Where Lies and Truth mingle

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A variety of emotions strolled across her porcelain face as he pushed open the door to the room. Surprise. Wonder. Gobsmacked. Embarrassment. But it was all contorted into a smile that was perfectly her own. Something that hadn't yet been graced over her lips, full and genuine to Roman.

The room was large. Easily five or six of her nests and ample room to go still. The bed as he called it was cradled by four poles carrying a canopy between of a maroon colouring, the covers shimmering under the sunlight, a single down feathered comforter that was beneath pillows a plenty.

She had never seen something so high class before. Dirt, stone, branches and feathers was the most she had ever experienced.

A single brass basin sat on a mahogany table, dried rose petals in a jar to season the water with a pleasant scent; a high back red with small brass rivets to pull in the velvet fabric over the wooden frame, a vanity that spread half way up the wall and a wardrobe for someone who had many change of clothing to spare.

It was like a luxury she had only imagined and then some. No not even she could imagine something this refined.

Forgetting almost that she wasn't alone, stepping inwards as the spell came off without thought from the appendages in the back, wings spread wide open fanning themselves out showing off the full length. The primary feathers each standing a length of three feet while one she gave Roman not longer than a three inches at least. The intricate detailing of blue shimmering beneath the streaming sun through the open curtain, they snapped shut fluttering up and down until the rested comfortably again and her fingers were delicately touching the satin comforter.

Bewilderment was ample in her. Innocence proving that Eryn was still quite young.
 
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She was beautiful.

Somehow the thought snuck in to his otherwise strategically thinking mind and Roman was almost startled by it until he realized that it was simply the truth. He hadn't slipped into a more primal mindset, he'd only been observing a fact and he breathed easier to know it, wondering slightly at the panic he'd felt initially.

Odd. But he was exhausted.

Still, he couldn't help but watch the Harpy, finding genuine enjoyment in her awe and happiness over the room, her smile enough to bring a grin to his own face, marveling at how it lit up her eyes far more than even the sun could do to her magnificent wings. How his ancestors could have looked at these creatures and buried them under the earth was beyond Roman. He couldn't imagine doing that to Eryn or even to Yulin who'd been willing to kill him.

Shaking such thoughts away for the moment, though, he leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms loosely, dark hair brushing over his eyes again, Roman feeling too lazy to flick it aside yet again. "Do you like it? There are others if you'd rather have something different." He suspected she wouldn't, already in love with this one, but a good host always made sure.
 
Looking back at him, she nodded enthusiastically then shook just as quick to his second follow up question. Patting a hand to the bed and then twirling around on her heels to motion to the room with an over the top spread of her hands. They fell down to her waist where she knitted her fingers together. "More than ever seen. Prince very kind. Many thanks and praises."

She was a bird. The room had met a expectation and blew it out of the water three times over. Eryn would never be able to accurately detail this room by sounds and words to Yulin or another without forgetting something.

It was purely silly to be so excited over something that was as common as peas and carrots, but she did live in a hole. This was majesty.

Letting a brief pause to look at him curiously as he leaned there looking like he belonged in such privelege with elegant ease, Eryn tilted her head with a light smile. Though her gaze shot to the corner of her eye and she seemed to forget the world again. Her innate inquisitiveness taking over.

Springing up and scurrying around in full circles on the bed, leaning off one end with a questioning chittering that mimicked sparrow noises, to the other end and delicately buried herself right under the mountain of pillows.

They trembled slightly with the oversized humanoid avian but stopped just as suddenly. Curling right up into herself, shifting the feathers around to cover over her body, she buried her nose into her hands with a yawn. Most of the bed was left open, her having gone to the headboard and found a warmth there she was not ready to let go.

Soft cooing voiced her pleasure beyond what words could, clicking of her tongue; apparently she forgot about the want to clean up and eat up. "Is pretty." she mused sluggishly.
 
Roman chuckled softly to her antics and sounds, finding them a delight on the ears, so full of personality and meanings to figure out, engaging his mind in such a simple but challenging manner. Her words brought another smile, and when Eryn finally settled, he pushed away easily from the door and approached the bed, taking the folded blanket at the bottom and half unwrapping it before he laid the thing over the pillow covering the Harpy had made, helping to keep the things in place and keep the warmth in more efficiently.

He tilted his head then, catching the tired gaze of his companion and Roman chuckled again before speaking softly. "Rest here for a time. I will not be far and I will see to it that no one comes in here." he assured before moving to the window and drawing the curtains wider and then unlatching the window, propping it open. After being trapped so long in the dark, he was more than sure that the sunlight would be a relief and not a nuisance to the Harpy - and the open window allowed the warm breeze and a route of escape.

