This is a bit longer chapter as I couldn't find a way to split it up to be honest.

I had a friend proof it for me as I seem to not be catching everything. So if there is anything again not caught Im sorry!!!

I have so many things I want to put into this story, which it's hard to keep up! My notes are like a story itself haha! And I don't know much about "Beta stuff" I should probably look into it as I didn't think this story would become so long honestly.

I hope you enjoy this chapter!

You love her don't you Allen thought to himself as he made his way down the corridors of the Fanelian palace. He had remained low key hoping this would keep him away from Van, who seemed to be pushing the issue of his happenings with Hitomi more that she was now gone. She kissed you Allen reassured himself.

So many times he had contemplated taking his now fully repaired Levi ship and heading off to rescue Hitomi himself, but that was his heart talking. He wanted her near, seeing her in Austria was hard for him, seeing the way Van looked at her. He tried to keep his feelings in check, but the wanting of feeling her aura of warmth near him was becoming harder to manage.

He wasn't sure of what he was to do, Van was not only a King but he also considered him his friend. To try and obtain Hitomi's heart knowing his love as well, it was hard to decide. He almost felt as if his ability to function and live was being cut off as his thoughts pulled more to her being with Van than him.

Why did she have to come back? Allen couldn't blame her, but he wanted to. He was living fine these last few years, coping with the loss of his sister, not having these feelings that conflicted him so much. He was managing, until he saw her, touched her, and kissed her. It was typical that fate would give him such a circumstance, given his ways before the day Hitomi was put into his life.

All the women, his mistakes, and his indiscretions led to the one woman he desired above all else, to be desired by someone he actually cared for as well. He rolled his eyes at the injustice of it all, but almost couldn't blame fate for taking this course.

"Glad to see you have made it Allen." Storius met him coming from around the corner heading now down the same corridor he was. If Allen had been more observant he would have noticed Storius coming from the corridor ahead, but his attention focused him elsewhere.

"Do you think we are going to be marching?" Allen knew of the meeting Van had immediately following their arrival in Fanelia, he couldn't say he wasn't a bit offended Van didn't wait for him.

"I do believe that is our next course of action." Storius confirmed, if Van had not wanted Allen to know Storius wouldn't have said anything, he would have played uniformed. Allen felt somewhat better.

"You've confirmed he's still there?" Of course Storius had, Storius never did anything without conformation.

"Yes, our scouts sent word that their armies haven't moved since appearing there."

Allen couldn't help but ponder how Dilandau managed to appear leagues away in the middle of a battle. It added to the large list of things that happened that day, leaving all witnesses speechless. Every sense Hitomi came back to Gaea, the world they knew was changing, and he wasn't sure if it could be stopped.

They opened the two large corridors and enter the room, Kelta was rambling to everyone present holding a tattered book Allen swore he saw Van with before the departure in Austria. Kelta had his normal pain of seriousness on his face as they rounded the table. Allen couldn't help but smirk when he saw Storius's body stiffen as he passed Orinia I should really talk to him about that Allen mused.

Allen returned his attention to the discussion at hand, that he already seemed to have come in part way, so trying to catch up would take a considerable amount of attention.

"Gaea is linked with this Tsuni! That's why our resources have been dry, our lands unfertile, our lakes drought. The Tsuni for these last 100 years perished Van, it all does make sense, and all of this started 400 years ago!" Kelta placed the book firmly on the table.

"That doesn't help us to know what our course of action is now Kelta, we will hear more of your history when we get Hitomi back safely, then we can find ways to help her with this." Van kept his voice low, Kelta must have been arguing another course, or something else their attention should be focused on, and Van wasn't interested in listening.

Kelta sat back in his chair, obviously not pleased, but obeyed.

"We have all of our armies assembled, at first light the day after tomorrow we will march to Lake Boren." Van looked around the room as if looking for objections.

No one spoke up, it might have been the way his eyes bore into everyone's gaze, furious and angered by the situation. Everyone in the room had the feeling that they probably shouldn't mess with Van Fanel right now, Allen gave a small smirk. At least Van had learned how to assess and control the situation over the years; he had come a long way.

It seemed everyone realized there was no more to discuss and they stood, slowly filling from the room. Allen's eyes met Vans and he could tell he needed to stay. Guilt slowly made his way to his conscious but Allen pushed it back. Van probably wanted to talk about further tactics with Allen, to keep his mind off of things that he didn't want to think about. Allen felt the same way.

