Ashoka sat on the throne, bored. Kings were only actually in charge of spiritual (magical most said behind the prime minister's back) affairs so he didn't have much to do, and he'd called for Raizel to see him days ago but it was taking him forever. He really needed to force all royal family members to live in the castle with him. That way he and Raskreia would have company, and nobody would take weeks to answer his summons.
Several weeks had passed in this manner before Raizel showed up at the castle. He bowed, "I am here to answer your summons, Lord."
He sighed and waved a hand. "No need for formalities when we're alone." They were in his room rather than the throne room. "It's 'your majesty' anyway. I was only a lord when we were children."
Raizel bowed again, "I apologise your majesty." He couldn't help but be formal, it was respectful after all.
Well, nobody except his own spouse called him familiarly anyway. He wasn't expecting much. "Take a seat. Why did it take you so long to arrive?"
Raizel took a seat, he was slightly embarrassed, "I set off when I received your summons, I had trouble finding my way."
Raizel had never had the best sense of direction but- "Here I was thinking your mother had locked you up in a tower for your safety and apparently you just got lost. I should have known."
"..." Raizel stared at the king, "I apologise, your majesty. May I ask, the reason for your summons?"
Ashoka sat with a huff. Nobody ever bothered to chat these days. "I wanted your advice on the sacrifice, the time is coming around again."
Raizel sat and thought, "You have never sought my council before in these matters, why the sudden change?"
"Oh well you know. I've been doing this for two hundred years and nothing's changed so a fellow magician might have something better to offer."
Raizel thought for a moment, "What could I offer that you can't?"
He rolled his eyes. "I'm just asking for advice you know. A new perspective since I've thought of all I can. I'm not sending you off to be the sacrifice." Oh, actually that sounded like a good idea.
Raizel thought about it for a few moments, "I shall go to the castle. As the sacrifice."
"Great idea but, you said it, not me. Now you're gonna have to tell me how to make sure your family doesn't kill me." It's not like being a sacrifice was a death sentence anyway. The majority returned, whether it be in weeks, months, or years. Those who didn't... well, that's why they were called a sacrifice.
It was true his mother and brother were overprotective of him, but if there needed to be a sacrifice for the safety of the kingdom would they mind so much? He did volunteer after all. "You can tell them it was my decision to go, they will respect that." At least he hoped they would.
Sighing, Ashoka ran a hand through his hair. "I'll do that then. In a week's time will be the official announcement so you'll stay here for now. If you're bored in any way, just talk to Raskreia."
Raizel nodded, "Yes, your majesty."
Raskreia stared at Raizel from across the table, silent. Why did father insist on this? She had more important things to do then spend time with a reclusive relative.
Raizel stared at Raskreia, he'd been told to come here by the king but, he didn't really enjoy talking. He preferred to watch the world outside his window.
"I must practice with my sword, will you accompany me down?" She'd go alone but father had told her to stay with him.
"Yes, of course." He wouldn't deny a request from the king's daughter.
There were many staircases to go down, many hallways, and she knew them all by heart. Still, she took a longer path because father had said the man needed to get more activity. "I have heard that you are acquainted with Lady Edian? Is that true?"
Raizel nodded, "Yes, we have met on several occasions."
"...Do you know if she has any particular interests aside from fencing?"
"Hmm..." Raizel thought about it for a few moments. "I haven't really noticed, she tends to keep to herself mostly."
"She speaks highly of you, is there really nothing?" Did Lady Edian have feelings for him then? The thought upset her.
Raizel shook his head. "She's never mentioned anything. I could ask her if you like."
"Please don't tell her it's me who wants to know. I-" a pink tint covered her cheeks- "wish for it to be a surprise for her."
Raizel nodded, he could be discreet if he had to be. "Of course." He wanted to know why Raskreia wished to surprise Edian but didn't feel it right to pry into another's business.
Entering the grounds where she usually trained, she bowed slightly to the blonde woman who was instructing some knights. "Lady Edian, Lord Raizel is in need of your tutelage. His skill with the sword is atrocious."
Raizel nodded, "It's been a while Lady Edian. I am willing to learn what you have to teach."
Edian gave one last order to the knights before they dispersed, it was her duty to train rookies after all. She bowed deeply to the princess, and merely put her hands together in respect for Lord Raizel, he was of the same standing she was, though a blush covered her face and ears . "I have received his majesty's order to do so as well. First, let me gauge your skill."
