The rest of the journey passed without incident, and Onua and Numair soon found themselves riding up through the gates of Corus. Numair twisted and turned in his saddle to look around at the city so much that Onua was sure he was going to fall off. He kept up an almost constant stream of questions and observations about the things he saw, too: everything from architecture to the city's layout to some interesting item he saw in a shop window. It had been days since the incident with the bandits, and Onua still had trouble believing that this man was the most powerful mage in Tortall.
They eventually arrived at the barracks of the Queen's Riders. Onua turned her ponies loose in the meadow to graze, then headed for her room. Numair came with her, helping her carry her bags up to her room along with his own meager collection of belongings.
"Thanks," Onua said, dropping her things down on her bed. Numair did the same with the bags he'd been carrying.
"No problem," he said, leaning against the doorframe. "So… what happens now?"
"I'll get settled and unpacked," she told him. "I can find a room for you here, or you can stay at an inn down in the city if you'd prefer. Tomorrow morning I need to give Thayet my report, and then I thought…" she hesitated. "I thought I might set up a meeting so I can introduce you to the king."
"The king?" Numair said incredulously. "Why?"
"Come on, Numair, you're ridiculously overqualified for being a scribe. A mage with your skills could have a real position here."
"The king of Tortall can't go around hiring fugitives from Carthak," Numair argued. "Besides, I've had just about as much of royalty as I can stomach, thank you very much."
"Jonathan isn't like Ozorne," Onua insisted. "He'll want to meet you, and I think he'll surprise you. He's an unusual sort of king."
"Oh really?" Numair raised an eyebrow. "In what way?"
"He just is," Onua said frustratedly. "Please come to the meeting. You won't regret it, I promise."
Numair hesitated a moment, then nodded reluctantly. "If you think it's a good idea…"
"I do."
"Then I'll do it."