The conversation between Sanguine and Lenally would have to continue at another time, as the carriage arrived within the main courtyard of Castle Theiri. The Aserit royalty gathered together, and Sanguine slipped back to stand with their honor guard. San could hear the king and queen, assembling their children to prepare to enter the castle.<br/><br/>San had hoped there would be an opportunity to make the acquaintance of the King and Queen who he knew only by reputation, but he suspected that they might have frequent need of his services if the peace talks went the way San suspected they would.<br/><br/>San could feel tension coming from the armored soldiers around him, all feeling that he didn’t belong. With his silken, tailored suit, Sanguine looked like a true Theiri nobleman, appearing more within his element than any of the other Aserit visitors. In a sense he was, he’d been in Theiri long enough to learn much of their culture and custom, in many ways he was more accustomed to the Theiri ways than he was to the Aserit, despite his role accompanying the royal family into the palace.<br/><br/>Recognizing the sound of bells from a way off, the blind assassin bit his lip nervously. Had the Theiri royal court really sent poor, petite Erin to welcome these battle scarred warrior kings? To call this an error in judgment would be a vast understatement. Erin was certainly charming and clever, but nothing about anyone from the kingdom of Aserit bespoke of a sense of humor.<br/><br/>Erin came bounding out as seemed to be her way, and she made a valiant effort to endear herself to the visiting royals, that only she and Sanguine knew she would be serving soon. Her efforts were not well received. While the Theiri servants and couriers giggled into their sleeves, Erin’s antics elicited only gasps and scoffs from the Theiri royal family.<br/><br/>San wished there was something he could do to help, to try and explain the good natured taunts away. But it was not his place.<br/><br/>Eyes whined softly, ever sensitive to the shift in people’s moods as Erin quickly raised the ire of all her guests. The walk up the long central stairway to the throne room was long and tense. But things went from bad to worse when the procession reached the throne room.<br/><br/>King Archibald Aserit was livid. He called for poor Erin to be hanged in punishment for her introduction! Sanguine had to bite his tongue to prevent speaking out of turn. She had helped him, when the tables were turned, and it was San who the Theiri court wanted to see swing. But this was very different, there was nothing he could do without endangering himself and making an enemy of both kingdoms. Though Eyes was growling now, San had to rely on Erin’s own cunning to save herself. He’d done all he could for her.<br/><br/>Soon enough the situation seemed to be alleviated when the Theiri prince spoke up and gave homage to the Aserits that San could only hope would be deemed appropriate by the royals. Sooner or later, Sanguine would need to decide once and for all how much he was willing to risk for his newest ally.