His tasks done, Roman bid Eryn a peaceful sleep before he left the room, shutting the door gently behind him, looking to the first servant that came down the hall. No one servant in the Western Wing was above the other - unless one counted Myrren, an older woman who kept everyone in line - but if one servant had an order from Roman, they could employ that authority over another Shifter of the same class. Such would happen now as the Prince gave instruction for the door to this room to remain undisturbed. The guest inside was weary from travel.

That done - and he'd check on Eryn soon once more - Roman headed for his own chambers, a bath, food and bed. He'd been up for almost forty-eight hours. He was ready to crash...and as soon as he was clean and fed, that was exactly what he did.
 
Her nose twitched. A scent catching her slumbering mind with a baited hook pulling the conscious mind forward that in turn had the curled up creature stretching out and slinking out from the nestled down pile of pillows and huddled blanket.

The warm breeze filtered into the room with a delighted presence that didn't seem to catch her thoughts as clearly as what forced her eyes open.

The sun was lower from what she could tell. A spread of orange hue radiated over the room, the sunlight facing away from where she had fallen asleep.

Looking around attempting to gather back her bearings, suddenly very aware of the lone body of her own being in the grand room; she darted forward and leapt across to latch onto the side of the window and draped herself out of it. The scent of something delicious creating a loud rumble in her stomach.

Wings fluttered, a single mindset in the forefront of her skull; Eryn crawled her way right out the window - latching onto the side of the palace upside down, looking down at the pavement far below and the few wandering guards below.

Stretching her neck aside, back towards where she had slunk out of; she took a backstep to turn around and hop, float and scrape her way to the very top of the palace. Hunger hit her like a hundred pound weight, and she was intent to finding out how to locate the smell. Creening to herself in a questionable tone, she went running forward on her hands and feet on the top of the palace, looking for what she smelt. Though she was hardly guessing it would lead her into the kitchen or rather outside of it.
 
The wail had turned to sobbing and Roman felt the weight of those cries, tears in his own chest. Realized it was his own chest, his own eyes he looked out from upon the devastation of the city he had loved. Still loved, broken and torn apart as it was. Blood-soaked. Only a short time ago, scream-filled, too. The tears ran in silent rivers now as he found the strength to rise, scanning the bodies.

Not one animal form among them for when Shifters died, they reverted to their birth-forms. But oh, how their bodies were broken asunder, some having fallen right out of the sky. Not one breath stirred, not one child cried, not one moan sounded. Silence as deep as the grave had descended. It would last forever and ever, somehow it would no matter what happened here in the future. The silence of this day would haunt the stones of this city, this mountain, these plains.

Roman had made his way to the palace, somehow there without even realizing it, and it was there he found the body of his cousin, her body bloody and still, torn with claw marks...a feather around her neck, hanging on a simple chain.

The Shifter woke feeling like he couldn't breathe, gasping, realizing he was sobbing as his mind tried to find some foothold in reality. It was a challenge to make himself calm, his body trembling with the shock of the dream, the how REAL it had felt and Roman eventually drew his knees up, blankets still resting upon them and placed his face in his hands, curling up tightly into himself for just a minute, needing to simply let himself be scared.

They were getting worse.

When he was younger, he used to tell his mother of his nightmares, of the things he saw, but she had - in her wisdom - told him to keep it a secret just between them. Young, loving of his mother and trusting her with his whole heart, the young Roman had agreed and when she'd been so cruelly snatched from him, he'd still kept that promise.

The dreams - though, they happened during the day, when he was awake as well - had been less frequent then and he'd assumed they'd left, but as he'd come into adolescence, they'd started up again, tolerable, manageable, hide-able until the last two years. His cousin he had confided in when she'd grown too concerned to put off anymore, but now....now the dreams were brutal, striking at whim, crippling when they came and he could not stop them.

They'd gotten worse, were growing worse by the day and he did not understand them. He'd never understood them. But he had to live with them...and with the headaches of intense nature that they brought.

The Prince ran his hands gingerly through his hair, feeling the ache beginning in his temples. He would be going to the herbal master for poppy-seed again soon.
 
The pot clattered violently upon the ground, swearing of a sailor's tongue bellowing out the window that she stole from; tearing across the ceramic tiles of the palace roof only leap across the great span between tops and tumbled painfully head over rear until she landed on her back upside down.

But it didn't last long before Eryn picked herself up, whimpering excruciatingly at the shot of pain through her spine; the loaf of fresh white honey drizzled bread hanging in her fangs, commotion seemed to spur from the shadow of the leaping creature upon those below.

