Teal didn't respond. From the extravagantly dressed guards at the gates to the towering buildings and to the paths that led off in different directions, Teal had no idea that the palace would be this complex on the inside. The layout had appeared quite simple when he had been on the ship and had viewed it from a distance. His whole town could fit in the entrance alone.

Teal tried to spy the Emperor. He had already dismounted from his caravan and was walking away in the opposite direction, Opelan the man who had joined him, still at his side.

"He'll be off to see the Empress," Delba told him when she saw where his head had turned to.

The caravan came to a stop, and Teal followed Jale and Delba and climbed down. He tried to ignore the murmurs of surprise. People stared in wonder while others took hesitant steps back. Even more distressing was the amount of armed guards who came to attention despite that he was being chaperoned by two of the Purple Jade Palace guards.

"We'll be able to eat once we're settled, and you'll be able rest well tonight," Jale informed him as they walked, completely ignoring those around them. "Tomorrow, we'll get you straight into your court training and see to it that you become familiar with the palace grounds."

Teal remained close, afraid that if he didn't, he would lose Jale in the twists and turns of the paths Jale was leading him through. They walked for nearly fifteen minutes until they reached another high wall.

"This entrance is for us to use when we are coming and going. Inside is the Purple Jade Palace. It attaches to the back of the main palace and to the Emperor's own personal chambers," Jale explained.

The guards on the doors, decorated with their purple motifs, opened the gates, and Jale walked through. For the first time since Teal had come into the Emperor's company, the guards assigned to him did not follow.

A large one floor building with open walkways and doors stood in front of them. It was surrounded by a large kept garden where blossom trees provided shade and even a small brook babbled around one side of the building. A pathway to the back, protected by wispy overhanging branches, created a tunnel that headed towards a section of the palace where up above them it towered with balconies.

"I told you it was beautiful," Delba said from behind him. She didn’t wait for an answer and walked off towards the building, her ladies-in-waiting following.

"You'll have your own sleeping chamber," Jale informed Teal as they crossed the open threshold of the building and into a large living area where thick pillows and bamboo mats covered the floor. Orange, pink and purple mesh curtains swirled lazily in the late afternoon breeze. "The rooms are quite simple but really, we have everything that we could need."

They continued down a long corridor, passing several open chambers and stopped at the nearest one that wasn't occupied. "This will be yours."

Teal gazed inside. A large thick sleeping mat with colorful sheets and pillows, lined one wall of the tiled floor. Beside the bed was a table of dark wood. It was covered with mother of pearl and lined with partitioned compartments along the back. The walls were painted in cool blues and greens, and the window that looked out to the garden and the brook was large and open, with wooden carved shutters for him to use if he wished for privacy.

"This is mine?" he asked in amazement.

"It certainly is," Jale said. "We sent a pigeon with a message to have the room prepared for you. It might look simple and bare right now, but I'm sure you'll soon make it as your own."

"No, its fine. It's more than I imagined." Teal spun in a circle and ran a hand through his hair. "All of this is more than I imagined."

"It's okay, Teal," Jale said softly. "It will take you time to adjust to living here."

Teal was silent, absorbing. He ran his fingers over the table. "Who else lives in here?"

"The only other people who live in Purple Jade Palace is Lana, Delba and Ralen," Jale replied. "The Purple Jade Palace was built when the Emperor's father ruled. He had many consorts that resided here." Jale paused.

“Where are your quarters?” Teal asked, and then he quickly added, “In case I need to ask you something.” He didn’t want Jale to think he was being nosy.

“My own quarters are in the tower on the floor below the Empress," Jale told him.

With everything else Teal had seen since he had walked into the palace, that was a clear enough indication of how close Jale was to the Emperor.

"Come, I can see your discomfort,” Jale said kindly. “I know it’s very overwhelming. We'll bathe, eat our evening meal on the veranda and then this evening you can rest. Tomorrow, you can worry about starting your palace adventures."

Teal did not sleep well on his first night. He had spent over two weeks on the ship with the Emperor and believed they had started to get to know one another. But seeing the capital, seeing the palace, and seeing what it was like on the inside, only brought Teal right back to who he really was. A nobody, an odd looking nobody, from a far-off distant town that was so far removed from the luxuries the palace had to offer.

He didn't really know what happened within its walls. He didn't know who was important and who wasn't. Teal couldn't even say who else was in the imperial family that resided at the palace. All of Jale's teachings were wiped clean in his fretting. The power, the significance and the position the Emperor held, of who he really was, pushed heavily down on Teal's shoulders, and he had no idea how he was going to survive.

>>

"Yeah, Jale wasn't lying. He's definitely a Lombock," Teal heard a deep voice say above him.

Bleary eyed, Teal blinked to find a woman and a man standing over his sleeping mat talking amongst themselves.

"Oh, that's so exciting!" the woman exclaimed. "No one has seen or met a Lombock in recent times. Describe him for me."

The man gave Teal a wink and then the usual quick description of his silver hair with its black streaks and of course, his brilliant blue eyes. "He's handsome too, even more now that he's awake."

"Ralen and Lana?" Teal asked, remembering what Delba had told him about the pair.

