[@bloonewb]

Kali followed the motherly kobold while Aerta hung back a few paces in case the situation got ugly and they needed a quick escape. The guards knew who she was and clearly did not appreciate her being there, but they knew of her power and that of husband. They knew better than to attack a sorceress unprovoked. 

For her part, Kali maintained silence until the guards gave Krakas a hard time. She strode over to one of the guards, puffed up her chest, and summoned her harshest tone short of shouting.

"How dare you speak to the queen mother like that?! By all rights, you ought to be strung up just for thinking such a thing! Now, the queen mother needs to have access to her child. Of all the rights and privileges entitled to one of her station, this is the very least thing she could possibly ask!"

Things proceeded from there, with the three females being hastily led into the throne room. She beheld Rughoi's breakdown and had to stifle a laugh at his overreaction. 

"Sire, you are clearly not well. Here, let me help, and thanks for the prayers. I assure you that they have been heard." The priestess generated a small amount of light from her clawed hands, providing an amusing little show. While she had spells which could ease mental illness to a small degree, the incantation she had just used was nothing more than a placebo. Still, it seemed to be believed by the guards, who kept their position.

"There now. Your mother is still here. Whatever affected you is now gone. Krakas left with Rama, but now she's back, as real as the ground beneath your feet. And speaking of the latter, I believe your mother has something to help you with. And might I remind you guards that in the event that our lord is incapacitated, the next in line for the royal family is the next of blood. Since our lord has neither a wife nor children, that would leave the queen mother in charge for the duration of his incapacity. He seems fine to me, though. You are fine, aren't you, sire? No more apparitions plaguing you?" 

Aerta gave Kali a warm smile. The priestess knew how to play off their laws and traditions quite well by now.