Claws raked over the tiles making her way out further into the city, creeping low and often lunging across to another roof top until she felt far enough away. Her chest heaved as she plopped her rear end down having climbed down into a alleyway and tucked herself close to the wall side. Hands wrapped around her catch, looking frantically side to side with a soft whine.

She had never guessed so many people were so dangerous.

Sneaking into the wonderful smelling kitchen had seemed like a good idea at the time. And she had done well to go unnoticed for a time but the moment she bumped into the cart filled with dirty dishes, bringing it down to the floor was when she was noticed by the head baker. He whirled around so fast that she stood frozen on the floor, back arched and wings spread wide open with her alarm. She apparently as less sneaky than she thought she was here. There were too many things that made noise!

Yet she had snatched up what had lured her in the first place, receiving a bombardment of pots and pans thrown at her - a few catching a clip of her- she was tender in a few spots.

Drawing her gaze down to the loaf, frowning softly at herself and the moment, she sniffed the bread cautiously while darting an eye back out towards where she could see passing bodies. Pulling her knees up into her chest; the youngster whined again before pulling apart the meal she had snatched.

Oh she was certain that someone would spread the word of her bumble in no time.

'Stupid me. How could I be so foolish to get caught!' she thought sourly to herself, feeding the grumbling pain in her stomach.
 
Roman had resolved himself into rising, the sun low in the sky, and so he'd not bothered to dress in more appropriate attire, only in a loose tunic-shirt that gave no indication of the toned body beneath and drawstring pants that hung on his hips and of which his feet stepped on as they were just a bit too long. It made for quiet steps, though, as he came to Eryn's door and peeked inside. Upon seeing that she was gone, he felt surprise first and foremost, and then logic settled in and he was torn between feeling amusement that her curiosity had gotten the best of her and worry for her potential discovery.

Deciding there was nothing he could do about it at this time, though - it wasn't like he knew where she was - Roman instead started back toward his own room. It was then that he heard the distant commotion coming from a few halls away and with a frown, he drew himself nearer to the source, peeking his sleep-tousled head around the Western Wing kitchen corner with furrowed brows to see the place in disarray. His eyes widened a bit in surprise and then a sneaking suspicion came over him that the baker soon confirmed, catching sight of his Prince.

The tale was grand, astonishing - probably embellished - and Roman listened with rapt attention and patience as he was supposed to, all the while wanting to both laugh and cringe at the situation. In the end, what he did, though, was to reassure the baker that the problem would be dealt with and that what he'd seen had probably been a mischievous youth learning how to Shift, merely trying to cause some stir.

The baker didn't look so convinced, but he let the matter be when Roman assured him that the culprit would be caught. The man went back to his kitchen with mutters and the Prince breathed a little easier, but not much as he saw servants poking their heads in, having heard the tale that would soon spread.

He and Eryn were not going to have as much time as he had hoped.

Roman sighed, accepting this with resigned grace as he left the kitchen, servants parting for him, some of them smiling in amusement to see their Prince looking as he did - as if he'd just tumbled from bed and in reality he had. Roman paid them no more heed than he usually did when in deep thought and they left him to his musings as he made his way back to his room and sat cross-legged on the bed after opening the balcony doors to let the evening air in AND to hopefully permit Eryn when she came back.

Among his thoughts, Roman made a note to himself to never let the Harpy sleep before he fed her. He didn't think the baker could survive anymore shocks or thefts without going completely paranoid.
 
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Night came creeping upon the city with a cool chill, the number of bodies and patrons slowly filtered into places that seemed to ring of loud vibration and larger joyous commotion. The smell of ale and beer stunk something fierce. Talons carved into the wood staring curiously through the yellow stained glass, often ducking aside to avoid being seen, the harpy barely avoided a toss of a pint being popped out the window with a laugh. Evidently a drunk at its finest.

She had stopped once to examine the wares of a herbalist, sneezing on the turmeric root before darting off at the moment she heard someone's foot. Though her wing clipped the shelf that the herbalist was coming out to clean up for the day, knocking the entire wares to the streetway.

A bellow was her greeting as the man barely caught the sight of the escaping harpy diving behind a stack of crates. Seeing a bit of escape, she scrambled upwards to use them for getting back to the roof tops - knowing that flying would only make her seen by all- giving a steady push to rumble the crates towards the ground. A loud crack and the dried fish inside spilt that only brought new commotion to those who heard the sound.

Eryn seemed to be causing trouble along her way as she hurried back towards the palace.

Startling a old mare pulling a wagon of pigs, reared up once Eryn had come down from the roofs to get her bearings. Darting in front and flaring out her wings in surprise that the horse was scared by her, the wagon over turned unleashing the pigs out to wander the streets in squeals and protests.

