When Amber, Ruby, and Lucinda finally returned to Pyre Crest two days later, James was the first to meet them. He hugged Amber but when he released her, he grabbed Ruby, dipped her and kissed her. Ruby had yelped loudly at the unexpected show of affection and the feeling of falling. But once he was kissing her accepted it without question. Amber rolled her eyes and looked to her aunt who was standing with a firm hold on an upset looking Gerald. The boy had a bruised nose while his elder brother Peter, who sported a split lip, stood beside his father.
"Peter, what happened to you and your brother?" Amber gasped as she knelt down to look at them.
"Young Peter just had a tantrum because he is still too little to train with the knights!" Gerald said snidely and Peter puffed up.
"I'm big enough to knock you on your ass!" The boy snarled and Tilly's hand made contact with the back of his head.
"It's been a mess while you have been gone… In fact, I want to talk to Lucinda about something." Tilly said looking to the witch and the dark-haired women blinked a little confused. Beckoning for her to follow Tilly gave Amber a welcoming hug before leading the way down toward her hidden hut with Peter's arm in hand.
"Speaking of… James, we need to talk… All of us." Amber said firmly and Ruby detangled herself from his arms, getting her bearings back. She agreed with Amber, flipping her still long braided hair back over her shoulder and taking on a stern stance to show she wasn't too pleased with him.
Two hours and everyone could hear the shouting and screaming taking place between Amber, Ruby, and even Bartleby against James who struggled to defend himself and his choices.
"Do you even hear yourself! Do you even realize all your choices are born from rage and the want for revenge! YOU ARE NOT THINKING STRAIGHT!" Bartleby shouted as he grabbed James's shoulder to stop him from leaving.
"I am FINE!" James snarled and Ruby moved to stand in front of the door, arms crossed.
"If you were fine James you would follow the plans! You wouldn't go off and do something so foolish!" Amber shouted and James turned on her, jabbing his finger in her chest and he screamed in her face.
"Are you telling me if a chance to place a dagger between his ribs presented itself to you, YOU wouldn't have tried to take it."
"NO, I WOULDN'T ESPECIALLY IF I WAS ALONE AND ONLY SUPPOSED TO DO RECON!" Amber screamed and James flinched back. "YOU ARE A STUBBORN, ANGRY, FOOL AND I FEAR FOR OUR KINGDOM WHEN YOU TAKE THE THRONE! With how you are behaving… I would rather that BASTARD KEEP IT THAN HELP YOU!"
"You don't mean that…" James breathed.
"Do NOT tell me what I do and do not mean… I love our home James but unless you can figure out how to pull yourself together… I'm going to Tangu… Zandar has proposed enough times I might as well move on and become a Queen…" Amber said James floundered unsure how to continue. The look Ruby was giving him… The disappointment in her eyes didn't help.
Sofia didn't miss the silent treatment she was getting.
Cedric did his work, signed what needed signing and did everything he could to not speak if he could help it. At least to her, that is.
His sister and her daughter left the castle to return home, but Goodwin and Winfred remained in the castle. Winifred taking her time in the garden in the rotunda with some knitting while Goodwin either watched his son or was sleeping when his old age caught up to him. At present, he was doing the latter while Sofia stood beside the throne and Cedric listened to requests form citizens. She kept her eyes downcast to her notes as to avoid looking at Cedric. She couldn't push aside the embarrassment about the whole situation.
Cedric would cast his eyes every so often to Sofia and then look away, still sour about her rejection. Part of him reasoned that the whole thing was fueled by wine and dancing but another part, the unwelcome one, jeered at him and whispered doubts. These were further fueled by the visage of Roland who stood to his left, smiling wickedly. Though now he was easier to ignore since he no longer resembled a rotting corpse, it still bothered Cedric all the same.
Right now, there was a woman with a group of children, all requesting repairs to the village schoolhouse and he could hear Sofia write it down on a new parchment, later to be organized by importance. When they left the next was a person was an envoy from another kingdom and this really took hold of Cedric's attention and he sat up straighter. The envoy offered a rather thick scroll and greeted them, declaring he was from a far kingdom.
Sofia paused in her writing and frowned as she took in the visitor. He was familiar and it caused a nagging feeling as she looked him over. He wore red, black, and gold with a ridiculous green hat that covered his ears. Brown curling hair peeked out from under the hat and his smile seemed a little mischievous to her and when he talked his accent was thick.
