[color=00aeef]"Aah, forgive me, sire, but I feel it necessary to remind you that Tamlyn (Son of George) will likely be wanting to hear your solution to the Turnips soon, lest he take slight."[/color]

Kallain eyed the scribe carefully, appraising his cautious and subtle directive with some hesitation. He slowly exhaled and tilted his head, as if contemplating things quite deeply. His lips peeled back as he licked his tongue across his teeth in a gritty show of distaste, before adjusting his stance a bit to carry more authority;

[color=f7941d]"Serell, this man's issue is a high priority. Bandits running amuck within the villages and harassing our people is not 'nonsense' as you put it earlier. Yes, the way Tamlyn [Son of George] presented the information was...dramatic, but I feel as though you held the issue a good deal lower in regard than it should have been. I have a wondrous solution to the issue."[/color] Serell drew back a bit at the accusatory tone of Kallain and looked a bit disarmed at the young prince's sudden retaliation to the scribe's prodding demeanor.

[color=00aeef]"V-Very well, highness, what is it you wish to do about Tamlyn's issue and the village of Helcomb? What is your decree in regards to the handling of the Turnip Bandits?"[/color]

At this, Kal shifted and looked to his sister. His hand reached out and held onto hers, linking the siblings together again in a more calm manner of affection. Drevala smiled for a moment, before pulling her hand back and adopting a slightly more withdrawn state.

[color=00a651]"I'll leave you to this for a moment brother, and tell mother that you'll be on your way as soon as possible."[/color] the girl curtsied, then turned and walked briskly away- casting a glance back at Kal as she left. Kallain smiled briefly before Serell's grunt of I-need-your-attention-young-prince once more stole his mind back to the present.

[color=f7941d]"It's quite simple Serell. We have bandits? Sending a full military force to hunt them down would be pointless. Word would spread, the ruffians would hear about it, and they'd scatter. The best choice is thus; Select a handful of our most competent soldiers and prepare them for the task. We shall set out in less than a week's time."[/color] At this, Serell simply had to interject...

[color=00aeef]"'We' sire?"[/color] the scribe said with apt incredulity.

[color=f7941d]"Yes, 'we'. Myself and the soldiers, that is. You'd make for a horrid battlefield companion I imagine, Serell- much more suited to books and lengthy titles if my memory serves."[/color] Kal grinned, showing he was attempting a semi-friendly joke. [color=f7941d]"However, to answer you more seriously... The people simply don't know me all that well, and I could feel it from how Tamlyn saw me. That's a man who came here and asked for help, and men like him don't ask for help. If I don't do something about it personally, it'll feel just as much like a slight than me ignoring him would be- at least, in a political if not moral sense.[/color]"

[color=00aeef]"I for one think that is foolish, and that your childish dreams of heroics and bandit kings has gone to your head."[/color] Serell replied bluntly, his tone dry. Kal contemplated what he said for a moment before offering a shrug.

[color=f7941d]"If I go, I stand to benefit both the people and myself. If I don't and the bandits are taken care of, then all I am is a puppeteer who doesn't bother handling his issues with his own hands. At least, that's how I see it."[/color] Kal didn't really have as much steam behind this as he did his initial petition to Serell, but it was more honest than he intended. Serell's frankness, as it always did, was slowly eroding the prince's edge.

[color=00aeef]"Very well, highness, I shall have it as you wish; a small group of soldiers will be assembled for your...bandit hunting."[/color]--that was a sudden change in Serell's tone, but it was a sudden relief for Kal and he thought nothing of it for the moment.

[color=f7941d]"Good, make sure you include Reinoldus among the soldiers as well. I'll leave it up to you Serell, and go along to see what my mother needs of me."[/color] With a solid nod, the young prince turned on his heel and briskly left Serell behind, instead walking out of the great hall an-

[color=00a651]"--Oomph!"[/color] a voice said from somewhere below Kal's chin, as the figure of his sister stumbled back.

[color=f7941d]"Were you eavesdropping, Drevala?[/color] was Kal's amused appraisal of the situation.

[color=00a651]"No! I was simply making sure you arrived to mother in a timely fashion- come, let's go!"[/color] she said, hiding her blushing face as she turned and hurriedly rushed off ahead of Kal.