A man had caught sight of her when she tried to pick up a glossy looking pebble, shock alarmed through him that gave out a bellow.

But the time she made it back to the palace, Eryn was clung to the side of the wall scaling her way up only to catch the sight on the west wing of an pair of open doors. She didn't actually care right now whose room it was or if it was in use, she lunged and glided to it.

Smacking into the balcony railings, dragging herself over to crawl on her hands and feet inwards. Like a mouse on the floor moving for safety; she dove under the small writing table forcing the chair in front to wobble on its feet.

Stealth obviously was not her forte in the city, far too many people around and too cluttered. Dropping her chin to rest on the back of her hands whimpering softly to herself portraying the part of a reprimanded dog, she buried her nose into the elbow of an wing tucked tight to her body. She hardly realized the room she sought refuge in was that of the princes. That would only add to her list of chaos!
 
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Roman knew he'd dozed on and off as he attempted to read reports he'd been falling behind on, but he didn't think he'd been asleep too long when the Harpy finally came into the room. The Shifter observed that she moved as if she expected to be hit at any moment either by a hand or a flying object and she seemed to be scared, perhaps even in pain, though it was hard for him to tell in this lighting - only the one candle at his bed. Still, it was enough to make Roman's frown rather severe, his gray eyes snapping with anger before he made himself take a breath and calm before getting off the bed.

He was readying himself to move toward Eryn when a knock sounded on his door, soft but urgent.

Giving the Harpy a glance and holding up a finger to his lips - he couldn't see her face, though, he thought he caught light from her eyes - he cautioned her to quiet and stillness, knowing that she was probably looking at him and had been since he moved from the bed. Hoping she'd stay, Roman opened the door of his room, raking a hand back through his hair with a yawn he didn't have to fake, but made the two guards outside straighten and look guilty for having 'woken' their Prince. The higher ranking one bowed his head, speaking quickly what he needed to say. He was a Shifter, Norfic, Roman actually liked and the Prince leaned against the door frame, listening patiently.

"Prince Roman, please forgive my untimely venture to your quarters, but I have a matter of some urgency and yet perhaps easily solved, and I...the King...he-"

"Is asleep in his bed and would sooner have you demoted for interrupting him than listen to your obviously valid concern. Please, Captain, speak your mind to me." Roman offered calmly, simply, knowing just what his Uncle would have done to Norfic had he been interrupted this late into the night.

The Captain seemed to breathe a bit easier and explained his reason for being there. Many were in a great bother in the city over a disruption by something they described as a 'winged sprite'. Roman blinked, his eyes widening at the list of damages, the people involved and when Norfic was done, the Prince resisted the instinctive urge to look over at where Eryn had been - he hoped she still was. How in the WORLD had she accomplished all that in less than a day here?!

"I understand the people's concern. I will start a search for this troublemaker immediately." he assured and after a short time, the Captain and the guard left, leaving Roman to quietly shut the door with a sigh, his head thumping against the wood for a moment before he straightened and turned, slowly approaching the desk and crouching just as slowly, tilting his head to the Harpy in her hiding place.

"There, I have found you." he said softly, keeping his promise to search, and then Roman raised a brow. "So, get into some trouble, did you?"
 
Movement caught her eye and like the crack of a whip, her gaze was pinned to the being with anxiety in bloom. Afraid suddenly that more hell would be lavished upon her with little relief. As the spread of light slid into the room from the door pulling open, she shoved herself further back in her hiding spot as much as possible; noting the prince's gestures.

There was valid truth behind her fears. Especially with the arrival of the men in metal. Guards. Far superior to any of her own people and it made her cringe further down towards the floor. If she could have melded into any piece of the building, she would have.

Revealing the list of plenty, seeing the expression of the prince turn bewildered and finally hearing the announcement that he'd personally see too the creature responsible; that was her cue to start looking for a new different hiding place. Focus seemed ready to dart for the balcony doors or cling up on the roof to escape possible reprimands.

The door shut like a thousand pound weight, to her ears. Eyes grew wide and she might have made a scurrying escape but found her body refusing to move in need.

His steps forward caused the harpy to squish deeper into herself, squeezing herself right up into a ball into the corner of the desk actually exposing her belly like a dog would in pure submission. Hands curled and feet drawn up, Eryn had squeezed her eyes tightly shut with the soft sounds of possible whimpering starting to build.

Trouble was putting it lightly.

Hearing such a phrase encouraged her to flop right over, putting her chest and belly to the floor and chin in turn. Keeping her eyes drawn tightly shut, Eryn gave a very afraid warble to him. Similar to the first one she had done when he caught her surprised in the start of the day.
 
