Our entrance into the capital of Nia was very different than the entrance into Sapphire. I had thought that there would be some sort of pomp, maybe a parade to welcome the Princess home from her adventure. Instead we rushed through the city and into the heavily fortified inner walls of the fortress in the deepness of night.

"Why are we entering the castle at this time?" I asked Greykin.

"Everyone still thinks the princess is in the castle, and we have dignitaries here from Brilla, Loorma, Newvana, and Gradar to talk about things. The Prince of Loorma and the Princess of Newvana are here too. It would look very odd if Jessmei came sauntering in a few days after they arrived. We don't know what kind of people are in the crowds, we don't need any more assassination attempts on her."

I nodded and looked behind me. Jessmei wore a large hooded cloak, concealing her features and hiding her bright hair while we led the horses through the streets. It seemed unnecessary, as the city had a curfew two hours after sunset and the hour sat close to midnight, but I supposed caution was wise. As Greykin had said, we did not know the sort of people who could be lurking in the shadows, awaiting an opportunity to harm or abduct the princess. As we had approached the grand gate to the front of the city, half of Runir's men had split off from us to scout the path ahead. It was the new moon phase of the month, so only Alta showed his gray face.

The city was quite beautiful during the day, but at night it slept like a corpse. The walls were pale and whitewashed, with hues of festive orange and royal purple glancing off of imperial flags like bruises. The streets were silent, except for a gentle breeze that rustled the banners and the tapping of our horses’ hooves on the perfectly paved streets. The echo of us passing through the fairways probably woke more people up and alerted them to our presence than if we had gone through during the noon lunch bustle. The main road through the city was so wide that twenty riders could have galloped side by side down it.

It took us thirty tense minutes to make it to the castle gates. They loomed up like mountains, eighty feet high and known to be impenetrable, although they had never actually been attacked. The fifty-foot-high walls of the outer city had successfully kept every invader at bay throughout Nia's three-hundred-year history. The walls of the castle reminded me that my adventure was almost over. Soon I would have to go back home.

"Impressive," Kaiyer said as we got closer. "How did they build it?" He had been silent for most of the trip since we had joined Runir's men. He was still nice and smiled at me often, but my attempts to ask him about his memory were met with a shrug and an apology.

"There are many books in the castle's library about it." I had a great idea, "I can teach you to read our language! You'll really like it!" I felt happy. It meant I had something to do. I could stay around and be part of the planning. He nodded and smiled.

"That sounds like a good time. I'm going to need your help adjusting to this place. There is much to learn." His voice trailed off as he continued to look up and up at the walls. My smile couldn't get any bigger. There was a massive portcullis in the wall. The links of the chain that lifted and lowered the enormous cage of iron were almost as big as my entire body. I wondered how long it took to make each link. I bet it was in one of the books in the castle's library, and I got excited about spending time relaxing there, teaching Kaiyer to read.

"Finally," Greykin said to the group as we walked through the gates. The relief in his voice was obvious.

Guards at the front saluted Greykin and Runir; they saluted back as we rode by. The main doors of the castle were still a few hundred yards from the wall, so we rode for another minute before a dozen stable boys met us. None of them paid any particular attention to Jessmei, so they probably didn't know the princess was with us, as she did not take down the hood of her cloak. Once dismounted, the party began to take their bags off the horses. We had done this so many times now that it only took us a few moments to reattach the straps from the steeds to our own backs.

"The castle is so large," Kaiyer whispered to me, and I agreed. I had heard that it was the largest in the world, but I hadn’t seen any other than Nia’s and Brilla’s, so I couldn’t make a personal comparison. It was made of a bright white rock that seemed to reflect what little light the moons gave us. Five towers rose from various parts of the structure, the tallest was over three hundred feet and capped with a polished copper dome. The other towers ranged from one hundred to two hundred feet. Smaller and wider protrusions from the castle extended from the base at various heights. Some were servants’ buildings and others were barracks. Two thousand guests could be housed within the rooms of the castle, and another ten thousand soldiers in the barracks. It was almost a city in itself. A quarter of the windows had light coming from them, so that viewing the towers almost looked as if we were staring at the stars in the night sky.

A massive wooden door formed the mouth to the Main Hall’s entrance. This too had an iron gate that was raised into a hidden sleeve in front of the door. Runir's men left us to report back to the barracks. He accompanied us through the main doors.

The inside of the castle entrance was meant to impress. Large tapestries, elegantly glittering chandeliers, and various sculptures of past kings and warriors entertained our eyes. The torches and candles burned a light, pleasing scent that made my body feel at ease. A plush purple and orange carpet ran down the path toward various doors and massive stairs that led up to a second floor. The room was a good two hundred feet wide and ran another one hundred feet deep to the first door. A group of well-dressed guards and servants awaited us inside. Their faces shone with eagerness as we entered.

"Glad you made it safely," an older man with a bald head and white mustache said as he scurried toward us. "You must be very weary from your travels. Greykin, I'll have some servants escort you and your companion to your rooms immediately, I will also take care of the rest of your friends here." Greykin nodded and two young girls gestured for him to follow them.