Raskreia nodded and retreated, letting the two have space for a spar as Lady Edian unsheathed her sword. A servant approached, offering Raizel the choices of a swordstaff and a xiphos, popular in a country across the seas.
Raizel looked at the weapons offered to him, and opted for the xiphos. He'd never held a sword or sparred with one before, so wasn't really sure what to do, instead he copied the grip Edian had on hers.
Edian smiled, on the surface it seemed polite, but in reality, she wondered if Lord Raizel knew that rapiers and a xiphos had two completely different techniques. "Please make the first move."
Raskreia watched, more focused on Edian than Raizel.
Raizel wasn't sure how to make the first move since he'd never taken part in a duel. He had seen others training though, so imitating them, he slashed at Edian with the side of his sword, almost losing his balance.
Edian merely stepped back to avoid it. This... would be tough. And his majesty had said she only had a week. Inwardly sighing, she decided to do her best to teach him at least some of the basics.
It was almost embarrassing seeing Lord Raizel fail so utterly over and over again, but the calm demeanour that Lady Edian maintained kept Raskreia from cringing.
Raizel kept trying. He would master sword fighting, he had to. The king was counting on him. He paid close attention to Edian's movements, and tried to copy them as best he could.
"That's enough." Edian lowered her rapiers after a while of observing him. "It's good that you can at least carry and use a xiphos, I will work with the rest."
Raizel simply nodded once. "Thank you." He smiled, he was sure with Edian's help he'd master sword fighting in no time.
"Your Highness, perhaps you should move to your courtyard for training. I'm afraid I won't be able to focus on you and there's no use to you lingering here." A shame really. The princess was of her best students, and Edian enjoyed her company.
Disappointed, Raskreia kept an impassive face. "Please excuse me then." She, hadn't expected that she'd be pushed away completely. Head high, she left.
Raizel was surprised at this, did that mean he wasn't as good as he thought?
Now, Edian tried to smile but her face didn't even twitch. "Let's work on how to hold the xiphos properly first." A servant gave her a xiphos for demonstration purposes.
Raizel nodded, paying close attention to the way Edian held the blade. Hmm... It appeared he was holding it wrong.
While Edian and Raizel worked on his swordsmanship, Raskreia slashed furiously at the target. All she had wished to do was watch Lady Edian, instead her company was of the trees, and Karias.
"Sis, what's wrong? You seem a little down." Karias said, moving over to where Raskreia was standing.
"I'm not your sister." Probably. She didn't know what father did with his spells and it was better not to. She continued to ruin the target as she spoke. "How are you supposed to court someone? You should know that right?"
"If you need advice on courting, then you've come to the right place. We Blersters are renowned among humans as the Gods of Love." He smiled, running a hand through his hair.
Raskreia stopped moving. "You're human too." Part human anyway. His father was a seraph from a neighbouring kingdom that had sworn his loyalty to hers over a century ago.
"Yes, but humans don't really care much about the small details as long as you can help them," he replied, "So, who're you trying to court?"
"...Lady Edian." The woman was easily a century older than her but, she was the princess. If anyone said anything about the difference in age she could stop them.
"Well, you could try giving her flowers. Red roses are the symbol of love after all, and I'm sure they'd make her happy," Karias advised, thinking of more ways to woo a woman.
"Flowers?" Well, she supposed Lady Edian probably liked them. "Anything else?"
"She does like swords, maybe you could find some nice decorative ones. I've seen several that are ornately designed and intricately carved," he said. People always loved gifts.
"Decorative swords? That-" the image of Lady Edian sparring emerged and she flushed red- "sounds good."
"When you're done with training, we could go and to the village and look for something Lady Edian would like?" He knew all the best places to buy gifts.
"We can go now. Why did you come in the first place? Did something happen?"
Karias shook his head, "No, I just didn't have anything better to do."
"You should work on materialising your wings more often. Don't slack off so much." ... "Even if you are helping me."
"I know but, it's such hard work. Besides, can't I spend time with my big sister," he smiled nervously.
"Fine." Unfortunately she had a soft spot for him. "I'm sending you back later though." She sheathed her sword, starting to walk towards the stables.
Karias smiled, "Okay, let's go look for a gift." He didn't like training much.
