We returned to the castle after the game. Brok got two towels out of the walls. He pushed a few holographic buttons and the digital image would actually turn into the real thing. He handed me a towel and I wrapped it around my body.

"I have to say Brok this technology that you have is astounding. How did you create it?" I asked curiously. Brok was rubbing his face with the towel. Then as he passed it towards his wide, blue chest. His golden eyes looked into mine. I felt a quick beat in my heart, but I ignored it.

"The Sha people created it a long time ago. We used subatomic and cellular technology to create it."

"Oh," I replied. With the touch of holographic buttons Brok was able to get a fresh new sleeveless black shirt.

"What about me? What should I wear?" I asked.

"I don't know. You look radiant in anything," he complimented. I laughed nervously.

"Ha, ha, don't say that. Seriously, what do you suggest?"

"I cannot seriously suggest anything because I find you seriously beautiful," he said. I felt my cheeks hot and embarrassment flushed all over me. I didn't know what to say and Brok was so quiet that it felt awkward. I had to interrupt it quickly.

"Well, maybe a dark dress would do."

"Yes, of course. I'll just put this in English and then you can choose what you want to wear... here," he said. I went to the wall and pressed the item of preference. Then it came out and I hung it on a nearby couch. I felt strange as he looked at me. I didn't know what to do.

"Prince Brok, could you give a moment? Just some privacy?"

"Yes. Excuse me and let me know when you are prepared."

"Thanks," I said as he headed out. I dried myself the best way I could and slipped the short, dark dress on top of the yellow bathing suit. After I finished I called him back in.

"Brok, you can come in now," I said. Brok came in.

"You look like the star of Avakishtansi," Brok said. It didn't seem like an insult. I accepted his compliment, humbled.

"Thank you."

Anabella are you hungry? Would you like to have some lunch?" Brok said. I really was kind of hungry with all of the physical activity I had been doing throughout the day. I felt like I had done a lot. I guessed a warm meal wouldn't hurt. I smirked.

"I'd love to," I answered.

"Come then," he said with a short smile and I followed him to the dining room.

"Rox, bring me what I told you and bring it to the dining room now," Brok said.

"Yes, master," Rox responded.

"What is that thing that you use to communicate with Rox?" I asked.

"It's called Chambo," he replied.

"Chambo," I repeated.

"Why is it that some of your words are easy to pronounce and others so difficult?"

"We have acquired language throughout the exploration of the galaxy. Because we lacked the words of newly discovered technologies we had to appropriate words from other planets."

"Oh. That makes sense. The same kind of thing happened on Earth, only instead of planets they were countries."

"Yes, I know," he replied.

"I wonder how it is now," I mumbled out loud. I looked at him in search of an answer, but I had the impression that I wasn't going to get my answer. At least, not at the moment.

"Anabella, would you like to hear a story?" He asked me.

"Sure," I replied almost automatically.

"Once a upon a long time ago, around 72.8 billion Krushta years ago-"

"What's Krushta years?"

"It means the time measured by our two moons. We don't measure our time through Krushta anymore, now we measure it by the dwarf planet above us and divide into two. Now can I continue with the story or will you interrupt me at every moment?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I was just curious," I said.

"I know, but I want to tell the story. Please don't interrupt me again."

"Okay," I replied. Brok went on. He spoke about the days of the Lord Kulpa Ti. He was a member of the senate. Based on Sha history, Kulpa Ti was a good Sha, educated at home in the forests of Proltor, wherever that was with his father and two uncles. During that time the female Sha species had only one purpose, to reproduce and die after the third child. Apparently, it was a way to deal with over population, but apparently it wasn't efficient and they abandoned the idea years later.

"Kulpa Ti became so powerful in his village that one day the King of those days, Slamberg of Leikish, approached him and offered him a position in the senate. Kulpa Ti was unsure of the position, but Slamberg assured him that he was destined to take such position and to think about all of the good that he could do," he said, but as he carried on I couldn't help, but wonder why he didn't want to talk about Earth. Was there something wrong on Earth, something I didn't know about? I must be overreacting I told myself. I gazed at Brok with his golden pair of eyes and dark, blue skin. He used his hands as he spoke about his story and he seemed so different from what I had perceived the first time I came here that I just didn't know what to think. I took out my finger and slid it on the walls as I walked with Brok. I noticed that lines of buttons as I simply kept my finger pressed against the wall. I removed the finger and the buttons just disappeared. I had been formulating a theory in my mind about these holograms and it now seemed confirmed.

"And so Kulpa Ti killed Slamberg and acquired the fortune of the kingdom. Anabella, are you alright? You seem distracted?" Brok asked me. I looked up at him.

"Oh... sorry," I said.

"Can I assume that you did not listen about Slamberg's fall?" He asked me. I shook my head apologetically.

"I'm sorry. I was... looking at the walls. I was thinking that maybe anywhere I touched the holographic buttons would just simply appear," I lied.

