The palace of Prince Miguel Gentry of Barton stood a fair distance from his city which he ruled over with an iron fist, backed by the mountains to the east and defended on all sides by stone walls whose bricks were carved from the mountainside. He was widely rumored to be a a stern man who adored heraldry and ceremony and legends of great knights. He'd shaped up to be a fine knight himself before he'd overthrown his father, and pride, rather vanity, was his strongest and weakest point. He never appeared in public without a light suit of decorative armor and a beautifully-embroidered tabard over top. In his castle, he was always dressed to the nines and his style was impeccable but clearly displayed his ego. Some teasing rumors claimed that he'd nearly drowned many times staring at his reflection in lakes and rivers.

Alaera was met by two guards in full decorative armor who seemed rather uncomfortable in their attire, and they escorted her into the lavishly-decorated halls. Tapestries of great battles and heroes hung everywhere and many statues of mythical and historical warriors stood between columns on either side. Prince Miguel stood at the end of the Great Hall where his throne lay, standing beside it with his hands clasped neatly behind his back. He too was dressed in finery with a chestplate and pauldrons and hip guards for armor set with lovely engravings and etchings. He wore fine gloves and dark trousers and a tabard with a purple raven on the front, the symbol of his house. At his hip hung a sword in a scabbard more richly decorated than Alaera had ever seen even of her own father's collection. He had long hair but it was tightly tied back and on his brow sat a simple silver circlet that, despite being gleaming and polished, seemed a little too humble compared to the rest of his outfit. Perhaps he assumed that he didn't need to show off a crown for people to know he was their Prince.

"Lady Condenance," he spoke with a deep and smooth tone of an eloquent leader who knew how to put power into his words. "Welcome to Barton Castle."