Poor thing.

Roman nearly felt pained watching the Harpy and he grimaced merely because she couldn't see his expression, before he carefully moved the chair out of the way, taking patience to make sure it didn't scrape or make any loud noises as he set it aside. The Shifter focused inward to the underside of the desk again and for a moment, he was completely lost as to what to do. It had been rare indeed that he had to deal with a distraught female and now it was twice in a day that Eryn had become this way for one reason or another. He remembered what he'd done earlier that day, but somehow that didn't seem like the right approach here and for a moment the Prince wondered that one response could have so many solutions.

But he didn't linger on that for long, instead focusing back on Eryn and slowly moving forward, but to the side, giving her a clear means of escape. He didn't want to crowd her or make her think she was trapped, but he thought it right to be close, that the Harpy probably needed it if he had gotten her species right. They craved physical touch, were better for it, so it was with some caution, but hoping for the best, that Roman reached out and set his fingers to Eryn's head.

And it seemed the words came easily then, as if unlocked from his throat by the contact alone. "Shh, easy, little bird. It's not all that bad. You've hardly caused the toppling of a Kingdom with your adventure." His fingers had started to move slowly, carding through a small section of the Harpy's gray hair and he kept his head tilted, waiting to see her eyes,

"I am not angered. I'm sure you didn't mean to cause such chaos. The city must have been confusing for you."
 
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Flicking upwards and then drawing back just as quick, ears began to listen as she waited for something to be said that was less than pleased with her behaviour. Fingers moving along the tresses of gray stirred her gaze to open slowly, thinly at first before the slight waft of mist and the low glow of the pale irises were looking at him fully. Large and cautious of course, Eryn attempted to study his features. Even with the slightly increased night vision, it was still difficult for even her to discern his face in the bleak single candle light.

Roman had potential to be an animal tamer at this rate. Or at least a harpy tamer with his measured temperament.

Shifting her body around so she could press her palms on the floor, lifting up somewhat to scoot forward in inches, the curled talons reached forward to grapple around his knees - firmly careful not to pierce flesh- the avian kept low to show her respect in the aspect of the animalistic world. Perhaps if she did not have sentient thoughts, Eryn would have been the lost pet that the prince had brought home in hopes to tame her only to find that caring for a wild animal was not all it was cracked up to be. Yet even with intelligence, she seemed nearly the same dumb creature.

Great eyes refused to move away from him as she put her chin onto the back of where her hands sat, looking up at him. A low whistle chirping past her lips, Eryn looked accurately guilty nonetheless. "Too much.... many sounds. Alarming... sorry sorry." she mumbled through, staggering more so in the speech than previously only because she was attempting to seen as frail and meek as possible. She did not want to anger Roman remotely, she needed his help desperately to accomplish what was needed. That meant keeping him pleased.
 
Roman, for a long moment or two, wondered if he should remove his hand from Eryn's head. He didn't want her to feel like a pet in his presence, he didn't view her as such and what he was doing felt a lot like petting, but...at the same time the Shifter felt she needed the contact, and so he kept to his gentle, slow ministrations to her hair. He remained constantly aware of her body language, though, and what she might tell him that way even if she didn't know how to tell him in words.

The Prince didn't want to overstep a boundary, but neither did he want Eryn to feel she was alone or that she'd done wrong. Neither was true. Just as it was not true that he thought her an exotic animal. No, Eryn was an intelligent being in her own right, dangerous and beautiful, and merely young. Different from him, but not less for it.

His gray eyes watched her eyes, or rather the glowing mist of blue that seemed to waft off of her pale-sapphire hues. It fascinated him, but Roman resisted the urge to reach out as childish instinct demanded and see if he could touch the glow.

No, instead he listened to her halting words and chuckled softly, nodding. "I understand. You have naught to be sorry for, Eryn. They were accidents, nothing more and such damages can be repaired, supplies resent to the people who need them. Such matters will be cleared up within the week and your venture will be nothing more than a story people toss around for the amusement of children. You've done no harm." True that his Uncle might hear about it, but as long as Eryn gave the King no reason to suspect HER of being the creature the people in the city had seen, Roman had some hope they'd be all right.

At least for a little while.

"I remember the first time my father and mother took me to a neighboring Kingdom. I was so very excited to explore, but I left without an adult or even another child who knew the city and I got lost. At first I didn't care, but as it started to get dark, I grew very scared. I hadn't expected the city to be so large or for the people to be so different from my own. When I walked through Aladura, everyone knew who I was, everyone was friendly or they simply went about their business, but in this city, I knew no one, they did not know me and I was foreign to them. Some people were outright hostile, chasing me off for fear I'd steal from them." Roman paused, remembering that day and after a moment, he smiled just the smallest bit, continuing.

