Welcome home Naemara.

Leo dismissed the soldiers that accompanied them, letting Agalma take over for the coachman as they rode their horse on one side, Issac staying on the other side while they approached the castle gates. 

Crossing the wide bridge over the moat around the castle had a bit of civilians walking the path, they stayed out of the way of the carriage and horses. Leo looked upwards above the castle, which in itself was grand. Its architecture was immaculate even for its age. But their eyes were glued on the massive towering tree that the castle was built around. Ever since their childhood, the tree would grow leaves, but no flowers or fruit which Leo had read about in old journals kept by their ancestors. In recent years the leaves grew more sparse with each passing spring. A growing concern no one had the faintest idea of how to fix as nothing that was done worked. 

Lost in thought Leo was startled as the guards greeted them. "Commander Leo." With a nod of their head Leo greeted them wordlessly. The guards cast nervous glances at Agalma as the group went in the gates and headed to the courtyard. Agalma stayed perfectly still until she was right next to the guards, lurching herself towards the one to her left in a feint to scare him, growling to give the scare more umph.

He flinched backwards and pressed up against the wall with his pike towards her, the other one jumped and did the same. Agalma just cruelly laughed and made the horses hurry in their trotting. Issac steered his horse back to the guards. 

"You needn't fear her, she has a thing for spooking us, pardon me." The guards were not amused as Issac left. 

"I'd like to see her really try to take us on." One said with a shaky voice, trying to sound brave. 

The other chortled, agreeing. "Right. She doesn't look so tough."

The carriage stopped quicky, and Agalma stood up in the boot and hollered at them. "I take that as a challenge! See you blokes at Dusk!" Laughing as she sat back down and continued on their way. 

The guards stiffened in fear, not realizing she could hear them. Leo shook their head as they kept beside the Carriage. "Just don't kill them, King Rullan would be miffed." 

"Won't kill them. Just teach them place, if they have the balls to show." Agalma huffed. 

She turned the carriage to line up near the end of the castle entry steps and hopped off the boot. Agalma opened the carriage door and slapped the top of it. "Wake up bums." 

There was a small group of maids and attendants that rushed down the steps as Leo and Issac hopped off their horses. The head butler, Barthemous, greeted them with a proper bow at the end of the steps. The horses were tended to by the maids, bringing them to the stables at the farside of the courtyard. 

Barthemous smiled warmly at them all, trying his best to not have much of a reaction to Stein who crumbled on the floor as soon as he stepped out of the Carriage. Jin used him as a step as he elegantly stepped out, straightening his robes while he inhaled deeply as if the carriage air was tainted. 

"Barthemous, if you wouldn't mind having someone help me bring him to the dungeon, that would be wonderful. I guess he should have some food and a bath. We aren't savages after all. And don't worry, he won't be using any magic any time soon." 

Barthemous just smiled at Jin, 'We are not savages, but you Mages surely are.' He thought to himself, nodding as he turned around and clapped towards the cracked open doors of the castle. "A hand with Stein please! And we will need someone to show our lovely guest here to her room." 

He gave Agalma a dashing smile with his wrinkled face. She gave him a pat on his back that knocked the wind out of him. "Generous. My thanks." Her voice softly rumbled.

2 guards rushed down the stairs and lifted Stein to his feet and dragged him away. He looked mentally gone and gaunt. Barthemous wheezed as he caught his breath and steadied his composure. Jin stood there cleaning his nails completely unbothered.

As a maid comes down to Agalma, she turns to Issac who had a bit of an odd gloomy look on him. "Fight now, or later?" 

Issac raised a brow and cleared his throat. "How about later, after dinner?" 

She huffed at him, and turned to follow the maid upstairs. He looked at Leo. "Was that a yes?" Leo nodded with a chuckle.

"I'm Franchesca, what shall I call you miss?" The maid squeaked up at her as she walked her inside. "Agalma. Got ale, Franchesca?" The maid bounced on her feet as she nodded. "Oh yes! I would be happy to fetch you some. Would you like a bath?" 

Their voices became muffled as they went inside the tall ornate blue and gold doors. Barthemous folded his hands behind his back and smiled at Jin once more. "Would you like me to summon the mages or would you prefer to rest first? Our Majesty King Rullan is inside his study and would love to be caught up in person." Barthemous was attempting to gently suggest what he thought would be the best first action for the Mage.

Jin summoned a book within his right palm, the pages wildly flipping as they turned. The tome was old, and the pages were full of drawings and scribbles of various places and things. The pages stopped on a bedchamber intricately detailed with sloppy writing beneath it. "Commander Leonardo can catch the King up. I will replenish myself and join the mages in the dungeon in 2 hours."

