Kora's belly wound healed fast. Kora protested, but Ludis insisted on doing a bit of healing every day. Ikalla was having a tough time adjusting to the news that it had been 1500 years since she had last walked the land. She and Kora walked together slowly, with Ikalla supporting her. Ben had remembered when Kora had told him of Ikalla and was able to fill in most of the blanks for the others. Once it was apparent that she was not under Drew's influence anymore, they warily accepted her. Every day they grew fonder of her. Ikalla was grave. She held tradition and honor before all. She and Malik had spoken privately, and for repayment had offered to be Kora's personal guard, as she was in the past. That is, until Kora forced her into promotion.
"Truthfully, I am happy that Royce fellow is the general of the army. I hated it." Ikalla muttered, moving Kora towards a bench to rest. Shadow still did not trust Ikalla yet, but his sweet personality was won over by treats and pets. He never left Kora's side. When She sat, He immediately laid against her feet, wrapping himself around her and the bench as best her could to keep her warm. Ikalla sat gingerly next to her among Shadow's tail.
"I know from experience how much you hated it Ikalla." Kora laughed. She looked her friend over, still not believing she was there.
"Tell me the truth, how do you feel, being here in the future with me?" Ikalla looked up as snow began to fall. They were both bundled up in cloaks and double layers, winter had set in hard the last few days.
"I feel lost. Everything is familiar but it is not. It feels the same but does not. I… all my family is for sure gone now. And my tribe is gone. It is … hard. But I am happy that I am not alone." She grasped Kora's hand. The topic turned, now that Kora had time to fill her in on all the new people, and who they are, what they did. She was extremely pleased Kora had found Ben. It was obvious to Ikalla that he loved her with his entire being and worshiped the ground she walked on. He looked after her to the smallest detail.
"I am surprised you let him dote on you so, you have always been so independent. You would not even let Helena make your tea, until she put you in your place- 'You are my lady, ladies don't make the tea they drink the tea, if you don't let me do this -'" they laughed remembering Helena fondly.
"How are you getting on with the others? They have relaxed around you. "Kora asked, stroking Shadow's head.
"They are nice. Ben, Royce, and Ludis, especially. Your brother and sister hesitate, though. I want to stay with you, which is why I offered to swear to you again as a guard, but I am conflicted. I swore to you the first time when you were queen of the Deirdren Empire now that I am alive, I am having conflicts of interest. It is a different empire and different House." Kora laughed at the absurdity of the issue. Ikalla frowned. It was hard for her, Ikalla was a serious person, who took her vows and traditions seriously. She rarely opened to anyone. They had known each other since they were children, and Kora was the only person she really laughed with or opened up to outside her family.
"They feel your hesitation as well, and you are so important to me. They are just trying to be cautious. It was hard for me at first, but they really helped me transition into this life here. I struggle, but they always help me when I fall. The hardest, but best part is not being queen anymore." Kora sighed, grateful that it was not her cross to bear any longer.
"You don't want to rule?" Ikalla asked. She knew the answer but wanted to know what Kora thought of the new- to her, anyway-king.
"Malik was born to lead. Estella too. They love the land and her people. If I had another 1500 years to craft someone better suited to the title, I had never have come close. They will do for this land something I never could." She caught a snowflake in her hand, and absent-mindedly made it grow larger before flicking it out into the garden.
"And it leaves me free to serve the nation in a way that I can do my best at." She finished. Ikalla agreed, She, just like Kora, had made a beeline for the library as soon as she learned she had been frozen for 1500 years. She read until she was cross-eyed. Looking up, she saw Ben and Royce approaching alongside Stella. Shadow's tail began to thump and wave in Ikalla's face in a most undignified manner. She tried, and failed to capture the huge tail as it flailed and gave up. It almost knocked her off the bench before Shadow stood up to greet Ben. At the sound of Kora's sharp intake from the cold, he wrapped himself right back around her again.
"We came to see how you were faring, and if you two were ready for lunch." Ben spoke first, kissing Kora gently on the cheek. As the sound Shadow made, Stella piped in.
"He meant the three of you Shadow, promise." Stella traced a few symbols in the air to surround Kora with warmth. They stood, and Ben took one of Kora's arms and Ikalla the other, and they made their way to Malik and Ludis's rooms. Royce walked behind Kora with Stella on the pretense of being slow, really, he wanted to be there in case she fell backwards, they were all so worried about her. Ikalla was eating herself alive with guilt, and it was helping them to forgive her slowly. Seeing how she tortured herself showed them that she genuinely cared about Kora, and after a thorough inspection from Ludis Kora and Stella, they determined that she was free of the curse Drew had set upon her. This also gave Stella and Ludis the opportunity to adjust the barrier to detect curses and ancient magic. Entering the King's chambers, Ikalla bowed low. Malik scratched his head and sighed.
