Surprises...
Aiowa.
"I'll speak with the king."
Ivan shot, glaring at Prium.
"Why should it be you?"
Prium tackled. She didn't care to spare the rest of the group a glance. She was willingly and sternly eating up Ivan with that odd ogle.
"Because you don't have manners and might ruin the whole thing and we can't afford that. Or can we?"
He turned to the rest. Prium turned too and saw the lot nodding. She was about to make a scene, for why should she be humiliated in such manner, but then Hava came on,
"None of you two would. Let the princess of our land speak to the king. Since she is the Princess and carries the legitimate heir to the throne, the king will believe easily and we wouldn't have to stretch the unnecessary."
"Thoughtful."
Ivan shot and Prium glared,
"Whatever."
The four walked into the fort of the palace which was bordered by lofty ramparts.
"Travelers."
One of the men on the wall called and then the gate opened,
"Halt!"
The commander of the soldiers rode on a horse towards them and halted, the horse grunted and snorted.
"What brings you here. Identify yourselves or be thrown into the dungeon and fed to the cats."
Prium was the first to step forward,
"Who are you to --"
"We are here to see the king."
The Princess had interrupted. Prium shot her a gawp, and pushed her upper lip up in scorn.
"What's the occasion? The king would not see a group of strangers who pose a threat to our lovely kingdom."
He paused and continued,
"And believe me, I don't think --"
He screamed as soon as he saw Aynea.
"Monster!!! Archers!!!!"
He called and the archers on the wall drew out their bows and arrows in ruthless aims.
"Stop this. She won't harm you. Don't make her."
The princess stepped forward but then the commander turned the horse and its last hoof hit her. Aynea's eyes widened at the Princess's fall and hurried to her,
"Princess. Princess."
She called then suddenly screamed. At her scream, there was a sudden provocation of the earth and a sandstorm from nowhere clouded the whole place that one man could not see the other.
Soon, the scream waned out and the storm was sucked and gobbled by the distressed winds.
"Will you be let us in now?"
Aynea asked,having helped the princess up and holding dearly unto. Thoughtfully caressing her arm and stroking her belly, perhaps to comfort the child.
"Archers! Restrain!"
The commander called standing up from the floor. He had been thrown off by the horse which had whinnied off.
But as he looked up, he couldn't find one archer left on the rampart. They all seemed to had been thrown off course by the storm.
"What should I do to you if you cause us any harm."
The commander tried to be reasonable but before any of the group could say a thing, Prium had snatched the stance,
"As if you have a choice or hand against her. Let us in now."
"You're sure tough, eh?"
The commander admitted to her and turned towards the gate. He led them towards the palace.
Several people caught the sight of Aynea and were beginning to converge. But with the aid of spare horses at the military stead, they could mount three horses. Aynea and the princess on one. Hava and the commander on the other. Prium and Ivan on the last. Of course the last couple with several struggle.
In no time, they got to the palace and the commander led them in. The king seemed to be busy with his chiefs and was handling some state affairs.
"My Lord, these travellers asked to speak with you."
The king looked away from the chiefs and dismissed the citizens he was judging. He looked past the commander to the group and caught the sight of Aynea, he stood up at once and stepped off his throne,
"Well, well well. What brings a gorgeous Dryad to Aiowa? I thought twas meant to be forbidden according to my grandfather. How lucky am I to finally set my weary eyes on a Dryad. I always knew that I'm well favored of the gods. Come seat."
He offered, tossing his hand to the side towards a rectangular wooden table with long benches by its right and left.
"Serve them mead, but the Dryad only takes skol. Which we don't have. But she would be considerate of us at least."
He walked to the table and sat beside Ivan who was at the edge of the first bench. It seemed rather unusual and wierd but it seemed like traditionally, the king would seat with his chiefs like a common man and felicitate with them.
"Thanks for the hospitality."
Ivan shot and the king took him into consideration for once. He couldn't keep the gaze for long as the Princess came on,
"I am the --"
"I know who you are, Princess. You were the lonely girl in the woods who was taken in by your king. A king who would no longer take a wife unto himself because he lost his first who didn't bare him child because the gods are unfair to him."
He drank from the tusk and continued,
"But then he took you in as daughter and blah and blah... But it seems like the gods tell little lies. Because I learnt that you carry his child."
He stood up,
"Well, I'll agree that I sent men to take the town since twas plunged into chaos after his death. For who would watch his neighbor's effort ruined? But then I heard some rather strange news which I'm certain brought you all here."
He raised his tusk up and called,
"Mead!"
That was his own way of CHEERS. Everyone raised their tusks and the group mimicked.
The princess didn't drink. She said instead,
"It's quite great that you already know why we are here. So, when do we go with your warriors to destroy this witch, this Usurper and imposter?!"
Aynea touched her gently and she looked at her.
"Having a Dryad is an upper hand. But then, I shall not send my warriors into a furnace without bathing at first!"
The king sat and Hava came on,
"What do you want? We don't have money but we will give you a great share, if the queen wants, from the spoil of the land."
The king laughed out loud, quite close to a mockery then shot,
"Why do I need spoils. What spoils do I not already possess?! What I need is here at the moment."
He was staring at Prium.
"Even if she wouldn't be my mistress, if she shares my bed with me once, I shall willingly give a thousand warriors."
Ivan scoffed and the rest of the group peered at Prium awaiting her reaction. Ivan stood up,
"I'm not in the position to speak you ill, my Lord, but the choice you made... This is lady isn't really --"
"I agree."
Prium interrupted.
"You what?"
Hava, Ivan and the Princess chorused. Prium scoffed and stood up,
"Yes, I will. Anything for my father."
She walked off the bench and called,
"Show me the way to your chamber, my Lord."
Ivan couldn't close his mouth. But he was sure that he wasn't the only plunged into that ocean of surprised.
