As they neared the palace gates, Louis heard the trumpets sound announcing his arrival. They rode over the heavy drawbridge and into the courtyard.
"Your Highness!" The stable manager bowed low and took a hold of Sky. "No offence, Your Highness, but your mother, Her Majesty has been frantic with worry. Thank goodness you came when you did. I don't think my, or any of the others in the palace's eardrums could take the sound levels anymore. OR the magic."
"None taken. And shame on you Josef, for complaining about your poor eardrums. You can hear perfectly after every episode and I'm sure they just improve your hearing," he teased him. "Please hose her…"
Josef interrupted him. "Hose her down; give her a nice grooming and a warm bucket of oats. Got it Your Highness." He smiled and led Skylark away.
"He sounds jolly," Nari remarked. He laughed as they walked towards the actual door of the palace. Suddenly they could hear a screaming and crashing of things inside. The door flew open, and his mother burst out and flung herself unto him.
"Oh I was so scared you were gone… I" She stopped short as she saw Nari. Suddenly she raised her hands and emerald fire burst out, attacking Nari. Nari brought up her hands to form a shield to protect herself with her Gift.
"Mother STOP!" He shouted, knowing that his mother could kill someone in this state. Nari lowered her magic shield just as his mother struck her again. "NARI!"
He ran to her worrying that she was hurt. Her eyes fluttered open slightly. "Louis, I'm alright," she whispered. He beckoned to one of the servants standing nearby. "Please take Miss Narikutusco to one of the rooms and help her to refresh herself please." The servant bowed and helped Nari into the palace.
He looked at his mother looking suspiciously at Nari as she went into the palace. "Mother, how could you? She is my friend and then you nearly kill her? What got into you?"
"She's a mage. She could've killed you." She said.
"So are you. I've been living my whole life with a sorceress and yet you haven't killed me. So why the need to kill her?" He walked away before she could say anything.
He entered the palace turning to the west wing where the guests were housed. He entered into a room with an open door. "Nari?" he asked.
He saw her sitting on the bed, her head in her arms. "Hey Louis."
He sat next to her. "Sorry about my mother. She gets crazy sometimes, especially when it has something to do with me. Are you going to be all right?"
She looked up at him with those blue eyes. "Well I better not use my Gift for a few days." She smiled. "What a welcome to the palace hey?"
He chuckled and put his arm around her. "Welcome to the palace, Nari."