Queen Sophia

Lionel quickly used the diversion of attention to make his way to Drindle unnoticed. The boy added another question to his list for the ancient old man. 'Did Galorian say 'Another' apprentice? I wonder what happened to Drindle's first? or did he have more than one?' Lionel couldn't picture the old man teaching anyone. He only felt the old man kept him around to figure out what the amulet was. The boy also felt that Drindle was only teaching him to be a mage so that Lionel could learn about being an Enthraller. Even still Lionel didn't know what his position to the old geezer was. He stared at the almost bald man before him with asking eyes.

Drindle spoke softly for only Lionel to hear. "We'll talk later Ank." He looked Lionel directly in the eyes before turning to the herald still standing waiting to lead the group into the castle.

Galorian stared at Lionel with contempt written all over his face. The spoiled prince was hanging off the tall old figures sleeves continuing to tell the old man to get Drindle. Isaac lowered Gil'ead to softly lay on the stone pavement. He ascended the stairs quickly and spoke directly to the herald.

"I, Commander Isaac of Fort Le'alla would like to accompany Drindle to see her Highness." From what the Herald said the Queen would see Drindle there was nothing said about the companions that accompanied him.

The herald appeared to not have a quiet voice at all. He spoke rather loudly in response. "Sorry, Sir. The Queen only said Drindle"

Drindle began to walk forward again. Lionel followed suit and the herald placed his hand on the boys chest. "Drindle only boy."

"He's with me and he will speak to the queen as well." Drindle spoke with no room for negotiation. The hefty herald didn't budge "I won't speak to the queen without him." As the old man said his final words the herald removed his hand and began to lead the two inside.

The spoiled prince moved forwards quickly and reached the doors. The herald stopped the teenage boy with a raised pudgy hand. "Sorry Prince Blaise but the queen only wants to speak to Drindle."

Prince Blaise raised a hand with an outstretched finger pointing at Lionel. "I will see my mother, if you let him go, I will go as well."

The herald sighed audibly and spoke "Hurmm.. as you say." The chubby man knew his position could not argue with a prince. Simply stating that the queen only wanted to speak with Drindle was all he could do. The trumpeters filed in front of the quatro. The chubby herald was followed by Drinde, Lionel, and Prince Blaise.

The entrance hall was more grand than Lionel had even imagined. There were large, luxurious, red rugs that lined the floor. The boy felt like he was even ruining them by stepping on them with his soiled shoes. The walls were a marble stone that had some kind of shiny flakes, they were polished to a beautiful sheen. Lionel had no idea how someone could polish the surface of the stone ceilings more than 5 meters off the ground, but even the ceilings shone brilliantly.

The trumpeters led the way through the grand hall. The herald and trio turned down a small corridor while the trumpeters went a different direction. The Prince seemed to know where they were going as his face showed some trepidation.

Even though the ceiling was shorter and the hallway was more narrow, there appeared to be no expenses spared in the upkeep and luxury of the small passage. Lionel saw hand painted portraits on the wall of Kings wearing crowns. The first portrait that Lionel saw though was a beautiful young girl no more than sixteen. The next few showed older men. The wall of the hall housed more than twenty paintings. Each portrait that Lionel passed was older than the last, Until finally there was only one painting remaining.

As Lionel passed the final portrait he saw a familiar old man standing behind the king that was painted. He couldn't believe his eyes. Drindle looked almost the exact same in the picture as he did now in real life. Lionel couldn't stop his mouth from dropping open slightly at the sight. By his summation if each of the portraits was painted of a monarch that ruled for at least 40 years that would put Drindle at 800 years old. The part that really surprised Lionel though was that the old man hadn't changed in that time frame.

'How old is he?'

Lionel stood staring at the portrait until finally "Get a move on boy, we haven't all day for you to stand and gawk at my beauty." It was Drindle in a grumpy tone like normal, only now that Lionel looked at him, he could see a great age in the man's eyes.

Once Lionel caught up to the group did they continue on. The destination proved to be just up ahead. In front of the group stood an ornate wooden door with gold leaf inlaid into an elaborate carving of a stag.

The herald moved to the door and knocked loudly. He then spoke even louder through the door "HIGHNESS, DRINDLE, ANK, AND YOUR SON PRINCE BLAISE ARE HERE TO SEE YOU."

a soft "enter" could be heard through the door.

The herald pushed the door inward and stood to the side of the now open door.

The room was oddly bare and did not follow the same fashion as the rest of the castle Lionel had seen. There was nothing luxurious about the room other than the bed that sat against one wall. there was a beautiful rug on the floor but it seemed well worn. A small fire was in the fireplace on the far wall. Lionel took in the room looking for the source of the voice that said "enter" A woman had her back to the group as they entered. She sat on a chair facing a wall of wooden drawers. One of the drawers was opened. It appeared she was looking for something.

The woman wore a purple and gold embroidered white dress. Lionel could tell just looking at the fabric it was expensive. Looking at the golden threads woven into the dress, he could swear it was real gold. The woman had long brown hair that hung down to her mid back. there were light streaks of gray here and there.

As the group entered, the herald exited and closed the door behind him. The Prince, Lionel and Drindle stood for a moment. Drindle moved and sat on the edge of the bed facing the woman who began to speak.

a soft but stern voice emanated from the long haired woman. "Blaise, What do you want?"

"Mom, This man here spit on me and disrespected me!" The spoiled teenager was acting like a child. Lionel was dumbfounded at the outright lie.

The same soft voice spoke again. "Is that so?" The woman turned her head to look at her son.

"Yes, it is" The boy stuck his chest out proudly as he lied.

The woman stood slowly and walked toward her son. A smile was on her face. The teenage boy was still smiling until he saw the green eyes of his mother. Her eyes were dead, there was no smile in them. The prince's smile vanished in a second.

Lionel watched as the woman stopped in front of Blaise, the fake smile still plastered to her lower face. A growl of a voice escaped the woman as she spoke to her son. "Lie to me one more time and I will ensure that you won't be here to become King."

The prince's face turned pale as the color drained from it. He stood there for only a second before he bowed. His mother spoke again. "Now leave, I have business and you are not welcome here."The teenage prince spun on his heel and left the room quickly.

Once the spoiled prince was gone the woman turned and spoke in a happy tone. "Haahhhh... It seems his father ruined him." Her eyes seemed full of life and sparkled in the fire light as she looked at Drindle. "Old man, I missed you"