(Lychorida)

Kiro and I were chattering away at each other as the Blueguard led us back through. We went a longer way than before, about five minutes out of the way, a deeper complex of corridors. I glanced up at the Blueguard beside me but his visor was down.

We got back to the breakfast room and it was empty, aside from the Queen.

"Well that took you a while didn't it?" She chided, though the hint of amusement in her voice made me think that it was her doing.  "Forgotten the cloak I sent you to fetch too, my what a successful Queen you will make." Was that disappointment I heard now?

I wasn't sure how she wanted me to answer. "Yes, milady, I'm afraid I got a little lost." I hoped that would suffice.

"Never mind, you will learn the corridors in time. Eat. You too, Mr...?" She searched for Ki's last name, knowing full well that as an orphan he had none.

"It's just Kiro." I reminded her, sitting down on the carpet whilst Kiro took the plate of bacon and toast from the side table. "Where's my sister?" I shot at her, only then noting her absence, I was meant to look after Lana and I had abandoned her.

Sara smiled a tiny smile and sipped water from an amazingly crafted glass. "She had to go to the priestess."

I jumped and so did Ki as he sat down next to me. "Don't worry, Lychorida, it's only for the first part of the wedding, you'll see her later." I glared at my fingernails. Lana was mine to protect.

"Well then, Mr Kiro, how long have you been in the service of the Balliols?" The Queen smiled her feline smile and drank more water. I translated, he didn't need me to, but it would work to our advantage later.

"They took care of me for the first five years of my life, then lady Lychorida came along so I got charged with looking after her."

"And why was this?" She probed. I wished with all my heart that Ki remembered the cover story we had made.

"Well see, Queen, in the south boys are expected to work early, but I had grown up in the castle, so what I more knew was how to look after M'lana. So then my job was to keep Lychorida outta trouble, has been ever since, Queen."

She raised her eyebrow and sipped her water again. "And how did you come into the Balliol's family in the first place? I can hardly see a babe trying to plead mercy at their gate."

Ki hesitated, he had forgotten the plan. "I don't know, Queen, I was just a baby."

"And you are deaf? How much do you hear? How does your language work and who knows it." I took advantage of her multiple questions for slower translation to give him more thinking time.

"I hear nothing, majesty, save from the occasional thud if it's really loud. Most of the Balliols know a little sign, Lychorida knows it all of course."

"Ah so you support him just as much as he does you, you treat him as an equal?" I saw some respect the Queen may have had for me diminish.

"Of course, your majesty." My eyes drilled into hers. We may have continued to do so had her son not burst in.

"Mother, please. Father's room. He needs you." Sara got up sharply and went towards the door, only sparing one last glance at her son. She was angry.

As soon as the door was closed, Edward sank down to the floor. He hadn't noticed me and Kiro yet, so we retreated to the window.

He looked so different from last night, wearing only fine brown wool and worn leather. But that wasn't what made him look so different.

He pushed thick hair out of his face and we saw that it was pale and shining, he was crying. The tears spilling gently from his eyes made him look younger, maybe even younger than me. He was breathing too quickly too, I think he was beginning to hyper ventilate.

"Breathe." I muttered from by the curtain. "Breathe!" I shouted again when he didn't hear me. He looked up and jumped.

"What are you doing here?" He yapped, his breathing still all wrong. He would knock himself out of he continued.

"Breathe goddam you." I walked over and knelt down in front of him. I took his hand and placed his index and middle finger on my neck, above the carotid artery. I did the same for him and found that his heart rate was going just as fast as his breathing.
"Look at me." I spoke sternly like I had seen Asa do for some of his patients. "Focus on my pulse, slow your breathing, you're safe."

His breathing did indeed slow, but his face stayed completely white and the fear didn't leave his eyes. "I'm not safe." He muttered.

"Yes you are, no one can hurt you right now, I'll protect you."

"I'm not safe." He murmured again and I thought that he was about to start hyper ventilating again but he just looked straight into my eyes.

"My father is dying. I'll be king." He whispered.

"Shit." I whispered back.