"Care to spar Allen?" Storius stood inviting.

"I will pass Storius, I must speak with Van." He bowed and as he walked away he heard Orinia, less confident than usual offer her skills and Storius accepted.

Allen walked over and sat to the chair next to Van as all of the people filled from the room.

"You're going to lead the battle a ground Allen." Van said not meeting his gaze, but concentrating on the map before him.

"And you Sire?" Allen figured already.

"I'm going to go to Dilandau…" Van said his name with such distain.

"Your majesty may I address you frankly?" Allen wanted to put the titles aside, he wanted to be Vans friend.

Van nodded.

"I don't think you're mentally prepared for this Van, all of this has taken a toll on you. I'm not sure you'll be able to think clearly when it comes down to it." Allen tried to push his concern through without seeming to stern or elderly.

Van pulled from his pocket a small ring, and his gaze locked to it with such sincerity that it pulled at Allen's guilt again.

"I need her back Allen, I need her in the worst way." Van fumbled the beautifully crafted ring with great concentration. He is going to... jealously formed in Allen, to the likes he hadn't felt before. His pride called for him to challenge Van there, now, but his heart told him this was his friend.

"We will get her back Van, you will see. It is late; we should probably head to get some rest." Allen wasn't sure he was being a good friend, he wasn't finding the ability to listen to anymore or console his friend any further with the conflict he himself was having.

Van looked up at him and nodded but sat there; Allen turned and walked from the room, every step feeling heavier with guilt. He cursed himself for not being the friend he so desperately needed to be to Van.

Hitomi hadn't seen Dilandau for the last couple of meals, and yesterday she had slept the remainder of her day away after the incident with the woman he called Seiz. Her mind raced with so many possibilities of what damage that woman would cause, her wickedness had no bounds.

Hitomi tossed, she wanted to sleep, or find something to make her time pass faster. There was no hope for escape, she had tried so many times to reach Serantisan that her mind was tired from all the mental effort she was straining for.

A click of the door and Hitomi sat up on her cot, almost wanting to lay back down with the sick feeling that made her nauseated; she couldn't tell if it was from sitting up to fast or the new aura that came into the room. Her skin began to tingle with goose bumps when she seen Dilandau enter.

His aura of split anger and sadness started to absorb to her. She gritted her teeth and fought against it, she would need to maintain this strain as long as he was around.

"How is your hand?" He asked with little sympathy in his tone.

"Fine." She stated angry, it did hurt; it was actually a very large gash in the palm of her hands that the mad doctor scientist put rather lousy stitches in.

She didn't want to be around this Dilandau, the way he made her feel, so conflicted, she couldn't control the things she said, and if she could find out what happen to her dormant powers, she might of used them in the wrong way.

"You should let me go, before I find a way to make you regret caging me." She said low, and viscous. She could feel a part of her shocked at her own statement, but it was so buried beneath all her emanating hate, it didn't even faze her.

"I do believe you'll find with your new ankle trinket, your energy remains calm and untouchable. We use these on the dragons; it helps keep them calm and manageable as well." He grinned with a sadistic satisfaction.

Hitomi trembled, Why can I feel him then but she didn't ask, she didn't want to give away that she was still having a form of her powers, he might just keep her knocked out then.

"What are you going to do with me?" She scowled at him.

"Im going to take your power Hitomi." Again her name, from his lips, became soft instantly compared to his threat to take her power right before.

"How are you going to do that?" Hitomi was picturing all sorts of gruesome ways he would obtain her power, and she wanted to know, she was tired of not knowing anything.

"It will be very painful, if that's what you want to know, and you probably won't live through it." He grinned at her, he was sick, he was twisted, any part of her that almost thought she enjoyed his company before was screaming at him inside of her head.

"Probably? You don't sound too confident that you even know." She baited him back, probably meant one of two things, this had been done before and there were two ways for it to end, giving her hope or that it was never done and he was giving her a false sense of hope.

"Depends, I plan on using the bracelets first, if you don't heed my will, or give me all your power, I will find other ways that I have found in extracting this essence from you." His finger traced his long scar as he spoke casual with pride. It made Hitomi quiver more.

"You're sadistic." She spat.

