Rime appeared in front of the Royal Academy holding Cyra in his arms, the guard that was there gave them a once over and then the gates opened. Rime stepped through the seal that surrounded the academy thanks to the Grand Mother that lived on it's grounds, he flashed to where the old castle was and spoke the pass. The castle slowly appeared and the doors opened, the woman rushed out and took Cyra from his arms before rushing them inside.

She lead them into the library and a glass of water appeared in her hands, she handed it to Cyra and allowed her to drink it down. When she was finished she took the glass and it vanished, she placed a kiss on Cyra's head and she drifted off to sleep. She was taken to their room and then Rime and the Grand Mother stood on the balcony in her office. "I saw what happened, she was never meant to use her magic like that, that was your job."

Rime nodded leaning on the ledge with a sigh, she rubbed my back. "It's okay, I do understand that it was never your decision to make, if you hadn't done it our kingdom would have been in trouble. You too should rest, the Arch Mage is on his way here, I will have a talk with him, okay?"

She ran her hands through his hair and placed a kiss on his head, Rime was out in a second and she flashed him to his room. She listened and could hear the Arch Mage's voice, she felt her blood boil as she flashed to the door and opened them. The old man watched her with a slight frown and walked up, she couldn't hold her anger back as the sound of her slapping him echoed through the room.

"Are you daft Sigmer, how could you allow the girl to do something so dangerous?!" She snapped at him and the Arch Mage looked ashamed which she thought he should. "You know that doing something like that could corrupt her magic and would tear her apart, if Rime only found out he would kill you and I would not stop him. You ever put my children in such danger again, I will have your soul and you will live out eternity in agony!"

She spun on her heels and walked into the castle the Arch Mage not far behind, she walked into the library and walked straight through the hall. She continued to walk even as she came up to the glass wall for the library, her body went through it with ease and the Arch Mage followed.

"You know if I could Jasaara I would but these things do not lie in my hands, I have no right to make the decisions for this kingdom, all I can do is lead from the shadows." She walked down a path that appeared as she moved and the Arch Mage waited for her reply, she stopped walking and he sighed.

"She warned us that leaving the kingdom in the hands of that family would be a mistake we would regret. I entrusted your family in taking back this kingdom from those who can not protect it, after everything she did to build it will you truly let it fall? She will never come home if that ever happens and soon we will need her, you have seen the disaster that going down this path will bring us, so why do you falter?"

The Arch Mage sighed and sat on a chair that appeared behind him. "If I try and take back the kingdom now it will fall and she will never come back. I must wait till after the war and then I will begin the process, it will still damage the Kingdom but we will be able to rebuild it. That is the only way to save it, and as for the siblings I will try to keep them safe, but if the Emperor commands that they go to war then they must."

The Grand Mother let out a scream and the plants around her shrunk before returning to their full height. "Do not mess this up, I want my mother back and I will not live without her, you fail and your life is mine, now leave!"

The Arch Mage stood and gave a small bow before he vanished from the castle, the Grand Mother sighed and took a seat where the Arch Mage had just been. "Sibelius come to me my love." The ground shook and a large creature that looked like a cat but was made of night came and sat by her feet. She ran her hands on it and it seemed to vanish before it appeared, she just sat there until night fell.

^^^

It was early the next day that Rime and Cyra awoke, they were ready in a few minutes and went to find the Grand Mother who stood in the kitchen. They watched as the kitchen prepared breakfast for them and then it floated on the table, they sat and ate in silence until they were finished. "How are you feeling children, were you able to rest well?" Cyra and Rime nodded as they left the kitchen and made their way down the hall so they could leave the castle.

They wished her a good day and flashed to the Palace as soon as they left the Academy grounds. The Golden Dragon allowed them to enter once they reached the gates and walked with them until they were in the Emperor's office. The man in question looked up at them with a smile and stood up to shake both of their hands. "I was told what you two had done to keep my family safe and I hope to pay you back well some day."

Rime and Cyra gave a small bow and the Emperor sat back in his chair. "The Arch Mage is on his way, when he arrives we must go down to the grand hall. After yesterday's incident I have called an emergency meeting, our generals, mages and everyone necessary will be there. Of course the two of you must be present, since it is thanks to you that this kingdom was able to resist a heavy blow from the beast-men."

Rime and Cyra nodded standing in silence until the Arch Mage made his way in the room with the Empress and Princess. Everyone exchanged greeting and soon they were making their way to the meeting room. Rime could sense the whispers that encircled them as they moved, keeping pace with the Emperor. They soon came upon the room and the whispers entered first, they swept the room and then signaled for the Emperor to enter.

The Emperor helped the Empress and Princess to take their seats and sat himself before the Arch Mage took his seat. Rime and Cyra sat in the stands with the other people, the Emperor begun to speak and the room went silent. "So the news of what happened yesterday has spread through the Kingdom, the people are frightened and chaos is sure to follow the panic if nothing is done. I need for my people to feel safe or the war might turn out to be one big disaster."

The Golden Dragon was the first to stand and the Emperor gave him the go ahead to speak. "We were able to locate the Priestess, she was unharmed, they had put her in some sort of sleep and she was able to wake on her own. She said that they cane under the cover of refugee's, they had asked her for some food and a place to rest. And then the next thing she remembered was waking up int the medical ward."

The Emperor nodded and stroked his chin. "The report from the town came and there was no attack on any other buildings just the temple. Somehow they were able to obtain the information that the Empress and Princess would be there. We are currently screening all of the patrons of the Temple and anyone that would have access to it, the full report will be in by tonight." The Emperor hummed and the Golden dragon took his seat.

A woman dressed in black from head to toe stood and bowed. "Word has come from the boarders, there is no breach in the walls and all stand as strong as they were when we first put them up. We scanned the mages and everyone there and found a shape shifter among the ranks, she spoke not a word. We still have her under interrogation along with the illusionist, they will break eventually."

Rime stood and everyone looked at him, some mumbling that he shouldn't even be in the room. "At the first meeting we were told that the barriers would grow in strength because magic would slowly be fed into them. But we were just told that they were only as strong as they were when they were put down. We would like to know why that is the case and if their was a problem why weren't we told of it?"

The woman looked a bit dumbfounded as all eyes turned to her and she cleared her throat. "The walls are growing stronger, what I meant when I said that was that they have not gotten weaker."

Cyra stood and shook her head. "There is a problem at the barriers and it could cost our people their lives, speak now!"

The woman swallowed and looked to the Emperor that was now staring daggers into her, even the Princess was paying attention. "We have been feeding magic into the barriers to make it stronger but it remains the same, I was told not to say anything until it was fixed, I'm sorry your Majesty."

The Emperor frowned. "Who told you not to speak of this and where are they?"

The woman looked around. "The Lycan." Her answer sounded more like a question and within a second the Arch Mage had his hand around her neck.

Her back hit the floor and everyone was on their feet. "You lie, we know this because the Lycan has never been to the barrier, she is not in charge of the barriers, because her magic is not strong enough. Who sent you and how did you get behind our walls?!"

The woman smiled and Rime and Cyra rushed over to the princess and the Empress flashing them from the room just as it went black. They appeared in the Emperors room and with a flick of Cyra's hand all the windows and doors were shut and a barrier was formed around them.

Rime formed fire balls in his hand and it lit up the room, the Empress pulled the Princess to her and stooped down as her eyes flicked around. "Mama I'm scared." The Empress nodded and continued to hold onto her.