In the square, a small crowd was already gathering, it seemed that the fact that the High Priest was the speaker was finally catching people's attention. He was roaring at the top of a bench.
— These creatures are evil and corruption! Thrown out of heaven here, where sin reigns!
Other priests shouted in agreement, and a part of the assembled people began to join them.
— A star with blue eyes! Incestuous fruit of a sinful star! All they do is tempt us to use us later. Your women are not safe, your daughters are not safe. Who knows where the luxurious sins can get them?
— Tully! — Jorg's voice was loud, shutting everyone present. — You better stop there. You're crossing the line.
— Limits? And the limits of these freaks? — He pointed to Eastar as soon as he saw him. — Who guarantees what they can do to us? How could we fight? We need to get them out of here before they stain us with their nasty ideas.
— Very well, guys. — Edwin stepped forward as the same time he held the young star by the shoulders, because the boy was about to jump in the High Priest. — You better leave, it looks like the old man there is finally starting or lapsing. Caution to not end up crazy like him.
Laughter sounded from all sides. Jorg sighed, didn't like Edwin's methods very much, but admitted that it might work sometimes.
Some people began to disperse, but the High Priest resumed his speech.
— See? Even the soldiers of our kingdom have begun to corrupt. They seduce with beautiful words, impose their ideas and, when we least expect it, we're on the effect of its corruption!
— Why, isn't that what you're doing?
Once again everyone fell silent, next to Eastar, Sindar had his arms crossed.
— Your Highness! It's not too late yet! Get them out of here! Do not let them destroy our city.
— I think you are more likely to do that, Tully. Stellar have always been guests of honor, they will not cease to be now.
— So it's true. — The High Priest looked shocked. — Even the royal family was deceived! They fooled the princess with acts of heroism! Who guarantees that it was not this corrupt star that brought the cornaro to her? See what they are capable of?
Doubt began to spread across many people's faces. Priests increases their shouts of hate.
— Tully, stop before you regret it. — Sindar frowned.
— The princess is already in their hands! Who knows what this blue-eyed star might have done to her already? How many times the two have fallen in luxurios acts? Yes! You heard it! We have many rumors that the two are together. Now we can prove it!
— Enough, Tully! You're arrested. — Jorg walked to the bench.
— No, Jorg. — Sindar had a smile on his face. — If this old man is jealous of Eastar for getting a princess like me, that's a pity.
— I ... I didn't mean ...
— So that was your intention, Tully? Was this all jealous? — The smile on the princess's face surprised Eastar, who couldn't imagine what she was up to. — An old man who's over seven hundred years old like you? Thinking about a half century girl like me?
The indignation of the people began to spread, all began to turn against that sirion. The priests began to get lost, they did not know whether to continue supporting the High Priest or leave, for some reason they seemed to lose the dispute.
Eastar looked at the princess, not quite understanding her arguments about age, but seemed to have affected people. How could she turn that around with words? He was confused, it looked like a game, both sides saying things to try to convince the others.
— I think we broke up here. Jorg, please escort Mr. Tully, since he is no longer a High Priest. — Sindar completed.
The chock fell on the crowd. Removing a position like this was unheard of in that realm .
— No! You can't do that!
— I can not? — Sindar seemed to grow, his eyes lighting up with increasing strength. — Hear me, you crap, I'm Sindar Armodis, princess of the Sirion Kingdom, daughter of Herimbor Armondis and granddaughter of Trembor Armondis, the Eagle Eyes. Do not ever tell me what I can or can not do!
Eastar looked at the girl with wide eyes. She looked bigger than him. The emanating presence was so intense that some people began to kneel without realizing it. The light in those yellow eyes was terrifying.
She stop and relaxed a little. The mood began to return to normal. She glared at Jorg and shook her head. The captain got the message and dragged Tully away as he shouted and kicked.
Sindar continued to look as people were beginning to spread. Eastar stared at the floor, his fists clenched. How could be judged that way by someone who does not know him? Were earthlings so strange?
— Eastar, let's go back. We need to solve the forest situation. — Sindar held his hand tightly.
The young man did not understand the reason of that act but, looking around, noticed that people seemed quite impressed with it. It made him confused. He knew the way to the castle, didn't need her to hold his hand. Maybe people were thinking he was some useless.
He opened his mouth to complain, when a voice roared the crowd, which was dispersing.
— Evil creature! Die!
— Eastar! — Edwin shouted.
The star had no time to react, he looked back at the time felt a dagger spikes of his arm. He first saw the blood begin to drip, then the burning hit him, making him grit his teeth. Angrily, searched for the attacker and saw that he was one of the priests who were meeting with Tully. He looked like a strong man, but had been easily immobilized by Edwin and his spear.
— Let him go. — Eastar said.
— No, he goes to jail.
— Let him go!
The lieutenant looked at the star, confused.
Eastar yanked the dagger from his arm, struggling to ignore the pain.