"I tried to make my way back the way I'd come, but by that time I'd gotten so turned around I was merely going in circles. I sat down to cry against a wall and soon after someone tapped me on the shoulder. It was a boy, a little older than me and he recognized me from the procession that had come through the city earlier that day, when I'd been with my parents. He picked me up for I was exhausted by this point, and carried me all the way back to the palace. My mother was frantic with worry and scolded me greatly, but I didn't even care and my father paid the other boy for bringing me back, but I think the other child would have done it for nothing at all."

Roman shook his head a bit, remembering that night, the child who'd helped him and he wondered where that young man might be now. But his gray eyes went down to the pale-sapphire at his knees and the Shifter moved his hand from Eryn's hair to tap her nose gently instead, soft and gentle in his movements. "The point of my story, little bird, is that everyone goes through scary things, everyone feels lost and alone, perhaps even hurt, but in every situation you will find someone who wants to help you. Someone who will show you kindness and help you find your feet, your way again. I know you were scared today, but I swear to you that just as that boy helped me back to my parents, I will bring you back to your people. I will guide you and teach you in the ways of my people if you let me and you will not be so scared anymore."
 
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Rapt attention pulled at her features, brilliant curious wonder blossoming as he spoke. Recalling and retelling a tale of himself that in part seemed similar and other distant from what she had muddled through.

It was a fleeting thought but she could tell in that moment that his words spoke merit and truth that was stronger than his own uncles. His words to Mar'luin about welcoming her people once he was on the throne instead of war, seemed to have more measure behind them.

But she didn't say that right now. She had no need too.

Instead she listened.

Absorbing and drawing back away to shift under the desk, pulling away after the tap to her nose to give him a sheepish nod that she understood. Though there was a vague disbelief that was swallowed up by mere trust to the issue.

Her mouth worked open, stopped before she chose just to nod again. He certainly knew more about his city than she ever would of course, and that was another reason she needed his help. To find the scales was going to be leading through the city and avoiding those who might give word to his uncle.

Moving to her side to slither out of the underside of the desk, Eryn manoeuvred her way towards the balcony doors again and peeked her head out towards the moonlit sky. A quick look back and she loped out to jump off the railing and latched onto the wall to climb her way back to the room she had been given. She would at least remain inside for the remainder of the night, the city was a big frightening place.


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The morning sun was something she was eternally grateful for, though unusually she was freezing by the time the sun had awakened, with the mounds of pillows and blankets she had worked into a curled nest on top of the bed, she hadn't worried so much about it.

Still chilled upon the flesh that she had removed almost near all of the armor that hid the granite styled looking limbs, Eryn laid curled in the nest haphazardly; the tunic of burgundy red appearing more like a nightshirt than a tunic on the girl's frame. She could hear movement outside, keeping her in a state of semi consciousness but not enough to stir her out of the room. Especially with the sun light filtering almost perfectly where she laid.

Becks and calls of servants echoed outside the room, voices lost in translation for her to understand; Eryn shifted to roll her back towards the sun and buried her nose into her hands. She had long ago dispelled the wings from sight just in case.
 
Roman awoke to summons from the King and in the privacy of his room, he groaned, stumbling back to his bed and flopping down face-first into the thing, muttered curses muffled by the blankets. Still, he knew what mood waiting would put Sione in and Roman soon rose again, readying himself for the day and dressing in colors of brown and wine-red, pulling his hair back haphazardly last of all as an afterthought. That wouldn't last long, but when he was around his Uncle, the hair had to be tied back. The King hated it long and had even threatened to cut it once when Roman was younger, but the Prince had stood his ground and warned that should thus be the case, the King would find himself waking one morning with his own hair a bright pink.

They'd reached a stalemate, Uncle and nephew, for a time before they'd compromised on Roman tying it back while in Sione's presence and Sione letting Roman grow it as he wished. And what the young Shifter had wished was to never cut it. And he hadn't. Trimmed yes, but never cut, not since his mother died.

It would remain that way until he died as far as Roman was concerned.

Such thoughts were random indeed as he passed through the halls that would lead him to his Uncle - having instructed a servant to wake Eryn, but only by knocking, and to feed her whatever she might wish - but they were better than thinking about what might await him in Sione's presence. It could be very simple or complex, even a trap, but Roman wouldn't know until he was there...and even then, he might not know until it was too late.

He couldn't let such thoughts break his calm, though, and Roman didn't as he stepped into the library where the King was, a book in his hand, wine in the other. He didn't even look up.

