Alanis thought letting go of her first love would be the most painful thing she would ever endure, but little did she know, the path the light goddess set before her, would be paved in heartaches beyond compare.
With her past and Berthold behind h...
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Ati Harei Great Dining Hall Evening
Back at the castle, in the great dining hall, Alanis finally met with King Stronghold. He was kinder than she imagined—the exact opposite of the prince. They looked nothing alike, where the prince was tall and handsome, the king was short and pudgy. Of course she knew they weren't tied by blood, she just expected the king to be easier on the eyes.
The man was humble, wearing only a basic set of dark armor and a dusty, black cloak, same as his men. He looked to be well-rooted into his golden years. His once golden mane was frosted silver along with the coarse, braided beard that was slung over his right shoulder as he supped.
His eyes were no stranger to the passage of time either. They were dulled, carrying with them the years of wisdom they had captured. She could feel those years whenever he would look her in the eye, which was every time he spoke to her.
They sat around a large stone-top table. Alanis was seated to the king's left, along with Harold. Stronghold's Council, Lord Fulton, and several higher ranking guards filled the remaining seats. There were plenty of introductions, and friendly conversations amongst the party.
Stronghold's servants were busy serving food and pouring wine into empty goblets, Alanis' included. It was midway through her second plate that the familiar pain in her cheek waned. She had to stop her server from pouring another glass of Hiore'sen, the last thing she wanted was to get tipsy, and make a terrible first impression with the king.
The prince joined them later, he told her it would be better if they came in separately, that the others would give her a hard time if they knew she was associating with him. He took seat, alone at the far end of the table, away from the chatter that rumbled at the king's end. She gave him a welcoming glance as he took his seat, but he wasn't as courteous. He bowed his head, ignoring her gesture altogether as he called over one of the servants.
She didn't have time to wallow over his lack of manners, or wonder what he was discussing as he flirted with the beautiful woman. She was busy herself. The king was asking her many questions, and luckily for her none were about her recent trip to Furisre Sreuni.
It was clear he was interested in learning more about her task. He would throw in subtle questions, here and there, regarding her powers, or mission during their conversation. She would kindly reply that she wasn't sure what the gods intentions were just yet, it was an answer Harold had coached her on during their journey to Ati—and it seemed to work.
Before she could excuse herself from the table, the king apologized for their current living conditions. He ordered his men to collect her belongings, as well as her chaperone's, assuring them that they would be more comfortable in the castle during the duration of their stay. Of course Fulton was the first to offer his services, it made for an awkward parting as everyone took notice of his favoritism for her.
