Elemental Thief Part I : Child of Calamity

Charm

Akina was growing tired of the arrogant, half respectful Lord Riven, who was pressing his point so doggedly that he had said the same thing at least half a dozen times. Even Tisaso beside her had answered his demands several times and was looking ready to end the conversation with force.

"All I'm saying, Majesty, is the chains? The cells? Those are a little harsh, a little severe for a Peer of the realm, one that had been so close to the Regency for so long. What does it say to the rest of us, before a trial has found us guilty, that we will be treated with such discourtesy, if ever someone decides to concoct wild allegations against us?" He expected her to agree with him, to at the very least say she would take his words into consideration.

She refused to do either of those things, levelling her full glare on him, forcing her words to be calm, firm, and as regal as she could force them to be. "It tells the rest of Clairval that no one is above the law. That by conspiring to harm the Regency, to harm Clairval and its Peers, to provide Clairval on a platter to our enemies for personal gain, is not an activity that will be treated with anything but the harshest punishment."

"You speak as if the Council has already made its judgement." Riven said lowly, dangerously, his words nearly a growl.

Tisaso shifted before talking, her own words harsh. "As you know, Lord Riven, in all councils, the Regent, or the designate, has a final say in all decisions. All the Peers have a chance to be heard, to hear the evidence, and have it presented to them, but the Regency's law is absolute. The Regent's own agents conducted the investigation. The Princess is doing us a courtesy, giving Lord Corvin an undeserved courtesy, in allowing his case to be heard by his Peers."

"Duchess..." Riven started.

"I think the title you're looking for is Admiral." Tisaso said stubbornly. "Advisor, possibly. Though protocol only allows the Regency to use that term."

The man clenched his jaw then, his expression dark, barely trying to conceal the malice and anger that was behind his expression.

Akina knew Riven was going to be trouble, but she was wondering how Clairval would adjust to losing two of its Peers, as another voice cut in.

"If we're making introductions, allow me." The Rulin who stepped up to the group was gorgeous and held a helmet under one arm as he offered a courteous bow and a smile that exposed his sharp teeth. "Princess Akina, Admiral Tisaso, I am Prince Davanos, of Rulin." He paused, and turned to look at Riven, able to look down at the man that he towered over. "I'm afraid I don't know who you are."

"Lord Riven, Majesty." At least the man had the good sense to offer a bow. "Forgive me, but I was just taking my leave." Riven had smoothed over his anger with a mask of calm by the time he turned to look at her, offering her a bow. "Majesty".

The Prince watched the man leave for a long while, an odd, predatory look on his face, before he turned to look at Akina and Tisaso. "I didn't mean to interrupt. But there were only so many times I could hear him say the same things. And my mother made me promise to play nice before I came."

Tisaso offered a slight smile, nodding carefully. "Something you get used to, I suppose."

"Playing nice?" Davanos was as charming as he was good looking, Akina would give him that, drawing a smile out of both of them with his playful good humour.

"No, dealing with people, with things like that on an official and formal level." Akina shook her head, letting out a steadying breath. "It is a pleasure to meet you, and you are welcome here in Clairval, though I understand that your reasons for being here are not as pleasant as we would like."

"I am but a soldier, Majesty." He offered a shrug and a bow, doing a good job of affecting humility. "I let my sister deal with the fine details, and I suspect you need a break from them. Let us just say I hitched a ride on a fine Clairvalan ship, where I enjoyed the company of your good Captain Darya and Sir Reynald, because sometimes, it does one good to rest their wings."

Tisaso looked to relax a bit, and Akina offered a gentle smile to the Prince, inclining her head. "Then welcome to Clairval, Prince. I am glad we could be of service to you and your compatriots."

"Thank you." He inclined his head, glancing around curiously for a moment, before nodding towards the far palace door, though his expression smoothed to an unreadable mask. "I believe your Sergeant at Arms is coming, and he needs to speak with you. It appears your break from the details is far too short."

Akina frowned and glanced in that direction, seeing nothing there. Before she could ask for clarification, the door opened and Sir Reynald stepped out, appearing to have cleaned up, but looking like a man on a mission.

Akina nodded, glancing at the Rulin man in askance. "Thank you, Prince."

"Of course." He offered a benevolent expression to her as she turned to go, and she was halfway across the courtyard when she realised he had just told her that every single conversation here, tonight, was being heard by him and his sister, without a great deal of effort.

Reynald bowed to her, meeting her halfway, looking tired, though his expression was calm, his skin flushed with its time in the sun. "Majesty. Admiral."

It was then that Akina realised Tisaso had followed her as her shadow, her advisor and nearly a body guard the last few days, a job that had only been spelled off by Lady Valencia's presence. She didn't want to think that they were watching her. She wanted to believe that they were there to help, but now that Reynald was back, she wasn't sure.

As if she had spoken about her doubts, the Duchess offered a bow. "Your right hand is back, Princess, if you have no further use for me..."

Akina was about to allow her to go, when Reynald offered a shake of his head, glancing between the two of them. "There's already been an attempt to free one of those two. I can't say which one, because they didn't get far. Captain Darya headed them off."

He murmured, low enough that the two groups of nobles, human nobles, nearest to them, could not hear what he was saying. Even so, his eyes went past her, and she knew nearly instantly that he was looking at one of their winged companions, before he continued, lowering his eyes back to hers. "She's fine. Well, she'll live, and we have a couple of them captured. The rest are dead. Healers are seeing to her now."

"I need to get Valencia." Tisaso paused, though, looking to Akina, who watched the woman for a moment, before nodding.

"She's within the Royal quarter of the palace with the healers. Meet us there." Reynald offered, pausing only long enough to see the woman stride off. "I probably should have waited, but they would have found out about it, anyway."

"They already don't think we can deal with these men appropriately." Akina said, finding her voice a fair bit harsher than she intended it to be, walking as quickly as she could manage without looking hurried.

Reynald nodded, falling into step behind her. "Yes. Darya and I headed off a rather angry Prince on the way here. She convinced him to wait out our justice, but Rulin and possibly Vayana are losing their patience with us."

Akina knew, could feel the eyes of the world weighing on her back as she walked through the still painfully quiet palace.