The envoys from Khul were settled in the guest courtyard. The three sat in the sitting room in the middle of their three chambers in silence as the servants moved around. Prince Ru's presence did not help lighten the atmosphere in any way. Only after the servants had been cleared out did Princess Yun wave away her maids.
"They knew a lot," she said to Prince Ru.
"This is Juhntt," Crowned Prince Shaun answered.
"Lady Wickshire trusts the King so much with such information?" she asked. Prince Ru got up and walked to the side and perched by a window.
"They asked for nothing," Crowned Prince Shuan said and she sent him a glare.
"That is what makes it worse," she said coldly.
"You would have wished they asked for something?" Crown Prince Shuan raised a brow.
"Everything had already been handled before we got here by great-grandmother. That means we don't know what the deal was, what has been paid and what will be paid in the future," she said, then looked at Prince Ru by the window.
Prince Ru looked out the window and his eyes trailed down towards the garden. From afar, he could see the King and Queen descending the staircase into the gardens.
"Lady Wickshire, the person you wish to meet," Crowned Prince Shuan said.
"She is not in Juhntt, you know that," Princess Yun said.
"Do you?" he asked.
"Don't ponder too deeply into my plans, brother. Wonder what price great-grandmother promised Juhntt," she said.
"Our presence," Prince Ru answered and they looked towards him, but he was still staring out the window.
"What?"
"Juhntt is now the root of the broken tree," Prince Ru
"That is an empty title," she said.
"It won't be for long. By taking us under their wing, they have gained us as subjects," Prince Ru said.
"What?! This small kingdom dares to…." Princess Yun stood abruptly.
"This small Kingdom has a Thraine that has left the land yet no one dares to invade," Prince Ru said and she sat back down begrudgingly.
"That title is only opposed by Southern Lan. They have gathered supporters," Crowned Prince Shuan said.
"Supporters that will leave when they hear we have come under their wing; brilliant. What if we decided to leave?" Princess Yun asked.
"We will not. They protect us, we solidify their power; it is a fair deal," Crowned Prince Shaun said.
"This does not put us at a disadvantage at all," she nodded.
"Besides, that Queen, she is the sister to Lady Wickshire's right hand, they say," Crowned Prince Shuan said, "Word is, the Ligrel clan is under her wing,"
"It is only a matter of time before that title becomes real," she said.
"Still, didn't you hear what the king had said? What the title could do for Thriergor has very little to do with little matters. I suspect it has more to do with how Thriergor interacts with other worlds. After all, we have always known they existed, just never how to reach them. Great-grandmother made a great deal. We are the first to come under their wing. She has put us at the core of the action before leaving," Crowned Prince Shuan said.
"But that queen, how did she know that you are called Young Master Ru?" she asked Prince Ru. Prince Ru caressed the polished rock hanging from his neck with a slight frown and he looked down at the form of Amie as King Adrian draped his coat over her and walked away.