"Excellent, I shall send word to them for you, and let you know when food is ready. Rest well Master Jin." Barthemous and Leo watched as the ink on the page glowed a bright purple and Jin was sucked into the book, both disappearing in a swirling flash that left a delicate shimmering mist. 

Barthemous' shoulders relaxed and his back slightly slouched, as if a great weight fell from his shoulders. Leo gave him a compassionate smile, patting his shoulder. "Oh how I have missed you, your Royal Highness." 

"I've missed you too old friend. How has everything fared while I've been away?" Leo walked in stride with him as they went inside, not rushing in anyway. 

He let out an exhausted grumble. "Well, King Rullan has been wanting us to prepare for the celebration of Ursinia's and Laurel's birthdays, but they don't want to celebrate them on the same day even though.. They are twins. So, your mother, the wonderful woman she is, is trying her hardest to make them happy with decor, guests and treats. Then there are the proposals we have been getting for Aster, Shera, Carania, and you of course." 

Leo softly laughed, stopping just outside the door. "So, the usual Princess chaos." Barthemous chuckled warmly. "Yes, yes it is… Now, go greet your Mother and sisters before you see your Father.. We will have time later to chat my dear." He casts a glance outside. 

"Though, I was expecting, moreso hoping, to see Malach'karh. I recall your letter mentioned the elves chose to be with the Orcs." 

Leo nodded. "We will need to send them supplies, it's the very least we can do. And why were you hoping to see Malach?" 

Barthemous coughed with his gloved hand to his mouth, hiding a laugh. "Well, having him as a guest was such a jovial time. I simply miss his charming personality." 

With a knowing grin Leo huffed a laugh. "You liked him scaring everyone. Don't act like I don't know about you purposely bringing nobles around him to watch them squeal in fear." 

Feigning innocence he turned his nose up, his cheeks were rosy. "I am an honorable Butler, those were merely all coincidences. Aside from that, he was a nice change of company. With nobles, my position requires me to butter them up, and do their bidding yadda yadda.. But with Malach, and I assume most Orcs, he detested our always positive demeanors. Refused to have us do anything we didn't want to and preferred to do it himself." 

Leo understood completely. "When I was getting to know Malach, it was refreshing to not have to put up a farce." 

He nodded with closed eyes and his hands behind his back. "That isn't to say Orc's aren't terrifying, but there are some instances where I would much rather tend to the needs of an Orc, than one of our Nobles." His voice fell at the end of his statement with a deep gravelly tone. 

Leo chuckled with a pull of their collar. "No kidding. Anyhow, I'll come find you later." Leo gave him a respectful bow, which he returned.

"Of course your Royal Highness, and welcome home." Leo patted his shoulder with a smile and stepped inside. 

The entry led into the throne room, which usually was full with civilians coming to see the King and Queen for personal matters. At this current time however, it was mostly empty aside from guards. And of course, the lineup of all 11 of Leo's sisters with their Mother right at the bottom of the staircase. Leo couldn't help but smile, touched as their family waited expectantly to greet them. 

They stood oldest to youngest, with their Mother at the end by the youngest. Beginning with the eldest, each in turn began to curtsy, moving like a small wave as each Princess greeted Leo. 

"Aster, Shera, Carania, Sapphenia, Azalea, Amaranth, Celsia, Helenium, Rosemary, Ursinia, Laurel." With each name spoken, Leo nodded their head to the curtseying Princess. Looking at their Mother with a brimming smile. "Mother, thank you for welcoming me home." 

Some of the girls had started crying, Leo held their arms apart and beckoned them over to which they all swarmed to them. Their Mother, Eloisa gracefully smiled as she strided over. 

"Naemara, I am so happy that you're home, and so are your sisters." She softly laughed as she tried speaking over the myriad of voices who expressed how excited they were to see Leo. She stood there patiently watching each princess have their turn hugging Leo. 

Leo fixed the braids on Celsia's head, wrapping their arm over Helenium and making sure each girl got a loving hug, all the while trying to respond to each question thrown at them. The room was echoing with the chaos. 

At the top of the stairs there were 3 teachers who clapped their hands to get the attention of the princesses. "Ahem, we apologize for the interruption but it is time we get back to your studies! I'm sure your Royal Highness would like some rest after her travels." 

The Princesses scrambled about, each bowing to Leo and Eloisa as they headed up the stairs to follow their teachers. 

Leo let out a laugh as the room quieted down, throwing their arms open as they scooped Eloisa up in a bear hug. "Naemara!" She loudly laughed mid spin. "You may be a soldier but you are still a Princess young lady!"  

With a tight warm squeeze Leo stopped their spinning and hugged her with her feet dangling a bit off the floor. Humming with a smile as she refused to let her down. "Yea yea yea… I'm going to keep hugging you like this until I can't pick you up." 

