“As good as I can be,” Iyana replied.“I only wish I could bathe first before meeting a king and queen.”
“They won’t care,” Kaz said.“Promise.”Her gaze flicked towards Jato.“We should hurry, though.Mother gets grumpy when I’m late.”
Iyana steeled herself further, locking away her nerves.Emmeric was right.She wasn’t helpless anymore, and she had powerful friends behind her.She could do this.
Her back straightened, and she raised her chin as they walked through a large pair of open double doors.Panic threatened to overtake her again as she saw two identical thrones sitting side by side on a dais.But soothing emotions flowed to her from Emmeric, and for once she allowed herself the aid.There was no use in pushing him away when he was helping.
The thrones were wooden with black upholstery.Overall, they could be described as plain; however, the monarchs sitting upon them were anything but.
To Iyana’s left was the king.He sat on his throne, his left hand hanging off the armrest lazily while his right held a spear.He was an identical complexion to Kaz, and his hair was cut short in a similar fashion to Jato’s.The king watched them approach with a blank expression.The queen seated next to him was much more intimidating.
She sat straight-backed, and her eyes followed them all with an assessing glare.There was no hair on her head, and her lashes were lined with kohl.Her cheekbones were sharp.In her left hand, she held a spear—the same as her husband.They both wore black tunics and pants with no adornments.Iyana was immediately awed and intimidated.
A third man stood to the king’s right, his hands behind his back.He was also dressed in black, but did not possess any visible weapons.
They all stopped at the base of the dais and bowed low at the waist.
“Mother.Father,” Kaz said, nodded her head to each of them in turn.“Let me introduce to you Emperor Zane Holygazer and his consort, Talon.”They both bowed again.“And this is Iyana and Emmeric—the Aztia and Kanaliza of our generation.”There was no reaction from the monarchs as the magical duo also bowed a second time.
“My friends, these are my parents—King Saram and Queen Nita Tsenira.”
“Zoara,” the queen said, her rich voice ringing through the grand hall.“So nice of you to return aftertwoyears.I hope your excursion was fruitful.”
Iyana glanced towards Emmeric at her side.He looked back at her and shrugged slightly.Apparently, none of them had known exactly how long Kaz had been away from home.
“It was, Mother,” Kaz replied.Queen Nita pursed her lips.
“Is there a reason you’ve returned to us now, daughter?”King Saram asked, his tone as carefully stoic as his face.“And with a new emperor in tow?”
“I’m sure you’ve all realized by now that the stars are no longer in the sky,” Kaz began, and then she proceeded to inform her parents of everything they had learned thus far—including the death of Uther.
Zane stepped forward after Kaz had recounted the sordid tale, and he nodded his head in respect.It was easy for Iyana to forget that he’d been raised for this; that he knew how to play the games of royalty.“Your Majesties, thank you for welcoming us to your home.I would love to speak with you more about any potential help we could bring to my empire during this time of upheaval.”
The two monarchs glanced at each other.“Do you mean to tell me,” Queen Nita said, “that you don’t know?”
Zane frowned.“Don’t know what, exactly?”
“Rigil Kentaurus sits upon your throne in Athusia.”
Zane’s entire body went rigid, his hands turning to fists at his side.Talon took a tentative step towards him, but Zane regained his composure quickly.“We had heard as much from the Athusan refugees on our way here.I would ask for Nyr’s aid in ridding my empire of the stars that threatenallof Arinem.Once I am able to reclaim my throne, we could build a strong alliance.One that I have already been fostering with your crown princess.”
“We will speak of such things later,” King Saram said dismissively.“Zoara, please show your guests to their rooms and we will see you all for dinner.”
The man to the king’s right, who Iyana had forgotten was there, suddenly spoke.“I would like to speak about Zoara keeping her place as crown princess of this kingdom.You both are surely aware that we cannot trust her to do her duty after she left us, without a word, for close to two years when—”
“Zahar,” Queen Nita interrupted sharply.“We have had this discussion multiple times and will not do so again in front of strangers.You know why your sister remains as heir, and it will stay that way until we say otherwise.Understood?”
“Yes, Mother,” Zahar said tightly.Kaz stuck her tongue out at him.This was her younger brother then; the one who she said wanted to take over the ‘family business.’
The queen frowned at Kaz’s lack of decorum, to which the shifter only smiled brightly.
“Come on,” she said.“I’ll show you all where you’ll be staying.”
They dropped Talon and Zane off at their room, then Kaz showed them into a large space with plenty of natural light and comfortable furniture.
“There are two bedrooms with their own bathing rooms in here,” Kaz said.“I figured you would want to stay together.”
“Thank you, Kaz,” Iyana said.
