Child of Destruction
Author: Chaos Valkyrie
First Conceptualized: December 12, 2003
Posted Chapter 06: April 9, 2004
Updated: December 22, 2005

Disclaimer: Copyrights schmopyrights, I don't own nuthin'.

Chapter Six: At the Palace

It was a few hours later, and the early morning sun shone brightly through the windows of the dining hall in the Royal Palace of Fletz. Andres sighed, looking around at his companions resignedly. Iris leaned against the table picking at her food, her face a smooth mask. She had barely spoken to him since the encounter with Adele in the Fletz marketplace. Claire sat next to her, looking thoughtful, while Geru's face shone with excitement. Dalia was wide-eyed, looking about her in fascination, while Darrin merely looked bored.

"Its so wonderful having you back in Fletz, Prince Andres, and welcome to your companions as well," Princess Adele gushed, smiling merrily at the others. Her smile faltered slightly as she encountered Iris' stony indifference, but she quickly hitched it back into place. "Do tell me, how did you meet such an interesting group of people?"

"We were all passengers aboard the ferry to Donau, and happened to be traveling in the same direction," Andres answered smoothly. Some of the others gave him odd looks, but he ignored them.

"How nice," Adele beamed. "Do tell me, how was your stay in Deningrad?" she asked, leaning forward.

Andres smiled wistfully. "The library there was outstanding," he commented.

Darrin snorted. "The Librarian had to practically force him out every night. You know how he gets – with his nose stuck in a book, he's dead to the world."

Adele laughed merrily. "Naturally! Andres has always been so intent on furthering his education!"

"Unlike you, sister," a blond man said, entering the room.

"Now, Josef, stop teasing me," Adele pouted as her older brother chuckled.

"Andres, good to see you again. Tell me, are you responsible for all the dead scorpions my troops found in the Barrens?" Josef asked.

Andres cleared his throat. "Actually, my companions did more than I."

Darrin chuckled. "An Arrow-Shooter almost speared him. Iris had to run in and rescue him."

"Iris?" Josef repeated questioningly. Andres coughed.

"Pardon me, let me introduce my companions to you," he said. He introduced each of his friends in turn.

"A female warrior? How… interesting," Adele murmured. Then she smiled brightly. "I'm so happy that you managed to save Andres, it was really quite brave of you."

Iris briefly looked up from toying with her food. "I was only too glad to be of service to his Highness," she stated carefully. She then stood up suddenly, startling the others at the table. "If you'll excuse me, Your Highnesses," she bowed slightly to Adele and Josef, "I believe I need some air," she stated, turning quickly and walking out of the dining hall before anyone could speak.

"If you'll excuse me as well, I think I'll go see if she's feeling all right – we journeyed quite far yesterday, and I'm afraid she didn't get much rest last night," Claire announced as she stood up, smiling apologetically before leaving the hall.

Iris stood on the balcony, her knuckles white from her fierce grip on the railing. 'Breathe,' she told herself, 'Just breathe.'

"So, what was that all about?" Claire asked, leaning against the railing next to her. Iris sent her a ghost of a bright smile.

"What was what about?" she returned deftly.

"Oh no, you're not throwing me off this time. Out with it," Claire told her firmly, forcing the other girl to sit down on the balcony floor beside her. Iris stared out at the ocean for a few moments, trying to come up with a coherent statement.

"She gives me a toothache," she muttered somewhat resentfully.

"Who, the Princess?" Claire whispered, a smirk plastered on her face. Iris nodded. "Well, she is rather sweet and… gushing, isn't she?"

"You can say that again," Iris muttered. "If she's not on about how wonderful everything is, she's fawning over… everyone, talking about how this is so sweet and that is so nice. Its irritating."

Claire had a glint in her eye. "Are you sure its nothing more than that?" she asked innocently.

Iris eyed Claire suspiciously before answering. "She's just so… fake. I mean, Dalia is sweet and nice, but its genuine, y'know what I mean? If Adele would show a hint of something besides that so-wonderful-sweetness, I might like her better. But she's very careful about hiding behind that terrific little princess mask."

Claire smirked, and Iris eyed her with growing suspicion. "I'm not jealous, Claire," she warned the older girl.

"I didn't say anything," Claire chuckled. Iris glowered at her, standing up once again.

"There's nothing to be jealous about anyway," she said roughly, dusting imaginary dirt from her clothes as she stood up. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to the Inn to pack my things up for when we do leave."

That said, she left the balcony and her far-too-wise adopted sister.

By mid-afternoon, the rest of the party had joined Iris back at the inn. Claire had shaken her awake upon her arrival, and then turned to finish gathering her own things. Dalia bounced onto the bed next to the groggy girl.

"Look, Iris, look!" she said happily, holding a long spear out for the older girl's approval. "Geru and Darrin took me to the training hall in the palace, and King Josef said that since I was a natural with this, that I could keep it! Even Andres said he would help train me with it." She was practically squealing with delight.

"That's nice," Iris yawned. Noticing the slight falling of Dalia's expression, she put more effort into it. "Its really great that you're now going to fight along side us. If you'd like, I'll help train you as well – you need to learn how to fight against all sorts of different weapons," she finished. Dalia beamed.

"That would be great, Iris, I'd love to learn from you!"

"And I would be honoured to teach you," Iris stated, giving the girl a hug around her shoulders. "Let's run to town real quick, shall we?" she asked, rising to her feet.

About twenty minutes later, the two girls returned, Dalia sporting a new knapsack of her own. Iris had a faint smile on her face as she listened to the other girl's happy chatter. She mused to herself at how a couple new changes of clothes could make the younger girl so happy. Then she smiled, sincerely, happy that the over-worked girl was now living life as she should.

The smile dropped, however, as they returned to the Inn to find not only their companions, but the King and Princess awaiting them as well.

"Oi, Iris, your stuff," Geru called, flinging her knapsack at her. Iris caught it deftly, throwing it over her shoulder with a neat flick of her wrist.

"Geru, don't throw things inside," Claire chided.

Josef smiled warmly at the two girls. "We came to wish you all a safe journey," he said, taking Iris' and Dalia's hands in turn and brushing his lips across the back of them. Iris awarded him a cool smile, while Dalia turned bright pink.

"Its so sad that we must part again, Prince Andres, but I do hope that you'll return soon," Adele smiled at him. Andres bowed politely at her request, but made no comment.

"Farewell, friends, may your journey be safe and prosperous," Josef said formally, then grinned.

"Thank you, Your Highness," Claire smiled, and the six companions, raising their hands in farewell, left the Inn for the road to Serdio.

End Notes: What're you still doing here? Shoo! Go read the next chapter, silly!