Walking in complete silence, one of the knights sent a message ahead of us, ready to meet up with the king and I expected some other faces to be present, especially since it included the safety of the princess.

I could sense her gaze on me as she walked behind me, she tried to come beside me, but one of the knights stopped her; making us walk in a single line as if we were criminals.

I wasn’t entirely sure how I could get myself out of this one as we crossed the bridge then we were within the castle walls, not long now before I got a huge telling off.

The four knights stopped at the throne room doors, pushing them open and indicating for us to go in.

I felt my whole body shrink back as I saw King Alton, Queen Daz, Dumah, Gual, Master Lance. Seeing all of I knew this was not going to go well.

“Enjoy your little trip?” snarled King Alton.

“Dad let me explain.” Tigra began but King Alton shushed her by raising his arm.

“I understand you and Tigra have been friends for a long time now, but that does not give you the permission to leave Cathopia with her to some random festival with no proper protection,” he shook his head.

“Very much could have caused harm to the princess,” chimed in Dumah.

“I thought you were smarter than this,” commented King Alton, his expression of one as if I had betrayed him.

“Perhaps we should listen to them,” said Master Lance, attempting to calm the king. “Fang.”

“It was my idea.” Tigra had answered instead. “I told Fang I had permission to go, as long as he went with me.”

“Tigra.” Queen Daz was shocked.

“I would never have been allowed to go, and my favourite performers were there, The Performing Butterflies.” She gazed up at the ceiling thinking about it. “And Fang has been missing his dad so much, I just wanted to cheer him up.”

“I doubt you were the one who decided,” spat Dumah. “Tigra knows the rules and her duty to the crown,” his voiced hissed as he said it. I saw the dark mist glisten as it tighten a little more around the king. “I bet it was all Fang.”

“I admire you for trying to protect Fang in this matter Tigra but lying is not something you should be doing as future ruler of this kingdom,” responded King Alton.

“You shouldn’t just presume,” snapped Queen Daz, glancing at King Alton, then snarled at Dumah.

“Can you prove otherwise?” questioned Dumah.

“No,” she shook her head.

“See then it must be true, he’s always been a bad example for the princess,” said Dumah, trying to take control of the situation.

“Alton,” began Master Lance. “Do you not remember our youth as we caused trouble for your father and Guardians. How we would venture outside the castle on a daily basis, stealing from the orchards you own.” King Alton nodded at his words. “Once we got lost in the deepest parts of the forest, for two weeks, they had to send a search party.”

“I remember that,” smiled Queen Daz. “Amora had to find you.”

I noticed a smile grease King Alton’s lips and the darkness seemed to lift a little. “Perhaps you are right, they are still young.”

“What?” Dumah had lost some footing in this.

“Is what Tigra said true Fang?” asked King Alton.

“Yes,” I nodded.

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“Brendan, Athena.” He addressed them next.

“I told you it was a bad idea,” shrugged Brendan. “But what she says is true.”

“I guess we all wanted the same thing,” admitted Athena. “Fang misses his dad more than he admits, we just wanted to cheer him up.”

“You miss Yamato that much eh?” smiled King Alton.

I glanced around at everyone in the room, their eyes on me. They all felt sorry for me, it wasn’t like my dad had died or something, he was coming back soon, I knew he would. All the same I still missed him, but did I dare to admit it. I looked away, looking in a direction where no one was standing.

“Your silence speaks volumes, as I too miss my old friend,” admitted King Alton.

“Your majesty,” snarled Dumah. “We discussed this before his arrival, he needs to have his title removed, it doesn’t matter if it was the princess’s idea, he still took her outside the city of his own free will.”

“My title removed,” I gasped.

“You may be a knight-in-training, but you are a knight all the same and such a disregard of a royal’s safety would have had you demoted,” mentioned King Alton.

“Disregard for her life, I don’t think so.” I stepped forward. “I will one day be Tigra’s Guardian and as such I would never let harm come to her, even during such a leisurely activity as a festival.”

“Is that so?” grinned King Alton.

“Yes,” I nodded filling with the will to stand up for myself. “I protected her, didn’t I? No harm came to the princess and because of Brendan and I no one was seriously wounded.”

“I have taken into consideration your words and what happened, you can keep your title future Guardian to Princess Tigra,” he seemed to chuckle a little, something I had seen so little of lately.

“But your majesty,” sorted Dumah glancing over at me.

“It was harmless fun Dumah, that went wrong,” shrugged King Alton. “But do make sure you get permission next time, ask your mother at least.” He was addressing Tigra now. “I really don’t need two kids wondering off without telling anyone.” He shook his head.

I glanced at Tigra, who mouthed ‘Hunter.’ She needn’t say anymore. I had to admit I never saw much of her twin brother, he seemed to act more like a stray cat than anything else.

“Sorry dad,” apologised Tigra. “I feared if I asked you still would not have allowed me to go, since I shook off Gual and my other Guardians.”

“I might have to think about your other two Guardians, they seem to lack the skill to watch you like Gual.” King Alton glanced at Gual, then Queen Daz. “I leave all future Guardian choices to you, my dear.”

“Of course,” nodded Queen Daz. “After all I did pick Gual, who I suspect was present during the attack.”

“I was your highness,” he bowed his head. “Young Fang and Brendan handled things quite nicely, but I’m afraid Princess Tigra needs to work on her temper.” Tigra snorted looking away.

“Just like her father,” smiled Queen Daz.

“This is nice and all, but he put the princess in danger,” snarled Dumah.

King Alton yawned. “Shut up Dumah.” Dumah went completely silent shocked at how the king had responded to him. I guess dad wasn’t the only one who brought out the good in King Alton, perhaps there was still hope for him yet. “You are dismissed for the day Dumah.”

“Wait?!” growled Dumah. King Alton rolled his eyes, then glanced at him, his teeth showing a little. Dumah was taken aback as the whole atmosphere changed in the room, every hair on my body stood on end and I felt danger. “F-f-fine.” And he left the room.

I stared at King Alton as the atmosphere quickly returned to normal. I was keeping an eye on the mist around him, it had even seemed to faulter, was Dumah’s influence over the king not as strong as I thought it was?

“Just make sure you pick the best,” he glanced at me. “Fang, thank you for protecting Tigra, but still you have a long way to go before playing the part you are meant to play in this fight of darkness.”

“Pardon?” I was confused, did he know more of what was happening than I gave him credit for.

“Continue to follow that heart of yours, it will tell you what to do.” He held his arm out and Queen Daz took it. “Now you are all dismissed. I have much to talk to my queen about.” And they headed off together.

“Sorry Alex.” Tigra came closer to me. “I didn’t mean for you to get in trouble because of me.”

“Next time don’t lie to me Tigra,” I said. “If things hadn’t gone the way it did, I could have lost my title and any hope of becoming your Guardian.” I felt slightly angry towards her, her intentions were good, she had only been thinking about me.

“I won’t,” she kept glancing at me and then the ground. It was obvious her emotions about these events were affecting her, wondering if she had done the right thing in taking me to the festival.

I put on a smile. “It was pretty fun.” Her gaze focused on me. “Thank you.” I shrugged. I wanted her to be happy, but my own emotions on the event were mixed. Brendan and Athena smiled, then came over.

“How about we head home for some of your mum’s cooking,” commented Brendan.

“Heck yeah,” I nodded. “Come on Tigra.”

“Right behind you.” We all left together heading for home.