The sounds of fighting grew distant before all but disappearing as the great iron bound gates of the palace swung closed. Behind its pale and strangely glowing walls the aura of eerie calmness that had cloaked the city from afar returned. The gates opened into the outer ward of the palace, a large paved space that used for outdoor ceremonies or the assembly of Ozragad's armies in war-time. It took up a significant portion of the lowest terrace of the palace, the rest of the tier given over to the practical administrative buildings of the complex. Beyond the edges of this courtyard were the stables and storehouses, the granaries and armouries, the barracks and blacksmiths. All the necessary parts of working palace.

Above the square, taking up the several of the next terraces, loomed the chaotic mass of towers and halls that made up the palace proper, where the majority of the courtiers, servants, and soldiers lived and slept. Much of the unearthly glow that lit courtyard emanated from there - the cornices of the walls and ridges of the roofs set with softly glowing crystal that cast its light belong. Beyond that, towering on the highest tier of all, were the royal apartments of King Ozragad himself, their spire tipped towers almost brushing up against the curving ceiling of the cavern.

Manawyndan took the view in as he carefully swung his leg over his horse, the movement was measured and considered. When he had been young he had leapt on and off and horses with no thought, but his bones were brittle and his muscles aching now he had reached his venerable old age and hence caution was best observed. He ran a hand through his short iron grey hair to scratch at the nape of his neck. He was an older Formori, thin and wiry, with a clean shaven sharp chin and a face set with narrow eyes the colour of dark bronze. 

[b]"This is a fine mess."[/b] He muttered to himself as a stable hand came to take his horse, a look of deep consternation plain upon his face.

The Princess was already exiting the palanquin, the carriers who had borne it up through the city at post-haste had set it down as soon as they were safe behind the palace walls. Manwyndan did not blame them, they had practically run the last third. Ozragad would have probably reprimanded them for that, but he did not have the heart to do so. He finally got a good look at the Princess, she looked very young to him, but he supposed most people looked very young to him after more than three hundred years. She also looked composed considering the mob outside that had been baying for her blood a few minutes before. As she approached him she smiled politely, but with her guards close to her back still. Understandable given the circumstances. He relaxed his expression. 

[b]"No need to thank me, Your Highness, I am but a humble servant,"[/b] He paused to cough and clear his throat as he spoke the rasp in the old Formori's voice did not lessen. Manawyndan gave an apologetic, though wry, smile of his own. [b]"And I cannot help but feel partly responsible for your current predicament. This unrest, I mean, as regent in the King's absence."[/b]

That was true of course, Manawyndan had been in charge of the powder keg of a city before it had ignited into panic and chaos. But equally true was the fact that Ozragad's plans concerning the Princess had largely been hatched in Manawyndan's mind. His King would have never accepted such a peace offering except at his encouragement. That made him largely responsible for Elise Hydaelyn's presence in Morganyth. 

[b]"My name is Manawyndan."[/b] He bowed to the Princess. [b]"Amongst other duties, I serve as the King's Steward here at the palace. Apartments have been set aside for your use, and the use of your men, in the Silver Tower for the time being. My men can show you the way.  The seneschal oversees domestic arrangements directly, I will send them over once you have settled in to ensure everything is to your satisfaction, and that you have all you need."[/b] 

He beckoned two of the soldiers who had accompanied them up through the city. 

[b]Please show Her Highness to her quarters.[/b] Despite his smile and genial appearance, there was a firmness to those words. A second command went unspoken in them: [i]And ensure she remains there.[/i]

[hr]
It was not until much later that Ozragad finally returned to the palace. Outside night had fallen, but under the mountain the twilight only dimmed, the light of the Moon Crystal still glowing in the dark of the cavern. Manawyndan was waiting for him in the foyer of the royal chambers, hands clasped behind his back, staring into a fire that had been lit in the grate of oversized hearth. Servants rushed to attend the King and remove his armour, the old Formori general stayed where he stood.

[b]"Well... That could have been handled better."[/b] He spoke without looking at the King, considering the flames still. Ozragad raised his arms to allow the various buckles and straps of his plate harness to be undone. There was a streak of blood down one side of his face. He was too tired to play games.

[b][color=f7941d]"Could have been handled better?!"[/color][/b] The King barked at his most trusted adviser. [color=f7941d][b]"You've left me looking like a fool! What sort of King cannot control their own people? This should never have happened. You should have dealt with this decisively before I ever returned, instead I have to-" [/b][/color]

[b]"I was not speaking of my own conduct."[/b] Manawyndan glanced over and cut off the King mid sentence. There was a pause.