"Roman, what do you know of Harpies?"

The question made Roman still, just for a moment as raw panic flared like bile in his throat, and then he breathed and stepped forward, continuing into the room, answering just as nonchalantly as his Uncle had asked the question.

"Not a great deal, only that which I learned in stories that mother used to read. Why do you ask?"
 
Her bottom wiggled as pupils sat fully dilated, kneading the fabric beneath her claws with anticipation on the tiny prey living so carefree. It had done her a great annoyance at waking her and this would be her serve of justice. Licking her lips, snapping the razor sharp fangs with a bubbling hiss; the young lunged at the black fly.

Clatter echoed in response as a table fell sideways, the petite woman raised her hand to linger over the door grain, tossing her gaze sideways to look at the other servants that had stopped to listen at the noise inside.

The lady shifter paused a moment longer, clearing her throat before she knocked her knuckles firmly upon the door and startling quickly as a gloved palm came up and snared her wrist. Deep green eyes turned wide, and wilted down at the crimson smile of the large lean shifter having crept silently upon the servant woman. "Please, let me." the heavy baritone of his voice doing well to send the girl scurrying away with her skirt hitched in her hands. Chuckling to himself letting the wolfish grin spread over his rugged features; the man gave a flourishing twist of the knob, "Lady Eryn! It is time to rise and shine-" the door swung open and the woman was perched up on the top of the door that led to the wardrobe. Surprise registered between them both; her hands clawing down the wall only stopping when those pale blues were locked on his lavender. "Am I interrupting?"

Dropping down suddenly, straightening her posture to smooth a foot back over the other; she gained a look of embarrassment. Him instantly noting the unusual flesh that could be seen from the long hem of her tunic. Oh the King was right about this one.

Clearing his throat, giving the door a hard kick back; one of the kings personal men offered a deep bow riddled with insincerity to the woman. "Milady who had helped our beloved prince escape; I am Cesar." she was watching him cautiously through the cut of her lashes. "The prince has been summoned this day by his king, and I have been personally handpicked to provide you with an escort throughout the start to finish of the day." he gave her his trait mark wolf grin, "I am pleased to meet such a lovely acquaintance of the prince."

It was like being inside the chicken coop, with the only chicken left and unsure of his canine intentions.
 
His Uncle looked up in response to Roman's answer and in that moment, the Prince felt as if his mind was being pierced, searched, but he didn't flinch, merely looking at Sione questioningly, calm and put-together, waiting. He would not cower, would not panic or become flustered because Roman knew that would be a death sentence for Eryn.

And he'd not lied. He didn't know a great deal and all he really thought he'd known was from his mother and the stories. Now...he knew more now, but not even remotely what he could know, so he didn't know a great deal. That wasn't a lie. That's the thin rope he walked with his Uncle, words that could be truth or lie depending on how they were looked at, but impossible to prove either way.

Roman had gotten quite clever at it.

"I found one of your mother's books." Closing the thing, the King tossed it to Roman and the Prince caught it, looking over the worn leather binding, reading the title. It was a book of legends and the Shifter smoothed his fingers over the engravings, memories surfacing before he quickly pushed them down, recognizing this ploy for what it was; an attempt to lower his guard. Sure enough, when he raised his gray eyes, Sione was watching him closely and Roman merely looked back, impassive.

"There are many legends in this book. Why your fascination with the Harpies?"

The King's eyes narrowed just slightly before the expression was gone and he took a drink from his wine before setting it down, moving to another book, one Roman had not seen in the library before. "Because they aren't just legends." was the simple reply and yet Roman felt his heart, his breath freeze within him, lending a credibility to the surprise that came across his face.

Though, he had to work to hide the fear.

"Oh? Uncle, are you sure you haven't been at the wine too long and too early today?" he offered, forcing his voice to remain steady, but his heart...oh, how his heart pounded and Roman's thoughts immediately traveled to Eryn. Gods, he hoped she was safe right now.
 
Kicking his feet up on the table after he had righted it back onto its four pronged feet, the door spread wide open to let in the flurry of servants at his request. Crouching on the bed, her childlike curiosity rippling upon her carved face only to tilt left or right every so often.

Shifters of all sorts and sizes came in, some setting down an over exaggerated silver platters wherever there was space, a new set of clothing fitted to keep those hidden appendages under seal - laced with runes stitched into the fabric unseen- while a basin of fresh steamy water and clothes were in tot with women who carried brushes and combs for her onyx pale hair. Not once did she pull her wafting gaze away from him and he in turn did the same.

Though she flinched away when one of the ladies came at her with a brush, stiffing dramatically only to turn a warning eye back and let her begin the grooming. All the while the tension in the room from the servants was felt.

