A week later, Mareen nervously combed her fingers through her hair. Staring at her reflection in the window just made her feel more out of place. What am I doing here?! I am a shepherdess from the western hills I have never even seen a noble before, now I have to stand before the prince! No, ut is worse! The king is dead so he is a king. I am about to stand in front of the king!

She barely managed to keep her internal screaming to herself and turned to see the ever present soldier standing behind her and Toln. Upon seeing the soldier behind them, she felt herself deflate slightly. Running is out of the question. With no hope of escape, she turned back to face the door; waiting for them to open so she could be introduced.

From the corner of her eye she watched as Toln looked completely unfazed by what was happening. The only change she noticed was his usual grin was replaced with a bored look. How is he so calm? The Prince. NO! The king, is right behind those doors!

Noticing her gaze, he dramatically puffed out his chest and suck his nose in the air. He looked like the traveling bard did when portraying arrogant noble characters in tales. But the impression he gave was completely different. When the bards did it, they seemed arrogant and self important, but Toln just looked ridiculous.

What is he doing? She covered her mouth with her hand and struggled to keep a chuckle from escaping, as he winked at her. I forgot for a moment he was a fool.

Despite her now favorite insult for her companion, she had to admit she had grown a fond of him in the last week. Everything about him was absurd, and she found herself enjoying her time with him. Wish he would stop trying to flirt so much. Though, I will give it to him he is no longer blushes when I call him out on his attempts.

They both turned their attention forward as the door creaked open. Through the door a deep voice echoed out, “By order of his highness Prince Korin, Sir Toln Vorn Blackthorn and Mareen Farwalker are permitted to approach.”

Sir? VORN?! He is a nobleman! Her shock caused her to miss a step, and she stared at Toln. She saw Toln glance at her from the corner of his eye, a grin spreading across his face. Why you sneaky…

She shot him a quick glare before walking with him into the hall. He barely managed to move his foot out of the way as she stomped hers down where his was only a moment before. I will get even for this.

[Prince’s POV]

Sir Walter’s voice seemed to linger in the chamber as two figures entered through the door. Did she just try to step on his foot? The prince stared at the pair as they turned from the side door and walked toward him. The healer was alternating between watching the ground just in front of her and glaring angrily at the man next to her.

What is that all about? He turned his attention to the figure of Sir Golrich who was starring blankly at the pair as if he had bit into something sour. The expression on the dour bachelor's face told the prince all he needed to know. So that is what it is. They are insufferable.

Sir Walter’s voice called out again and the pair stopped. Toln bowed deeply, while Mareen seemed confused at what to do. She refused to look up at him, but seeing Toln’s bow she seemed startled, and copied him. So the letter saying she does not have a noble or religious background is clearly true.

“Raise your heads,” Korin said gently gesturing with one hand. He felt out of place sitting in the make shift throne, but did his best to mimic his father's mannerisms. “You are here to be rewarded for your actions. Without you, the entire army would have fallen to the enemy as the vanguard did.”

As the words hung in the air, he considered the figures standing before him. The healer nervously wrung her hands unwilling to even look up at him, while the knight looked blankly ahead. Neither looked like they were about to be rewarded. I can understand the knight. He lost his father, and I do not have the power to give him back what he lost. But, why is the healer looking nervous? Am I that scary?

He struggled for a moment to find the right words when he heard a commotion from outside the hall. “I will see him now! How dare you try to delay my holy mission?”

The prince grimaced and slowly took a deep breath as he recognized the voice. He forced a neutral expression, and looed from the pair to the doorway. “It appears another matter needs to be addressed with some haste.”

At his words, Sir Walter and Sir Golrich ushered the two to the side of the carpet leading to the dais he sat on. The group had barely stepped aside when a figure in white flowing robes burst through the door. The old priest scanned the room before storming his way. “Your highness why are the martial paths preparing for a siege? Surely you received my letter to seek peace with the Emperor.”

“You forget yourself priest!” Sir Golrich snapped, placing himself on the carpet to block the priest’s path. “You have no right to barge in here.”

The priest did not acknowledge the knight instead moving to step around him. Sir Golrich grabbed the priest’s arm with enough force that the man nearly spun.

Korin blinked as he watched Sir Golrich stagger backwards holding his arm. What just happened?

“I walk the path of the goddesses. See the vengeance wrought ton those who interfere with their servants.” Gesturing at the wide eyed knight behind him the priest again started toward Korin. “Surely your highness need no more proof that I speak with the blessing of the Goddesses. Tell your men to lay down their arms, and accept the Emperor’s offer of peace.”

Korin made a quick motion to stop Sir Golrich from grabbing at the priest again. Looking back to the door he made a second gesture for them to be sealed. “The Emperor is mad if he expects me to accept those terms. They are intolerable!”

“INTOLERABLE!?” The head priest snapped back. “It is intolerable to let you keep your throne? To spare the men here? All he asks is that you become a king under the empire, and the priesthood be given the freedom to better tend to the souls of the kingdom.”

“That is a generous way to describe the inquisition he proposed….” Korin paused as the priests words sank in. Then his eyes narrowed. “How do you know what was in the Emperor’s letter?”