The guards were shocked to see their crowned prince arrive at the castle gates on foot, his men no longer with him, and a strange woman by his side. "I have returned," Alec told them. "Please take Miss Silva's steed to the stables and have it well fed. And please let my father know that I have returned and that I need to speak with him." The guards looked at the prince for a moment then over to Silva. They then bowed and said in unison,

"Of course, your majesty." One guard took the mare's reins and the other ran inside to inform the king. As the guard took the reins from Silva, she quickly grabbed the guard by the arm. He yelped.

"There better not be anything missing from these bags, is that understood?" She hissed at him. The guard nodded, pain racking his face as Silva's nails dug into his skin.

"Yes, ma'am, I will ensure the safety of your things." Silva released the man who quickly took the mare inside the gates and down to the stables. Barlo jumped from the horse's saddle bag and onto Silva's shoulder.

"That was a bit cruel, don't you think?" Alec told Silva. She harrumphed.

"I have valuables on that horse, I do not wish to have to search for more." Prince Alec went to further comment on Silva's behavior but decided against it. Frankly, the woman scared him.

"You can follow me," Alec chose instead to say. Silva nodded and followed the young prince into the kingdom.

The castle's throne room was one to behold. Its long corridor flourished with bright chandeliers that hung from the ceiling. Torch lights were stationed at each marble pillar along the hall with soldiers standing guard beneath them. Windows lined up both ends of the walls, giving the room the natural light that it desperately needed. A long red rug was folded out from the doorway all the way up to the throne itself where two throne chairs sat. One of the two chairs was occupied by King Frederick himself. He sat with purpose. His back flat against the chair, his eyes watching as Alec and Silva, with Barlo sitting on her shoulder, approached the man. Silva could see the influence that this king has over his kingdom. His stature said, power.

When they were at the foot of the chairs, Alec bowed deeply. "Father." Silva remained standing. The king noticed.

"Who is this?" He demanded. "And what happened to you? Where are the men that were sent out with you?" Alec straightened himself and cleared his throat. He proceeded to tell his father about the surprise attack awaiting them when they arrived at the spot on the road, about the demons known as wraiths, how he managed to kill one before falling unconscious, and about Silva saving him and why he had brought her here. The king blanched. "Preposterous!" He bellowed. "I will not have a witch under my roof!" Silva narrowed her eyes.

"I can assure you, my king," she said, drawling out the words 'my king.' "That I am no witch, if anything I am a woman of the Arts, or a sorceress if that pleases you, and I have reasons to suspect that a dark sorcerer sent you a ruse about the robbery to draw you out and have his wraiths kill you and your son. I believe he will strike again, and I will be here to stop him." King Frederick drummed his fingers on the throne arms, thinking. He looked at his son.

"Is this true, son?"

Alec nodded. "It is, father." King Frederick sighed deeply, rubbing his temples with his fingers. "Please, father, we need her." The king glanced at his son, seeing the seriousness in his expression. Finally the king nodded.

"Fine, she may stay." He looked at Silva. "I hope we can trust you, sorceress." Silva smirked and replied,

"You'll just have to see for yourself."