“It seems that we have visitors on their way, my King.” Palah said before the dais of a darkened throne. His body cloaked in a robe. The ministers head concealed, only his nose revealed itself from the hooded shadow.<br/><br/>“Do you know who they are?” Renju, King of magic questioned.<br/><br/>“They have come from your cousin’s palace. Two women, one old and the other young, are being escorted by his men. They will be arriving shortly.”<br/><br/>“Just what I need.” Renju placed his hand on his head. Inside, it felt like a mace being lodged into his cranium every moment. “Very well, go to the entrance and prepare for their arrival. I am interested in what mess my cousin has slopped on my courts this time.”<br/><br/>“As you wish.” Palah bowed and then disappeared into the pitch-black room.<br/><br/>-		-   -	   ------			 -  -<br/><br/>Little time passed for the king to gather his thoughts. The main doors parted ways and a daggering breeze carried on winters wind passed through the throne room.<br/><br/>Besides, Palah, there was no one. He’d come as a gift from his very own cousin. Every other magic user had vanished like ghosts. The halls that were once filled with life and magic, now only shadowed by the foretold prophecy- that one day, magic would die, and this kingdom would fall. No one believed the ol’ sooth, but when the plague of Asteros hit the Kingdom, and then the castle taking everyone but Renju himself, it appeared the prophecy was unfolding.<br/><br/>Renju resented his life having to be the carry of such a burden. However, he clung to hope, that one day, he would find himself a wife and that she would bear his lineage, even if they didn’t carry magic themselves. He refused to let his cousin have full ownership over these lands.<br/><br/>Shades of ember eclipsed in the shadows consumed the king’s throne. At the bottom of the stairs, two blue flames danced but gave no warmth to the palace. The kingdom’s flags draped down from the ceiling, only glinting an appearance every so often from the sapphire-flames.<br/><br/><b> <i>“King Dracos has sent me on official business. He does not wish the magic of your realm to die out, so he presents you with a most precious gift. A woman with abilities like your own.”</i></b><br/><br/>Silence.<br/><br/>The red-embers that circulated at the top of the dais fell to the ground, slithering away revealing the king at the top of the throne. His elbow propped on the black arm, with his hand underneath his chin. His golden eyes pierced the darkness as they found their way to the captain who stood looking back at him with a cocky smile plastered across his lips.<i>How foolish. </i><br/><br/>The other king, his cousin always pushed the boundaries between right and wrong. First, he sent him a servant, that took him years to accept and even longer to trust. He’d leave the kingdom and come back to mugs and people lying on the ground. Dracos had no respect for his authority nor did he recognize his kingship. He was only a young, jealous son of a bastard king.<br/><br/>“A woman with my abilities? How foolish has Dracos become, captain, or should I say- boy? If your lord truly cared, then he would allow me to make decisions for myself. And lastly, if you remain in my presence with your cocky attitude, then that lovely soldier standing with his ear to the door will have your position! Do I make myself clear?”<br/><br/>“Remember the etiquette my King,” Palah interrupted.<br/><br/>Renju glanced at his servant but nodded. “Isn’t this amusing, even a servant is more useful than a captain who can’t even defend against the lowest of spells. Call yourself worthy, but this man, has honor<i>to stand in my presence.”</i><br/><br/><i> <b>“I am not simply a woman. I am the rightful heir to the crown of Hammerfell.”</b></i><br/><br/>The king had gotten so caught up in his amusement with the captain, that he’d not even noticed the women who accompanied him. When the woman spoke, his golden eyes fixated on where her voice spoke.<i>Hammerfell? Has Dracos gone mad? </i><br/><br/>“This is not Hammerfell. This is Plethora, and if I am not mistaken,” Renju stood up from his throne. The crimson-embers rising to the height of his waist, “You seem to be misplaced. Hammerfell is not welcome here, nor is your magic.”<br/><br/>Renju observed. His eyes finding the woman who stood a few paces behind her. He could indeed sense a strong presence of magic in the one behind her, but the woman who claimed royalty, her presence was very dim.<br/><br/><b> <i>I have been displaced and my family has been murdered. Your cousin said if I offered a chance at continuing a line filled with magic, he would aide me in bringing the murderer to justice.”</i></b><br/><br/>Renju’s golden eyes fell on the captain as the same cocky smile crossed his face. “So Dracos has become so desperate for magic he results in treason? Some king.” He turned back to the princess, “Dracos, the bastard child, doesn’t make decisions for me. I am afraid that you were misinformed, but I have no use on betraying my ancestors and kindred. Your people have sworn to eradicate us for three-hundred years, and now that you’ve been seized, you come clinging to me.” Renju raised his hand, “See to their departure Palah.<br/><br/>“Fate has a weird way of speaking to us, but I believe Justice to your kind has been dealt. You no longer threaten and blaspheme our gods.” He said as he took a step back and seated himself on the throne looking in the woman’s eyes as Palah began moving towards them.<br/><br/><a class="username" data-user-id="8" data-username="@Alchemy" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/8/">@Alchemy</a>