I feel almost like this could go on forever, but I am trying to wind it down. I don't want to drag when I have an ending in mind. But I also don't want a rush job.

The capital of Noche gave the impression that it had begun life as a small town, with streets and houses added on as the city grew. And as it grew, it clearly flourished. The main road, which lead to the castle, was lined with shops. Men and women called out their wares.

As the party, led by the brother, marched through the streets, the shouts turned to cheers and applause. Women, clustered in groups, whispered excitedly to each other, giggled, blushed, and waved. There were shouts among the crowd directed towards the princes, many of them welcoming them home.

At the palace, the party dispersed. The princes entered the palace alone as the soldiers slipped off in different directions. Ike and Soren made their way to a pub, ordered a meal, and sat back and listened to the conversations.

"The king wants his sons home. I heard he's ill," one redheaded barmaid said to another as they passed.

"I hear he just wants to abdicate, give Oisin the throne, and live the rest of his days in peace."

"You're all idiots, the island leaders have arrived in the city as well."

"So it's a political meeting?"

"It has nothing to do with the pirates?" A small, messy haired boy asked as he clung to his mother's skirts. He seemed disappointed.

"It may," his mother began gently, "but the pirates are long gone, so it wouldn't all be about that." She stroked her son's hair and sighed. "It's not all about adventure and danger."

"I know, mama," he said. He was disappointed.

Other than the conversations, Ike did notice he and Soren were getting the occasional look. He tried to ignore it as he and Soren ate. As one of the barmaids, the redheaded one that had spoke before, refilled their drinks, she smiled hopefully. Ike shook his head. "I have someone," he muttered.

"She doesn't have to know," the woman said, her lips pressing into a pout. When she saw she was getting nowhere, she sighed and said, "Can I do anything else for you, then?"

Ike looked to Soren who gave the slightest shake of the head. "No, thank you." He paid and he and Soren left the pub, which was growing more crowded by the minute.

Outside, Soren asked, "Do you suppose the reason is political?"

Ike shrugged. "I'm not the best with the lordly type, remember? It has to be important, though, if the king wants all of the princes back. I wonder how long it will be."

Around them, the city buzzed with activity. From what they gathered, Erian and Teo were the last to arrive. People were eager to see what would come of it. Women opened flirted with anyone who served under the princes, and they were receiving warm responses. As Ike and Soren strolled down the busy streets, they took in the sights.

Vendors were selling out or crying out discounts for fighters. Small children raced through the streets, laughing and chasing each other, many of them playacting at being knights and princes. Soren had to take a quick step back to avoid an overeager girl chasing after two boys as she shouted that she could beat the both of them.

A tome stall caught Soren's attention. He and Ike browsed as an older woman, bored by the rabble, fanned herself. She did not seem to care if they bought or not. Ike nudged Soren and pointed out the Blizzard tome among the wind tomes. Soren spent a few moments debating with himself before giving in and purchasing it.

He held his new purchase against his chest as they walked. One man tried to sell them cloaks, swearing his wife and her sisters made the finest cloaks in the land, even the princes wore them. Another argued that the first man's cloaks were cheap and tore easily.

Ike tried not to laugh. It was a cheap tactic, but one he often saw worked. He and Soren thanked the men and mentioned they would return, and hurried off before the argument became physical.

"Ike, Soren!"

Running footsteps met their ears and they turned. A young man, no more than twenty, who had served with Erian, was hurrying to them. "Tacey," Ike called back. "Don't run!"

Tacey flushed, he was known as clumsy among Erian's ranks. He slowed as he reached them. "I'm sorry, I should have looked for you sooner. I forgot you don't know the city that well, you haven't gotten lost, have you?"

"No, just exploring."

"Good. I'm heading back the barracks, want to come with?"

The three of them walked to the barracks together with Tacey filling them in as they went. "It will be crowded," he said sheepishly. "The armies are usually never in the city all together. But Prince Kavi's men will have joined us, along with Prince Oisin's and Prince Teo's."

"But wait... that's just four."

"Ah... sorry, I forgot. Prince Vasso... is not a fighter."

That caught Ike's interest, but he did not ask. He supposed he would learn sooner or later. He listened as Tacey continued to speak, explaining the officers had quarters in the castle. Ike knew these things, but he would not let Tacey know. He seemed excited and eager to help.

As they neared the barracks, Tacey said something that Ike and Soren had both considered, but did not voice. "You being from another continent, I imagine the king himself will want to meet with you. There's so much you can teach us."

"I could say the same for you," Ike admitted. He hoped he was not showing how flustered he felt.

"Well, you can learn a lot here. What I've seen, like with the girl at the inn, most of the peasants don't bother with royalty and history and religion."

Soren nudged Ike in an attempt to calm him. He had scowled at the mention of "the girl at the inn." He cleared his throat and, in a stilted tone, said, "I have noticed that those in lower classes just bother to live their lives."

Tacey did not notice. He lead them to the barracks, where they went mostly unnoticed as there were conversations to be had and dice games to play. People were hooting and shouting, all excited and eager to be back in the city. Ike sighed, the barracks felt a bit like home.

Soren spent the afternoon engrossed in his tome. Ike talked with some of the soldiers and tried to learn their dice games. It was late that evening after they finished their meal that Erian joined them with something Ike expected, but did not want to hear.

"Ike, there is someone who wants to meet with you. Do you think you have the time in the morning?"

"I can't say no to that request."

"Wonderful, he can't wait." Erian made plans to meet him and Soren in the morning. It was going to be a long night.