"It's good to see you again Nadea," the man said with a smile.

"Thank you Herin. I'll take my usual room; can you please situate my companions in my wing? In adjoining rooms if you can." She handed her bags to a servant who rushed away. "I know the way there, but I wish to see my father first. Is he here?"

"Yes. He's in his study. I'll have a guard escort you." Nadea nodded and then she turned to the four of us.

“I'll meet up with you tomorrow morning. We'll have to speak to my father about everything. Have a good night."

"I can take you to your father's room, if you wish," Runir said to her. She considered for a second. "I know where it is," he said before she could answer.

"That sounds fine. See you tomorrow morning," she said to us. She looked at Kaiyer before she turned away and began to walk up the stairs with Runir. Her tall leather boots echoed in the hallway as she ascended the stairs. I think she knew her own way.

"We'll take you to your rooms gentlemen," Herin said as he swept his arms wide. "The servants will carry your bags. Please feel as comfortable as you can here. You are our honored guests. So ask for anything that you need."

"Food?" Kaiyer asked as we set off.

"I'll have a platter brought to your room at once. Anything in particular you have a taste for?" Kaiyer looked confused for a second before he responded.

"I'm very hungry. I'll eat a lot of anything you bring." He looked at me to make sure he had said it correctly. As confident as he should have been given his combat prowess and seeming invincibility, the man still felt unsure in these new situations. He still needed me.

"Yep. Our skinny friend here eats more food for breakfast than Paug and I do all day!" Iarin said has he clasped Kaiyer on the shoulder. The thin man chuckled.

"Very well. I'll take care of everything. We also have servant bells in the room if you have any other needs," Herin said as we made our way up the stairs and through a stout oak door.

We walked a bit more until we reached another set of stairs. We took them up four flights and then down a long hall to our rooms. Herin seemed to be an expert at small talk and he asked us general travel questions that were not too probing. Two large men carried our things.

"This will be your room good sir." Herin opened the door to a large suite with a small fire burning in the hearth while he gestured to the tall tracker. "Are you hungry as well?"

"Nope. Just want a bath and a nice clean bed. Thank you friend." Iarin looked to us. "I'll see you all tomorrow over breakfast, if we don't get summoned. Shall we eat together, say an hour or so after sunrise?"

"Sure, we'll meet you here," Kaiyer said over my shoulder.

Iarin nodded and stepped into his room, waving before the door closed.

"This will be your room, young master," Herin said as he directed me to the room next to Iarin's.

"Is there a way that my companion and I can room together?" I asked as I looked over to Kaiyer. I realized that I hadn't been away from him during the night since we woke him.

"My apologies, young master. I was told that you were to be given this room and your friend is to be given the room across the hallway from you. Can I get you any food?" I shook my head. "Are you sure? We've just had a fresh batch of peach cobbler cakes made."

"No thank you, I'm just going to go to bed." I looked at Kaiyer. "Will you be okay?"

"Of course. I'm across the hall. Talk to you tomorrow." He smiled at me and then turned to walk to his room. Herin opened it for him and showed him in. He gave Kaiyer a brief rundown of the items in the room before wishing the thin man a good night.

"Let me know if you need anything. Just ring the bell. Good night, young master," Herin said as he walked away. I closed the door with a sigh.

The room was magnificent. A low fire burned in the stone hearth, and a massive four poster bed with drapes that extended from the ceiling sat in the middle of the spacious floor. The bed’s ornately carved headboard butted up against the far wall, which was decorated in flocked wallpaper in a rich golden hue. Upon closer inspection I realized the color came from actual threads of fine gold wire woven into the paper. The wallpaper in this room was probably worth more money than the assets of every citizen of my small village combined.

The room also contained a stout desk with a small oil lamp, a round table with chairs enough for six, and a couch wrapped with sumptuous dark green upholstery. Behind the desk were two towering bookshelves that extended to the ceiling, filled with leather-bound tomes. This was just a small sampling of the books in the main library, but still a rich trove of knowledge I was eager to delve into. I smiled at the gesture, Nadea knew I was a scholar and had made sure I would have a proper room in which to study. Perhaps she did intend for me to stay?

While my body was sore and my limbs felt heavy with fatigue, my mind whirred, both agitated and excited. I did not want to go home, I had enjoyed my travels, the knowledge that I was part of something important. I missed my home and my grandfather, but I did not miss the quiet, dull life we led. How could I go back to a world where the most important decision I had to make all day was what book to read to the village children, after spending weeks as an integral member of a mission vital to the success or failure of the entire Kingdom of Nia? I hoped my plan to teach Kaiyer to read would allow me to remain in the castle for a little longer. I knew eventually the homesickness would outweigh my yearning for honor and adventure, but at the moment I just wanted to stay here with these people whom I had come to consider friends.

