Almost three hours later alternating with trotting and running, the Palace was in sight on top of a hill. A paved road led there, coming from the dusty main road they were travelling, and ended at the main doors.
As they were trotting along the paved road, Alex looked up, admiring the huge Palace with rocky walls, two towers and several arrow’s nests imbued on the walls. A few meters from the main door, a group of guards were looking at them, with their spears stuck on the ground and the tip facing the unknown group. Four Mages were in that group, glowing with Magic, ready for anything.
James Macdonald raised his hand to make his Party stop, and he made his horse walk ahead with Bethany Mathews at his side. At ten meters distance from the guards, they stopped and James introduced himself. A guard was sent to the Palace while James and Bethany were told to wait.
A few minutes later the guard returned, and the Mages dispersed their Magic while the guards opened a path for the Party of Adventurers. James Macdonald signalled his group, and as Alex and Suijin were passing near the guards and Mages, one of the Mages said:
“Don’t you think that we didn’t notice that you and your friend over there had a lot of Magic around you. We will have a close watch over you two during your visit.”
Alex stopped his horse and said:
“You really have no idea how close you were to being killed if you raised your hand even a little. I think you are a Mage Summoner, but considering that your Spirit is travelling, you are weaker than you would be if he was standing next to you while I have my Spirit near me, in hiding.”
The Mage Summoner frowned:
“How do you know that my Spirit is not here hiding as well?”
“Because I can sense that your Magic is low for a Mage Summoner, that’s why.”
The Mage Summoner grinned:
“As for you, I can easily tell that you have almost the same amount of Magic of a child. No way you would be a Mage Summoner.”
“I know, I practised a lot for that. You shouldn’t underestimate an Adventurer, Mage Summoner. Not all of us have such a peaceful life working for the King and become lazy.”
Alex kicked his horse sides, leaving behind an angry Mage that was prevented from going after him by the other Mages. He mumbled in a low voice:
“Stupid boy, he really doesn’t know who he was messing with.”
Another Mage said in a low voice while signalling with his head to the women after the carriage:
“You are the one that doesn’t know, Gandil. Those women are surrounded with even more Magic than us, you should be more careful. You know that Adventurers are not easy to deal with, they tend to react with violence and worry about the consequences afterwards. The King is expecting them, don’t be a fool and get yourself killed, I don’t want to scrap your remains from my boots.”
The angry Mage Summoner kept on staring at Alex, and he followed the group on foot, together with the other three Mages that were with him.
After the main door, a large patio waited for James Macdonald, with four stable boys in front of the stable. James guided his horse there, and as one boy was holding the reins, he jumped to the floor and made room for another rider.
When the carriage stopped near the stable, Alex opened the door and offered his hand for the Princess to hold, and he helped her to get out. She was holding the tip of her light blue Princess’s dress with a small purse encrusted with precious gems hanging on her left arm, and fine and heavily adorned shoes. The lady’s maid exited last and closed the door of the carriage that was driven to the stable by another stable boy that carefully pulled the reins of the two horses. Suijin jumped from the bear’s back, and Okami tapped the back of her deer, pointing at the stable. The bear and the deer went after the carriage with a worried stable boy staring at them. Suijin placed one hand over the boy’s left shoulder and said:
“Just give them water and they won’t bother anyone. My bear already ate, so he is going to sleep while he waits for me, don’t worry.”
The boy slowly nodded, and went for the reins of Pearl’s horse, as she approached.
While the last horse was being guided to the stable, James Macdonald followed one servant that came from the main door and signalled them to enter. Behind the group, the four Royal Mages were following them with Gandil, the Mage Summoner, doing his best to disguise his anger towards Alex that was at the front, side by side with the Princess.
The servant guided them along a large corridor, and Alex didn’t fail to notice the richness on the walls and niches. The walls were covered with big, intricate tapestries, or with gold frames, enclosing paintings of former Kings or war sceneries. In the niches, there were real size armoured knights, reflecting the light that was coming from the chandeliers on the ceiling, that were giving light from pieces of Magical Orbs. Princess Ebell noticed the wrinkles on Alex’s forehead and whispered:
“You seem displeased with the decoration. Why is that?”
“I was just thinking if all this exposition of richness is necessary. What’s the purpose? Showing off or it’s to compensate something? Even only one gold frame from a painting would pay the food for the children of the Orphanage for several months.”
Princess Ebell disguisedly nodded and whispered back:
“Maybe the King helps the orphans in another way. I also saw this kind of things in other countries when I was travelling with my father. He told me it’s a way to show off to the foreign visitors, because if the King or the Minister that rules, live in a house with so much richness, it serves as an advertisement how rich is the country.”
Alex whispered after taking a quick glance around to confirm no one was overhearing them:
“Or the one that rules cares more about his good life than his subjects. I was always suspicious about these shows of grandness.”
“Well, I also don’t like the decor. I prefer what you have in your Castle, clean walls with only a few handmade drawings. Let me become Queen and I will sell all this and give the money to the country.”
Alex raised one eyebrow while staring at the Princess:
“You are willing to do that? Why the sudden change? I thought you were just a spoiled Princess, used to a good life and expensive things.”
