Upon arriving at the conference room she was greeted by both the head mason and her father, the king. Keeping to court courtesy, Zafiria dipped and swept into a well-practised curtsey.

[color=598527][b]"Good Afternoon, Zafiria."[/b][/color] The deep voice of the mountain king rumbled, pausing his conversation with the head mason and allowing her to rise from her bent position. 

[color=c4df9b][b]"Good afternoon, Sire, Mason."[/b][/color] she responded in turn. No-one but Zafiria's mother called the king by his first name, Ozias. 

[color=598527][b]"Where are your guards?"[/b][/color] king Ozias asked. He was a kindly man, but firm. With wisdom beyond his years, he managed to rule the kingdom with compassion and fairness that gained him much respect and just as many enemies. 

[color=c4df9b][b]"I left them, I was to meet my tutor in the private study but he never showed up. I taught myself a new spell but I was in need of masonry dust to practice it. I thought in the short walk here that it would be safe enough to come on my own."[/b][/color] Zafiria breathed. She held herself up hoping that the confident presence she had would be enough to sway her father a bit but she knew full well that such court tactics didn't often work well on her father. 

[color=598527][b]"Hm."[/b][/color] king Ozias grumbled, before turning to one of the nearest guard captains. [color=598527][b]"Captain Ammiras, please take a guard with you and go to look for Zafiria's tutor. It's not like him to neglect his duties."[/b][/color] It was an order borne of concern, both for the tutor and for the safety of those in the palace. 

[b]"As you command, Sire."[/b] the captain said before signaling one of his own and walking off to look for the tutor. 

[color=598527][b]"Now, dust you say?"[/b][/color] king Ozias quirked an eyebrow at Zafiria. [color=598527][b]"I don't think it would hurt to give some to her, is that correct head mason?"[/b][/color] he asked. The mason could hardly say no but he laid down the plans he was holding and retrieved a small sack full of masonry dust. It was large enough that Zafiria should be able to fit her fist into it to pull the dust from it, perfect. She smiled as the mason handed the bag to her.

[color=c4df9b][b]"Thank you, head mason."[/b][/color] she bobbed. 

[color=598527][b]"Now, the head mason and I still have some plans to discuss. Take a set of guards with you when you leave, Zafiria."[/b][/color] king Ozias turned his attention back to the head mason, watching her from the corner of his eye to make sure that she did take guards with her. 

Zafiria curtsied before leaving the room, two guards flanked on her sides before walking the main halls to get to the training area.