• 20.2 •

53 8 1
                                    

Tyras escorted the royal party through the hallways of the palace, careful to take the route that displayed the most wealth. They did not have a Portrait Hall like their one of their neighbours, though that was hardly needed to startle visitors. The architecture spoke for itself, and the elaborate tapestries and paintings only enhanced the route.

"Will there be time to freshen before the negotiations are to take place?" the Prince asked, his voice low. "My men will be tired."

Tyras swallowed before speaking. It was hardly a small thing to speak to the heir of a potential ally - or possible foe. Today's meeting would decide the fate of that relationship, one that the King could not put at risk.

"There is a window, albeit small, where you may find time to replenish your energy," Tyras offered, keeping his eyes ahead. 

The entire guard had been pulled from their rotation to supervise the arrival of their guest, and the rest of the palace lay virtually unmanned. The Queen had given up her personal guard precisely for the occasion, and had pledged to stay isolated within her chambers until a few had been relieved of their duties.

Tyras had been put in charge of making sure that nothing befell a royal from either party. Likewise, Prince Julian had been instructed to scrutinize everything, and his eyes scanned every surface of the palace. If Tyras hadn't heard so much about the heir and his radical opinions, he might have though he saw hunger in his eyes.

In a blink, it was gone, and Tyras was left wondering if he had truly imagined it all. Perhaps he wanted a royal to be inherently good, and he was ignoring the signs of greed. Perhaps he knew that the family he served had no change of true redemption, and was hinging his beliefs on the back of another.

"If there is a window, then I think it would be best I take it," Prince Julian said, offering the bones of the smile, more to himself than to Tyras. "Have your men show me to my chambers - and instead you tell the King that I have arrived."

Tyras bowed, keeping his hands folded behind his back as he stepped to the side. The travelling party passed him, and he turned on his heel and began his way in the opposite direction.

He rapped his knuckles thrice on the hardwood of the door before he heard the utterance within. 

"Enter!" the King said, and Tyras pushed the door wide.

He was careful to close it behind him, and stood at attention at the edge of the room. The King did not look up from his desk immediately, and Tyras waited in silence for him to do so.

The study was perhaps Tyras' preferred room in the palace, though he rarely was given the opportunity to stand inside. Tapestries of red and navy and gold hung along the walls, and bookcases rose to low ceiling. Weapons and furs - kept as souvenirs from hunting parties - lined the walls and covered tables. 

It was far less grand than anywhere else in the palace, and perhaps the most cluttered of all. The throne room was barren, a cold cavern where justice was meted out. The study radiated warmth and comfort, and the King looked at ease as he scrawled haphazardly across a scroll.

He looked up abruptly, meeting eyes with Tyras before the latter averted his gaze.

"Your Highness," Tyras offered, sinking into a bow. "Prince Julian has arrived, and is taking a brief window of time to refresh both himself and his guards."

The King sighed, nodding along as Tyras spoke. "Is it really that time already?"

Tyras pursed his lips. The King was perhaps more passive than one might like of a monarch, though that was why he had the Queen, why he had Tyras and his Advisors. 

"Your negotiations were not to start for another hour or so," Tyras replied. "The Prince asked that I alert you to his presence in your home." His palms were slick with sweat as he held them behind his back, and he reminded himself to stay calm, though it was growing unbearably warm in the study.

"Ah, well then I suppose it's best to stick to the schedule, is it not?" The King cast his eyes downwards, resuming his writing once more. He offered a crooked smile, and Tyras half wondered if he had not meant to let it slip at all. "The Queen would certainly say so."

Tyras conceded. "I believe yes, she would, Your Highness."

Silence fell over the room like a heavy blanket, and he was aware of how stifling it had become, though he thought that perhaps he was imagining that, too. He blinked to keep himself alert.

"I had thought it best to welcome him properly," the King continued. "Have him escorted to the throne room in roughly half an hour - and have an escort arranged for me just moments earlier. I will greet him at the seat of my power, and then our parties will converge as we move to the study."

Tyras bowed his head. "As you wish, Your Highness. Would you wish that the Queen be escorted to sit beside you, as well?"

The King stopped writing, considering the words laid out before him. "I do suppose she enjoys these sorts of things." He looked behind him, out the windows that peered down onto the training grounds below. "Have her sent for at the same time my escort should be arriving. We will appear together."

"Of course, Your Highness," Tyras said. "Will that be all, or is there more I may do for you?"

The King raised a hand flippantly, waving him away. "I think that's enough for now. You'll have to hurry to get the patrols organized properly for our welcome."

"Indeed, Your Highness." Tyras had uttered those two words so often throughout his life it was a mindless habit, and they flowed easily off of his tongue. 

He exited the study, immediately cooling off once he shut the door behind him. He had much work to do, not to mention very little time to accomplish it all. He set out to find his men; they would have to approach the throne room in little to no time.

Thank you for reading the latest part of LIRO! Leave a comment or click the 'vote' button if you enjoyed it :)

Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.

Thank you for reading the latest part of LIRO! Leave a comment or click the 'vote' button if you enjoyed it :)

LIRO || completedWhere stories live. Discover now