Harry didn't understand why it always seemed to be him. Surely it wasn't normal to have to meet so many of the Council members? He had only lived in the Realm a few months!
He glanced up at Laric, who was busy making sure his already neat clothes were unwrinkled and dust free. The tall Storm Demon caught his glance and smiled reassuringly as he placed a hand lightly on Harry's shoulder.
"It will be fine. This is just a preliminary meeting, to introduce you to the Lord of the Flame so he knows who it is those ... people ... wronged. And so you can give permission for me to be at the trial instead of you."
Harry worried his lower lip a moment before nodding. "But you said we also have to visit the Lady of the Storm?"
"Yes. I need to give her my latest report, and she wished to meet you once she heard about the trial. They would meet you together, but they did not have time where both were free for a few weeks yet. And the sooner the trial happens, the sooner you will be able to stop worrying." Ice blue eyes looked down into green until Harry nodded again and straightened up a bit. Laric's had dropped from Harry's shoulder, to rest lightly on his back as they crossed the street and walked up to the Fire Demon guards waiting in front of the Lord of the Flame's residence.
It was every bit as imposing as the Lord of the Shadow's home. The castle-like building was made of red and orange stone. It was carved in swirls ending in sharp points, with insets of lighter or darker red and orange. Making the entire building look like it was made of fire that had been frozen in place.
The guards at the top of the stairs moved to stand in their way.
"I am Laric Winters, with my Intended, Harry Potter. We are here at the request of the Lord of the Flame."
One of the guards consulted a list he pulled from his pocket, and then waved them through without a word. The red and orange theme continued inside, this time adding yellow as well. Harry felt like it would spontaneously burst into flame at any moment. Everything gave off just a little bit of heat, even the walls and the floors. He was so busy looking around at everything, he almost didn't notice they had arrived.
There on what could only be considered a throne, was the man he had seen at the Festival parade. Sitting down, it was hard to tell height, but Harry remembered him as being short. He had black hair, a stocky frame with a wide chest and narrow waist. There was a gold-colored metal circlet on his head, with a red and black stone centered over his forehead. His dark brown eyes were direct and he had a no nonsense expression on his face.
"Harry Potter?" Lord Kyden's voice was deep but loud. It almost echoed across the space between them.
"Y-yes? My Lord?" Harry realized he still hadn't asked how he was supposed to address the various Lords and Ladies.
"I understand there is to be a trial on muggles on your behalf." The Lord of the Flame was staring directly into Harry's eyes.
"Yes my lord." It was a whisper, Harry wasn't sure if he was loud enough to be heard. But having that focus directed entirely on him, as though no one else was in the room, was more than a bit unnerving.
Lord Kyden nodded once sharply, and looked to Laric next. Harry almost slumped in relief, before remembering where he was and catching himself.
"Laric Winters?"
"Yes, my lord." Laric's stance never changed, but he pressed lightly on Harry's back in reassurance, his hand never having left it's place, even though Harry had forgotten it was there.
"You are to be at the trial instead of your Intended?"
"Yes my lord. Harry does not wish to see them, and the Goblins have assured us they have more than enough evidence for him to not have to be a witness."
"Make a note of that." A scribe began scribbling quickly on parchment as Lord Kyden kept looking between Laric and Harry. "Someone will alert you to the trial date, once it is in place. See to it that you are there on time. NEXT!"
The last word was shouted so loudly, Harry jumped and pressed closer to Laric. The Warrior slipped his arm fully around Harry's waist, and quickly guided them out of the audience chamber and then out of the building.
"He has the patience of his element, but means no harm about it. He just is not interested in small talk, or wasting time. It is my understanding that he makes appointments as close together as possible, so he can get it all over with and be able to do something else. I do not think it has happened so far, but..." Laric shrugged and smiled slightly.
It seemed like they were at the next residence all too quickly. This building was all in black and white, with lightning and clouds carved into the walls. After Laric stated who they were, and that they were expected, they were allowed in.
Lady Dumisa was sitting behind a desk in a large room. She was an older woman, with curly brown hair with a white streak leading from her left temple. She was slender and wiry, with grey eyes. Her wings were black and white, with the white being like snow and the black like night. Putting down her quill, she rested both hands in front of her on the desk and looked at them with calm eyes.
"I understand there is to be a trial? Ugly things, especially cases like this one." She shook her head slightly. "Poor child, but he will do well with you. I need to go over a few things from your last report." As she pulled some papers from the stack to her left, Harry let his eyes and attention wander as apparently he wasn't needed to actually say anything.
There were a few smaller tables scattered around the room, most with Storm Demons working or reading at them. A few were playing games like chess, or some type of strategy game with counters and dice. On the rug to Harry's right, were a pair of Fae. They both had indigo hair and lilac eyes. The male had short hair, while the female had shaved the left side of her head, leaving the right side in long waves to her hips. They also both sported elaborate tattoos. They were swirly, and metallic purple. The male had his on his right, starting from his hairline, and going down his neck to hide under his shirt. The female had the same one, but on her left.
As Harry started to look elsewhere, the male Fae suddenly pulled a cookie out of a sheet of paper laying on the floor in front of him. There was a stack of paper that looked like sheet music next to him, but he couldn't quite see the paper the cookie had seemed to come from. Harry blinked. Maybe he just picked the cookie up? But as he looked again, he saw the Fae pull another cookie out of the paper and offer it to the Female fae. She waved him off, and went back to running a dagger along a whet stone. But she must have felt him looking, as suddenly she looked up and glared at Harry. Her eyes were cold, and seemed to promise death as she never looked away from him.
Pressing closer to Laric, Harry dropped his eyes quickly and tried to tune back into the conversation. It sounded like they were wrapping things up, and he couldn't wait to get out of here.
"Thank you for coming on short notice. It was helpful, and a pleasure to meet your Intended." Lady Dumisa smiled at them both, then picked up her quill and went back to writing.