"Of course not. This castle will always be a home for you, aunt." Austin's polite demeanor remained, unfazed. If Ally didn't know him so well, she wouldn't have noticed the strain behind his smile.

Her mind spun at the new information. This was his aunt? Queen of the Sun Kingdom?

"Always so kind, like your mother." Her vivid green eyes slid to Ally. "And you must be the princess with the ability everyone's talking about."

Ally picked up her billowing skirt and curtsied. All the while feeling rapt attention on her at the mention of her powers. Piercing, blue eyes. "Yes, Your Majesty."

"It's nice to finally see Austin taking an interest in another…fascinating person." Xavier nodded to the king, not quite saying his words as a question. He stepped closer so that his words need only be muttered. "Are you following your father's footsteps already? We all know how well that went for your mother."

The king simply laughed as if Xavier had told him a private joke. "Let me ask Sebastian to arrange your accommodations. You must have some rest before the banquet tonight."

Dez yawned, an unusual sound in the current atmosphere. "Good, because I am exhausted."

As the servants lead the royal guests into the castle, Ally turned to Austin.

"What was that?"

"A surprise."

"Is it a surprise we should be worried about?" Ally stared at the back of Xavier's head, skin crawling. "Your aunt seems fine, but your…"

"Cousin. Xavier's my cousin, Luccina was my father's sister, she married, became queen and a Sun. Don't mind Xavier, he's always been difficult and there are little consequences for his actions as a prince." He shook his head in disbelief. "Things were so much easier as a prince."

Ally nodded hesitantly. "Alright."


Several hours later, the welcoming banquet was in full swing. Austin, Ally, and the newcomers sat at the elevated table up front where they looked over the rest of the room. Lords and ladies of the court chattered excitedly as silver and glass clinked, the surprise visit from the Suns no doubt one of the many subjects they gossiped about.

The king spoke in low tones to his aunt recent affairs of the kingdom, leaving Ally to speak to Dez. It was more listening rather than speaking, really. Ally listened with interest as he spoke of his trips to different countries and the random things he discovered. It was a welcome change to learn from such an animated storyteller rather than her lessons.

"The last time I went to Dawson Kingdom, I even got to see someone call the rain." Dez grinned.

"Oh," Ally said in surprise, "did you like it?"

"Of course I did! It's amazing. How is it all even possible?"

Ally laughed at his wonder good-naturedly.

"How is it?" A curious voice murmured.

The princess almost did a double take. Xavier had been quiet for most of the evening, save for the customary small talk.

"I just…take in my surroundings, and sing…" She replied, wondering if she should be sharing as much as she is.

His icy eyes made the hairs on her neck stand up. "But can anyone learn?"

"Do you want to learn, Your Highness?" Dez interrupted, giving Ally time to recover from Xavier's unexpected question.

He blinked at Dez as if realizing what he had said. The prince scoffed and took a sip from his goblet. "Of course not."

"I'm afraid it's passed on in the family." The princess added sheepishly. "We haven't tried with other people but I don't think it would work anyway."

"I have read that it's how House Dawson came into power." Xavier commented. He scanned the mass below them contemplatively.

"That's true." Dez said. At their peculiar looks, he shrugged. "Have to study all history doing what I do. Speaking of what I do, did I tell you about that time I…"

Ally smiled and nodded at the appropriate times as Dez dove into another tale. She could feel the cool gaze of the prince flicker to her once in a while. For a person whose last name was Sun, his personality was the opposite of warm.

At some point she felt too uncomfortable to continue to stay. Uttering a quick excuse, she left the table and the crowded dining hall. It was actually getting late, so anyone who saw her dismissed her as retiring to her room. She let her feet carry her wherever, breathing in relief at the silent and mostly empty hallways. Most of the people were at the banquet or helping the banquet.

Xavier's questions prodded at her mind. His interest was surprising. But everyone else outside of her kingdom had been fascinated too, so maybe she was looking into it too much. It was probably the fact that he was such an intimidatingly quiet person that she assumed he would remain so.

As her mind cleared, she noticed where she had walked to. It was the underground level of the castle, an area she did not go to often. Other than the lit beacons that spanned every few feet, darkness filled her path. She shivered at the thought of things lurking in the shadows, but brushed it off.

The smell and lack of light of this place reminded her too much of her Trial. Again, she tried to keep that out of her thoughts. She had to remind herself she was safe. This was Austin's castle, and there were no rebels here.

A scream pierced the air, so loud and agonizing she could feel it vibrate still in her bones long after it ended.

Her head whipped around her while she backed away, hand reaching out hoping to wrap around the railing.

The stairs, where are the stairs?

The noise had come from not too far away, and she wanted to get as far away as possible. The echoes of it still bounced off the walls, making it a mystery which direction it had come from. Choosing a random direction, she picked up her trailing skirt and ran.

A door was open to her right, and she heard some voices from that room. Slowly, she approached it. She peeked in and relaxed as she realized these were some castle guards. One barely an adult, another grey haired with a mustache. It would be better to not be alone, and she could ask where she could go back upstairs.

Ally made sure to make some noise to alert them as she stepped into the room. "Do you know where the stairs are?"

"Milady! I apologize." One of them, the older one, exclaimed and bowed deeply. The younger man followed suit. Their armor clanked loudly with the abrupt movement.

She hid her wince with a smile. "It's alright. I just need a bit of help with directions, and there was this uh, scream?…"

The same scream sounded again as if on cue, but the closeness of it was what made Ally jump. Her widened eyes flitted back and forth between the guards and the very close door she was sure the scream came from.

"What's going on?" She said suspiciously, unconsciously retreating once again. If she was right, that scream came from the door five feet to her left. It was a heavy wooden door with a very extensive looking tangle of metal locks.

The guards exchanged nervous glances that did not ease her worry at all.

"What is behind that door?" Ally repeated, more firmly this time. She stood up straighter to have her stance remind them of who she was. Flaunting her royalty and power wasn't her favourite thing to do, but situations like this, it proved useful.

"I-it's the prisoner from the Trial." The old one answered finally. "We're questioning him, on His Majesty's orders."

She nodded in understanding, deeply relieved. Austin had mentioned this interrogation. "Any developments?"

The older one shook his head while the younger one nodded.

Ally raised an eyebrow. "You would do well to tell me. Please." She accidentally let out at the end. The guilt of demanding them to tell her was too great.

The mustached man glared as the young man responded eagerly. "The prisoner, he says he'll tell everything if he can tell it to…" He trailed off in realization, looking at the elder at a loss.

"Who?" Ally pressed.

The old guard grunted, but reluctantly spoke. "You."


Cliffhanger, dun dun dun! Hope you liked it, and let me know any reactions/thoughts/predictions :) They brighten my school filled days