“Kortu, where’s Tylan?” Tolin asked, a little sharply. He really didn’t like the man. He didn’t trust him. He wasn’t sure why his brother made him chief steward. “Tylan, sir?” “It’s your highness.” Tolin corrected. Normally, he didn’t care but he didn’t want Kortu to forget this place. “Yes, your highness, very sorry. But Tylan?” “Kith’s friend.” Kortu sneered. “Oh, the…” “Kortu!” Tolin cut him off. “Kith is a chieftain’s son. You will show him and his friends the proper respect.” “Yes, your highness. The woman is in the library.” “With…” Tolin prompted. “Alone.” “Thank you.” Tolin turned and left. He found Tylan in the library. “I was wondering if I could trouble you for some help.” He requested. She smiled teasingly. “I don’t know. I’m just so busy.” He smiled too. “Good point.” “What do you need?” Tylan asked. “There’s a couple things, actually. I was wondering how long it would take you to climb to the third-floor balcony.” “Which one? Most of the rooms have balconies.” “Sorry. I meant the dragon landing balcony. We usually refer to it as the third-floor balcony. I need to know how to time my guards.” She nodded. “Okay.” “And then…” He hesitated. She wasn’t going to like this. “Then, I want you to sneak into King Emeton’s bedroom.” She frowned. “You want what?” “Part of my job is to protect the king. I want to know if an assassin could get in there. He’s in court right now so you won’t see him. But, if you’re successful, I’ll need you to try again at night while he sleeps. Security is different while he’s in there.” “If I do that, you’ll know what he’ll think.” Tolin nodded. “I’ll talk with him; tell him what’s going on. But you need to wait a day or two so he doesn’t wait up.” “No, don’t tell him. He said he was supposed to be prince general. He’s had the same training you did. He knows we’re only staying a few more days. He’ll stay vigilant.” Tolin nodded. She was right. Emeton had been raised to be prince general. It hadn’t been until their dad got sick that he announced that Emeton would be king. And, Emeton still trained with the soldiers a few times a week. “I’ll keep a window open.” He offered. “If there’s trouble, yell.” The rooms were close enough, he’d here. She smiled. “Your brother’s a gentleman. I’ve end up in bedrooms of men who weren’t. I can take care of myself. At the orphanage, I had seventeen older ‘brothers’. They made sure the girls could take care of themselves, either teaching them to defend themselves or um, giving them a chance to practice.” Tolin frowned. “I’m going to need to inspect the orphanage more. But, if you need me, just yell.” She nodded. **** Tylan scaled the walls of the balcony in minutes. It was alarmingly easy, plenty of hand holds. Tolin expected her to come back down the same way. But, if she was robbing the place, she’d have something to carry with her when she left. She’d be more apt to leave a different way. She slipped into Pt’this’s receiving room and went out the balcony door. She crawled over the railing and swung down to the balcony below it. This balcony was on a low enough floor it had stairs. She went down to the garden. No one paid attention to her as she crossed over to the wing Emeton’s rooms were in. She let herself inside to her servant’s entrance, unchallenged and made her way to Emeton’s room. “Can I help you?” The servant asked. “I’m looking for King Emeton’s room. I’m supposed to be Prince General Tolin there.” The server frowned. “His Majesty doesn’t like his brother in his room when he’s not there.” That made no sense to Tylan, but she decided to play along. “That’s why I’m here, to keep an eye on him since the king’s in court.” The servant nodded. “Okay. It’s that room, there.” She pointed. “Just trying to make sure he doesn’t leave the mess this time.” She turned and left. Tylan hurried to the room and picked the lock. She slipped inside. Now what? She’d made it with no problem but how to let Tolin know? Then, she had an idea. She went and found one of the pages. “Would you do me a favor?” She asked the boy. He nodded. “Yes, ma’am, that’s my job.” “Would you tell Prince General Tolin to meet me by King Emeton’s room? The last I saw him, he was outside, near the third-floor balcony.” The page nodded and hurried away. Tylan returned to the bedroom. While she waited, she looked around the room. It was less flashy than most of the palace. She saw few valuables lying about but didn’t touch any of them. She wouldn’t steal