— I got tired of this bullshit. Trying to hit others from behind, either with words or weapons. What kind of creatures are you? Have you learned nothing from us all this time?
— Eastar, we have to take care of this injury. — The princess approach.
— No, Sindar. He has a problem with me, and we let's solve it now.
The young stellar approached the attacker, Edwin released him. The priest stared at the stellar, an irrational anger washed over his face.
— Face me, defeat me, and I'll never appear here again. — Eastar stared back at the man.
— The real stars will give me strength to defeat him, laugh at evil!
The brown eyes of the sirion shone brighter and he broke upon the star, which retreated a few steps away from the first punches. Eastar had a horrible pain in his left arm, knew he couldn't use it in this fight, but he wouldn't need it.
This sirion had no timing, his blows were random and without rhythm. Even not seen the Dance Battle, he knew how much his opponent fought ugly. The punches continued. The star blocked one with the good arm and struck a headbutt on the sirion's nose, which screamed in pain as his nose broke.
— Come on. Is that all you can do? I thought you were more powerful after judging me as you were doing with your little friends.
Furious, the priest stepped forward once more. The blows increasingly full of anger and without any control. Eastar bent down as a new punch came toward his face. He turned sideways and forward, going to the right side of his opponent. He punched the ribs of the sirion, which was thrown meters away.
The stellar walked toward him, a savage smile on his face. Sirion's fury turned to fear. He began to crawl as one hand gripped the side of his body. Blood was streaming down his face and he began to cry.
— I'm sorry ... it was the High Priest ... he told us ...
— I don't care who said what . Can't you think on your own?
Eastar raised his fist, ready for a last blow, he still had not realized was with so much anger, had not even realized that he was not controlling his own strength.
The fist came down fast, it was possible to hear some people inhale hard, frightened, but the hand stopped a few inches from the priest's face. Another hand held the young stars's arm.
— I think we're done here. — Aros looked at his son, seriously.
— But he...
— I thought you were better than him.
— I ... — Eastar finally realized the state he was, noticed the blue light, dense and cold, that his body emitted. He took a deep breath and calmed down. — I lost control.
— Get back to the castle with the princess. I'll settle this with Edwin, soon we'll be there.
— Ok.
Eastar went all the way back staring at the floor as he tried to cover the arm wound with his hand. As they entered the room, Sindar asked for bandages and medicines, and set about treating the wound while told what happened to her father.
— This is absurd! Who are these priests thinking they are? This Tully will see me! All of them.
— Father — The princess interrupted, seeing the king start to turn his face purple with rage. —, I've already solved the situation, you don't have to stress about it. But we will have to impose some limits on them from now on, leaving them on their own is not a good idea.
— Yes, yes, of course. — The king opened his mouth to say something, but broke off and frowned. — By the way, are you really together?
Sindar rolled his eyes.
— Yes, dad, but it's nothing serious, don't get carried away.
Eastar looked from one to the other, not understanding this story, of course they were together, she was on his side. As for the serious thing, if she was talking about the wound, he thought it was serious, after all, it hurt a lot and his arm was covered in blue.
— Oh, that's fine. — The king seemed to wither a little. — Is that having a star as a son-in-law would be ...
— Daddy!
— Okay, okay. Anyway, I'll call the counselors and...
— Leave it for then, Herimbor. — Aros entered the room, accompanied by Edwin and Jorg. — First I would like to resolve the issue of the match, we better get out soon, so you can find a way to cool things down here.
The king stopped, looking at the star.
— Do you really want to go?
— We've been standing here a long time. I realized it was time to test my son. — He looked toward Eastar, who stared at the ground in shame.
— All right. Edwin, you already have your group.
— I'm going too. — Sindar finished tying the band on Eastar's arm and looked at his father.
— Thats not necessary, Little Eagle.
— It is, daddy. I don't think they are just robbers, and you know that too. You will need someone to enforce our laws, someone with authority, and Lendor is far away. I am the best option.
— You know I hate it when you're right, don't you?
The princess smiled.
— I know, and I also know it's past day I go hunting. We'll just change the hunt this time.
The king gave a small smile and sighed.
— All right, you can go. Edwin, you and the other soldiers can take the rest of the morning to do whatever you want.
— Your majesty, I would really like to ask for a few more storegemen.
— Why? — The king frowned.
— I've spent a lot of time running around the city market and talking to merchants, whoever is attacking them, there are storegemen in the middle.
Herimbor scratched his bald head and sighed.
— Okay, okay. Now, you can go.
Everyone turned and left the room. Leaving the king and his daughter alone.
— My little eagle. I wish your mother were here so much. She could handle everything a lot better than me. It reminded me so much of my own father. It was as if she were his daughter, not me.
— Dad, it's all right. I go with them remember? I will solve everything.
The king smiled and touched his daughter's face with his hand, pride in his bright yellow eyes.
— You remind me of her a lot.