"I never used to be this way!" Hitomi gasped as he stood screaming at her, his body quivering in anger as he hovered over her.

"Im not going to live my life powerless as I had started. Im not going to be controlled anymore, I will do the controlling! Regardless of who I am!" Hitomi wasn't even sure he was screaming at her anymore. She felt sadness and distress; her hand reached up and touched Dilandau's face even though her mind screamed DON'T HES A MONSTER

She blinked standing in a room that was dark. There was illumination's from tubes with bubling liquids inside of them all around the room. The light was stronger in the center, beyond these long tubes that reached the ceiling. Hitomi looked around for just a second, at her ankle, no chain.

She walked forward towards two large tables in the center of the room; they were angled upwards slightly leaving her to see the underside of them as she approached. There were long thin tubes that seem to go to the tables coursing with red and clear fluids between the different tubes. The room seemed simply similar to that of a lab or medical room. There were trays nest to the tables, with small metal instruments that could only be used for surgeries she assumed.

A unsettling feeling came over her, she didn't like the sight of blood, and furthermore any type of medical procedure that would require these instruments being used brought a nauseating feeling over her, but she pushed further You have no where else to go she thought. What she meant she wasn't sure as she rounded the table and held her breath at the two bodies that strapped to them.

Folken her eyes looked him up and down. It was him, practically naked, with a white sheet covering his waist down, but tubes littered his arm and chest. They punctured his skin and she followed them to the other smaller body attached to the other table. A small girl, probably age 7, with short grey hair. She didn't recognize her fully, but something pulled at her being familiar. She couldn't tell which way the course of blood was going, but she knew one of them was supplying the blood and one of them was receiving it. Dilandau her thoughts pulled as his face appeared in the stead of the sight she was just witnessing.

She recoiled her hand, and his eyes bore harder into her thoughts. He pulled his hand back and slapped her across the face, leaving her cheek throbbing, but she refrained the tears.

"Don't…. you… ever touch me." His body quivered. Hitomi felt a twinge of something pulling her to him, she wanted to touch him again, and she felt the sense of comfort vanish quickly and cursed herself at the thought.

Dilandau turned and stalked from the room, slamming the door behind him. Hitomi flinched, his absences brought her thoughts back to her, even though she felt drained from fighting all the feeling she had just encountered with Dilandau. It was confusing she almost swore she felt sympathy for him or from him but she couldn't tell.

"You were Dornkirk's experiment…" She said out loud as if trying to talk to him.

"You had to have someone's blood…" Folken she thought. Dilandau had Folken's blood coursing through him, that's why he was familiar, that's why she saw him when she touched him. Even though she didn't have proof something in her told her she was right, she was on the right track. Her instincts had always helped her have a sense of correct intuition before so she must still have that too.

Merle and Van ate breakfast in his room that morning. They had one more day of resting and Merle was sure to spend it all with Van while he continued on his day, taking care of small situations before they marched again.

Merle had told Van everything that she had seen with Rentra, which to be honest wasn't anything except his seduction of the new noble woman who had come to Fanelia for harboring. Van didn't like Merle's news, for one Rentra should have been gone, and for two Rentra seemed like he was acting a bit lower key in his happening while he was away.

Merle was very good at relaying information in detail, and he just acted too calm, as if it was all a facade because he knew Merle was watching. However Van wouldn't tell Merle that; she would only become offended because her skills as a cat-spy weren't the greatest, but that wasn't the true. Rentra did seem unusually perceptive so Van was sure any other spying mission Merle could have pulled off with flying colors.

"Lord Van, you seem distant, it's because of Hitomi isn't it?" Merle titled her head and pushed her face in front of his trying to bring his gaze to meet hers.

"Merle what if he's done something to her, what if it's too late." Van had so many thoughts forming in his head.

Between the pressing battles, Hitomi at the hands of Dilandau, there was Kelta who was hell bent on finding these bracelets and crown that Hitomi needed. They were a necessity Kelta put it. Necessary for Hitomi not to end the world, and more so, because through a small journal that Chid had left Van, he learned that the family in the last 400 years that ruled Cimedian were heartless power hungry kings. They sent Gaea into the turmoil wars and destruction it was on for the following years, and they sacrificed so many lives to get there. He couldn't deny that Kelta's side was important but he couldn't help until he knew Hitomi was safe.