from friends. It wasn’t much of a wait to before Tolin showed up. He opened the door but didn’t enter. “The servant said you weren’t supposed to be in here. She also said to keep you from messing it up.” Tylan told him, curious. “She’s right. Unless I’m performing my duties, or Emeton is with me, I’m not supposed to be in there. It was one of his first decrees once he was crowned.” “Why would he do that?” She asked as she joined him in the hall. “He was only 20 at the time. He was tired of the pranks is big brother played on him.” “Pranks?” Tylan raised an eyebrow. “We are brothers.” He grinned. “Now, how did you get in there?” “I climbed the wall, went out a balcony door, climbed down to the next floor, went down the stairs, across the garden, through the servants’ entrance and to his room and picked the lock.” “And no one challenged you?” “Just the one servant. I told her I was meeting you.” Tolin nodded. “That was too easy. I’d like you to try it again tonight. I’d like to know if my guards are more vigilant when he’s around. Do you mind?” She shook her head. “Kith asked me to come help you. He might have ulterior motives but this was my reason for coming.” “I appreciate that. I won’t tell my men to expect you. I want to see what they’re normally like. They are still under orders to bring you to me if you get caught doing anything rather than arrest you. And I’d actually like you to try to get to him from outside.” Tylan nodded. “I’ll try tonight.” “You’re actually telling me when this time?” “I kept when I was doing things a secret so you wouldn’t be on guard. This time, I don’t believe it’s necessary.” “Okay. I’ll see you tonight.” Tylan nodded. “I’ll see you then.” **** Emeton saw Tylan as he entered the bar room. That wasn’t really the proper name of the room. It was really just a sitting room but it had been nicknamed that since his father would often drink there with friends. Emeton, Tolin, Pt’this and Kith continue the tradition, though, except for Kith, there was much less drinking. This room was open to the entire palace, anyone could use it, including servants though aside from Shunati, few joined them and even he was rare. Tonight he was in attendance, along with Tolin, Tylan and the three dragons. Surprisingly he was dressed in clothes from his homeland rather than local styles. Most times he dressed like a human to not stand out. Tolin was relating his last attempt to convince his wife to join them in Sen-gan. Every time he went to see his family, he tried to convince them to move. Tolin had met Nambi while stationed Veslin, the city just north of Sen-gan. They fell in love and got married. Shortly after Nambi became pregnant, Tolin was ordered back to Sen-gan. Nambi had refused to come. She didn’t want to be continuously dragging their family around the kingdom, following a soldier. It was then they learned Tolin was to be prince general, and he had never been stationed anywhere else. But Nambi still wanted to stay in Veslin. Shunati laughed. “You’re never going to get her to live here.” “Do you have to stay in Sen-gan?” Tylan asked. Tolin nodded. “The prince general has to stay near the king.” “Well then, the simple answer is for Emeton to move the capital to Veslin.” Pt’this shrugged. “I am not moving the palace to Veslin.” Emeton frowned. “We moved Dragon Castle.” Pt’this grinned. He meant literally, using magic. “And of all the mages used to transport it, how many are still around?” Emeton challenged. “Only three and the magical device they used was lost during the war.” Pt’this submitted. “Do you have to be prince general?” Tylan asked Tolin. She seemed more interested in helping Tolin than in Pt’this is nonsense. “Until I find someone else.” Tolin nodded. “And it needs to be someone from the royal family. I can’t leave it to Emeton. He has his hands full. Our sister wants no part of it and she won’t live in Sen-gan either. I don’t trust our cousins. My son’s the next oldest and he’s just weeks older than Remmy. I’m stuck with the job for at least the next 20 years.” “Just find a soldier you trust with the position and adopt him so he’s part of the family. Then make him prince general.” Mirimar shrugged. “Unless he’s under age, I think it would break one of the treaty laws.” Tolin shook his head. “One with the elves.” Shunati confirmed. “We don’t allow for manipulations of families. You want to adopt a child who needs parents, that’s great. But to adopt an adult