#valaneese

He hadn’t been able to wander freely through Daventry since the tournament. The once-goblin man didn’t know whether this was a blessing or but an unremarkable result of his brilliance. ...Likely the latter.

Without his helm to cover his expression, he did his best to keep a neutral one up, as to not cause anyone to suspect him all too much. 

The old-appearing man’s bright green eyes lingered over people as he walked through the slightly larger marketplace within the castletown, a place he hadn’t really gotten to see, outside of Daventry Square itself. He walked slowly, going through as inconspicuously as he possibly could manage. 

Manny needed to do some reconnaissance, and with Mordack still very much just as banned from the kingdom as his goblin form was, it was up to him to do this.

He appeared to be lost in thought, apparently, as he ran into someone without realizing. His old, wobbly legs nearly left him falling over, only for a nearby guard caught the wibbling Manny, and another had caught hold of the woman he’d bumped into.

“Watch where you’re going,” The guard warned casually, no harshness to his voice in the slightest. “I’m afraid you nearly knocked over the Queen.”

The wizard blinked in surprise, the -- the what?

The Queen? Was out here? In the open? Manny’s eyes were immediately drawn to the red-headed woman before him, with a guard holding her still by her shoulders. His eyes guided down toward Queen Valanice’s large stomach, and immediately had several ideas working themselves through in his mind.

As much as he felt like this would set everyone at ease, Achaka couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread. He hadn’t seen Soten in a number of years. Even during his yearly visits to Eruah with Petlya to visit their family, he still avoided seeing his ex-wife.

He was too ashamed of his past actions to face her. Too ashamed to really even mention her or his son until just a month prior to now. The king felt bad, not telling Neese the truth of the matter, but he just didn’t know how to tell her.

And yet here they were now, in Eruah. With both his wife and daughter getting stares for how light their skin and Neese’s hair was compared to theirs. A good lot of the population of Eruah had never seen such people, and knew they had to have been outsiders. At  the least, a lot of them recognized Achaka as Onoik, and left them be.

Achaka ended up asking around, trying to find what part of the village Soten might’ve been living in now. Once they got an answer, Achaka led the way toward his ex-wife’s apparent home.

It was small. Definitely a place where someone would likely live alone. It made sense, since Kedon was a grown man now. It was hard to believe that he had a thirty-one year old son, and two seven year olds. ...Well, currently one seven year old. He hadn’t exactly told Neese how old his son was just yet.

His hesitance was obvious as he stood in front of Soten’s home, occasionally glancing back at his wife and currently distressed daughter. Neither of them were exactly taking to the heat well, but Rosella was certainly more dramatic about it.

Finally, however, he reached out his hand and knocked on the dark, wooden door.

It was a few minutes before the door would open, revealing a woman that looked as though she may’ve been in her late thirties. Her black hair was in a bun atop her head, and her eyebrows immediately began to furrow at the familiar sight of her ex-husband. Oh, she didn’t look to be too terribly happy to see him.

A small conversation took place between the two of them. Soten appeared to be keeping a lot of anger held back, as she certainly didn’t need to make a scene and frighten the little girl just behind Onoik.

Eventually, after a roll of her eyes, she began to walk into the house. Glancing back again, Achaka motioned for Neese to follow him.

“...Is upset with me. Will see if she will give Hyara some water.” He told her, then entered into the house.

The house itself had a few portraits on display, of a younger looking Soten with a boy in front of her. It had to have been Kedon, Achaka and Soten’s only son.

Achaka hated every single second of this. The knight shivered within his armor, scowling within his helm, and trying desperately not to just smash through the wall of the Ice Palace to find a way out. He was infuriated. 

But... they did need to find Graham and Alexander. They definitely needed to make sure they were all right at the top of that tower, and to give that apparently Ice Queen one hell of a fight, if it came down to it. Knowing how he and Graham’s adventures often ended up, he wouldn’t have been surprised if that would’ve ended up the case.

After a particularly difficult puzzle, the three of them found  themselves in a large room with two floors to it. Both had doors they could’ve gone through to, more than likely, find more puzzles they had to do. Great. Amazing.

He growled lowly as he began to wander about the room, looking just in case there was anything hidden to them. Behind the staircase, there were several more frozen people. What a terrible way to die... Achaka felt so sorry for them, and their families that would probably know about their deaths.

After a moment, though, he caught sight of something near the back of the opening.

A person.

A real, living person.