"What is the name of the Kingdom you hale from?" Cedric asked holding out his hand for the scroll. When he took it, he handed it over to Sofia without looking at it nor looking at her.
"Oh, it's a fun one for sure though dangerous for those unfamiliar with it… We offer many opportunities for new magical ingredients and also specialty goods for trade. We have cut ourselves off for a long time now from the outside due to… Events-"
"Events?" Cedric interrupted and his eyes narrowed, the sound of parchment being unrolled to his left as Sofia looked at what was written there.
"Yes… Events… I shan't go into details for dredging up such things will not benefit either of us. But to continue my Lord… Cutting ourselves off has left us with a few things running out, like seeds for certain crops and such... We offer a chance to open a trade. Once a month we will send a merchant here to deliver goods and then he will return what you give back to us."
"And what if we wish to send traders to your Kingdom?"
The envoy gave a laugh and Sofia finally remembered who he was. Older and taller but it was definitely him.
"If you send people to our Kingdom there is a strong chance they would never get back."
"Is that a threat?" Cedric growled and Sofia quickly stepped forward and cleared her throat.
"I know of this Kingdom my Lord… I had the pleasure of visiting it once when I was a child and almost became stuck there myself. It would most definitely be safer if the trade route remained one-sided.
"And what is the name of this Kingdom?" Cedric asked still not looking at her.
"Elvenmoor…" She and the envoy said at the same time and Cedric watched as the man before him swept the hat from his head and bowed. Sticking form, the sides of his head, hidden by the hat before, were pointed years.
"It is good to see you again Elfonso… How have you been?" She asked and the elf stood with a flourish and replaced his hat on his head.
"Oh, just the same, a little harder to fit on the bubbles now but still plenty of fun to be had!" He said and Sofia smiled widely. Cedric scowled and cleared his throat to bring the focus back on him as he stared the elf down. "Sorry I get distracted easily… I will be remaining in the village for three days… You can decide what you wish to do, and I will collect your answer before I leave."
"Very well… I will review the offer and decide accordingly." Cedric said as he stood from the throne. Elfonso bowed low to him and gave Sofia a sly wave as he turned on his heel and took the long walk out of the throne room. Cedric motioned for the doors to close, signaling he wouldn't see any more people and he walked stiffly away. Sofia following behind, shifting papers in her arms and organizing the most important and the least.
"It would be a huge opportunity to accept the offer… I will be sure to review and summarize what they-"
"An opportunity for who? Me as King or you so you can reconnect with a… A… Pointy eared rodent." Cedric snarled at her and she jumped in shock.
"What are you talking about? Reconnect? I was a child and he was nothing but an acquaintance that I had some fun with. Riding giant lily petals and listening to rocks create music… FUN," Sofia said with an edge to her voice and she didn't miss Cedric rolling his eyes. "And the way it would benefit you as King is because you would be doing something that…"
She stopped walking and fell silent. Cedric stopped as well and turned to glare at her, back straight and fists clenched.
"Go ahead Sofia The Simple… Finish what you were saying… I 'would be doing something that'?" He said darkly and Sofia straightened up and met his eye.
"… Something that King Roland ii never did. He did know about Elvenmoor and the elves… But he never had formed any line of trade with them… You would be the first to give access to resources that magic users never had access to before… A chance for magical research to once again expand and develop for the first time in many… MANY generations…"
Cedric kept glaring, trying to get Sofia to break eye contact but when she didn't, he blinked and turned his back on her.
"I will consider it… Just do your job."
Sofia had left the castle an hour later to find the elf in the village.
She wanted to speak to him and gain more information about the deal, needing some more clarification.
She found him playing with some children, making a loud ruckus and, despite bringing the children joy, disturbing the working grownups. When he spotted Sofia, he was quick to go to her, grab her hands and spin her in a circle.
"SOFIA! I hoped you would visit! You are so tall now!" He said happily and she smiled at him, pulling her hands free and clearing her throat.
"It is good to see you too… But I am still working I'm afraid and need to clarify a few things…" She said and he held out his arm to her with a smile.
"By all means my Lady I am an open book! Ask away as we take a stroll!"
Sofia hesitated for a moment before taking his offered arm and away they walked together.