There were double doors beside the fireplace that I hadn't noticed at first. They were paned in beautiful leaded glass, cut with designs that sparkled and reflected rainbows even in the dim firelight. I imagined in the daytime with the full sun pouring through, the glittering crystal would be spectacular. I opened them and walked onto a small balcony that overlooked a quaint garden. I thought about eating breakfast and studying here tomorrow, but remembered that I would be eating with Kaiyer and Iarin. The room was larger than the small house Grandfather and I shared next to the lighthouse. I thought in amazement that this huge room, so ornately appointed, was just one of many hundreds of guest rooms within the castle. Nia was so grand, so prosperous, it was hard to imagine it could be in any real danger, though I knew intellectually that the threat was very real and would soon be very present.

I walked to a side room that kept the sink, toilet, and enormous bathtub. The elegance of the bathing area inspired me to take a bath, but I didn't feel like unpacking my clothes at the moment. Instead, I turned back to the bed and took off my shirt, ready to crawl in and rest my spent muscles.

A knock sounded at my door.

I tiptoed over to it and opened it. A kind face, full of wrinkles and white facial hair was the first thing I saw. His light blue eyes were almost always crinkled with a smile.

"Grandfather!" I shouted as I hugged him. He smelled like the sandalwood oil he used after he shaved around his beard.

"Paug! I am so happy to see you. I worried so much. Let me look at you." He held me at arm's length and looked me up and down. "I think you've grown an inch! Also, I see a bit of muscle on you. You look like you are becoming a man." He hugged me again. "Invite me inside and tell me all about your trip."

I did, and we both took seats at the table. Seeing him had invigorated me and I was eager to tell him all about our adventure. He wore a loose pair of black pants and a yellow shirt that was stained with spots of black ink and various paint colors. His usual floppy hat was absent from his bald head.

"Start from when you departed Desai," he demanded with excitement.

I began to tell the story from when I left our home, the travel down south with Nadea and Iarin, Jessmei meeting us on the road when we had just left the Sapphire, then Greykin finding us a few days later. I told him about Jessmei really putting a sour apple in our basket of plans. Then I talked about our journey into Vanlourn. The days that seemed to stretch forever as we cut our way through the jungle, finally coming to the ruin that Nadea previously discovered. Kaiyer lying cold and dead, but somehow alive, on a slab deep in the darkness, how I used the words Grandfather taught me to awaken him. My voice started to crack after an hour and Grandfather rang the bell, summoning a servant to bring us some water and a snack.

"Fascinating," he said as he ran his fingers through his mustache and beard. "I wondered if the language we had learned would have been corrupted after generations of being passed down. Or maybe we never learned it correctly in the first place?" He sat back for a moment and thought to himself.

The servant arrived with a large pitcher of water, some cups, and a loaf of bread with cheese. I took a glass and some of the cheese before I continued.

I told him about our fears that the enemy was right on our tail and that they discovered us when we came out of the ruin. I recalled for him how Kaiyer had defeated them easily, then how we followed him to the guard post where he had massacred the rest of the soldiers.

"Amazing. You said he moved like a spider, quickly and with great strength?"

"Yes. I haven't seen much fighting, but he was so fast my eyes hardly had time to register his movements."

"Surely, he must be the O'Baarni. I've never heard of such things, but the legends say he had amazing strength and speed. They also said that he was supposed to be very intelligent and was undefeated in his conquests over the Ancients."

I nodded and told him of the travel up the cliffs, how I translated and taught him our language, and how he picked it up with amazing speed. Grandfather nodded and smiled.

Then I got to the part I hadn't told anyone else about.

He listened intently as I described waking up in the campsite. I hadn't known at the time, but everyone save for Kaiyer and I went to gather water and rinse off at the nearby stream. Grandfather's mouth hung open when I spoke of the quick battle, and of Kaiyer being shot in the chest by the crossbow.

"He didn't seem to experience pain?" he asked in amazement.

"He didn't seem to, no. He yanked it out easily. I fainted though." I frowned and remembered the wave of nausea that caused me to black out. "When I awoke he had changed his shirt and pretended like nothing happened."

"Didn't Nadea or Greykin suspect something? Didn't they hear the sounds of the battle?"

"It happened so fast there wasn’t much sound. When I awoke he smiled at me and shrugged like he always did. Nadea said later that night he told her that he surprised them. I didn't want to mention that he had been shot by the crossbow since I didn't quite believe it myself." Grandfather nodded.

"Did you ask him more about it?"

"No . . ." I sighed. "I was afraid to. But during our first night in the inn I brought up his bags an inspected his clothes. The shirt he had worn was still in his pack, and I could see the hole the bolt made and the blood stain. He seemed to be unharmed though." I sat back and felt relief. A huge weight had been taken off of my shoulders. Grandfather seemed lost in thought for a few more minutes.

"I'll need to think about this some more. Please continue with your story, Paug."

I told him about the assassins that tried to attack Jessmei while I had slept. I finally finished by accounting the remainder of our journey here. Several hours passed and I could have fallen asleep on the table.

"How selfish of me! Here I am keeping you awake when we are going to have a very busy day tomorrow. Go to bed Paug, I'll talk to you in the morning. I am down the hall three or four doors. The duke, Nadea, you, the O'Baarni, and I will meet tomorrow after you break your fast," he said as he got out of his chair and grabbed the last slice of bread.

I nodded as we hugged again and parted. Before he shut the door I had laid my head on the pillow and was drifting to sleep.