Leo was gentle as they set Eloisa down, much taller than her Leo looked down at her. Eloisa huffed, grabbing Leo's face with both hands and looking them over like a typical mother. "Look at you, have you been eating? I swear every time you come home you thin out. Tch.." 

She clicked her tongue, but smiled with misty eyes and trembling lips. Her fingers ran through Leo's short hair that was a bit disheveled. "You look so much like your father.. If memory serves me right, I don't think he was quite as handsome as you. Don't tell him I said that…" Leo held her hands and softly laughed. 

 "But, I think it's time you trim your hair again. You're starting to look shaggy. All of my children need to always look their best. I'll meet you in your chambers when you finish talking with your Father." 

Eloisa inhaled and composed herself as she cupped Leo's hands and patted them. 

Leo kissed her forehead. "Yes mother, I'm thinking of going bald. What do you think?" Eloisa gasped and lightly smacked the top of Leo's hand. 

"Absolutely not! I care not if you dress as a man, but you will do it with style and grace so help me!" She shook her head with a peeved laugh, Leo was laughing heartily as they pulled themselves away. 

"So that's a maybe?" Leo put pep to their step as Eloisa scoffed and complained and headed upstairs, a bright smile upon her face.

Leo laughed to themself, they had missed being home. Though a bit of dread started to fall over them as they neared the King's study. The armored guards respectfully greeted them as they passed, no doubt they noticed their stiff expression. 

Once at the door Leo inhaled and let out a harsh breath before they knocked on the heavy wooden door. It was covered in beautiful hand carvings of Yaarlarth, the tree their castle was built around as well as the mythical beast the Chimera. Leo admired the carving as they waited for a response from their father.

"Hmm. Come in." Rullan's voice was deep and cold. Leo turned the door knob, their hand squeezing the cold metal bulb harder than they realized. 

Once inside they closed the door, their hand tingling from how tight they held the knob. Rullan looked up from his papers on his desk briefly, his eyes returning to the papers but Leo noticed his expression of disappointment. 

"Welcome home Naemara." His voice was not welcoming in the least. 

They didn't let his tone deter them. With steady confident steps Leo grabbed one of the chairs to the side of his desk and pulled it to face him directly as they sat down. 

"I take it you read my letters?" Leo's eyes scan over his desk, their letters neatly folded and placed off to the side. Rullan nodded, grabbing his quill from the inkwell he signed the paper in front of him. 

"The mission happened how you expected, for the most part. The slaves are not here though." 

He tapped his quill and put it away as he let the ink dry, looking up at Leo with a clearly annoyed expression. 

"No, as I said they preferred going to Vibhurik. They are terrified of humans and the Orcs made them feel safe." 

Rullan's brows lifted on his aging face, the resemblance between the two was strong just as Eloisa mentioned. He looked down, chewing his cheek with a slight shake of his head. "How someone can find an Orc less terrifying than us is beyond me. Nevertheless, Stein is in our possession and I suppose that deserves your Orc's some praise." 

Leo scowled at him. "They are not my Orcs. They are people, and our Allies. My friends, and yes. Yes They do deserve some praise. I'd like for you to help them with their rations since-" 

"Their rations? What for?" "If you'd allow me to finish speaking you would know." Both of their tones were getting harsher with each moment as they challenged each other for dominance in the conversation. Leo looked at their father with an intense glare, waiting for him to back down. 

He nodded with a sigh, waving his hand arrogantly. "Continue." 

"They took in the Elves of Nual, 15 of them. With winter approaching, they might not have enough rations to last them with the extra people." 

"I'm sure they'll make do. Request denied." "Funny, it wasn't a request." Rullan scoffed, shifting in his seat with a laugh of disbelief. 

"Princesses don't get to make demands." Rullan looked at Leo with a smug look, expecting some kind of recoil.

"I am the Commander of your banner. Crown Princess of the Chimera royal family, you either heed my demand, or I go to the townsfolk. Who, lest we forget, favor me over you." 

Rullan snorted with irritation. "So, you'd steal from our people? To feed slaves and Orcs? We are about to be faced with war on multiple fronts Naemara, I would expect you to choose your actions more carefully." 

Leo stood and placed their hands roughly on the top of the desk, staring at their father with a challenging gaze. "War we cannot win alone. Our people know this, and had it not been for your arrogance, we wouldn't be in this damning predicament. So take your quill, and write out an order to aid the Orc's with rations before I do it myself, your Majesty." 

"And what if we don't have the rations to spare?" He spat out. "Then you can afford to miss a few lavish meals and eat like a commoner for once." Rullan was about to respond with something snide but Leo slammed their hands upon the desk and pushed themselves off of it with a growl of frustration.

