Moon Kingdom: Fair Warning

Urgency

     "Diana wants to go with you." Sonya said, "To back up your story."
     "We could use all the help we could get." Athena said, unsure what there was to discuss about the matter.
     "Yes, we understand that." O said, "But you see we have to be cautious of how involved we get in this. We are an order going back thousands of years and we seldom get involved in the affairs of our city."
     "Which order?" Athena asked, "Wateress or Spiritess?"
     "Both." Sonya narrowed her eyes into a glaring look when she heard Athena's snappy tone of voice.
     "Again, what does this have to do with Diana coming with us to see the King?" Athena was tired of the older women beating around the bush.
     "Diana is very naïve." Sonya stated matter-of-factly, "She has never left the order but in fact has been vowed to us since infancy. She doesn't understand the dangers of the city. We need you to promise that you will bring her back."
     "We will." Bree whispered from the bed where she was lying, "Why would we want her tagging along after anyway?"
     Athena turned to see her friend propped up on her elbow and gazing softly at the wall. She seemed a bit paler than usual but otherwise okay. Athena moved away from Sonya and O to assist Bree to a seated position.
     "Do you remember what happened?" O asked from the doorway.
     "Yes," Bree replied, "I remember it all now. I..."
     She shuddered with the fear that returned with the memory, but this time she did not faint. She stood up and began walking slowly to the door.
     "We need to leave now." Bree stated as she pushed past and left the small room.
     Sonya and O stood silent for a moment. Athena looked at them and laughed silently. She could tell they weren't used to being told what to do.
     "Well, you heard her." She nodded toward the door, "Have Diana meet us outside in five minutes or we're going to leave without her."
     With that Athena followed Bree down the hall and back out into the courtyard. Bree stood blinking at the sun. It still beat down with a summer heat. Sweat formed on her pale brow as she stood there, mid-morning and still dressed in the same black cloak. Athena tapped her ring and a brief fluffy of snow alighted on them, providing a short relief from the strange weather.
     "I'm here!" Diana gasped as she ran outside to meet them.
     Sonya and O loomed in the doorway, looking on with wary disapproval. Athena watched them cautiously, wondering if they should be cautious of their elders' views on everything that was happening. Bree didn't even spare them a backward glance but simply started to walk away.
     "Let's go." She commanded, and the girls followed behind.
     Once they were out of sight, Bree admitted she had no idea where she was going. Athena was the only one who had any idea of the city's layout. Even Diana, who lived very close to the castle at the centre of Marama, wasn't entirely sure how to get there.
     "There it is, girls," Athena announced as they finally stood before the palace.
     It was enormous, even larger than the Spiritess monastery had been; it almost looked like a small city on its own. The three women walked through the gate, past the alert guards and small crowds of people walking through. Diana and Bree both looked around wide-eyed but Athena remained focused.
     "To get an audience with the King today we really should have left earlier." Athena explained, "But we still have a good chance if we get into the waiting hall now."
     They climbed the steps to the front entrance and eagerly pulled on the doors. The large castle doors were shut and locked, much to their disappointment. Bree gave them a last tug before slumping down on the stone steps.
     "It's the smaller door." A man's voice informed them. Athena turned and saw a well-dressed man holding open a smaller door just beside the large, locked ones.
     "Thank you." She said, and walked into the castle.
     Diana followed, smiling at the man as she passed him. Bree lifted herself off the steps and pushed past the man as though he wasn't there. Soon all three women were inside the castle and standing in the waiting hall. It was, to their surprise, empty.
     "We actually don't get a lot of audiences lately." The man shrugged but offered no further explanation.
     Athena wasn't sure what to do. Suddenly being there, so close to finally getting help, she felt frozen. She was nervous about speaking to the king. After all, who was she to insist he do anything? Would he even listen? Even as these thoughts raced through her mind she knew she didn't have a choice. She would speak.
     "Make yourselves comfortable." The man said, "I'll just go see if his royal highness is ready for you."
     The three young women sat down on the red velvet cushioned benches that lined the walls of the small waiting hall. It was a dark room with small high windows, walls of stone, and dark wood furniture that was sparse.
     "Bree, I think you should speak first." Diana broke the silence.
     "I don't know if I feel comfortable with that." Bree admitted.
     "I can begin," Athena offered, "And I'll tell my part of this and then introduce you. Diana can back up what we say. The king will have to listen to us and help- it is his city in danger after all."
     "Danger?" A man's voice questioned from the doorway leading into the great hall, "Why didn't you say so? If there's a threat to Marama's safety this is an urgent matter!"
     "Is the king ready to see us?" Diana stood and walked toward the man, the same one who had let them inside.
     "Yes, I'll take you in now." He said.
     Inside the great hall, Athena felt small. It was a huge place and very empty. The king sat in his throne at the far end, a golden crown on his head. Two smaller thrones were beside him and they were empty as well. Athena guessed they were for the queen and prince. When they arrived at the foot of the steps leading to the throne, the women bowed low and waited for invitation to speak.