A Dance Of Blades and Hearts

YOU

"state your name and purpose " one of the guards said, a blank look on his face as he eyed our group, we came undercover so the royal getup and pelican which would have easily let us through the city gates was missing

"we're here to see your roi " song said and the guard snickered

"on what grounds?" he asked clearly amused at how a group of people popped up from nowhere suddenly demanding to see their leader

song moved to speak but I pulled down my hood and looked straight at the man, he raised an eyebrow before his eyes widened in recognition and he bowed,

"your highness, forgive my incompetence, I had no idea you would be arriving in the city" he said waving for the city gates to be opened

***********

The city was beautiful, it gave an impression of being untouched by the war, smiling children running around and people going about their business, some curiously peering at the strangers that were being led through the city by one of their guards

clens eyes darted everywhere, almost like he was trying to take in everything at once, the twins just looked bored, I could see the emperors eyes moving through the city,

it was obvious he was observing the city, even through the face mask and hood he had on.

I had forced my mind off todays earlier event, looking at the emperor made me remember that I had to do something I wasn't even ready for.

We arrived at the palace and were granted entrance easily through the guard who had stopped us by the gates, currently I was in a large room which had deep green walls and a lone window at the side

the guys were in the next room, and the general had ordered us to stay still till he summons for us,

I finally let myself forget about everything that happened today, I was exhausted and in an unfamiliar place

my mind just couldn't work anymore

************

I sat staring at the walls with intricate eagle designs, same as the one on the city gates, my mind was spinning from the attack and the possibility of invasion that I found it hard to not let agitation show

zeo hae was an ally, he is an ally, but based on recent happenings and information that could very well change

the double doors opened and he stepped in, a smile on his face, but there was a worried look to it. He walked forward and bowed

"your highness, this is quite the surprise " he said with a small but confused smile on his face

I nodded at him and looked him squarely in the eye

" Lord zeo hae, old friend, what is this I hear about you holding my delegates?" I said moving straight to the point, the smile slipped off his face and his eyes widened

Zeo hae and I had always had a cordial relationship, sharing similar views and working towards the same goal, he was a peaceful man, hard but kind in the way he ruled his people, thinking about why he would even hold the delegates hostage has me acting brashly, but it was something we needed to resolve as soon as possible.

"your highness, we received no delegates " he said, a confused look on his face,

"I wouldn't dare.. " he continued but my mind was cut up on the first sentence

"what?", I asked the wheels in my head turning.

"I swear to you, the southern cities received no perian delegates " he said firmly even though I could see fear creeping into his expression, I knew he was telling the truth, a part of me already knew something was off from the beginning.