Alecie said no more that night and soon Sakura fell asleep. Alecie stared at the stone ceiling, lost in thought.

'Her father is Talpa! That isn't good. I just hope that she keeps her mouth shut. If father ever finds out then there is no chance that she can stay, that's for sure.'

The morning sun shone in through the high window of Alecie and Sakura's window. When Alecie woke, Sakura was already moving around the room, the wings from the soaring stone back on her back.

"Good morning." Alecie said as Sakura turned around.

"Right back to ya." Sakura answered cheerfully. The two girls got dressed as they went to meet the boys. When they got there they found them cleaning up feathers from their little pillow fight from the previous night.

"What happened in here?" Sakura asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Nothing." Ryo replied as Sage choked back a laugh. Sakura shook her head.

"Come on, it's time for us to go and plead our case." She said as they followed Alecie to where the king and counsel were waiting. Alecie stopped at the entrance to two large wooden doors.

"I will be sitting next to my father. I wish you all good luck." She said as she entered the doors. The Ronins took a deep breath and went in after her. The room contained a long table that looked like a giant U were generals and advisors sat staring at the warriors as they walked in. At the head of the table sat King Tallas, with the queen on his right side and Alecie on his left. In the back of the room stood the man they had met last night, Joren, who appeared to be guarding the door. Alecie gave a smile of encouragement as they walked until they stood in the middle of the U.

"Ronins." King Tallas said his strong voice shaking the room. "You are here to plead your case as to whether you are friend or foe. You are earthwalkers, brought here by my daughter. Earthwalkers and cloudrunners do not associate and yet you proclaim to want to help. Why?"

Ryo took a deep breath. It had been decided last night that he would be the main spokesperson with Sakura saying a few well choiced words, but the main speaking was up to him.

'Lucky me.' He thought with a grimace as he looked around at the cold stares.

"My name is Ryo Sanada. We were brought here by the Princess Alecie to help the cloudrunners in their fight against The Illusionist, also known as Broadway. We have had encounters with him before and I believe that we could be a valuable asset to your team."

"What kind of encounters?" an advisor asked.

"He tried recently to gain control of something of ours in an attempt to help him and a friend to take over the world. But his friend was killed and the thing he was after was destroyed." Ryo had been ready for that question. He had a feeling that they were going to ask about their meeting with Broadway and he didn't think that it would have helped them very much if he had said that he brainwashed his wife. So he told them that what they had been after was destroyed not knowing that it was the jewel that Broadway had been after and not the shadowrunner.

"What do you have that would be such a help?" one of the generals asked.

"We each have an armor. Each armor with it's own special ability and powered by a trait." Ryo said.

"What armor do you possess?" another general asked with semi interest.

"I am the bearer of the armor of the wildfire." He said. He then turned to the other Ronins.

"This is Sage, bearer of the armor of the Halo." Sage gave a small bow. "This is Cye, bearer of the armor of the Torrent, Rowen, bearer of the armor of Strata…" Alecie gave a small smile. 'Strata, that is associated with the sky. Rowen's armor is of the sky.' She thought with a smile.

Ryo continued to introduce each Ronin, who gave a bow if respect when their name was called.

"And this," he said as he came to Sakura. "Is my wife, Sakura Sanada, bearer of the armor of the Cyclone."

"A girl." One of the advisors sniffed. "What use is she?" Sakura fought to keep her temper down as Ryo gave her a look of warning not to let it get out of control. He knew she hated it when people underestimated her fighting abilities because she was a girl and she often worked harder to prove herself as a fighter than any of them which often put her in dangerous situations.

"As I have stated before." Sakura said calmly stepping up next to Ryo. "Do not underestimate me because I am a girl. I think the others can verify that I can fight just as well as any man. My father trained me himself, and often used me in his own battles."

"And who might your father be young lady?" a general asked.

Alecie clenched her fists in worry. 'Don't say it Sakura, don't tell them!'

"Talpa." She said as a roar went up in the room. The Generals and advisors stood up instantly and began yelling and making threatening gestures toward Sakura as the King stood up as well. Sakura looked around in shock clearly not expecting this reaction as Ryo stood in a protective stance next to her letting any cloudrunner in the room know that if they even took a step toward her they would have to go through him first.

Alecie shook her head, 'I should have warned her.' She thought with regret.