"Why would you say that Lord Van?" Merle flattened her ears.

"I don't feel her right now, like before, it's like she was here one minute and gone the next Merle." Van stood up and walked to the balcony. He looked back and eyes the book on the table, he hadn't gotten a chance to read much of it since he left Austria, Kelta skimmed it quickly before Van took it back.

Merle followed his gaze and looked at the book as well. She looked back at him.

"Hitomi won't do anything to hurt Gaea Lord Van; you should have a bit more faith." Merle gave him a disappointed frown.

Van smiled. It was comforting to know that the one woman in this world aside from Hitomi, was finally on the same page as him. Granted at the beginning, when Hitomi had entered their lives, she was unruly, didn't accept Hitomi, and made her life simply an annoyance. But Merle found her peace or acceptance while Hitomi was gone. Merle had matured.

Merle's ears shot up and a smile too graced her face, Van was smiling and instantly her darkened world lit up. It was so simply to please her, and Van found that quality comforting.

"I need to speak to Rentra before I leave, I will not have him dwelling in Fanelia any longer." Van looked back over the balcony.

"How exactly to you plan to ask a King to leave without offending him? That could make a new enemy?" Merle hoped over to the balcony too. She was right. There was no way to ask Rentra nicely, either way he would be offended so Van didn't plan to ask nicely.

Orinia polished her blade waiting for Storius to show. He must have spent a late night in the Taverns near the high parts of town, which would be his only excuse. They had practiced sparring last night and it was different, he held back. It was short and he threw his blade to the ground telling her he would continue this in the morning.

Orinia grew angry, she didn't expect to be picked over a tavern of winron and woman, but the least he could have done was give her a worthy sparring round. She at least thought they had some form of small friendship, not one built on understanding that was for sure. Her fury only grew with each passing minute of his tardiness.

"Sorry Im late…" His quiet voice interrupted her thoughts.

His appearance was rough, and unclean. She could only confirm her suspicions when the smell of stale winron flooded her when he passed to grab his blade. His teetering stance once he grabbed his blade only added insult to injury when she realized he was still drunk.

She was sure all the blood flowed to her head; she wanted to scream at his, she was on fire. Instead of opening her mouth and berating him with insults she pose herself ready to strike, she would give him the spar of a life time. That would teach him to treat her like another one of his tavern wenches; she would get her respect one way or another.

She didn't give him a chance to regain the room; it was probably spinning to him as his eyes looked cloudy with drunkenness. She rushed towards him, their blades meeting as she drove him back. His moves were slow, but steady, his reflexes slurred slightly. To be expected from a drunken buffoon she thought as her strength became more forceful in her attacks.

His eyes seemed to meet hers as he was starting to fully grasp the situation, she was angry. He tried to quicken his pace but she was becoming more forceful with every gain she got on him. Orinia finally hit his open spot and his blade went sailing across the room, but she didn't stop. He would learn his lesson, she would earn her respect. She brought her elbow up cracking him in the chin and brought her blunt end of her hilt on his head as he hit the ground.

She stood breathing deeply as she watched him moan and rub his head, meeting her gaze angrily.

"What was that for?!" He genuinely seemed shocked.

"You come in here, insulting my skills with your current state and ask me an idiotic question?" She raised her voice to almost shouting, trembling in anger. Why are you so angry its just Storius its to be expected she thought but she battled against that thought, no she was a Lady, a Lady of court and she deserved more respect, friend or not.

Storius stood up rubbing his head further as he licked his bitten lip of the small forming blood.

"I came didn't I?" He could have been sleeping off this obvious oncoming hangover for one, instead of getting a beating that he found uncalled for.

"Oh, well forgive me for not showing my gratitude, I didn't realize I should feel graced with your presence." Her sarcasm mixed with the anger she was pulsing with.

"What is it Orinia? I've showed up in worse conditions, what is it really?" He grabbed her wrist and he eyes bore through him as his night started to play back in his head.

He tried to spar with her earlier last night, but his feeling was torn, something was wrong and he couldn't place it. He left her, yes in a state for which he was no proud of; she did deserve an explanation if he had one to give. He found his way to his favorite Tavern King's Luck he recalled. There were many beautiful women there, always was. He tried to get into feeling which one he wanted to keep company with but his efforts were shockingly not there. He sat quietly at a table in the back observing the entire bustle within the Tavern, but even the blue eyed beauty cleaning the tables eyeing him occasionally could lift his spirits.