Steepling his fingers before his nose, Cesar grinned. "Now my dear sweet feather." Eryn didn't move a muscle. "I have been given the luxury of showing you around the palace. Perhaps the town even but I heard of recent that some of the squares have encountered superstition of a spritely sort. Pure folly of course, but it may be best to avoid the commoners."

Eryn nodded but said nothing yet. "I trust our beloved prince as told you much of our customs?" he opened floor for her and then he seen it. The hesitation behind her tongue.

"Some." A single word that said so much. In ways she probably did not know.

"Well, my feather;" Cesar cleared his throat, "Has he told you of his families rise to power?" Her attention was hooked instantly. "About the possession of strength that was rumoured to come from a dragon? I am certain it is mere hearsay but it was always a favourite tale of the prince's. Oh how his mother use to tell him stories about his father's ascension to the throne and how a single tip in the scale was enough to lift the royal family to their power."

"The prince... has not said." she was careful trying not to show she could not gather their tongue so nimbly.

Surprise came across his brow, "Now I am shocked. He used to brag about being the slayer of those who would rebel against his people. How much he wanted to walk in his father's legendary footsteps." fingertips drummed against the other, "But I forget myself. Surely the prince was waiting for an oppertune time to regale you with his own domination of the realm after he succeeds his uncle." Cesar leaned in, "I heard from a source very close to the prince-" he mouthed Anali's name beneath his breath, not caring about the numerous ears in the room, "That he is hoping to take an army when he rules and root out a certain underground problem we have been having. Pure rumour of course but-"

And then the woman turned dramatically stonelike. Unreadable for the most part but he could see the greatest triumph he could ever procure. Betrayal on her face.

Perfect. The princes little pet would be the greatest weakness for the royal shifter.
 
"I am not drunk, you insolent brat!"

Sione bellowed it and Roman found himself ducking the wine goblet being thrown at him. It was simply the distraction, though, as when he looked up, the larger Shifter was already before him, green eyes blazing. The Prince stumbled back a step at the force of the strike that caught his left cheek and jaw, but he did not cry out and simply steadied himself slowly, taking a breath and trying to ignore the fire spreading across half his face. He should have known better than to jest. He did know better.

"My apologies, my King. I meant no true offense. You have simply caught me by surprise. Please, explain to me why you have come to this conclusion. I will listen."

"Damn right you will listen." his Uncle seethed and then, narrow eyed and far less lenient - if he could have been called such anyway - than when Roman came in, the older Shifter spoke. "The Harpies are very much real, Roman. It was many centuries ago that our kind imprisoned them beneath the earth. Savage people, they sought out destruction with their precious dragon lord and we outsmarted them, only our mercy driving us to banish them from the light rather than kill them as they deserved. They are very real and they've been regaining strength. Soon they will be ready to strike for the earth's rumbling is the warning of their coming."

Every word his Uncle spoke stabbed a knife of cold fear deeper and deeper into Roman's belly, but he didn't let it show, couldn't. For Eryn's sake, for her people. But he couldn't very well remain completely silent either. He had to feign interest, doubt, surprise, anything that spoke of him not knowing what was going on. "An underground species?" he offered, not wanting to get too deep into the conversation.

"Yes, and I am aware that one has entered the city."

Was it just Roman or did the King glance at him almost expectantly when he revealed such a thing? Roman wasn't sure and so he did nothing, not at first anyway, thinking over his options before he decided being confrontational again might be the best approach. If he appeared too interested, he would get roped into doing something he didn't want to do, couldn't do, but if he seemed too willing to just accept or even indifferent, it would arouse suspicion. He settled on the potential for another blow for his bold words.

"Uncle, what you are speaking is madness or close to it. Surely you do not expect me to believe there is an underground city full of creatures from legends?"

Roman nearly braced himself for Sione's wrath, but it didn't come. No, what came was worse, quieter, confident and the Prince nearly shivered, schooling his face more severely into doing as he needed it to; remain blank, not react.

"You already know what I speak is true, Roman."

"I had known no such thing." Roman immediately knew his mistake in wording - damn his inclination to be truthful right now - as soon as his Uncle's green eyes seemed to light up, like a cat about to pounce on prey. "Had known?"

Roman's tongue and demeanor were quick. "You have just told me, Uncle and I while I might not think you in your right mind, I do not have reason to believe you are lying to me. Should I?" A challenge. Another mistake as the King smiled rather easily answering. "No. And you, my dear nephew, are you lying to me?" Sione countered and Roman knew he was trapped. So he did what he despised and in doing so he knew he'd made three mistakes already this day.

"No, I am not."
 
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