The entire tour around the castle was nothing short of creepy for Daryn. She was uncomfortable around the mages, even more so when they acted like normal human beings. Seeing them joke around, it made a shiver run up Daryn's spine. She kept a quiet distance, taking in the magnificent sights of the palace. Daelyn, always being the opposite of his sister, found the mages to be intriguing. To see them acting normal was wonderful. It allowed Daelyn to understand who they were, outside of being the King's pawns. He felt almost refreshed, seeing them joke around. He did sense Daryn's discomfort, keeping an eye on her through the walk. 

The private dining room was elaborate, a table set in the middle, empty for the moment. The twins were led into seats, and then they watched as Triver helped the servants. Daryn could have fainted, disbelief clouding her mind. The prince shouldn't have to help the servants, but there he was. She was touched by his kindness, wondering for a moment if he was putting on a show for his new knights. He made the comment about no one hitting on Daryn while they ate, and she choked on her food. Daelyn clapped her on the back, and she caught her breath, sitting the bread down she had been eating. Had he noticed too? Everyone seemed to look at her funny, and it was starting to have an effect on her. 

Daryn was still panting when the prince made his request to them to think of him as more than a prince. Daelyn thought on that. What else was he? He chuckled at Ser'deni's comment about him being a kid that needed protecting. Surely, that's not what the prince meant. Daryn was breathing normally, trying to find words in her mind. Daelyn watched the gears turn. 

"Thank you for your kindness, your majesty," Daryn said, smiling at the boy. Daelyn touched her shoulder for support. "But we are only knights to you, a prince. We will treat you as no less." Daelyn knew that wasn't what the prince wanted to hear. 

"But, your majesty, if you were looking for two friends in the Lyker twins, we will do all we can." 

Daryn shot him a look of confusion, her eyes falling down to the table. It wasn't that she didn't want to be friends with Triver. She liked the boy's personality. Befriending the prince, though, would only cause a moral dilemma when the time came to betray the royal family. Daelyn would never think that way; he was too kind to tell someone like Triver no. Daryn saw a world of similarities in the two of them. She felt his hand still on her shoulder, and she smiled up at him. 
 
In honesty, it had been a long time since the two of them found friendship in anyone but the other.