Ranvaas looked to the rest of the group. "Those of you who are unneeded are dismissed. Adireal, you may approach us."

The knights quickly exited the room, and Adireal could hear the soft thump of Esventin closing the door behind them.

Adireal had listened to the tapping of his cane all day as he walked. At no point had sounded as loud to him as this instant. With his head lowered, Adireal approached the table. "I have come as requested, Grandfather. How may I serve the Crown today?"

Adireal could see his brother turn from him as he made a sound of disgust. "'How may I serve the Crown,' he says. Where was that consideration when you were off with your little tart today, Adireal?"

Looking up, he could see both his Grandfather's stony expression, and the hatred playing out over Adonis's face.

"While we work away here, the first thing you do once you are able to walk again is chase down some merchant's daughter for a dalliance? How disgusting are you, Adireal? How much did it cost the Crown?"

Confused, Adireal looked between them. "Um, it was free? It, uh, wasn't as good as what I could get here at the palace, but I wouldn't call it disgusting."

Adonis stopped for a moment, staring at Adireal in shock. "Not . . . as good . . . as you get here? How often . . . do you get 'it' here, Adireal?"

Adireal shrugged, noting Ranvaas's amusement at the conversation. 'Perhaps this is only mildly bad,' he thought to himself. "About . . . as often as everyone else? Though sometimes I sneak a little on the side? The ladies never seem to mind much, there is always plenty to go around."

Adonis's jaw dropped. "A . . . Little on the side?"

Ranvaas's smirk turned into a sneer. "He's talking about food, Adonis."

Adireal quickly nodded. "Of course. Villandra and I had lunch . . . what did you think I was talking about?"

Adonis took a deep breath. "I, uh, I thought--"

Still keeping his face as impassive as possible, Adireal nodded. "Yes, she provided lunch so long as I would listen to her petition. We sat together in her family restaurant, and discussed politics. It was . . . interesting to hear things from the view of a more . . . common viewpoint."

Adonis's confusion quickly faded to thoughtfulness, before switching back to anger. Sighing, he shook his head. "You really aren't that much of a fool, are you, Adireal? Who would WANT to be next to you? In PUBLIC, no less. She was using you. Using you to cause problems for people who are actually important. Using you to cause rumors that peasants can cling to instead of listening and obeying the wise words of those that the Gods have CHOSEN to guide them. You do know that her family is leading a movement to break away from our nation? When they do, they will be poised to become one of the new ruling noble families. This was NOTHING but pure political BLISS for her and her family!"

Adireal thought back to his afternoon . . . How close Villandra stayed to him, how she always talked badly about his family. Hanging his head in shame, he felt a warmth enter his cheeks, though the scales on his face could not show it. He had never thought someone would pretend to like him; there had never been a need for anything like that in the castle. He squeezed his eyes shut as he thought of Liliaana and the clergy-members, and the other folk who treated him nicely. Were they pretending too?

"Are you even paying attention?" Adonis slammed his hand into the table, looking for a reaction. When Adireal flinched, he resumed his tirade. "I knew it. I KNEW IT. You fell for it completely! Adireal, have you no more sense than a randy animal? Are you so much of a beast that we should chain you down--"

"Do not be so harsh on him, your Highness." At Ranvaas’s interjection, the room fills with silence.

"G-Grandfather," Adonis stutters in reply.

"Honestly. One day out from his bed rest and he presents us with a . . . Unique, err, opportunity. I had heard there was a growing voice within the lower classes, but I had not imagined it had become something like this. Adireal has discovered it, and given us an avenue to address it."

Even as Adireal's head pops up, looking between them with relief, his brother looks between them, slack-jawed and confused. "R-really, Grandfather? So you will meet them? Can we help the masses?"

"Pah!" Ranvaas snorted at Adireal. "His Lordship is correct, you are still a fool. Albiet, a useful fool in this instance. Come, Lord Adonis, we must prepare invitations for this Villandra and family. We should discuss the terms we will address . . . And my Lord, I am thinking of a 'suitable' topic that you may well enjoy; something perfect for someone showing so much interest in our little Adireal . . ."

Esventin rushes over to offer Ranvaas an arm to steady himself with as he stands, and quietly pushes his chair back under the table afterwards. Adonis quickly follows suit, still looking between Ranvaas and Adireal in shock.

Ranvaas pauses briefly as his manservant opens the door. "Come child," he called over his shoulder, "I sleep soon, and I wish to have plans in motion for when I awake next week."

Adonis finally turns his back to Adireal, and rushes after his mentor. "Yes Grandfather; I am ready."