The marching sound echoed throughout the palace, marking the arrival of the king.
"Looks like grandfather has arrived" Lucio guessed hearing the sound.
"We should hurry before the public enters. Or we would have to wait." Karl started to move faster ahead of them and they all increased their pace with him.
"why would we have to wait, we are the princes" Ian flexed his title beside him and once again she found herself annoyed by him.
"If I have to wait because of you, I won't leave you" She again threatened him.
"You should stop threatening me. We haven't even met for more than an hour and you have threatened me for uncountable times" He faked hurt placing a hand on his heart.
"You should stop provoking me then" She countered.
"I don't even bicker with Ian that much even though he is my brother "Karl chuckled in Lucio's ear.
"Are you two secretly siblings" Lucio's words stop them mid argument.
"I am an only child and I would like to return to my mother if you would please take me to the king." She hurried ahead of them, walking without looking back.
"Where are you going? the King's court is here" Karl called out to her and she swirled around on her toes embarrassed.
Ian pushed the door open and all the crowd stood up seeing the princes standing at the end of the hall. They all bowed at the princes and Audra found herself out of place. One hand from Ian and they all got up parting the ways. She noticed their change of facial expression. Their joking behavior all vanishing. Their shoulders straight eyes hard, intimidating. She felt like they had switched.
The crowed cleared to the side taking the sides of the long hall emptying the red carpet for them. At the end of the red carpet a throne made of gold and looking at it closely the arms of the throne looked like there were…... dragon faces. The back of throne visible behind the king looked like wild fire. The king dressed in even more extravagant clothes made in red and golden with a blue cape reaching the end of the throne sat there and behind him stood Marcelo his alert hand holding the sword ready to attack if situation asked. He was old, his hair hidden in the golden crown that resembled the fire as well. His face was wrinkled and the facial hair around it was grey. Even though he looked aged he looked stronger than the three princes standing beside her.
"To what do I owe the pleasure to have my grandsons company" His voice boomed throughout the court as he welcomed them.
"We bring a guest who wishes to meet you" Ian moved in front of them presenting her. She felt like all that bravery she had in front of the princes before had vanished. She had no words. She had no idea where to start.
"And here I thought my grandsons finally decided to pay me a visit." She wasn't sure if this lightened the atmosphere or tensed it but she pried no more for she was soon returning home, or at least that's what she thought.
"Who are you, young lady. Have my grandsons wronged you in anyway?" He called to her and she cautiously walked forward until she stopped a little distance from the king's throne.
"The princes have helped me instead to meet you. My name is Audra" She introduced herself with only her first name. She bowed to the king slightly not wanting to seem impolite.
"Audra" The king repeated her name and the reaction she had expected from the princes was seen covering the King's features. His eyes widened and he stood up in shock.
"I want you all out of here except this girl" He ordered the entire court who looked surprised. Audra looked around at the whispering crowd exiting the gates and the princes looking at her peculiarly. "You too Marcelo" At his one command Marcelo bowed at the king and left off the stage.
Silence prevailed over the courtroom as soon as it got empty. "How do I know you are not lying?" the king looked over her with doubt. "How do I know you really are Audra?"
She slipped off the ring from her finger and moved towards the king presenting the ring to him. His cautious hands took the ring from her. His eyes softened staring at the ring.
"How did you get here?"
"I do not know that either. My mother was talking to me. She told me to find you after giving me that ring and then the next moment I knew I was under water and then I met the princes" she relayed all that had happened until now.
"I see you have met your cousins." He passed the ring onto her and she replace that cold band on her finger.
"I had guessed that much" She shrugged. "Can you please send me back to my mother?"
"Where is your mother?" His voice was urgent…. Scared.
"Some people had broken into our house and…. "Tears appeared in her eyes as she spoke replaying the incident in her head. "My mother was injured and yet she sent me here. Can you please send me back? she needs my help" She pleaded barely stopping her tears from escaping.
"do you know who these people were?" the king interrogated.
"I don't know" She shook her head. "they looked dangerous, please help me"
"I can't send you back there and put you in danger as well" The king declared and she felt her hope crushing.
"They are going to hurt my mother" she screamed back at him. "Please help your daughter"
"I am going to find her and bring he r here but you will have to stay here" His words softened at the end of it.
"How can I stay here when my mother is in danger there" Her knees gave up and she sat down at the red carpet. Her tears splashing against the ring in her hand.
"Do you know what this place is?" The king stepped off the stage, standing in front of her.
"It's the dragon world" he answered his own question after seeing her shake her head.
She looked up at him in confusion unable to understand even a word.
"Your mother didn't tell you anything?" he looked surprised.
"I didn't even know you existed until that second. I don't care what this place is, send me back to my world"
"This is your world and you belong here." He insisted.
"I just want my mother" she didn't want to hear anything else.
"I will find my daughter but in one condition that you stay here" He negotiated.
"Like I have a choice" She gave in defeated.
"If your mother sent you here, it means she wanted to get away from there" he tried to explain her seeing she was unable to comprehend.
"I will stay here but I expect you to find my mother." She stood up wiping her tears; she would have to find a way herself, she had no other option.
"She is my daughter as well."
"You weren't there for past 20 years; how do you expect me to trust you" Her voice was low but she knew her words would hit him.
"This ring in your hand protected you and your mother from all sorts of magic, no one not even me could have found her. It was the only way to keep you and your mother safe" he explained.
"Yet they found us" She complained.
"Leave that on me to figure it out. Don't take off this ring, you don't want any more people coming to find you" he instructed.
"I am not going to take it off anyways" She played with the ring on her finger.
"Don't tell anyone for now who you are. Your cousins will help you around" he assured her.
"Marcelo" He called out and in an instant he appeared standing by the gate ready to serve his king.
"Yes your Honor" He bowed at the king.
"Call the princes as well" He ordered and Marcelo stepped outside returning with the other three trailing behind him.
"Though you have already met her I want you to officially meet Audra. She would stay here with us and you all will take care of her"
"She can take care of herself" Karl commented.
"Plus we have so many caretakers why do we need to look out for her "Karl joined in. Ian looked at her top to down trying to figure out what he had missed about her.
"She is our guest and she will stay in the palace I do not want any further questioning" His tone quickly switched from a grandfather to the king. "You all are dismissed except Marcelo, take her with you."
She bowed at the king walking out with the princes.
"Protect her." He commanded Marcelo and with at he too was dismissed.