Raskreia dealt with saddling her horse herself. A mare with the same golden-white colouring of many seraphs in her coat and mane. "Do you need a horse from here?"
"Ah, yes, that would be great thank you." Karias didn't like horse riding but, until he mastered how to use his wings he wouldn't be able to fly long distances.
With a nod, she called a servant to prepare the mare she usually had reserved for Karias. Soon enough they were riding out of the castle grounds, and into the city (a beautiful one with towering spires and rich fabrics. outposts and homes, bustling streets with nary those of misfortune) "You'll have to take the lead."
Karias nodded, as he led them through streets and side roads, until they came to a ginnel. They walked down the narrow passage, arriving to a shop that sold rare antiques and other items. "Here we are, this is the place. They have all kinds of beautifully decorated swords." The two of them headed inside.
Raskreia's eyes widened at the interior. All the different items, the things she could feel coming off from them, it was overwhelming. Different. Slowly she took a step, then another and started to look at the different swords. "Is this one good?"
Karias took the sword and twirled it in his hand a couple of times. It was beautifully balanced and lightweight. "It's a fine sword, I'm sure Lady Edian would like it," he replied, giving his honest opinion of the blade. It looked beautiful and was of the highest craftsmanship.
Smiling, the weight on her heart lifted. Though she was good with swords she didn't have as much as an eye for aesthetics. "I'll get it then. Rozaria." A woman in a black robe and magician's hat appeared from the shadows. "Please buy it and have it prepared for gifting."
Rozaria nodded, and with a flirtatious smile, asked, "Ser Karias, may I have that?"
Karias smiled back, "Why of course." He hander the sword to her.
Taking it, not at all careful, she examined the sword. And then, as his guard was down, she swung the blade, the edge at his neck. "You should be more careful Ser. Any assassin would have been able to kill you like this. You're quite lucky it was me." Her tone was still cheerful.
Raskreia sighed. Rozaria was always doing this with everyone, and at this point she had given up on reining the woman in.
Karias shuddered, Rozaria was a frightening woman. "Of course, I should probably be more careful. Thank you," he responded, smiling nervously.
"Oh you're welcome." Rozaria kept in her laughter. It was so fun teasing people. Lowering the sword, she curtsied and went further into the shop.
Patting Karias' shoulder, Raskreia sighed. "This is why you need to train, or else Rozaria flirting will just be seen as a threat."
Karias just nodded, still in shock. "That was flirting? I thought she was going to kill me." Raskreia was right though, he did need to take his training more seriously, and after this he was going to do just that.
"She said that you were lucky it was her. That's her way of hinting that she wouldn't mind a date." It wasn't like Rozaria was being serious, she flirted with everyone. Though she would enjoy it if someone actually courted her.
"Hmm... Perhaps I should court her then." Karias smiled, "What kind of things does she like?"
...Right he was known for being a flirt too. All seraphs seemed to be big on romance. "She loves researching on combat spells. Or just go your usual route. She'll like that too." Raskreia started leading them back out.
Karias nodded, following Raskreia out, happy his usual route would be well received. Although he'd try and do something special for her.
"Do you want to have lunch in the city? It's already noon." The sun was right overhead, and though it shone brightly there was little heat.
"Yes, nearly losing my head has given me quite an appetite." He replied laughing nervously.
Raskreia chuckled. "I'm quite sure the possibility of a relationship has as well." She mounted her horse, and waited for Karias.
Karias smiled, excited by the possibility of romance, as he mounted his horse. "Looks like things will certainly be more fun from now on." Especially since he and Raskreia both had people they wished to court.
She snorted. "Fun for you. I'm will be worrying about many things." She held the reins loosely, and lead the way. There was a restaurant her father sneaked out to every now and then, it was pretty good for such a humble place.
Karias hummed, he was overjoyed. "Come on sis, you know romance is always fun. Enjoy it," he said trying to ease her mind.
She sighed. "It's not just that. The sacrifice will be chosen next week, and then there's the harvest season coming up right after that. There's always some problem or another then."
"Oh, those kinds of worries. They'll always be there so don't pay them too much mind. Everything will work out in the end."
"Yes, I suppose you're right." She watched the road carefully, making sure there was nothing the mare would be scared by.
"Anytime sis." It'd be nice for her not to have to worry so much.