"I'm just saying, try not to get your hopes up, okay? There are probably hundreds of Ikana Knights out there, so I'd say the odds of your dad being one of the prince's escorts is pretty slim," advised Zunari, taking a swig from his flask before offering it to Oliver, who refused. The young contractor and his employer sat on the edge of the small platform in front of the Clock Tower's (currently closed) upper entrance. With the preparations for the procession completed just in time, South Clock Town was already packed with spectators eager to witness the first public appearance of Ikana's royal family in over 25 years. The parade path, blocked off by a series of gaudy golden fence-posts connected by a sturdy metal chain, began at the southern gate, wrapped around the Clock Tower, and continued through the northern park, finally ending at a small stage in front of the mayor's residence, where the Prince would be giving his highly anticipated speech to the eager masses. From their lofty perch, Oliver and Zunari could see the entire parade path. The two had elected to stay out of the crowd and watch from afar, more for the sake of comfort than anything else. "I know, I know. I'm just excited to finally see some real Ikana Knights either way," added Oliver. "I doubt I'd be able to recognize Swiftblade even if he was there. My mother only ever told me he was handsome. I guess pictographs weren't in style back then," he mused, with a sigh. He secretly wished his mother could've been there with him, but he'd resolved to avoid dwelling on such thoughts. Oliver was surprised when Zunari, who was absolutely drowning in paperwork with all the contracts coming, offered to keep him company at the parade. At the end of the day, in Oliver's world of week-long acquaintanceships, Zunari was perhaps the only person Oliver considered a real friend. "I'd wager he wouldn't be able to recognize you either, Ollie. Last time he saw you you were just a little baby. Now you're a slightly taller baby," smirked Zunari, rubbing his spindly black goatee. "Oh, I'm a little toddler, am I? This coming from the guy who needs a custom made high chair just to make eye contact with clients?" sneered Oliver. It was true; Zunari was not blessed with even average height, something that the snide merchant-thief was loathe to discuss. An exotic looking little man, Zunari had strangely dark skin and beady black eyes that were somewhat enchanting, if a bit shifty. Perhaps to make up for his lack of physical ability, Zunari was a shrewd negotiator and a cunning thief; it was under Zunari's tutelage, in fact, that Oliver had developed his own brand of guile. Before Zunari could retort, however, the low chime of the midday bells erupted from the Clock Tower behind the pair, startling both of them. Perhaps there was a reason why no one else found their spot so desirable. Nevertheless, shortly after the bells ceased, the sound of a lone trumpet echoed from the South gate, followed by the sound of distant drums. The Ikana had finally arrived, it would seem, and in a grand fashion at that. First through the gate were four bannermen, flanked by two drummers dressed in ceremonial battle garb. Next came twenty knights, marching in rows of five, armed with spears and tower shields. Compared to the conservative garb of the Clock Town locals, the Ikana seemed like they'd stepped right out of a museum. The armor of the Ikana had an exotic feel, to be sure; instead of plate mail and full helms, the Ikana favored elaborate headdresses, light chain armor, and elaborately decorated mantles like the one Oliver had inherited. At last Prince Davos Du Ikana, atop an impressive white horse, came through the gate. His armor was perhaps the strangest of all; a chain cuirass with golden plate accents, a red cloth tabard-cloak bearing the Ikana Royal Family sigil in silver embroidery, and a fully enclosed helmet crafted from what appeared to be the skull of a fairly large wolf. At first the strange helmet shocked many onlookers (perhaps those who remembered a time when the Ikana were trully walking skeletons), but when the prince removed it with a grand flourish to reveal a human (and rather ruggedly handsome) face beneath, the crowd immediately erupted with applause. Davos was flanked on both sides by two other mounted knights with elaborate skeletal headdresses and highly ornamented greatswords. These were likely the prince's first escorts, and they certainly looked the part. Both men were incredibly tall and muscular, so much so that their hardy black steeds seemed to be struggle under their sheer girth. After the Prince came another block of twenty nights, with two more bannermen bringing up the rear. "The kingdom seems to be doing remarkably well for itself. Strange," wondered Zunari, scanning the ranks of the soldiers with a rather perplexed look on his face. Oliver gave no response; he was too busy searching the entire parade for a knight wearing a royal blue mantle like his own. Perhaps today would be the day he'd finally meet Sir Cecil Pike, the father who was nothing more to him than an old tattered cape and bunch of secondhand stories.