They watched the proceedings go on as farmers collected what they needed for the planting season. Many showed gratitude and held small conversations with the guards, each other, and Cedric's parents. Sofia dismounted when she was able and stood with the elderly couple while Cedric remained, watching from a distance.

It was careless on his part to do so with no guards by his side to keep watch. He just wanted to think and watch Sofia interact with the people. Her words played in his head, how it would look if he continued to look to her for possible companionship, and her answer of 'I don't know' didn't sit well with him. He looked down at his reins as his left hand reached up to trace the place where the amulet laid hidden. The wraith of Roland stood by watching with a stern face and Cedric mused that maybe he wasn't as alone as he had thought as his eyes returned to Sofia.

It was what happened next that drew his ire to the surface.

A citizen, male, older in stature and dressed in the cloths of a farmhand had said something to his parents that caused Winifred to glare and his father to look solemnly down. Sofia was trying to handle it with reason and civility, but none was to be had with this man as he spat at her feet. Cedric dismounted and marched over with a scowl on his face, ready to take control of the situation. The man hadn't noticed him approaching and was still talking.

"To think the day, I got to meet the 'Great Goodwin' his own murderer of a son is on the throne and everything has gone to shite! What do you have to say Goodwin the Great! How does it feel to support filth that killed the child of that man you used to be so close and loyal to! Let alone related to IT!"

"That is uncalled for sir! Yes, I will be the first to agree that in the beginning things have been rough, but they have been improving over that past four years!" Sofia defended, ignoring the fact she had been spat at and moved closer to him, eyes quickly flitting to the approaching storm that was Cedric.

"Yes, they have improved! BUT NOT BECAUSE OF HIS EF-" The man yelped when Cedric's hand locked around the back of his neck.

"I believe you have disrespected a member of the current ruling family… AND did I see you disrespect not only a member of the previous royal family but the current Royal Sorceress to the throne?" Cedric asked coldly and the man trembled in his grip. He wanted to kill the man! It would be so easy to sear through his neck with fire or even have him quartered! Or better yet just stab him then and there!

Cedric's eyes moved to his parents, his father looking away so he could have deniability if Cedric did commit any heinous acts. His mother holding her husbands' hand but watching with a hint of both worry for her son and wicked anger toward the man. It was when he looked at Sofia that he truly hesitated. His thoughts of bloody murder vanishing quickly and his grip on the back of the old man's neck tightened, still angry but now second-guessing how to handle the man in his grip. Looking to the man Cedric could see his victim was watching him from the corner of their eye. Terror written all over his face and Cedric looked back at his family once more before releasing the man and snapping his fingers. One guard came to his side and put a hand on the elderly man's shoulder.

"Put him in a cell… Maybe a day locked up will help him learn respect." Cedric growled and with that, the guard led the man away. Eyes were on him and with a straight face, he turned away and walked stiffly back to his mount, aware of others watching him.

It was Sofia who got the distribution going again while Winifred and Goodwin went to join their son. From where Sofia stood, she watched the three exchange a few words and Winifred hugged her boy while Goodwin gave him a quick thump on the back. Sofia would speak to him later, for now, she focused on overseeing the crowd for now.

Amber was in Tangu with Lucinda and her nephew Peter by her side.

Peter was learning from Lucinda about magic upon request of Tilly, feeling he needed his own form of training and discipline to keep him from picking fights with his older brother.

Zandar was over the moon when Amber arrived, wanting to talk to him about his past proposals and he didn't hesitate to have rooms prepared for her and clean cloths for her to be gifted. It had been so long since she felt so pampered and since she wore such finery. She actually cried when she realized how much she missed her old royal life, being served whatever she wanted, bathing in flowery oils, and eating rich foods. She missed the tiaras and silks and other expensive fabrics and even her big fancy garden parties.

Peter came rushing into her room and Amber was thankful she hadn't put makeup on up as she dried her eyes and schooled her features to seem perfectly fine. Peter wanted to show her a new trick Lucinda had been teaching him. It was just simple magic, the same stuff the Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather taught at Royal Prep. Here he used his beginner wand to float a small stone and he was so happy to levitate the stone shakily through the air for her. She smiled and complimented him and his newfound talent as he continued to levitate the stone, tongue sticking out as he focused. Zandar knocked at the door with a smile, asking if he could enter and Amber welcomed him with a smile and a hug.

"Amber… You wished to speak to me about something did you not?" He asked and Amber's heart clenched when she saw the love in his eyes and she sighed.

"Yes, but it's more of a business conversation than a conversation about our union… James needs your help in mounting an attack on Enchansia." Zandars face fell and after blinking a few times, serious. He moved further into the room and Amber encouraged Peter to go to Lucinda. When the door closed Zander encouraged her to speak and she did.

"James wants you to send a proposal to… 'King' Cedric to open trade between the Kingdoms. Become one of his allies and the borders will be open once more, free travel will be possible once again. Now bringing over a full army all at once would be impossible which is why I believe that it would be easier if your forces came over slowly and in disguise… When the time comes then we mount the attack."

Zandar was silent for a moment as he mulled over the proposal and frowned.

"I highly doubt such a large increase in immigration would be missed, considering the strain it would put on their resources… Other than that it may be a solid plan but from what I understand from missives between you, me, and Maya; Cedric has managed to win the loyalty of Enchansia citizens and build his own military over the past four years… NOW all this talk would be hypothetical since HE would have to accept the proposal to discuss opening trade, to begin with. BUT an attack will cause either one big devastating battle or worse… A drawn-out war." Zandar folded his hands behind his back and frowned at Amber, standing close to her and looking her in the eye. Having him so close and with such a serious look on his face made Amber shutter with the realization of, just how serious this conversation was. The implications that if he sent his forces in, he wasn't going to hold back anything. This was WAR.

"If I say yes to James's proposal, Amber, it may very well lead to your Kingdom being ravished by war and in a far worse state than it had been in before the recent improvements… Is that something that YOU wish to risk?"

When they returned to the Castle, Sofia took it upon herself to stable her own mare. She was thinking of a way to approach Cedric about his behavior toward the disrespectful old man. She knew very well what could have happened but instead Cedric surprised her and spared the man's life, punishing him instead with a night on a cold hard stone floor instead of a knife between the ribs… or worse.

She was grateful, and proud of his choice.

She was maybe a little prouder than she actually should have been.

With a sigh she turned to leave the stall only to jump with a loud gasp. She had come close to running into Cedric himself who stood just outside the mare's stall in silent waiting. The mare shifted around, ears flattening against her head as she became a little startled herself by Sofia's reaction but didn't take to long to calm back down.

"Sofia I…" Cedric began to speak but fell silent when he met her eyes. Sofia remained still and silent, waiting for him to find his voice and finish speaking. When he did, he drew himself up straighter, setting his shoulders and holding his head up slightly. A stance Sofia had seemed many Prince's and Kings hold when trying to look impressive to others.

"Sofia I would like to request your attendance to have dinner… With me." He asked and Sofia knew her expression was one of surprise.

"Tonight?" She asked and Cedric seemed to back pedal just a little as his eyes darted around the stable before he focused back on her.

"NO! No no m… Mumzy wants to cook tonight and eat together… To-tomorrow… Tomorrow evening… Will you dine with me tomorrow evening?" He clarified and Sofia looked down for a moment at her hands that fidgeted with her sleeves as she thought. Then with a wide smile she looked back at him.

"Yes…"