"Even after all this time you still can't show me proper respect Storius, I might have scolded and lectured in your ways, but never once have I disrespected you." Orinia frowned, something pulled in Storius, and it almost could be described as guilt.

"I thought you knew me better." He said turning that statement hurt him more than he cared to admit, and he wasn't going to stand here any longer and feel this unnecessary guilt that was growing with every word he spoke. What the hell is wrong with you he thought as he stalked towards the exit.

Orinia went to speak but instead her fury grew. She spent a lot of her time mad at Storius, but not this mad. More so mad at things he did, that she didn't show because they never affected her, and it would have been a mothers place to correct him, but now she couldn't help but want to grab him and beat him more.

"That's it then? You are just going to walk away?" She tried to hide the hurt in her question but it couldn't be more apparent.

"I don't know what you want from me Orinia! I am your friend, but you make it so hard. Any other friend wouldn't put so much pressure on me to do things differently, why is it that you have such a problem with the way I live my life!?" He threw his hands in the air, when he turned to face her.

"I…" Orinia wasn't sure how to answer the question – other than her view on his life, she really shouldn't have a problem with the way he did live his life. It never did conflict with his position within the courts, and he never was too irresponsible when it came to his socializing ways.

"I'm not the King Orinia, you can't mold me into some perfect man that can take his place to always be the shoulder you cry on. Either you accept me for who I am or find another shoulder." Storius stalked from the room realizing the bitter truth to his last statement.

Seiz had used the way stones twice today; the rest of the journey would be made by horse. She had stopped at the outlaying village near Fanelia's border and purchased the best horse the town could offer, and that wasn't saying much. The horse was older, stock legs, more of a work horse that a runner, but it was better than her own two feet. The villagers told her if she stead the stead course she should be arriving in Fanelia just after dusk.

That would give Seiz enough time to ruffle herself up a bit and play her fiddle so that her escape was believable. She would need a good story - she didn't know too much about this Hitomi that she was, but she knew enough. Between what Zeyran and Dilandau had told her she should be able to play a trouble damsel in distress good enough to be accepted, do what she came to do and leave with her sister in tow.

It was after dusk and she could see the dense forest ahead, and beyond that would be Fanelia. She pulled the reins of the massive workhorse into the forest and tied him to a tree. The horse panted heavily at the long hard ride Seiz had just put him through, and even Seiz was surprised the horse had enough energy to still stand. She pulled from her side a dagger and some small stones. She searched deeper into the small satchel moving other item she had brought, just in case, and pulled a small clay molding of a soldier.

She grabbed a stick from the underbrush and cleared some of the forest floor, revealing the dirt beneath. She traced a large circle, and symbols with connecting lines placing the small molding in the center. She placed one of the stones in her hand and chanted slowly, and the clay molding grew in size, and then formed in feature, becoming real. The clay broke away revealing the metal armor, cloth, and flesh beneath.

Seiz looked as the now fully formed solider stood before her. She grinned in satisfaction at how easy it was, remembering how difficult even this small use of alchemy used to be.

"You need to beat me, chase me until we reach a castle just beyond this forest. You must not remain alive after we have reached this city; do what you must to take your own life." She threw him the dagger, which he caught and nodded with fully colored white eyes, if anyone had the chance they might notice he didn't have pupils, but it wasn't a large concern of hers.

She grinned as he advanced towards her; at least this wouldn't hurt, for her mastery was pain, unlike her sister who mastered in pleasure.

I didnt realize my error until after some time that Kegran had ascended to the throne, and long before my death now. Kegran had sent us Leeran, and we were so overjoyed with the new parenting we were given, that our knowledge of the entire situation regarding my brother was blinded. The death of the young Draconian king at only 45 years was astonishing yes, and foul play was never to be suspected to such a peaceful nation as Cimedian, or mine for that matter.

However I should have known that my twin brother would find a way to obtain some form of power, though to think he was that devious was not his nature. I was chosen as the heir to assume the Palas throne, not a fate of age, or gender, but simple choice. It wasnt until I learned of Kegran's ways that I realized the dramatic affect that a simple choice can make a person. But, I again get ahead of myself.