"Of course, they appear," he said with a slight temper. He crossed his arms, frowned a bit and then he swallowed a gulp of air. I ignored his brief annoyance.

"Can I ask why?" I asked.

"What kind of a foolish question is that? Do you have the ability to ask it?" He responded. Oh sometimes he just made things so complicated. I ignored his remark again.

"Why?" I corrected. His crossed arms went down and he instead placed them behind his back. His long hair hung all the way down to his waist. I noticed that his legs didn't have little hairs. I didn't know why I noticed that and I chose to ignore my ridiculous curiosity about him.

"Because the castle has an intelligence service. Anabella, I thought you were listening to my story. I thought you found it interesting."

"I do... it's just that-"

"Lunch has been served," said Rox through the Chambo.

"Thank you Rox. We are already near," Brok answered.

"Yes master," Rox said and the communication was over.

"What were you about to say?" Brok asked me. I had lost my chain of thought and then I remembered, but I lied again.

"Oh, no... nothing, never mind," I said. The prince nodded and opened the door for me. Facing me was the majestic dining room with trays of fruits, cakes and food. It didn't look like a lunch for two, it looked like a feast.

"This is amazing," I said.

"You are amazing," Brok said. There it was again another compliment.

"You seem to like to compliment other female species Prince Brok, thank you," I said.

"No, not other female species, only you, but you are very welcome. Now come on Anabella, let us feast!"

"Okay, but in one condition."

"What is the condition?" Brok asked me. I smiled.

"The condition is that you allow me to tell a story of my own after you've finished with yours."

"I will accept the condition. Now let us eat, tell stories and laugh," he said and I agreed. We walked towards the table. The prince pulled a chair for me and I sat.

"I think it's the first time we've been able to get along," I mentioned as I stared at the empty plate in front of me.

"Yes and we get along pretty well, do you not agree?" The prince asked me and I nodded.

"I guess so, although sometimes I feel that I have to ignore your temper," I said as the prince sat next to me.

"I am sorry Anabella, but I am controlling my temper. I believe that it is not actually my temper that you are ignoring, but my moods. They are cultural constructs which are difficult to ignore. Krimla, we need your service," Brok said.

"Right away my Prince," Krimla said over the Chambo.

"You know, we really don't need her services right now. I can just get up and serve myself," I hesitated.

"Nonsense. You have served enough. It is time to be served," Brok said and a moment later Krimla appeared.

"Please serve us our lunch Krimla. Whatever Anabella wants, you provide. I on the other hand want one portion of each thing here. I would like to try the Earth food for a change."

"Yes," Krimla said as her purple hair moved. She looked at me with a deep frown, but didn't utter a word. Her hands were on her hips waiting and I wondered what had I done to receive such a look of hatred, but decided to ignore it although it made me very uncomfortable.

"Um, well, some fruits please and then I need another plate for the food and a slice of cherry pie for dessert. That also goes on another plate," I said.

"Good Anabella. Very good. I congratulate you. Excellent. Krimla I also want my foods divided in three different plates."

"Yes Prince Brok."

I couldn't really eat or talk comfortably with Krimla walking around and serving us, so I pretended to distract myself with the aquarium which was honestly an effortless thing to do. The creatures I saw swimming around the walls were very exotic and unworldly. It was easy to lose my mind just looking at them.

"Be careful with the Munt, it hypnotizes," Brok said.

"What?"

"Yes, the green and purple one over there. They do that when they want to catch their prey," Brok said grabbing a fork.

"Oh. Thanks," I said staring at Krimla. I just felt too awkward with her in the dining room. I snatched the fork and silently nibbled my food.

"Krimla, you can leave now," Brok said. Krimla nodded and walked away. Brok glanced from her to me and I realized that he must have caught my discomfort.

"Did Krimla do or say something to you?" Brok asked me. I shook my head.

"No, of course not."

"You do not like her?" He asked.

"No... no... it's nothing like that," I replied.

"If you would like another servant-"

"No. She's okay," I replied.

"Are you sure?" he asked me. Not really. She met in secret with somebody last night talking about lord knows what, almost tried to kill me or at least I thought so and then the next morning she lied about it. I nodded.

"I'm sure," I said.

"Krimla has never manifested any problems, but if you have a problem with her let me know and she will be immediately relieved from here," Brok said. I shook my head again.

"No," I replied.

"I will trust your word Anabella. I will trust in your word for now. So, would you like to know what happened later after Kulpa Ti killed Slamberg of Leikish?"

"Actually, Prince Brok, would you mind telling me why Kulpa Ti killed Slamberg of Leikish in the first place? I'm sorry and I hope that you do forgive me, but I failed to hear that part," I said.

"I told you that Kulpa Ti had been tricked by the king, did you not hear when the King slaughtered his family?

"King Slamberg slaughtered Kulpa Ti's family, but why?"

"Because he had to think of the best interests of the kingdom and Kulpa Ti's family stood against those best interests."

"What happened then?"

"Then Kulpa Ti became the King of course and he reigned for the next twelve Krushta years."