“Yeah… I am beginning to question my life a lot, lately.”
Alex didn’t say anything else, but he noticed that the Princess was serious.
The noise of the door opening in front of them made Alex face forward again, and as he was passing near the two Royal Guards that were near the door, he recognized them, and lowered his head, trying to hide his features because those two were in the group that got beaten by him, Okami and Shinatobe when Prince James went to Viscountess Annie’s estate.
James Macdonald and Bethany Mathews were the first to enter the large room, filled with tall stained-glass windows around that were pouring light from the outside, and dividing it into a myriad of colours that gave a mystic atmosphere to the room.
The servant announced them to the King that was seated in a chair at the edge of a long table, with the Queen on his right side and Prince James standing next to him. The long table had several Nobles and their wives, and they all stared at the newcomers, as they were all bowing to the King. Drinks were on the table, and they all seemed to be enjoying some relaxation time, and Alex noticed that some of the Nobles didn’t look pleased by the sudden interruption.
The King got up and approached the group, and Princess Ebell took two steps forward with her lady’s maid at her side. She smiled and made a gracious bow:
“King Zack, it is a pleasure seeing you again. I hope you have been well.”
The King held the Princess’s hands and spoke with a big smile:
“Everything is even better now that you are here! Your voyage was not too dangerous, I hope?”
“It was more than enough to last me a lifetime of nightmares, but I was well guarded, as you can see.”
The King looked at the group behind the Princess, and he saw a familiar face that was trying to look inconspicuous. The King disguised a smile and said:
“Prince James, you should take your beautiful fiancée to a seat, while I thank this fine Party of Adventurers for bringing her safe and sound.”
The Prince was already behind his father, looking at Princess Ebell with dreamy eyes, and he stuttered:
“P-Princess Ebell, you look astonishing, as usual. That dress is extremely beautiful, and it goes very well with your hair colour.”
“Thanks, Prince James. It was a present from a friend of my father just for this special occasion. Together with this purse and shoes, if I would sell it, I would be able to help a lot of people which is something I will do in the next few days because I don’t want to have such an expensive set when there are so many members of our people in dire need of assistance.”
As the Prince was taking the Princess to the table, he spoke with a puzzled look:
“Last time we met, you were a little more… How should I say it…”
The Princess asked with a slight smile:
“A spoiled Princess used to have all her wishes granted? Well, let’s just say I got a nasty wake-up call recently, and I realized I need to change that shameful aspect of my character.”
“I liked that side of you. When we first met and on my following visits, I kept on thinking about what you would say or do, that could surprise me and completely take me out of balance.”
While the Prince was smiling at the Princess, the King faced the Nobles at the table and introduced the Princess to those that didn’t know her. A lot of whispering followed the King’s words, and Alex heard Shinatobe warning him behind his ear that something was fishy about the Royal Mages that were at the back, and he slowly increased his Magic. His eyes met the Princess, and she disguisedly nodded when she saw the Magic in his hands because Kagu-tsuchi was also warning her.
As the King continued his speech, introducing Ebell as his son fiancée and future ruler of Bouria, Alex disguisedly glanced at his back and took one step to the side, leaving a clear path between the Royal Mages and the table.
The King continued by thanking the Party of Adventurers for bringing the Princess, that would not only marry his son but would also tighten the bonds between Bouria and Beliersia, guiding both countries into a new era of cooperation. As the Nobles were clapping and raising their cups to welcome the Princess, a shot of a Water Spear came from the back of the room, and when Prince James noticed, Princess Ebell was already standing, pointing her open right palm to the danger that was coming towards her.
Everyone saw the young Princess shooting a flush of Fire Magic, that clashed against the Water Spear and immediately evaporated it. While the fog was invading the room, Alex moved at light speed and when the Royal Mage Summoner noticed, Alex was already in front of him, punching his stomach. A quick series of joint locks dislocated his elbows and knees, and while the Royal Mage was screaming in pain, Okami and Suijin were pointing their hands filled with Magic to the remaining Mages. Alex sent a Wind Tornado to the centre of the room, and the fog was concentrated on a small ball that he then froze. The ball made of frozen water fell on the ground with an echo, and the Princess’ voice was heard:
“Mister Alex, can you please find out why that Mage just tried to kill me? Do whatever is necessary, will you?”
Alex spoke while staring at the screaming Mage:
“I know just the right Spirit for that.”
The tiny ball of light that was Shinatobe came from behind Alex’s ear and increased its size. Before the surprised eyes of the Royal Mages and everyone else in that room, Shinatobe appeared in her adult form, in her complete armour. She bent down and grabbed the right foot of the screaming Mage, and dragged him to near the table. She crouched near the Mage’s head and asked in a loud voice so that everyone could hear her:
“Tell me who sent you and I will ask my friend Suijin to heal you a bit. Remain in silence and I will take out your left arm.”
The screams filled the room and Shinatobe looked at the surprised King:
“It seems he prefers to lose an arm. Would you be angry if I dirtied this floor with this scum’s blood?”
“I would prefer if you didn’t, actually. My Guards can take him, and he will tell everything we want to know.”