When I was chosen to be King, I supported my brother in his role to continue his way in the court, traveling to Cimedian, I believed he took the time to see other places we had not been able to in our youth. He later informed me, he was friendly with the young heir of Cimedian, and decided to take residency there for years passing. Once the draconian heir assumed the throne I was later pleased to find my brother had found a duty to be proud of, he was the new Kings Adviser.

Years passed, our peaceful world of Gaea flourished, trade was prosperous, citizens around the world to their respective cities happy, and it was all to blissful and regular for our world. That is when the death of the King turned Gaean into the turmoil of a world we live in now, but to my heart I do not know if I could have chosen a different path given a second chance. We would have never been able to have Leeran.

We raised Leeran to be our own, even though his origins were from Cimedian, we never told him with the request from the King of Cimedian my brother. Leeran was as all children in their parents eyes, perfect. He grew into a teenager before me and my wife, becoming a begrudging rebellious boy with high ambitious in our hard world we now faced. He wanted to change it he would always say, but not in the form of politics or a crown on his head. He had ideals, and it wasn't until we took him to Cimedian for his 18th birthday that I discovered he did have a larger role in Gaea than I could ever dream.

His path fatefully crossed with Almi, a potential Tsuni. Her abilities as a seerer had progressed to a stage that might be for her to hold the essence of Gaea. Cimedian was an old nation, the first it is said of Gaea. Our way of life and living prospered with the Tsuni and Draconian rulers for the centuries before our time. It wasn't until I researched more, that I understood why our world was the way it was, and how my son Leeran was destined to change it with this girl.

Van shut the journal again; he had been reading all evening, hiding away from the people who wished to speak with him. His duties as King were done for the day, anything more Orinia could handle, but it didn't stop his friends from seeking him out to check on his well being. He finally managed to find Merle something else to do. He had searched for Rentra earlier; only to find out he was out on a ride with the new noble woman whom he had been spending all his time with since she had arrived in Fanelia.

From the way Merle described her, Van was intrigued to meet this woman he had never heard of. He had travel and met many nobles from across the land, he remembered most of them, but he had never heard of this woman. It didn't help the pit in his stomach feel any better, but he would simply have to wait to meet up with them both.

Van walked to the balcony and overlooked the city. The oil lamps were lit and the sun was barley illuminating the sky anymore. He sighed, wishing Hitomi was able to hear his thoughts. If only he knew how she was, he might be able to find comfort in his bed this night, but he knew different.

A shouting from the gate of the palace caught his attention, the guards seemed to be frantically working to open the gates. More shouting as the Lieutenant cursed them to work harder; Van turned and made his way to his doors, running down the corridors to the gate. He reached the court yard as the gates finally fully opened and a lone rider rushed in carrying with him a small figure abroad his lap.

Van stood motionless for just a moment as he saw the honey comb hair flowing freely over the guards arm, and as the guard approached her unconscious face triggered him finally to move, as he accepted it was really Hitomi who dangled, bloodied, and beaten in the arms of this guard.

"Call for the healer!!" He yelled as his arms pulled her from the guard as if he was the one who caused the wounds to Hitomi.

He pulled her close to him as he made his way back to his room, the castle started to move with urgency. He called to every maid he passed for items as he ran paced quickly to his room, but trying not to cause her any discomfort by jolting her around. He could recall being told at times of severe injury not to move the injured too much, as it could cause further danger, but with the dressed state of Hitomi's tattered clothing and discolored body, he felt it appropriate for her to be in his room. He wouldn't have her from his sight either.

It seemed the minute he placed her on the bed, the army of maids and healers stormed into his bedroom, ready to attend to what the king demanded. Van placed a small kiss against her forehead and whispered in her ear "Im here Hitomi" stepping away breathing in her scent. He stumbled back as the healers and maids began cleaning, prepping and inspecting the injured girl on his bed.

That's not her smell Vans thoughts echoed. Of course it wasn't her smell, she looked like she had had a hard weeks ride, and Gaea only know the last time she was able to rest. She had escaped from Dilandau and was here before him and that was all that mattered.

He walked to the balcony, trying not to feed his fury of thoughts with every new bruise and gash he saw. But the scenery below didn't help either. Rentra was riding into the gates with the woman Van had heard so much about. He didn't give her a second glance because his eyes locked with Rentra, who gave him a returning stern look. Something isn't right and he couldn't put his finger on it as Rentra continued into the palace.