Main Avenue

LIGHTY
The Valairean procession headed through the main gates and proceeded to make their way toward the palace. Wesley led it, his female companion in the carriage behind him. She had taken sick earlier that week with some sort of virus from lack of good drinking water and now Wesley worried a bit. She wouldn't be able to be introduced right away, and while Wesley knew he could do things on his own, it was her that had to be primarily introduced as the ambassador. As they neared the palace Wesley reviewed his knowledge of the royal family of Lytane. King Sagerron Renoux, his wife Queen Amaranth Renoux, and their four children, Crown Prince Feng, Princess Raven, Prince Edmund and Prince Leif, made up the Royalty of Lytane. He had seen pictures of each of them and the former ambassador had mentioned the twin's powers to be wary of. Crown Prince Feng and Princess Raven could read thoughts and place thoughts in a person's mind. Wesley and his companion both knew this and so on their journey both of them had taken to covering their true thoughts in repeated facts as practice. Now Wesley and his female companion and their guards were passing the palace gates. Wesley got off his horse and beckoned two guards to him. They would be his party while the other four would stay with the sick ambassador.

LIGHTY
Edmund made his way through the early evening crowds. He stepped confidently, Avlado near him as a natural crowd parter, and Edmund spared some coin for a warm cinnamon roll from a nearby vendor. He ate as he walked towards the palace. There was no need to rush anything.

DAWNY
Nikela and Trickster wandered the marketplace. After standing on duty all night, she'd earned the right to go out and get a greasy, sweet, unhealthy lunch if she wanted to. She was searching for something perfect to eat when Trickster perked up his ears and scurried over to snuff at the boots of a young man. She followed, intent until shooing him away and continuing her search until she recognised the man. She'd seen all of the royal family before, everyone had, and he was definitely one of the Renouxs. He looked to old to be the youngest and he didn't look blink, so she thought he must be Edmund. Curious about how he would react to Trickster, she hung back and watched from behind someone else.

LIGHTY
Edmund looked down at the fox and stepped out of the way of the bustling people nearby. He made his way over to the edge of the street with a calming hand on his horse so the fox wouldn't get stepped on by the larger animal. Edmund crouched to greet the fox. He offered a hand out for the animal to sniff. It was a well known fact that the animals of the gods were to be treated well and Edmund knew enough to be polite to the priests' and priestesses' companion animals. "Hello," Edmund murmured, wondering if the fox could understand his words, "I'm Edmund. Who's your partner?" Edmund looked around to see if anyone stood out, but no person in particular caught his eye.

DAWNY
Nikela followed Edmund and Trickster over to the side of the road. She waited another minute, and then stepped forward. She motioned and her fox scuttled over, looking very pleased with himself. She patted him on the head and then bowed to Edmund. "Prince Edmund, your grace, I hope Trickster didn't bother you."

LIGHTY
Edmund's face took on a pink hue and he resisted the urge to grumble about having forgetten a scarf or hat or something to hide his appearance. One of his long time tutors had been very insistent on the 'no nagging, bragging, sweating, fretting, tripping, slipping, grumbling or mumbling allowed' rules. Now he looked up at Nikela and stood up to greet her. "No, Trickster was very good." He extended a hand in greeting. "I'm Edmund Renoux, but you already know that. Might I ask your name?"

DAWNY
"Nikela Alator, priestess of Destiva." She stood up straight, at attention. "My companion, as you know, is the fox, Trickster. We're pleased to meet you." She shook the prince's hand, and gave him a bright smile.

LIGHTY
Edmund brought Nikela's hand up and bowed his head to kiss her knuckles like he would one of the noble ladies'. He straighted and let go of the priestess's hand. "The pleasure is mine." Avlado bumped his nose against Edmund's shoulder, the large horse looking at Nikela with curious brown eyes. "This is Avlado." Edmund said, his arm going under the horse's head and his hand going to stroke the black stallion's nose in an almost unconsious manner. He had spent many, many hours with Avlado and now almost everything Edmund did with the stallion was second nature. The horse stilled and relaxed under Edmund's firm but gentle hand.

DAWNY
Nikela blushed a bit when Edmund kissed her hand. She tucked it behid her back when he let go, but forgot her embarrasment when he introduced his horse. "He's so beautiful!" she exclaimed, and reached out her hand to for Alvado to smell. "I don't have anything yummy for you, I'm sorry," she said. Trickster peeped and scurried between the horse's hooves. Nikela gasped in horror, and shouted, "No!" at her companion, afraid for his safety and for how the prince would react. His horse might not like foxes, what if her companion spooked the prince's horse?

LIGHTY
Avlado shifted his weight a bit and flattened his ears a little, but otherwise stayed calm. It helped that Edmund didn't tense up or get worried, his hand on Avlado never moving away, and so Avlado relaxed after a few seconds of tenseness. Edmund whispered gentle words of reassurance to the black stallion to keep the horse's attention away from the fox. "Hey, hey, shhh, Avlado, Trickster won't do anything, it's ok. Stay calm. See? No harm from the fox."

DAWNY
Nikela stamped her foot and motioned angrily for Trickster to come back. He raced in a circle than ran back to her. She dove as he darted past and straigtened up with the wriggling fox in her arms. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she appologised, bowing as best she could. She hid her face in Trickster's fur when she straightened. "He won't do that again, I'm sorry."

LIGHTY
"It's fine!" Edmund told Nikela. "Really, no harm was done. You're fine, Trickster's fine, Avlado and I are fine. There's no need to keep apologizing. Now, while I'm in the marketplace, I am Leo and you should not bow to Leo or apologize to him like he's going to put you in the stocks or something. Alright?"

DAWNY
Nikela looked up uncertainly. "Okay...Leo?" Her expression formed into one of slight suspicion. "You aren't going to put me in the stocks, are you? You aren't tricking me into doing something disrespectful?"

LIGHTY
"Eh?! No, why would I do that?" Edmund frowned in distaste. "I don't like putting people in the stocks. I've only done it a few times, and then only thieves and stuff, bullies and people causing trouble. I wouldn't do it to someone that isn't doing something wrong. And I swear on my honor that if you bow or use a title for me again I will be forced to use the code of royalty and nobility to order you to stop. So there. All good?"

DAWNY
"Again? Ever again?" Nikela asked cheekily. "I never ever again have to bow to you? Even if I see you in the palace? Or with your family?" She was going out on a limb, but it was a risk she decides she could reasonably take.

LIGHTY
Edmund laughed. His eyes lit up. It was rare than anyone would banter with him or joke around. It was very much appreciated. "Well, if my parents are there then bowing is a must. But if it were just me, or me and my siblings, and we were in the palace I wouldn't want you to bow. Now, there is a tavern over there that has some good food and I was wondering if you'd join me?" Edmund wasn't extremely hungry after his cinnamon roll, but he wanted to keep talking to Nikela. Dinner was a nice way to keep the conversation going.

DAWNY
Nikela grinned. "I'll remember that. I never know when to bow." She bent and let Trickster back onto the ground, keeping her eyes on the prince as she did. "I would love to join you not-prince-Edmund."

LIGHTY
Edmund grinned and offered Nikela his arm. He held Avlado's reins in one hand and the other was open to Nikela. "It will be my treat." Edmund told Nikela. "Just so you know."

DAWNY
"How noble." Nikela took the arm he offered. "Priests just don't get payed very much, you know." She sighed melodramatically. "Something about not needing money cuz they already provide housing and food. I mean, what's up with that?"