Pacing the study as they began a long winded rant towards him. "You act as if I do not go into the towns myself, that I do not see the storages. When was the last time you went and helped your people in person? We have plenty, more than plenty to spare. I have aided the farms, I have plowed the fields of the elderly Stephansen. I have cut the wool off the sheep when Alric broke his hand, done all the things you told me I would need to do to understand what our people need, what I'd need to learn to know how to rule. While you have done none of it! Not while I've been alive. You rave about wanting a son to be your heir, but here I am, doing more than you, more than some young boy would do under your banner. But because I am a girl my ideas or views of what needs to be done are worthless aren't they? Or are you offended that a girl has done better than you? You could never have gotten the allyship with the Orcs without me, our truce with the elves of Aslamer only happened because I spoke with Prince Lederyx upon the battlefield. Oh, but you just had to ruin that with your argument with their King and now, our people can't even travel safely along our borders." 

Leo was madly pacing, Rullan had sat there and taken every word Leo spat at him, even as they began to get off track. His eyes were downcast with the smallest bit of shame. Leo spoke truthfully, but he wouldn't admit it. Not completely and definitely not verbally. 

With a harsh sigh and balled fists Leo stopped their pacing. Their eyes glued upon a painting of their family between 2 book shelves. "I shouldn't have lashed out on you like that… I'm sorry, I just wish you would listen to what I have to say regardless if I'm a woman or not. I've done everything I can to be a proper heir to our Kingdom, you wanted Stein, I got him. You can't just request things from people and not help them in return." 

Rullan folded and put the paper upon his desk into an envelope, setting it aside to grab a new piece of paper and began writing on it with his quill. "You have made your point, I will not be unreasonable even to the likes of them." 

Leo clenched their jaw in frustration, but stilled their sharp tongue as their father was making some kind of progress. Facing him they bowed. "Thank you, father."

With a hum he let out a long dull toned sigh. "What shall I send their way exactly?" 

Leo sat back down and listed off various things they could reasonably spare for them. Some cattle, grain, ale, cheese that would keep its freshness through winter, carpenters to help build, medicinal supplies and a doctor familiar with Elves. Rullan snorted at the suggestion of a mage going to Vibhurik to help the elves with their magic. He wouldn't send an apprentice mage, he only trusted his court mages and would have the Commanders of each house decide which mage would go. Leo only hoped it wouldn't be Jin. 

—-----------

Stein was strapped into an iron chair after he was given a decent meal to eat, his entire body held in place by thick leather belts. He looked around the dark and dingy dungeon that was lit with wall torches. The guards were out of his view, so he felt completely alone, left with just his thoughts which were filled with the maniacal laughter of Crisha and Jin. 

He could hear footsteps echo within the dungeon as their shoes clicked against the stone steps, sweat dripped down his forehead as his heart thundered in his chest. 'Is it Jin?' He wondered. 

The guards seemed to greet them but he couldn't make out what they said, and just a moment later Stein watched a beautiful woman turn the corner into his view. Her dark colored dress had a long open plunge in the front, showing the roundness of her breasts and her navel before being closed with red cords tied around her waist and hips. She had some kind of metal trimmed red capelet upon her shoulders and chest. She wore strange gloves, with glowing orbs on them that resembled orange eyes. 

When her pale yellowish eyes locked onto his he felt stiff, as if a wolf had just caught sight of a small rabbit. Her beautiful olive toned skin glowed in the torch light as she got closer to him. The iron bars of his cell were the only thing separating them. 

"I imagined someone with more poise. But here I find a raggedy little rabbit." Her voice was a dark and sultry whisper that tickled his ears. "When the others get here, we shall see if your foot is still lucky, little rabbit." Her lips curled into a sinister grin which made Stein's throat itch with a painful dryness. 

His brows knitted with anger, balling up his fists he tried to thrash against the bindings in the chair to break free. His painful grunting echoing in the dungeon. The woman watched unamused, walking to sit down at a bench along the wall across from the cell as she waited for the other mages.

 "I can't wait to see what is in that small brain of yours…" She licked her lips and wolfishly grinned at him. 

"You'll find nothing of use." He spat out with a glare.

"Oh I find that hard to believe." A new voice rang in the dungeon, a man with a ginger orange manelike mohawk and a matching chin beard appeared out of a cloud of gray smoke beside the woman. He wore leather armor, brown, green and gold in color. His face was squarish, and his pale skin was covered in a dust of freckles. "Even if you don't remember it, we will find it, be sure of that." 

"And who exactly are you?" Stein hissed at him.

"We are mages. Obviously. Is he daft?" The ginger man snorted and turned to look at the woman who shrugged casually in return. 

"Seems to be that way." She spoke lowly. The man heartily chuckled. "Better make well with your Gods, you'll want to find some comfort if you want any kind of rest lad."