Queen Vera had been just behind the wall, about to open the hidden entrance into her daughter's chambers, when stopped and listened. Her eyes went wide when she heard the exchange between the two, yet somehow she felt unsurprised. He knew of the Seer's Amulet and it's connection to Aurora, he seemed to appear and vanish almost unnoticed at a moment's notice, and had keen perception. A Seventh Son indeed, she mused. She supposed she had little to worry about in his case, her daughter however, was another story.
She knew Samiel would be almost at Yavia's doorstep, and time was not on her side. Pushing the secret lever, the wall opened with a soft groan, the light from her daughter's chambers spilling in. Yavia looked infuriated, and Ares full of...was that shock and fear? If the situation wasn't so sure she'd have fallen over in laughter. A God fearing a mortal? Vera chuckled in her mind.
Their heads turned in unison as Vera walked into the room from the opening, covered by a long grey cloak. She put her finger to her lips and gestured for them to follow. The two of them looked at each, Yavia nodding and standing, and Ares eyeing her suspiciously before following Yavia's lead. Vera smiled sweetly at him and turned leading them into the castle walls, the hidden entrancing closing behind them with a thud.
"Hurry and only speak in whispers," warned Vera, leading them on through the darkness.
"What is going on mother?" asked Yavia.
"Your father has lost his mind over you choosing not to marry one of those unworthy scum, he wants both of your heads."
"He would take his own daughter's life?" asked Ares curiously. "To be a kin slayer is of the worst offenses to the Gods, his kingdom would see ruin."
"Well you would know, Ares, God of Violent Deaths and Bloodlust was it?"
Ares did not respond, she had obviously heard everything, and he was not about to anger another mortal woman.
"It's okay, really. I, at the very least, forgive you for your deceitful ways. If you'd have been honest with me from the beginning, things may have gone far differently upon our return to the Capitol."
Yaviel had just been hit with her second round of shock this evening, her eyes darting back and forth between Ares and her mother speaking so casually about death.
"Father wants to kill me?!" she blurted out loud. "For what offense?!"
"For the offense of loving a Lesser Noble my dear, now quiet your voice. Your father blames Nobaru for your affections, and wants his head, but knows you will get in the way."
"He wants to kill..." her head turned to look at Ares. "But he's a God..."
"And your father is not aware of that," snapped Vera, clearly losing her patience with her daughter's uptake on the situation. "All I care about now is getting you both to safety before the King becomes aware that you're missing."
Ares stopped walking and stared at Queen Vera.
"With all due respect my Queen, I should like to pay the King a visit," his words shocked bother Vera and Yavia.
"You want to what?" whispered Vera. " I will not endanger the life of my daughter on your whims.
"But her life is the very reason I wish to pay him a visit. A kin slayer can not be allowed to live among gods or men. And mortal or not, I will not allow him to hurt my sweet Yavia."
Yavia stared in silence, watching her mother point down the passageway that led to the Royal Chambers where her father sat on his throne. Did he just call me his Yavia? A God? Her head was swimming by the time her mother had grabbed her by the arm and continued even faster down the passageway that led beneath the castle foundation.
"Is really going to kill father," asked Yavia worriedly.
"Praise to be all of the Gods if he does," said Vera flatly.