Chapter Text
Rowan helped his father from the ship as it docked in the most traveled port in Wester. He took his father's arm and led him down the ramp to the dock. It was all for show, of course, his father's grace affording him more awareness of his surrounding than anyone with sight could possibly know.
"I'm not so old that you have to parade me around like this," said his father.
"No. But you are blind and the sun is nearly rising."
"Thanks for reminding me, I'd nearly forgotten. However, I don't need the rest of Westport knowing that a prince of Lienid has gone blind in his middle age."
Just like that, as he referred to title, a slim man wearing the royal uniform of the Wester approached. "Welcome, Prince Po, Prince Rowan, to Wester."
And here we hoped to keep a low profile, thought Rowan.
He caught the flash of his father's smile from the corner of his eye.
The uniformed man continued. "King Birn would like to extend the invitation for dinner at his castle tonight."
"Your king misses nothing. Unfortunately my son and I are only stretching our legs from the weeks at sea. We will be leaving shortly, once our cargo has been delivered and our stores restocked." Po looked the man in the eyes as he spoke. He pulled off the charade well; as a child, Rowan easily forgot that his father didn't have use of his eyes.
The corners of the man's mouth turned down in a frown. "I see. The king will be disappointed."
"Do give him our regards," added Po.
The man bowed and then he was off.
Rowan continued walking alongside his father, toward the marketplace. "It appears our friend wasn't happy with the news," said Rowan.
Po shook his head. "No. He'll be returning to his king with his tail tucked between his legs. Long has King Birn remained benevolent. I hope things haven't changed in his old age."
"Then we should cut to the chase and conduct our business here as soon as possible.
"Yes. I'd like to join your mother in the Middluns as soon as possible."
Their true purpose for docking in Wester was not to accompany a shipment of goods from Lienid. Instead, they had an assignment from The Council to meet a contact working for King Birn. The king had recently set to amass quite a large navy and expand his armies. One typically did not do that unless they were preparing for war.
* * *
The two men sat in a local tavern, finishing their mugs of ale. Their contact was expected to arrive shortly, meaning their business in Wester was nearly complete. They would take the information they learned back to Katsa and the rest of The Council.
Rowan tipped up his mug, the cool foam sliding down his throat as he downed the rest of the ale. He swallowed audibly.
"The ship should be ready by now."
Po nodded and Rowan paid the waitress coin for their drinks. He stood to leave when his father clapped his hand on his shoulder. He eyed his father curiously.
"I think you'll want to remain seated."
The doors to the tavern burst open with two royal guards entered followed by a young woman wearing riding pants, knee high boots, a tunic with a belt fashioned around her waist. Rowan noted the sword at her hip on her right side. She was followed by two more guards and she was headed straight for them.
Upon closer inspection, Rowan noticed that her eyes did not match, identifying her as graced, one gray eye and one brown.
She stopped in front of their table and bowed. "Prince Po. Prince Rowan. My name is Aura. I have been instructed by King Birn to escort you to the castle."
Rowan eyed his father. There was no way the messenger could have returned to Birn City from Westport so quickly. This must have been planned ahead of time.
Po spoke up. "It's lovely to meet you, Lady Aura. Regrettably, we already told the king's runner that we will be leaving Westport now that our business here is concluded."
One corner of Aura's mouth twitched. "I am no Lady, your Highness, only a servant to the king. With that said, on behalf of the King Birn, I must insist that you come with us."
Rowan's gaze slid from Aura to the four guards, wondering if he should reach for the dagger at his boot. None of the guards moved. He resisted the urge to arm himself for the moment. His gaze slid back to Aura. She was beautiful, truly. She was tall and lean. Her attire suggested that she spent time riding and certainly not sidesaddle. Her dark hair hang in a long braid that reached her waist. His eyes slid back to her eyes, the left was brown whilst the right was gray. His appraisal was distracted when her hand moved to rest on the pommel of her sword. She was a servant of the king indeed.
King Birn was one of three kings to continue enslaving the graced population. Rowan wondered for how long she'd been in service. He didn't like the idea of gracelings being enslaved, in any shape or form. He didn't even know her. For all Rowan knew, she could very well be loyal to the king.
Po felt a push from the graced girl. It wasn't a mental push of someone who could read minds or control them. It was an emotional push. He was suddenly overcome by a calm that made him want to be agreeable. It was an interesting grace the girl had, bending someone's will based off of their feelings.
Po stood, holding out his hands, palms out. The guards shifted, readying themselves for an attack. Po was notorious in the kingdoms for his fighting skills.
"I see no reason to argue. If the king is that serious about having audience with myself and my son, we are more happy to oblige."
Rowan watched as Aura eyed Po suspiciously. Smart girl, he thought. She knew better than to underestimate a prince of Lienid, and a graced one at that.
After a long stretch of silence, she finally spoke. "We should be going, even on horseback it will be nearly a days ride."
"Lead the way," said Po
Rowan eyed his father as if he'd lost his mind.