It took all the decorum Skylor possessed to keep from gaping like a child at the dragon rumbling through the castle gates. Of course she'd read about them, but to see a creature of legend was another thing entirely. Forcing her gaze away from the dragon she turned to study the figures riding it. There were two of them, one a mere child if her eyes didn't deceive her, and the other a young man. Skylor frowned as she studied him. Something niggled in the back of her mind, like the edges of a dream she couldn't quite reach. Maybe his hair reminded her of someone.

"Let's go greet our guests, shall we?" Chen's voice was full of meaning when he looked at Skylor.

Nodding, Skylor fell into step with her father. Clouse trailed a few steps behind the pair. Together they walked to the throne room. The crowd of servants still clogged the halls. Even the king's presence didn't dissuade them, though Chen's mind seemed elsewhere as he didn't reprimand them to return to their duties.

Squeezing amongst the throng, apprehension built within Skylor with every step. Earth had returned hardly a week ago, and now Fire also appeared from nowhere? Granted she still had to verify the newcomer had the Elemental power of Fire, as opposed to a magician or charlatan merely conjuring magical fire. Still, this couldn't be a coincidence. Would Lightning and Ice also make their way to the palace soon? And if so, what in the Realms was inciting such a phenomenon?

They took their seats mere moments before the party entered the throne room. Servants continued to crowd the doorway, but a wave of purple magic shut the doors with a resounding thud. Four individuals, the two who'd been riding the dragon, another young boy- a redhead- and young woman made their way towards the thrones. They were all dressed splendidly, in bright colorful clothing that didn't match any style Skylor had seen in Ouroboros. Stopping at the foot of the dais they stopped and bowed from the waist.

"I must say this is unexpected." Chen's voice remained steady, but conveyed disapproval.

"I'm sorry for the surprise, Your Highness," the male who'd introduced himself as Mishal rose from the bow and stepped forward, "we have been on a journey for a long time." Mishal paused.

Rather than jumping in to question him, Chen simply stared down at the young man. Skylor studiously avoided looking at her father. He hadn't been nearly this cold when Cole appeared just as suddenly in their midst. Although. . . Cole was a known lesser prince of a neighboring kingdom- and hadn't arrived riding a creature of legend. Skylor understood, and appreciated, a degree of caution, especially where magic was concerned. Yet, once again, she felt an undercurrent of. . . something from her father she couldn't place. Best to let it play out for now, but she resolved to get to the bottom of everything.

Mishal shifted before giving another slight bow. "I am afraid I don't really understand it myself. Only that there has been a tug inside me leading me here. To the birthplace of the Elemental Masters. My brothers and sister," he gestured to the young woman and two boys next to him, "insisted on coming with me."

That piqued Skylor's interest. The children had to be important enough to have made the trip with Mishal in the first place, but she wouldn't have pegged them as siblings. Only the young woman and Mishal had any similarities in features, and even then the comparison was minimal.

Then a thought struck her. It must have crossed Chen's mind at the same time as Skylor saw him grip his arm rests and lean forward asking, "Do they, or anyone else in your group, have magic?"

Mishal made a small noise that might have been a scoff, before quickly schooling his features and shaking his head. "My siblings aren't Elemental Masters."

That wasn't what Chen had asked. Skylor waited for a follow up question, but to her surprise Chen didn't pursue that further. He only surveyed them with a calculating look.

"What do you plan now that you've arrived in Ouroboros?"

"I wi-want-" Skylor narrowed her eyes at the odd emphasis Mishal had put on the word- "to understand why I've been brought here myself, Your Highness."

"Hm."

Mishal shifted on his feet. "I know it's sudden, sire. If you don't want me and my following here we can leave."

The raven haired woman sent a sharp look toward her brother. The young red head slid his hand into hers and the look vanished. As he did, the other boy looked back and forth between his siblings and the king like he didn't understand what was happening. A prickle of unease ran through Skylor. There appeared to be some differing reasons on why they'd come to Ouroboros.

Chen remained silent for a minute. "Be it destiny or some other reason that drew you here, there is no denying the timing is fortuitous. It has been so long since Fire has graced Ouroboros's sands. You can remain in the castle for the time being."

Mishal bowed again. "Thank you, Your Highness. By your leave it will just be me and my siblings. My men will camp outside the city so they're not a burden for your house."