His eyes widened within his helmet, watching as the girl herself stared at him with wide, brown eyes. She looked terrified, and the icicles in her hair told him that she really must’ve been there a while. Was -- Was she hiding behind all these frozen people?

Frantically, Achaka looked around for where Neese had gone.

“Neese!” He called out, but then went back to start trying to move the frozen bodies of ice out of the way, as though to help her get out, but she didn’t dare to move. 

It wouldn’t be long now.

The ship had arrived not long ago, with much of the guard dogs going down to the shores to help the Daventry royal family bring their belongings to the castle. 

For now, Alexander had decided to stay in the castle with Cassima. 

Supper was already just about ready, and she’d been nibbling on bread the entire time as they waited for his family. Both of them terribly giddy over the news they had to share with their family, as most of the Green Isles had know for a few weeks now themselves. Alexander could only hope they wouldn’t be too disappointed that they’d been kept in the dark until now.

He was sobbing, openly.

Alexander had hidden himself away in a far off place in the tower. Toward the attic, where all the winter things were stored. Almost no one in the castle ever visited that part of the castle. Only for the occasional dusting, or for when they needed to get things ready for the changing weather.

He anticipated being able to be alone.

The King of the Green Isles couldn’t do this. 

Losing his father was already proving to be a great burden on his psyche, causing more anxiety than he’d had in years. And now with the clear news of Gwendolyn possibly being the one to inherit the kingdom, Alexander found his panic and fear in full swing.

No -- no! 

This couldn’t be happening!

Cassima and he had worked so hard to just have one child. One child after seven miscarriages and two stillbirths. Finally, they’d managed to have their darling Gwendolyn. And the two of them had been content to have even her. They were so thankful. They wanted nothing to ever happen to her.

It was why they feared for her going on adventures, or the possibility of her being kidnapped like they had. She was all they had. They desperately needed to keep her safe, and keep her close.

And yet here they were, with the distinct possibility that he and his wife may have to leave their beloved child with his family, rather than bringing her home.

Achaka had been more than thankful to be back in Daventry.

Or, he suppose he was just glad to be anywhere other than that horrible tower any longer. The King had begun to go mad with that sense of isolation that he hated so much. So, just being “home” was a truly great feeling. 

It’d been a while since he’d made it home, though. He’d long since explained the situation to his sister and guards, and had gained their forgiveness, though not without a lot of laughs and teasing from Petlya. Achaka supposed he deserved that, considering how unspectacularly he just climbed the tower without even having to be asked.

Now though, he had company. After a few weeks apart to allow Neese to reunite with her family, the courting couple were together again for her official first visit to Daventry. 

Achaka had led her toward Daventry Square from his castle, carefully introducing her to those they would pass on their way, such as Pillare, Olfie, and a few of the more prominent royal guards. 

Daventry Square itself seemed to be bustling with activity. It made Achaka happy to see things so lively. Some eyes did turn toward the King, with most glances causing a smile to appear on their faces. He was generally well-liked among the townspeople, thankfully, especially with how Amaya would occasionally talk him up like he was amazingly brave.

Glancing toward Neese, he gestured toward the town.

The climb up the tower had been relatively simple, given the spots that had been kind enough (weird enough?) to pop out for him to use. Achaka thought he would’ve had to scale it normally, and was prepared to hold as tightly as he could to the bits already naturally poking out. After all, he’d climbed several things in his days as an adventurer and King.

He was unsure of what he’d find there, though with the several fairy tales he’d been read as a child, his mind couldn’t help but wander toward the thought of a princess living up here. It seemed as though that was just what happened, yes? Princesses getting kidnapped, and then saved by a prince. ...Never had he heard of a king rescuing a princess, unless they happened to be his one and only daughter.

Pulling himself up to the side of the ledge, the King took a short second to catch his breath and allow his arms to rest. Although he was still used to it, Achaka hadn’t exactly been able to leave the castle in Daventry terribly often. He was a little out of practice.

Lifting his head, his eyes immediately caught on the sight of a green clad young woman with a crown atop her head. ...Had his initial thoughts been correct?

The ravenette looked up at the stranger, eyes widening slightly and a small gasp escaping her lips. Oh dear, he’d be stuck there, too, she thought. 

It was the sound of lute music that caught his attention next, and his eyes followed to the woman behind the one in green. Blinking at the both of them behind his back, the King stepped further into the room with an intimidating air about him. Achaka never intended to give off such a vibe, but with his height, silence, and the way his armor looked, it was nearly inevitable.

The green clad princess looked toward the other, as though to urge her to come over and help her deal with this.