They had read the letter, finding more bad news about Amaya. Knowing that Callum's entire family was now dead by Viren's hand drove them to blistering hate for the mage.
Rayla had spent the night trying to comfort him as best she could. Morning had broken - and with it the recognition that they couldn't just sit and grieve, as much as they wanted to.
The council wanted Callum back home, to lead. Obviously this was easier said than done and the prince had brushed their wishes aside for the moment. He had other plans, first.
But, he hadn't been able to keep himself stable on his ride, careless exhaustion and sickness almost making him fall. Rayla had eventually just moved him to her own and was now holding him up as they went.
The roads were busy here, with traffic near the big city increasing. Their strange configuration drew some glances, especially from the moon elves, but none suspicious. Just a hooded elf holding another. With a saddle bag that sometimes twitched a little.
The day passed slowly, uneventfully. Callum fell asleep in Rayla's lap as soon as they had finished making camp.
The next few days passed in a stupor of doing the same thing, over and over.
They'd ride. Settle down for the night. Eat what they could stomach. Find little sleep. Get up. Break Camp. Ride. Settle. Eat. Sleep.
The only exception to this routine came with a stop to wash their clothes and themselves in the Ibalin. It wouldn't do to show up at a queen's place utterly dirty and smelly.
Callum had helped Rayla to feel comfortable in the rushing water, holding her safely in his arms as she lathered up her hair. Oddly, the bath ended up giving them both a quantum of solace. He felt purpose. She felt comfort. It was a good trade.
The next day, October 12th, dawned with the clap of thunder and rain pelting their tent.
In anticipation of a long day, Rayla forced her boyfriend to eat an entire slice of Lembas for breakfast, almost making him puke.
When they had packed up their camp, Rayla helped him into his own saddle and stowed Zym in his usual place. The little dragon wasn't amused, having been locked up in the saddle bag since they had passed the ranger station.
At least the medicine they had gotten there showed good effect and beyond a headache and the occasional coughing fit, Callum was healthy once more.
Around midday, the weather had changed to a hot, wet fog.
They had reached the foot of Mons Ornatam.
The street split to circumnavigate the mountain on the left and right. Ahead was a short road that ascended slightly to meet an ornate wooden gate.
To either side of it stood two richly decorated Octurias of Templar Canon Guard, their heavy armor gleaming, even in the dim light.
"Rayla. This is it", Callum said, numbly.
"Yeah", she breathed, her heart booming in her ears, "Remember when I said it'd take a day to climb the mountain? I was thinkin' I would sneak inside and tell the quee-"
"No", her boyfriend interrupted her, "We're not doing anything other than taking the front door."
Rayla was about to disagree, but he simply dismounted, planning to approach the gate on foot. It seemed, to him, less threatening.
Callum let Zym out of the saddle bag and the dragon whelp - who was now too heavy to be carried for long distances - eagerly scampered to the floor, following him as he approached the gate.
Rayla gaped, then scrambled out of her saddle and ran after him.
"You could've at least let me get a word in!", she accosted him in an annoyed whisper, "What are you doin'?!"
"Being diplomatic", he said sternly, "I'm not going to break into the dragon queen's home! That's the wrong message to send!"
The soldiers eyed them suspiciously, unmoving.
"We bring the Dragon Prince, Azymondias", Callum shouted, startling Rayla. He hadn't raised his voice beyond a firm whisper for the past three days, so his carrying address seemed out of place.
His features were filled with determination, he seemed steely.
One of the Octurions separated from her troops, smoothly.
She approached them quickly, bowing to Zym. "The queen expects you."
Rayla gave the officer a doubtful glance. "What do you mean? How does she know?"
"It's not my place, Lady Rayla, Prince Callum. Please."
Callum gave her a look of surprised amusement. It confused her.
Who was this confident guy next to her?!
Lady?!
The officer ushered them forward and as they passed between the soldiers, they all dropped to their left knee, creating a cacophony of clattering metal and bending leather that startled the already nervous travelers.
The gate opened.
Long, shallow stairs ran the entire face of the mountain. They were flanked by more Templars and long banners depicting the six primal emblems.
Callum and Rayla wandered up it, the Soldiers right ahead of them sinking to the ground for Zym's sake who seemed to be confused by all the hubbub.
Other than their steps and the noise the soldiers made, there was perfect silence.
It took them a good fifteen minutes to scale the stairs.
At the top waited a young elf girl, she was ten years old, at most. Her feet floated about a yard above the ground, so she was able to gaze straight ahead into their eyes.
As a skywing, her features were smooth and bright, her light blue hair silken around her delicate, short antlers. Her robe consisted of a great many overlapping ribbons. They were white, with light blue accents. Around her upper arms, neck, chest and waist sat thin golden bands that held the ribbons in place. Finally, her arms and legs were covered by dark gray fabric.