"Yes," Ralen replied, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Oh, what a lovely sounding voice, and yes, I'm Lana." Lana held her hand out into the air in front of Teal's face.

Teal rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He raised his hand, placing their palms gently together and took in her appearance. She had long straight hair, and her features were petite, dainty and gentle. Her eyes were clear; milk spilt over a dark surface.

"It's nice to meet you," he said. "Delba has told me about you both."

"Uh oh," Ralen said, shaking his head. He was a man probably in his early forties only hinted by the few lines in his skin and the grey speckles in the hair of his closely shaved auburn beard. The rest of his head was bald. His body was still strong and toned though, his skin tanned and sporting several battle scars that only made him seem wise and knowledgeable. Teal could tell by the green of his eyes he was not a native Talbecan. Curiosity grew, Delba had not mentioned his origins. "We're going to have breakfast," Ralen told Teal. "Come join us, and we'll see if what Delba has told you is correct. She's known for exaggeration."

"Sure," Teal responded, but he didn't move from under the sheets.

"No need to be shy. Lana here can't see, and I've seen it all before," Ralen informed him, although he stepped back to give Teal room to get off his sleeping mat.

Lana patted Ralen's arm. "Let's give him some space. Join us," she said in Teal's direction. "We were with the Empress and Emperor last night and didn't get back until late, but Delba was still awake and told us all about you. We're eager to learn more."

With that, Lana turned and walked to the entrance of the room without any support or guidance.

"How does she do that?" Teal asked in amazement.

"You'll find Lana can do many things that will leave your jaw hanging," Ralen told him. He said the next sentence with playful jest. "She also has excellent hearing, so be careful."

"He speaks the truth," Lana's called, her playful voice floating in from the hallway.

Teal smiled as he pulled on his casual consort clothing Jale had informed him he could wear in The Purple Jade Palace. It had been set aside by his eunuch, a short bald man who didn't speak and didn't make eye contact. The man, Teal believed, was going to take a while to get used to. He followed Ralen into the main living area, out onto the veranda and did a double-take when he saw Delba already sitting at a long table covered with food.

Delba smiled gloriously. "Yes, this is how I look when my feet are on dry land," she laughed. With her hair piled high and decorated with a sea of jewels, her cheeks now rosy and full of color, and her face painted with small motifs. Teal could not take his eyes off of her.

Jale also arrived as Teal sat down. He also looked refreshed and took a seat at the head of the table. "The Emperor will be spending all of his free time with the Empress over the next couple of days," he told them while he placed food onto his plate from the spread of food on the table.

"Aaah," Lana said. "He'll be making up for lost time, that's for sure."

Everyone at the table around Teal laughed in acknowledgement.

"But," Jale continued once their laughter had subsided. "Lana, the Emperor would like you to attend his midday meal and meeting with Opelan."

Delba placed her elegant hand on Lana's. "Doesn't that old man irritate you?"

Lana shook her head, her fingers gliding over the plate her maid had placed before her. "He is harmless and just enjoys having someone to talk to, and anyway, if it keeps the plans for the Midsummer Festival moving, it is worth it."

Teal found Lana compelling. He had only seen one person without sight back in Hulena, and they had lived a desperate life, depending on those merciful in the city to ensure they were not cheated out of their rations from the empire. Lana was the exception if there ever was one. As he listened to Jale inform her of the meetings she was going to attend in the next couple of days, it was obvious her life was very busy with important endeavors for the Emperor.

"Teal," Jale interrupted Teal's observations. "This morning I will take you on a brief tour of the main parts of the palace. It will have to be a short one, I'm afraid, for you will also get a temporary consort tattoo. You will get a permanent one after you swear your loyalty." He pointed to his own, different to his soldier tattoo. This one was higher up on the outside of his bicep.

Teal tried to keep his gaze at a glance, but Jale's biceps were quite extraordinary.

"This is your identification for when you leave the palace or when the Emperor has celebrations," Jale continued. "It allows people to know that you are the Emperor's and that no one else is to touch you."

It was going to take some time for him to get used to the idea that he belonged to the Emperor and everyone who looked at him, would know he had the right to share the Emperor's bed.

"Ah, to simpler times," Delba spoke, lifting her cup towards Teal. "How I remember those first days of blushing nervousness and itching want."

They all laughed again, playful and not in any way scornful.

"When we return," Jale spoke to Teal, leaning close so Teal could hear over the noise. "Empress Crael would like to meet you."

"Oh?"

Jale offered him a warm smile. "Don't worry, you'll be fine. I would also like to mention the Emperor also thinks it best that you do not leave the Purple Jade Palace without an official agenda until you have become more attuned to the rhythms of palace life."

"Oh?" Teal repeated, trying to keep the disappointment from his voice. The idle chatter around the table diminished as well, and Teal noted they were all taking heed of Jale's conversation. Teal shifted uncomfortably on his seat at the additional attention.

"It will be for the best." Jale sighed when he realized he was going to have to elaborate. "Your arrival has made some of the Grand Council and the Emperor's criticizers nervous. Don't worry, you will still be busy."