Freezing cold and calming rage fills my veins as this snake shows up demanding Ava back like he has already won the king over. Utterly despicable. Smelling Avas fear and seeing her tense out of the corner of my eye, when the king said "before I give her back" makes the thin bit of restraint I grip onto even more worn down. To see her worry about such a thing is unsettling, but I have to remember she does not know me well, yet.
"Your majesty I'm sure these witnesses will tell you the same story I am about to. Mr. Dragon Slayer and myself had made an agreement at dinner last night over the purchase of his slave. When I had followed him to his place of residence, and waited outside, a commotion could be heard from within. He threw her out onto the street, damaging her, so I took two gold coins out of his payment for the inconvenience. I'm sure a business man like yourself would see that there is no reason for paying full price for something that is damaged. He had given me the paperwork, but was angered about the price even though she was already promised to me. He made quite the scene last night during the event." I explain as calmly as I can.
"Stand girl, let me see you." He speaks slowly, assessing her. She does as told and stands with her eyes cast down. "I see no damage, good sir." He concludes.
"If I may sir?" Kieren speaks up, stepping forward and bowing once more.
"Yes Lord Kieren? Is there something you can add to shed some light on this?" He looks at him with a hint of boredom dancing behind his eyes.
"What Suluk said was true, your grace. He had to carry her all the way to the palace last night because her leg was badly injured. In his worried state he came and retrieved me to help heal her. I did so, but it took almost the whole night. The maids had seen us a few times during the evening and even in the wee hours of the morning when he had to carry her to a room to rest afterwards." He explains calmly. I send appreciation down our link as he sends me calming thoughts to get through this mess.
"I see. What a shame that is." The king turns to Kizen with distaste. "To promise someone a slave and then damage them beforehand. That is low, even for you Kizen. I thought you were a man of more self worth." He scolds the unsightly man staring at us stunned.
"My King, I do not lie before you! This man took what is mine without my consent! I can not believe you would take his word over one of your most loyal subjects!" Kizen accuses, sealing his own fate. The King stands up, pushing off the jeweled throne to walk down toward us.
"It is I, Kizen, who can not believe you would lie to me in my own home! These esteemed guests have been given a truth potion before coming into this kingdom. It is these guests, that you now accuse of not only theft but now lying as well, who have offered a hand to us during this time of need. I-"
"Forgive me, my king. I did not mean to-"
"YOU WILL BE SILENT UNTIL I ADDRESS YOU! YOU COME INTO MY HOME, ACCUSE MY GUESTS OF MISCONDUCT, AND THEN INTERRUPT ME AND THINK YOU WILL BE FORGIVEN?!" The king's face becomes reddened as he yells to Kizen, slowly walking down the steps. The guards hands hover over their swords, ready for battle if Kizen so much as takes another step toward their king. "YOU HAVE SHOWN NO PROOF OF YOUR CLAIMS BESIDES RUNNING YOUR MOUTH. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?" The king is nearly down the stairs as Kizen stands again and looks over to me.
"Ask to see his paperwork then, my king. If he truly has nothing to hide then he will be innocent, I will have been wrong, and I will leave without another word." Kizen smirks over to us, knowing I haven't had time to get the papers in order. The king stops, turning his head to me curiously.
"Where are your papers?" He asks slowly. Waving me to approach closer. I do as asked and walk closer, the king stands two steps away from the bottom as Kieren used magic to bring the papers to us, giving me a look of uncertainty as he does so.
"They are right here sire. However I do have to admit that since this was done in the evening, nowhere was open for me to get them changed into my name. And as I'm sure you know we have been busy with meetings all day, speaking of the matters that need to be addressed to trade." I inform him as I hand the paperwork over. He looks it over with a hum before closing it and looking at Ava. It takes every fiber of will power to stand in place and not jump between them to protect her.
"Come closer girl. Raise your head, let me have a look at you." He speaks softly as he reaches a hand out to her. With shaky steps and shallow breaths she complies. Moving out of the way so the king can see her properly, I brush my hand over hers for reassurance. He waves her to lift her head, and I know what he is looking for. "I see no markings upon this girl to either party here." He states and lets her lower her head, but does not let her go back to Kieren.
"THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE! I PUT THOSE MARKS MYSELF AND THEY CAN NOT BE REMOVED WITHOUT MY MAGIC!" Kizen becomes enraged and storms over, gripping her face tightly to throw her head back and see for himself, before I shove him away with a growl. Kieren even becomes hostile standing between myself and Kizen, as guards draw their swords. The king sighs and sets on the steps.
"Did you two do anything to remove the marks?" He asks tiredly.
"I removed them. They were causing her pain and she could not speak to either of us. It was hindering my medical care for her, so I took them off myself." Kieren explains, not taking his eyes off Kizen.
"NO ONE CAN DO THAT! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!" He screams at us.
"They can do that Kizen. They are dragons, their magic is stronger than any other races, with the exception of Wizards. Raise your voice again and I will have you thrown out. You're giving me a headache." The king speaks lowly, rubbing his temples slightly. Ava backs up into me, she is shaking and fear fills my nose making me growl deeply at Kizen as I place a hand on her waist. She startles and looks up at me with horror in her eyes. This is not how I wanted her to find out, but it's too late now.
"What is your name, girl?" He speaks again, looking at Ava from his spot.
"My given name is Alavira, your majesty. But most call me Ava. Whatever you prefer." She lowers her head and kneels down before him. He looks at her curiously as I back away to give her a little more room.
"Alavira? Is your last name Hiveanth by any chance?" He asks softly. I look between them perplexed. Does this king know her?
"It was once, a long time ago." She sounds sad, but does not lift her head. The room becomes so silent you could hear a feather drop as the king rises from his spot and sits on the floor in front of her. His hand gently cups her chin to pull her face up to look at him. Kierens curiosity mirrors my own down the link, and we all just stare.
"I see it now… yes. You look just like your mother. It is wonderful to meet you Alavira. Your father had told me that you had died from fever, but I see now that was not the case. Could you tell me what happened?"
"You knew my mother?" She asked, tears forming in the corner of her eyes. My heart aches for her, seeing those tears that could not be helped. The king gently takes her hand in his as he speaks softly to her.
"Yes child, I did. She was a friend of my late wifes. She was a trusted member of the royal family. When she passed your father took you and your brother from the kingdom, saying the memories were too painful. He wouldn't listen to any of us. He told us that you passed with your brother during the fever outbreak. I see now that is not the case. Please child, what happened?" He looks to her with saddened eyes as she roughly rubs her eyes and wipes the tears away.
"We did lose Hanna to fever. After that fathers drinking and gambling had gotten worse. I had to help him home from the brothel a few times. He had accumulated so much debt he sold me to pay for it. I've been sold off to different people since. The only reason I had ended up in this kingdom is because after my second masters home had burned down, the few of us who survived were sold to adventurers who had shown up. Kizen had won me in a game with another adventurer on the road." She explains slowly, fighting tears again. The king listens closely, his face a mixture between sad, disappointed, and angry on her behalf. My heart squeezes in my chest to hear that this sweet girl was sold into this world by her own father.
"I see. I'm sorry to hear that Ava. That should have never happened to you. I wish he would have stayed here and you could have grown up the way your mother had intended. It seems now, you have a choice to make. You can either go back to Kizen, or stay with Suluk. I wish I could grant you your freedom, but without knowing if your fathers debt is paid, I cannot do such a thing. I'm sorry little one." He looks at her with such gentleness it makes me like this human king even more. To see such a human show sympathy and kindness to his subjects is a rare thing.
She looks between us for a moment, her brows scrunched. She looks back to the King and asks to give her decision in a few hours after she has thought it over. From Kizens angry outburst on her getting a say at all, to my surprise, and the king's understanding he granted her request. I feel Kierens surprise through the link as well. We both just stare at each other stunned for a moment before all being excused by the king and told he expects an answer after dinner. With a bow we all leave, Kizen being escorted to somewhere else in the castle while Kieren and I run after Ava.
"Ava! Ava, wait!" I yell after her. Catching up and gently grabbing her arm firmly to make her stop running and turn her to face me. Her face is angry, scared and confused. "Why are you running? What's wrong? If you're worried about going back with Kizen, you don't have to. You can pick being with me, I'll free you just like I promised. I put that on my honor." I swear to her as I look into her eyes, searching for something, anything to show she believes me.
What I'm met with is her roughly pushing me away and backing up into a wall. Kieren looks between us surprised. He goes to say something before she whispers, anger thick in her voice as her hands are balled up at her sides.
"Don't touch me!"