"Welcome", the elf girl said with a voice that filled their minds and hearts with hope, "My name is Altina Sirta. I am sixth-in-line of Convocation Altina and the Dragon Queen's Interpreter."
"Callum, Lord Upon Twin Towers, Crown Prince and King-in-Waiting of Katolis. I am here as a diplomatic envoy to return Prince Azymondias to her Majesty, the Queen of Dragons."
"I'm... just Rayla", the moonshadow said, dumbfounded. She now felt extremely out of place.
Sirta nodded fondly, then spoke as though she'd rehearsed. "Please do us the honor of waiting for a few minutes. Her Majesty is getting ready for you. Would you like to rest in the meantime? Have some food?"
Callum nodded, firmly. "It would please us greatly to indulge in your offerings, milady. That is, as long as Prince Azymondias stays in our care as we do."
"Don't worry! He will!", the interpreter said happily, waving them along.
Rayla felt like someone had switched out her dorky boyfriend for an actual royal while she'd slept.
Sirta led them to a small, circular garden around a cute fountain that depicted an elven mother and father pouring water over their gleeful child's head. Almost immediately, Zym dove into the fountain, splashing water everywhere.
The young Interpreter chuckled and motioned at a table, prepared with food and drink. She said, "Please, have some. I'll be back in a bit."
With that she floated off. Rayla noticed that her legs didn't seem to want to follow the tension of the rest of her body.
Before the elf had a chance to turn around, Callum fell into her arms, almost sideways, and she had trouble standing him back up.
"What's goin' on with you!?", she asked, incredulous.
"I'm playing my part", he whispered, obviously fighting tears, "This is so hard, Rayla. Having to give that introduction! I can't let grief destroy everything we've worked for! If I do, he died for nothing! I need to hold it together!"
"You're doin' great, love", she said tenderly, embracing her boyfriend and squeezing him tightly.
After a moment, he separated from her, wiping his eyes. "We need to eat something. It's a tactic that humans also use. Eating is a show of good faith. Tells them that we trust them. Refreshment and hospitality has nothing to do with it."
"What if it's poisoned?"
"Guess we'll die", he said, shrugging dramatically, then allowed himself a small, reassuring smile, "Ah, I don't think they'd poison us at this point."
Rayla sighed, sat and grabbed two pastries that looked as though they might be filled with nougat. If she was going, she'd at least make sure to make it count.
"I love you", Rayla said across the table.
"I love you, too", Callum replied, seriously.
Eyeing the food worriedly, she aligned the two pastries and took the biggest bite she could muster out of both of them.
Glorious Hazelnut.
They ate quietly, trepidatiously picking out the most appealing fruits, pastries and appetizers.
Eventually, Sirta returned. Once again, it sounded like she had rehearsed the line, "It pleases us that you would take our offering without doubt, Prince Callum, Lady Rayla. Her Majesty is now ready to receive you."
More relaxed, she added, "You should probably say goodbye to the Prince. I really don't think the Queen will allow him out of her sight again."
They rose. Rayla used a bit of food to coax Zym out of the fountain.
She picked the little dragon up and squeezed him. "Aww little guy… I'm gonna miss you!"
Callum stood next to them, petting Zym's mane. "You be good now, buddy. I really hope we'll meet again when you're big and strong!"
A few minutes passed in which they cuddled and pet their charge, much to his delight.
Then Sirta coughed pointedly and they sighed in unison. Time to go.
With Zym in her arms and walking to the right and slightly behind the young interpreter, Rayla couldn't help it, once more eying the girl's legs.
"Yeah, I know that look", Sirta said, turning to face her, "Don't be embarrassed. Everyone notices. It's a part of who I am, they've been like that since I was born. The Queen makes me float and I just use my wings to point me where I wanna go", a very carefree laugh followed, "I'm really excited for when I can just fly on my own."
Callum gave his partner a somewhat reprimanding look which she accepted with a small, embarrassed shrug.
They entered a natural cave that was large enough to build a castle in. In the back loomed two massive shapes.
On the right sat a deep blue dragon with scales that shimmered green in the light of many magical sconces.
On the left was a larger, scarier looking dragon, light blue like snow under a dim sky. Zym immediately left their side to nuzzle his mother, who was apparently sleeping, her eyes closed.
Sirta stopped and clasped her hands. "As ordered, I announce Callum, Lord Upon Twin Towers, Crown Prince and King-in-Waiting of Katolis, and Rayla, Assassin Sicarius of the Lucid", her voice rang out, clear and loud. Then she turned towards Callum and Rayla and opened her mouth for another canned formula. "I will see you after her highness has closed your audience. Until then."
With that, she floated out.