"Ikalla, if we are going to be together as much as I expect us too, I will have to ask you to dismiss the formalities. It is not how we really run things anymore. If it makes you feel better to do them, then just save them for the public, please. It makes me uncomfortable." Malik asked, gently. Her formalities were making it hard to get to know her. She clearly had been shaken to her core by her recent experiences, and he did not blame her. Remembering how Kora was when she had come around. But he wanted to give her sister's best friend every opportunity to be comfortable here. Ikalla looked shocked, but slowly nodded, standing up. They all sat around the table and just as they began to eat, Ian busted in. He was complaining as soon as the door opened.
"I swear if I have to chase you down every time, I need these documents signed, Malik- I will resign." He huffed and tossed a stack of parchment at Malik and stole his fully loaded plate of food. Malik protested and Ian took a huge bite of his eggs. Mouth full, he pointed his fork at the king and said -
"No, you are grounded. Do your paperwork Sir, then you can eat." Royce was dying, and Ikalla actually laughed after the shock had subsided. The others joined in, Malik looking sour as he began to turn the pages of the documents in front of him. Ludis made him another plate. Ian flopped into the chair at the end of the table, falling into a heated discussion about spring reinforcements with Ben and Royce. Ludis was going over the paper with Malik. Stella, still sneaking food to shadow behind her back, looked over Kora carefully. Her color was better, and she was eating well, but light since her stomach was not 100% yet.
"What do you like to do for fun Ikalla?" The question popped out of Stella's mouth, before she even realized it. Ikalla looked surprised, then thoughtful.
"I do not really remember, even before all this there was not much leisure time. I guess riding, tournaments. I like to read and play card games. I used to paint as a child." Shocked she was being so forthcoming, Stella decided to press her advantage.
"Where did you grow up?"
"Southwest of Varsa, along the southern coast. I- … I do not believe the village is there anymore. The librarian said that my tribe is extinct." Ikalla's face hell. Damn, struck out. She felt bad for Ikalla. Being with Royce, she learned that even though he and Ludis had been banished, tribes were very close-knit and thrived on ages of traditions. She could only imagine how devastated she must feel.
"I really am sorry for your loss." Ikalla nodded and sighed. Trying to shake the gloom that had come over her.
"Have you had a chance to explore?" Stella tried again. When Ikalla shook her head, saying she had stuck to castle grounds, she made her an offer.
"Well, I need to go to the market tomorrow. Would you like to join me?" Kora nudged Ikalla , encouraging her.
"It would be nice, but I have no money." Malik chose this moment to pipe in.
"As a matter of fact, part of these documents include research on you. You had savings, and even after the fall of the empire all your banks of choice are here. Your investments are still in effect, and much to the dismay and disappointment of said banks, the papers are signed for life, no expiration. You are filthy rich. You have more money than Ben, and that is saying something. You also have lands, and a title. Since neither of these have been claimed, they are returned to you. In your own right, you are now a noble and part of Deirdre. Kora was … very thorough in her records for you. It was too easy to find." He winked and went back to his papers.
"I… I wanted there to be something left in case any of her tribe survived. By their law, they could claim it if there were no direct descendants." Ikalla hugged her friend. Then it dawned on Ikalla at the same time as Kora. They looked at each other. One groaned, and the other was excited.
"Shopping." They said at the same time. Stella laughed at them.
"Kora, are you up for the trip? We can take the carriage. Kora soured, hating the pomp of the carriage. But she knew if she were going to have enough energy to make Ikalla get the things she needed now that she had rooms of her own-she would not be able to ride horseback. She nodded, and the others looked concerned. Royce spoke first, casually as he flipped a coin.
"I was going anyway since Stella was going. Got to start my midwinter shopping."
"I need to look for more crystals, and a few books I ordered came into the merchant last week. I have been meaning to pick them up." Ludis chimed in. Malik, catching on-
"I also have business in town, shopping, and such." Kora laughed. Ian shrugged and spoke.
"I'm in town everyday so what's new?" Ben would go anywhere Kora did. Her group was growing, and Kora's heart was full.