Henry's silence was lengthy as he neared the group. The Captain looked a bit nervous--if not shifty. The way he shifted his weight from foot to foot told him that something had happened. The boy had been in Faesia.

Faesia.

Of all places.

Henry let out a slow noise and a weak breath, one hand lifting up to pinch the bridge of his nose. Of course he had. The boy had lived north of the castle, of course he'd have kept running north until he simply couldn't. His shoulders lifted and fell just slightly. "Thank you, Johnston," Henry said briefly, dismissing the Captain as he turned back to the castle.

This was going to be a long, long walk. Galcolia didn't have a diplomatic committee. They didn't need one because, for the most part, Galcolia was self-sufficient. They didn't join stupid wards, they didn't even mess with other kingdoms for the most part. Heaven forbid, Faesia of all of them. They hardly hid the fact that they used ... magicks. They all but endorsed the works of the supernatural and unnatural.

He was grateful to live in Galcolia where that was strictly prohibited. Or at least severely frowned upon.

"Faesia," Henry spoke aloud and shook his head. "We'll have to speak to the King about this and see what he would like us to do. I doubt he would go to war--that I highly doubt. But we don't have a diplomatic committee."

Not to mention his high suspicions that the princess herself had gone and chased him off--which he had discussed with the king but they were largely evidence-less on that front unless she spoke up or the guards did.

Neither of them had spoken.

Henry's footsteps picked up, all but running through the hallways to get to the throne room. "Your Grace," he knelt down in a bow the moment he could. "Faesia has the boy. They're keeping him there until we send a diplomatic envoy."

There was distaste in his voice, clear in his tone.

Henry shook his head several times. Of course. A diplomatic envoy was needed. While he didn't know the details--he had a feeling they really wouldn't need most of the details. The most he could infer would be either a hefty bribe for the young man or a prisoner exchange.

That latter piece was far more tricky than the first. Sure, money was money. But an exchange of prisoners? They didn't exactly have the most exotic prisoners or anyone from Faesia. That wasn't the type of person that came and caused trouble in Galcolia. Usually, they would separate and keep their distances.

He rubbed his forehead for a moment as he stood up and sighed softly. Oh things were just far more tricky than he had wanted. Maybe he'd retire after all this was done.

That sounded like a good idea.

-------

"You... don't know what you are?" The advisor seemed far more confused than anything else. "Absolutely certain?"

Nolian shook his head lightly, sitting on the bench beside the man. "Not a clue. I don't have a single memory to go with it either. You... you called it a what?"

"An Enhancer," Narishian replied gently, concern in his gaze. "They're... fairly rare. While they don't possess any abilities that they can manipulate themselves, they serve as an enhancement for those who can or have items that require magic energy or effects."

Nolian scowled and shook his head. "I didn't know. At all. That would make sense why they picked me of all people. But it's Galcolia--"

"I'm aware," Narishian soothed him, taking his hand. "But I think, for your sake, it may be best to take some time to think about what you want most."

"I don't want to go back," Nolian admitted, his voice shaking and almost breaking. "I don't. I can't... I can't go back. I'm just a bumbling mess--"

Narishian guided his chin upward, shaking his own head with a tutting soft noise. "I can't promise you won't go back," he said gently, voice barely over a faint whisper. "But I can promise you that you won't do it alone."

With the messenger alerting the queen that Galcolia actually was sending a diplomatic envoy, Myrissa was rather amused at the whole endeavor. Narishian, at her side, was less amused. "I'm surprised," she said slowly, "that they agreed to a diplomatic solution--over just a mere boy."

"He is an Enhancer, Myrissa," Narishian replied calmly, his eyes remaining on the door. "While Galcolia might be ... known for their shying away from the magic arts, I'm sure they know well enough what the boy can do for them."

Myrissa tapped her chin a couple times, her fingers drumming rhythmically on her skin. "Perhaps. But, perhaps... I'd like to keep a tab on the boy as well. We both know what it is like to have people overstep their boundaries."

The man finally tipped his head and looked toward her. "We do," he confirmed, "that is why I don't plan on letting him go alone. He will have a steward or something to go with him."

"Even if it's you?"

"If that is your command, my dear, then yes."

"Mmh, you know me so well."

-----

The queen was dressed in an elegant silk gown, the dark neckline rose up to her chin, dazzled with jewels and silver thread. Her sleeves went down to her hands, ending in a diamond shape. The skirts were full and silk-like but flat. There were no hoops under them at all.

Her dark lips pulled into a short and sharp smile. At her side, stood Narishian. His cold, emotionless gaze remained unwavering from the throne room and the areas around it. Every shadow, every nook, cranny--everything was seen by the man. He left nothing untouched.

As the queen leaned forward, her hand lifted to signal the doors to open and the woman beckoned the escorts in with the diplomatic--the princess. Kayeni herself in her kingdom? Well, it must be important if King Josef was willing to send his precious daughter all the way to her own fortress.

If only they knew... what she knew. But she would play it off as if she didn't know.

Her eyebrow rose ever so slightly, amused by the appearance of the princess herself. This would be ever so entertaining and she was ready for it.

"Princess Kayeni," Myrissa rose from the throne and made her way down the steps to greet the young woman. "You're rather far from home, aren't you?"

The queen dipped her head in respect, humming warmly. Myrissa stepped back and made her way toward the throne again, her skirts trailing behind her. Finally, she turned around again and took a seat, gesturing for Kayeni and her envoy to take seats as well around a table. Standing beside her, however, was the tall red haired man. He had said nothing, his face was emotionless and idle.

Her eyebrow raised again, one finger resting up on her cheek as she tilted her head thoughtfully. As her dark lips pursed, the woman shook her head and sat up again.

"I'm so sorry, dearest," she said with amusement tinging her voice. They really were attempting to try and make a trade for a prisoner? Hilarious.

The woman leaned forward finally, her hands resting on the side of the throne as she gave a far sharper smile. "We don't have any prisoners from Galcolia."

Narishian shook his head as well. The only person that wasn't accounted for was Nolian. But he was far more focused on how she acted around others. She was very proud, very arrogant in the way she spoke and reacted. It was a reluctant diplomacy that she showed. His expression was slowly going from emotionless to dark and glaring.

Myrissa watched her reaction as she shook her head lightly. "The message said we had caught your criminal and were setting up trial for him if he had committed crimes while in Faesia and we stated that the discussion of the return would be a diplomatic matter rather than a military matter."

She tutted softly and glanced toward Narishian. The man squared his shoulders. "I know he was never a criminal of Galcolia to begin with, Princess Kayeni. I know that he was supposed to stand in as a suitor for you in hiding his true nature."

His chin lifted, looking down at the princess with a sharp scowl.

Myrissa tutted, waving one hand. "Relax," she whispered softly. "But that is a good point. We were under the impression that this young man was a criminal and he ... was very much the opposite. He seemed in distress when we first got to him."

Henry put one hand on his face and sighed softly.

"So, in return," Myrissa hummed idly, "our deal has changed. We are offering Galcolia a suitorship from Faesia."

Henry's head whipped up in confusion. "You don't have an heir! An heir has to be established by the royal lineage! You don't even have a partner!"