Skylor stifled a frown. Now that was curious. Even Cole's guards, few as they'd been, had remained with their charge. Whether these four wanted to show Chen they meant no harm or were very confident in whatever abilities they had to have no need of guards.

"Well then, Princess Skylor will direct you to your chambers. We'll discuss more later."

Skylor stood and descended to the group. She forced herself to avoid hesitating when she held her hand out to Mishal, the memory of her first meeting with Prince Cole at the forefront of her mind.

Mishal took her hand. Skylor's heart stopped- for all the wrong reasons. Nothing happened. Through Amber Skylor could feel power thrumming within Mishal, but it didn't flow into her. Between that, and his deep brown eyes, Skylor's voice stuck in her throat.

"Are you okay, Your Highness?" Mishal's voice didn't carry beyond them, but it was enough to snap her out of it.

"I apologize, I'm not. . ." Skylor trailed off, unsure how to finish the sentence.

"Daughter?" Chen's voice held a warning.

Skylor woodenly turned to her father. She gave a minute shrug. Confusion and anger flew over Chen's face, but it quickly disappeared.

Ignoring the questions tumbling in her mind she turned back to the group, "If you'll follow me."

Skylor's chest constricted painfully as she walked to the same rooms Prince Cole and his retinue had used. Now another (possible?) Primary Elemental Master was occupying the same space. Would he and his disappear as quickly as the Trerians? What's more, what did his powers consist of? It felt like an Element, but never before had Amber refused to absorb a known Elemental's power. Skylor didn't like the growing pile of puzzle pieces in her life that weren't making sense.

But first and foremost Skylor was a princess. She didn't get the luxury of voicing her thoughts and concerns without repercussions. So she remained quiet as she led the group to their rooms. Behind her one of the boys spoke in excited undertones before the young woman hushed him. It only then occurred to Skylor she didn't know all their names.

"As my father mentioned, I am Princess Skylor," she nodded to Mishal, "from the battlements I heard you introduce yourself as Mishal, but I don't recall hearing the rest of your names."

Mishal's sister sent him an exasperated look before nodding to the princess. "My name is Mira, Your Highness. These are our brothers Cade," she pointed toward the redhead, "and Nelson."

Instead of pointing at the brown haired boy Mira made a series of hand gestures that apparently meant something to Nelson because he nodded and sent Skylor an appraising, and somewhat apprehensive, look. Skylor sent her own questioning glance toward Mishal.

"Our brother had an illness a few years ago that took his hearing. He's able to speak but signs are how he knows what we're saying."

Interesting. That didn't discount the boy from having some form of magic, the Master of Sound was a prime example. However Skylor had no intention of pressing the question again so soon after Chen had asked. Instead she nodded to all of them, noticing some of the tension leave Nelson's face when she included him in the gesture. "I am afraid we don't have any Signers in the castle, but our steward likely knows of some in the city if you'd like to have an additional interpreter?"

Another look passed between Mishal and Mira before Mishal turned to Skylor, "We'll talk and let you know. Thanks for the offer."

They arrived at the large doors noting the guest wing. "Here is where you'll be staying. Feel free to look around inside. If you need anything, pulling the cord here," Skylor gestured at a rope hanging on the back wall, "will signal the staff to come to your aid."

Cade gaped as he looked around the room and, though they did it much more subtly, Skylor saw Mishal and Mira's wide gaze at the rooms' grandeur. They hadn't introduced themselves as royalty, but the theory that they were nobility had more holes growing. To warrant the number of people in their entourage, let alone a dragon, and their lavish travel attire, it felt incongruent that the siblings would be dazed by the simple opulence of a guest room. Maybe royalty in their region had a different mindset of what entailed riches?

"I must return to my duties but I am sure the King will look forward to further discussion once you've settled in."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Mira bobbed a stiff curtsey and herded the younger boys to the antechamber.

Mishal's mouth opened only to quickly snap it shut. He bowed and echoed his sister's thanks. "I should make sure Mira doesn't need me."

With a tight smile Skylor made her exit and closed the door. Voices rose in the rooms behind her, but the walls prevented anything from being distinguishable. Rather than leave the hallway, Skylor stood frozen beyond the guest rooms' threshold. Thankfully the servants didn't yet know the group had been moved, so no one was around while Skylor attempted to collect her thoughts.