just so he qualifies for something is…” He hesitated. “Well, ladies present so I won’t finish.” “When has that stopped you?” Mirimar laughed. “When one is a guest.” Shunati admitted. “Such a gentleman.” Tylan smiled. “But I’m no dainty noble woman who’d swoon at the utterance of a vile word. I’m sure I’ve heard worse. Shades, I’ve probably said worse.” “You really think noblewoman swoon at foul language?” Emeton asked her. He was always interested in the impression the nobles gave the common folk. Tylan grinned. “I think they’d like us to think they do. But I’ve heard a few yelling at servants who didn’t do as asked and the language would blister a troll ears.” “Was this at the palace?” Emeton asked. “Oh, no. This was in Thager.” She assured him. “What were you doing in a noble’s house in Thager?” Tolin raised an eyebrow. “Who said I was in the house? I was nearby and could hear through the window. And by that time, I was mostly eavesdropping. I learned quite a few new expressions that day.” “And she’s never hesitated to use them.” Kith grinned. Tylan feigned offense. “I did not use them. Well, not most of them.” “You’ve been here several days now, what’s your first impression of the palace?” Pt’this asked. “But this isn’t my first time here.” Tylan protested. “She was brought here for healing as a child.” Shunati explained. “You weren’t that little girl whose family died in a house fire, were you?” Mirimar asked. Tylan nodded. “I’m sorry but your family, but I’m glad Shunati was able to help you.” Mirimar told her. “So how does your impression of the palace compared to the last time?” Pt’this asked. “I don’t remember a lot about the last time. I was more focused on my brother and me then where we were.” “And now?” Emeton asked. “You told me your first impression, gaudy and wasteful, but do you still feel that way?” Tylan nodded. “Pretty much. The whole place is overdone.” Shunati laughed. “You need to see Pt’this’s room.” “She did see my room.” Pt’this growled and shot a glance at Tolin. “Oh that’s right, the test.” Shunati nodded. He looked at Tolin. “Don’t send her into my room. I’ve got protection spells on it.” “Don’t worry. We’re focusing on important areas currently.” Tolin assured him. “If she’s willing to come back and do more tests, perhaps we might eventually get to a mere apprentice’s room.” “Assuming your arthritis isn’t acting up at that time.” Shunati nodded. “What arthritis?” Tolin laughed. “Oh, the arthritis you might develop shortly.” Shunati tried to look innocent. “Your mentor has told you not to use your healing abilities for pranks.” Tolin reminded him. Shunati nodded. “She has. But, Mistress Mila also knows that mere apprentices make mistakes.” Tolin laughed. “Yeah, you make mistakes. You’ve been an apprentice since I was eight. I’ve yet to see you make a mistake. Why you’re still an apprentice is beyond me.” “Mistress Mila will release me when she feels I’m ready.” Shunati shrugged. “I get the feeling that’s not going to be for a long time,” Kith said. Shunati shrugged again. “I’ll get there when I get there.” “Don’t rush him.” Tylan encouraged. “Everyone needs to learn at their own pace.” “He’s welcome to stay as long as he needs to.” Emeton assured them. Most elves weren’t allowed to leave Erilu long-term but Emeton’s father had made special arrangements with King Arlin to allow Shunati to stay in Sen-gan as long as he was an apprentice. King Arlin had agreed because he felt he could use Shunati as a spy. Emeton was aware of this and didn’t care because he was the one that gave Shunati the information to pass along to Arlin. Shunati really wasn’t a spy. He was just the messenger. He only did it because, for some reason, he didn’t seem to want to go home. They talked for quite a while longer. Then, they started drifting off. Unsurprisingly, Mirimar went first. She tired easily. Pt’this followed, of course. He loved having her here and he was quite protective of her. Shunati left next, saying he was on duty in the morning. Then Kith left. He said he wasn’t used to being up so late without getting drunk. Tolin wanted to check on his men before going to sleep, or so he claimed, but Emeton saw the glance he gave Tylan and wondered if Tolin wasn’t giving them time to be alone. But he wasn’t going to push her. If she wanted to initiate something, it was her choice. But she wouldn’t. He knew that. He spoke with her a while longer and then excuse himself to go off to bed.