Visit Outside The Palace Walls

Iris fisted the purple stone, took a deep breath, and followed Gaelin through the market on the path he carved through the crowd.

" Those are fruits from the trees of Zandar. Plentiful, I might add. The realm has two suns, one yellow and an orange. Different crops yield each season. Zandar is abundant! Its people are safe, and no one lacks anything." Gaelin said as he clasped his hands behind his back, briefly glancing over his shoulder.

" That's good to hear!" Iris said as she looked around the market. People indeed seemed happy and content with their lives.

" I'll tell you more later! But now let's have a walk on the sandstone! Sondern waters are beautiful this early in the morning." Gaelin walked out of the market, heading toward a smooth flat yellowish cliff.

The Sondern sea was indeed beautiful. Its still water shined with an array of different colours. Ships were going in and out of the port. Small fishing boats gently swayed in the distance. It was ethereal beauty.

" How do you find it?" Gaelin broke the silence.

Iris turned her attention to him and smiled " It's beautiful!" She breathed the words as she stood on the smooth yellow cliff admiring the beauty of the sea.

" We are fortunate to have been blessed with this realm! The Gods are merciful indeed! When your father brought our people here, broken, lame, and plagued with diseases. They bearly escaped N'gatarkan claws. A man blinded by greed. They rebuilt, and this came to life!" Gaelin waved his hand at the castle that stood on the high hill.

" Since then, your father has been chosen king, but lately, among the echelon has been political unease. When you disappeared, they asked for an heir to be named, but your father hadn't lost hope of finding you. I guess he wasn't wrong in his faith. Now that you're here. I hope the Lords will feel at ease. House Elfyd has always supported the King." Gaelin turned to her and smiled " And now we are husband and wife! I guess the sisters work in strange ways." Gaelin closed the distance and cupped her face, looking into her eyes.

" This is our fate. To rule Zandar together! We can accomplish greatness if we work together." Gaelin's smile stayed. His brown eyes shined with greed, among many other things. He coveted power.

Iris smiled and hummed, " Of course!" that was all she could muster.

" Good! I'm glad we agree! You should head back to the Palace! We have to attend dinner with your father! I hope you enjoyed our outing together!" Gaelin let his hands fall to his side, turned toward the sea and took a deep, cleansing breath.

This was all about power. Iris was sure the pressure to name an heir came from House Elfyd. They were one of the founding Houses of Zandar, and she guessed that they wanted to rule Zandar. Political games and scheming that was all about when it came to holding the reins of an entire realm.

Gaelin tugged on her hand, and Iris moved her feet. As they walked back into Sondern Port, she caught a glimpse in the corner of her eye of one of the portals that Gaelin spoke of. It was indeed heavily guarded by six knights. Iris let out a silent sigh. There was no way she could get past six knights. And she was supposed to give herself to Gaelin without delay. Lund was clear on that. She needed more time. There wasn't! Shit!

The port lay at the foot of the mountain, and it wasn't that far from the palace. She didn't benefit from the cover of darkness. Two suns, when one set, the other one rose in the sky. She needed to find a way out and fast.

" After you, my beloved!" Gaelin's voice sobered her up. She hadn't even noticed that they were already at the carriage.

Iris sweetly smiled at Gaelin and climbed inside the carriage. Gaelin followed and sat next to her. He intertwined his fingers with hers and looked out of the window. He seemed to be chewing on something.

Iris glanced at him from the corner of her eye. She didn't take her hand away from him this time. Acceptance for a future they will be sharing from this day onwards. It wasn't what Gaelin had in mind when he expressed his desire to be the next in line to the throne of Zandar. Khiah was the rightful heir to the throne, and if that is what it took to get what he wanted, then it is so.

" Lord Elfyd!" the coachman called " Where to?" he asked in a husky voice.

" Back to the Palace!" Gaelin ordered without taking his eyes off the port.

The carriage moved, but Gaelin's eyes didn't. He kept his eyes on the port. He had suddenly fallen silent. She'd never wondered if Gaelin had wanted any of this, and if he didn't, then it might be her way out. He wanted the throne, and she had no interest in it. It had been forcefully shoved down her throat by Lund.

" Gaelin!" Iris called, paused for a beat and licked her lips " Our union" Iris wryly chuckled " How do you feel about it?" she posed the question with a smile.

Gaelin took a deep breath " You're the heir to the Zandarian throne, and I'm part of the founding Houses! It's a wise choice !" he reprised, gazing out the window.

" I understand!" Iris mumbled and closed her eyes. He wasn't truthful about his thoughts, and prying further would raise suspicions.

Iris puffed her cheeks. She didn't know where Gaelin stood. If he was willing to go through the union, then that meant he was alright with it, and he wouldn't be willing to risk his position to help her. She was a stranger to him, after all.