Chen would most definitely expect her to report to him after finishing with their new guests. The unclear reply she gave him regarding Fire's abilities would stoke his temper. Skylor didn't look forward to that conversation given his odd behavior over the last few weeks. It didn't help that she had no idea how to read their newest guests. With Cole she might have been wrong about his social awareness, but she couldn't deny how earnestly he'd been seeking for answers.

Mishal and his siblings were walking contradictions. He claimed he also came searching for answers, but Mira (and perhaps the younger boys for that matter) definitely had a different reason for coming. Never mind they couldn't all be blood related. Obviously blood wasn't everything, Skylor's relationship with Misako served as a prime example, but it only heightened the strangeness of everything.

What were they actually after? Mishal hadn't sounded completely sincere in his declaration they'd been drawn here. Years of court politics had tuned Skylor's ears to listen for what people said versus what they actually wanted. Skylor let out a frustrated huff. Too many puzzle pieces with too little of the picture. Though she couldn't say how she knew, much of the oddness occurring within the palace was connected. Skylor just couldn't see how it fit together.

Allowing herself a few more precious seconds, Skylor drew herself upward. Might as well face Chen, and likely Clouse, now. Rather than walk through the throngs of servants likely lurking in the nearby halls, Skylor used Smoke to transport herself to Chen's rooms.

"Everyone out!" Chen barked the second Skylor solidified in the middle of the room.

Skylor noted Clouse didn't bother to move from his place along the far wall. Chen rounded on Skylor as soon as the door closed behind the staff.

"Well?"

Skylor bristled at the sharp tone in Chen's voice, but kept her features schooled. "I've never encountered anything like it. He has some form of power that my Amber registered, but it didn't absorb it."

"Does that mean he has a different source of the fire than the Element itself?" Chen turned the question to Clouse.

Clouse's mouth disappeared into a thin line. "It wasn't sorcery that the boy used at the gate. That much I could tell and the wards I've placed around the palace would have triggered. There are few other sources of power outside sorcery and Elemental, none that I'm aware dwell in Ouroboros. I would have to discuss it further with Mishal if he'd be so inclined." Clouse's voice took on a tone Skylor didn't understand.

Chen must have though because he frowned in thought. "We can ask him when we see him next. Is it possible he has a ward against Amber?"

"I've never heard of such a thing," Clouse answered while Skylor shook her head.

"None of the other Masters I've encountered have felt this way-" She broke off thinking back to the night of the ball.

"What is it, daughter?"

"I'm not sure, but it reminded me of how Prince Cole's power felt the night of the ball after Amber absorbed Earth. It could still feel the volume of his power even if Amber didn't take it again. That doesn't answer if Mishal has some way to block Amber without hindering his own power- as Vengestone would- but I know I don't feel non Elementals power with Amber. Although, in light of Clouse's words, I might have to amend that saying Amber doesn't sense sorcery- if indeed this is something else entirely."

"There's details we're missing, that much is certain." Drumming his fingers on the table Chen stared into middle space. After a few moments his gaze focused on Clouse. "I do not want them roaming the palace without an escort. Assign the best guards to watch them. Master of Fire or not, his timing is most peculiar." A look passed between Chen and Clouse that Skylor couldn't identify. She grit her teeth but refrained from questioning it.

"I have a few in mind."

"Good. Last thing I need is an incident within the capitol that the people blame me for-" Chen suddenly let out a brittle laugh, "First rule of leadership, daughter; everything is your fault."

Skylor blinked at the non sequitur and sent her own questioning look toward Clouse. The man looked like he had just bit into a lemon. Neither of them said anything until Chen seemed to remember their presence.

"Anything else of note?"

"The red-head is Cade and their sister is Mira. The youngest, Nelson, is deaf. His siblings use Sign when communicating with him."

"Hm. Interesting." Again, Chen refrained from elaborating. "Both of you stay alert. Anything suspicious let me know at once. Something more is at play, for good or for ill I can't tell, but we will be ready."

A dark glint came into Clouse's eye. Skylor suppressed a shiver. What in the Realms had her life become?

.

A/n- Later than I wanted it to be but finally another chapter :) I realized a had slightly backed myself into a corner with a legitimate reason Kai would be at the palace since I'm not going the lovers coming for Skylor's hand route, but thankfully Chen is paranoid enough at the timing of events not to question it- yet XD