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The next morning Gil was woken by Sioban. The Prince groaned and sat up not wanting to be awake just yet. “Wake up sleepy Prince, we got things we need to do today.” The upbeat voice of the shaman rang out as Gil rolled his eyes and stood up to stretch the sleep from his limbs. This seemed to please the Shaman who left Gil to prepare for the day. He dressed himself in his most casual outfit. His clothes were nothing special. If one didn’t know better he could easily be mistaken for a common member of society. Only those who knew of the significance of his braids, beads, and threads would be able to pick out that he was royalty. He doubted many of the Astalians would notice though. 

After getting dressed for the day he left his room and found both Sioban and Aldar waiting for him outside his room. “The King has ordered that we remain within the castle grounds without an Astalian guard’s company. Something has changed and he clearly wishes to keep it out of the ears of the public for now. I will accompany you for the day.” Aldar said bluntly as Gil walked past the two and headed toward the dining hall. 

It seemed his entourage had other plans as Sioban pulled Gil toward the direction of one of the gardens. “Before you partake in a morning meal, Aldar thinks it is a good idea we take the time to grant you blessings for today. It will only take a moment.” Sioban explained as he led the Prince into the garden and toward the small creek that babbled through the back of it. There Gil kneeled beside the water and Sioban began speaking in orcish, requesting that the gods of nature as well as the ancestors look after Gil in his activities for the day. 

The ceremony was brief but it was long enough that Gil arrived to the dining hall after the eldest Princess had already made her exit and the others seemed close to finishing as well. He gave them all a polite nod and a morning greeting in Orcish as he took a place at the table and took in the options he had to eat. Aldar took a post on the wall behind the Prince but it seemed the Shaman had wandered off to do whatever it was Sioban had found to entertain himself with which didn’t surprise the Prince one bit, the Shaman had always been one to do his own thing. 

“Big day today yea? The Ball and all?” He questioned just to see if he could start some idol chatter while he casually piled his plate high with all the food that could fit. He wouldn’t be offended if nobody answered him after all they seemed to be in their own conversations already.