#askauradonsking

@askauradonsking Evie will throw down.

@askauradonsking

Scotta had noticed the signs, seemingly before anybody else. Her and Ben were hardly close, but the bags growing underneath his eyes had been difficult to miss. That was what had first garnered her attention.

It was easier to spot the others after that. The king had been eating progressively less and less, attending less events that he use to enjoy and swapping them for political gatherings. There had been a reason he had dropped out of Tourney and ROAR, after all.

If she was being honest, it was hardly any of her business. She was the heiress to the the throne of DunBroch, a tiny kingdom that was split into four clans anyway. If anything, it should be his parents or someone closer to him, like Mal, that addressed the issue. But nobody else seemed interested, or perhaps he knew them well enough to hide it from them.

Scotta had always opposed Ben being made King so young. He clearly hadn’t been ready, and it was painfully obvious that his parents had only passed down the crown early in order to relieve themselves from the burden. However, despite her many reservations about their current political climate, she refused to watch Ben work himself to death.

She refused to let him.

Taking a deep breath, she rolled her shoulders. She wasn’t walking into a fight, but it did help her feel a little more prepared as she finally knocked on the door to the King’s office.

Chad had been thinking about Ben’s offer all day, completely unable to focus in any of his classes. Well, that was normally true anyway, but this time it was for a good reason. Ben, offering to give Chad ruling lessons? (Not that Chad thought he needed them.) Ben, offering Chad potentially 24 hours on the throne?! (Now that, Chad did need.) The entire thing was too good to be true. The minute the final bell rang, he grabbed his phone to confirm that today was in fact the day.

“So, you ready?” He over-excitedly said once his call had been picked up.

“But let’s get two things straight, you have to promise me you won’t let me get stuck there again

...and theres no way you’re going looking like that.” Evie said as she eyed Ben’s tie and vest. The formality of Ben’s outfit would draw unwanted attention on the isle and if they had any chance of this trip going successfully. They needed to disappear.  Luckily for Ben, Evie had just what he needed. 

Evie walked down the dorm hall, her heels clicking with each step. Most days Evie loved the sound her heels made on the hardwood floor, but today the sound seemed to distract her more than anything. They felt much like her heartbeat, fast and nervous.She was on her way to talk to Ben, about Mal. Ben was close to Mal as Evie, and she hoped he had the answers she didn’t. The girls previous conversation, had left Evie feeling concerned and confused. The look on Mal’s face when she discussed her homesickness and mother, left Evie feeling like there might be much more than the girl was letting on and that she needed more than just Evie right now. Rounding the corner, Evie paused seeing Ben’s door wide open. Now that she was here, she felt like her words had left her. What if she was wrong to come to him? Worse, what if she sounded alarms and pushed Mal further away? Evie sighed and fought back her fears, recalling how soft spoken her friend was, when whispering her doubts.  Evie took a few more steps and stopped outside the door to knock on the frame.