[color=f7941d][b]"All of you out. Now!"[/b][/color] The servants that had been attending him scurried out of the room at the sound of the wroth in his voice, leaving the two of them alone. Neither spoke. Manawyndan turned back to the flames whilst Ozragad stepped out of his discarded armour. The King walked over to a ewer of water that stood on a long sideboard of dark polished wood. He poured some into a large bowl and began to wash his hands.

[color=f7941d][b]"Well. Speak."[/b][/color]

The water began to turn pink.

[b]"Today was ill handled. You should have left that to Tiernon and the watch. A King should be wrathful to his enemies, merciful to his subjects, not leading a cavalry charge into them.[/b]

[b][color=f7941d]"Those were my enemies thanks to you."[/color][/b]

[b]"They were your people!"[/b] The general suddenly shouted, turning away from the fire to look at Ozragad. [b]"They were your people. The people you shed so much blood for. All for their sake, you said. So that they would have a better life and better future. And here you are, washing their blood from your hands."[/b]

[b][color=f7941d]"YES I KNOW! I know..."[/color][/b] The King dashed the bowl from the side table with his fist, it crashed to the floor, spilling its contents across the marble floor. He buried his face in his hands, fingers clutching digging into his ashen skin. When they came away there was a cold and hard look in his eyes, his voice was choked when he spoke.

[b][color=f7941d]"My hands and not the only ones stained here. The only reason this ever happened is because of your ridiculous plan to have me marry some fucking Eorzian child and your inability to keep order in my city! They would have never turned on me otherwise and I would not have to do as I have done! This blood is as much on your hands as mine!"[/color][/b]

Aside from the crackle of the wood burning in the fireplace behind Manawyndan, there was silence. The two men looked at each other, a old weariness hanging over both of them and a guilty look in their eyes. Manawyndan walked across the room to a flagon of wine that had been set out. He poured two glasses and handed one to his King.

[b]"How many dead?"[/b]

[b][color=f7941d]"I don't know. At least six of ours if you count the one from yesterday, definitively more of them."[/color][/b] The King spoke with a grimace, he gulped down the wine thirstily. 

[b]"This will only be fuel for the fire. It needed dealing with... but not by you personally. You know this, what's happening with you?"[/b]

The King sighed and stared down into his goblet. 

[b][color=f7941d]"All this business with the Princess... I will not lie... It has unsettled me. Old wounds made fresh. I've been letting my anger get the best of me... no Eorzians to unleash it on either. I worry that peace does not suit me."[/color][/b]

[b]"Remember I've been a soldier much longer than you, and I think I can live with peace."[/b] That elicited a sad smile from Ozragad. He drained the goblet, filled it again from the flagon, and walked over to the fire to warm himself. 

[b][color=f7941d]"How was she, the Princess?"[/color][/b]

[b]"She handled it better than you."[/b] The King laughed with a single harsh bark at that.

[b][color=f7941d]"Oh she was probably itching to get of there and slaughter some Formori herself I imagine. You saw to it that she was accommodated?"[/color][/b]

[b]"She's in the Silver Tower, so are her guards. I have our guards on the tower doors and the courtyard outside. The seneschal assigned her chambermaids, all people we trust to watch her. I had the kitchens send up a meal for her, had it tasted beforehand for poison, servers all people we trust. Do you still want to go through with the formal presentation and feast tomorrow? It might seem distasteful considering..."[/b]

The King sighed again and grabbed a chair to pull it closer to the fire. He sat down in it heavily, swirling the goblet in his hand to make the wine turn into a dark red whirlpool within. He stared into the fire, watching the flames writhe as they consumed the logs. 

[b][color=f7941d]"Let's get it over and done with. Don't show any weakness. People will forget what happened today in time. I need to keep appearing strong for now.[/color][/b]

[b]"I'll see to it, sire."[/b] Manawyndan turned to leave the room.

[b][color=f7941d]"Manawyndan, wait..."[/color][/b] Ozragad stopped him, but did not look at him, his gaze still focused on the fire. [color=f7941d][b]"I need you know... What happened out there today... That wasn't the real me... I took no pleasure in it."[/b][/color] 

The old soldier had stopped at the doorway to face his King once more, when he spoke it was softly, like a grandparent wishing a child goodnight as they put them to bed.

[b]"I never thought so, not even for a second."[/b]

The door closed shut. The King was left alone with his thoughts. 

They whispered to him. 

[color=f7941d][i]Liar.[/i][/color]