Training for the soldiers were disturbed when Rafael made his way through them, flanked by his own guards.

The training grounds were large and intimidating. Several boxes of accessories and weapons were stacked in the corner, along with armor. In the middle of the training grounds were a high platform, supposedly for the higher ranking soldiers. Tall trees surrounded the grounds, where in some of them were tree houses, camouflaged.

"Where's your warrior?" Rafael called out to the soldiers.

No one answered, and everyone stopped training as well. A moment later Tony made his way through, Dex following. "Falcon isn't here." Tony answered in a clipped tone.

Nobody liked King Rafael and his ways.

"If you're searching for the former warrior, that's me." Dex puffed his chest out.

Rafael glared at the former warrior. "If I remembered, I asked for the warrior. Not some ex-warrior. And why- why are you still standing?! I'm a King! Kneel before me!" He shouted with anger at the disrespect.

"My apologies, King Rafael, but things here work differently. We don't kneel for some other King than our own," Tony answered, looking the confident King straight in the eye.

"Pathetic!" The King yelled while pulling out his sword. Just when he was about to use it, the sword was shoved out of his grip, landing on the floor with a high clanking sound. The King stared at his sword before swinging around, furious.

A man stood in front of him, well he assumed it was a man, as he was clothed in black armor. Just the eyes were visible, a cold blue. The man cocked his head to the side, glancing at the dumbfounded King, before slowly shaking his head from side to side, almost like scolding a little child. He then turned around, and walked away.

"That's Falcon, the warrior you've been searching for," came the voice of the soldier behind him.

"Is he mute?" The King asked, both surprised and disappointed. The warrior wasn't anything he expected. He thought the warrior will be a strong, muscular man, scarred and frightening. Not some slim figure, hiding behind a mask.

"No. He just doesn't talk much. Actions speak louder than words." With that, Tony and the rest of the soldiers left.

First thing this morning, they were given orders to speak of Falcon as a male, and not female, to not question his mask and absolutely not to train in front of King Rafael and his soldiers. You know a snake when you see one.

Rafael huffed and walked away.

|◇|

The messenger boy suddenly came running into Falcon's chambers, almost losing his balance in the process.
Falcon immediately stood up when his door flung open.

Things recently turned back to normal, Falcon disguised as a man, Rafael staying in the palace, and soldiers training.

"Falcon! King Dimitri is urgently requesting your presence in his room!" The words of the messenger were coming out as puffs, but Falcon already caught the message.

His room?

Falcon didn't question it outloud, the boy's message were enough for him to know that there's no time for unnecessary questions.

He nodded before making his way out of the room, down the hall, towards the stables.

After a while of searching for the King's sanctuary, and help from a maid, Falcon stood in front the dark wooden door.

He was just about to knock when he heard voices.

"So brother, where's Lady Roszita?"
The unmistakable voice of Rafael asked.

She heard some shuffling before a reply.
"Not here." The voice had a bored and flat tone.

"I can see that." Rafael seemed irritated.

"Then why do you ask?"

"Don't get smart with me, brother. I just want to..."

"Close the door on your way out."

"You have alot of nerves..."

"If you didn't catch the hint, I was dismissing you."

Falcon decided to make his pressence known. Knocking once, he waited for a reply.

"Who are you expecting?" curiosity laced Rafael's voice.

"Open the door and see for yourself."

The door opened and Rafael's black eyes narrowed on the blue eyes glaring back.
While still looking at the warrior he spoke.

"Yes, maybe leaving is the best." And with that he push past the warrior, down the hall.

"Come in." Dimitri's voice were clearer now that the door was open.

Yara averted her gaze from Rafael's retreating form towards the open door, and entered the room.

The room was quite large. The bed was in the middle of the room, against the wall, its sheets and covers were a deep maroon, contrasting with the cream coloured walls. A desk was on the other side of the room, beside a large window.
Three other doors were in the room, one surely for a bathroom and another most likely, a closet. The third door were leading to the balcony.

Dimitri were at his desk, his gaze on Yara observing his room. She turned to face him.

"You called for me?"

Dimitri stood up, and made his way towards Yara.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I need you to go on a mission for me. Several guards reported back that they spotted a camp nearby. An army camp. In the past 3 weeks I didn't send any soldiers out, so that camp isn't one of mine. I need you to go out with a couple of soldiers and observe things there. Report back in 3 days time. Can you do that?"

"Did you spoke with King Rafael about this?" Yara was too suspicious of the black eyed King to trust him.

"I plan to call him a little later..."

"Don't." She immediately interrupted.

Dimitri narrowed his eyes on the girl. "Who are you to interrupt me?"

Yara didn't cower, instead she straightened her posture. "Just somebody that you should reconsider to hear out."

The King didn't answer back so Yara took that as a sign to proceed. "I don't trust your brother. I don't care about your opinion about my statement. I feel it's safer to tell him after I investigated the camp. You're the King, you make the decisions, but decide on this carefully."

Yara was becoming uncomfortable under the gaze of the King, which surprised her. She never got uncomfortable in a man's pressence.

"Very well. I'll tell him after the mission."

Yara nodded "Can I leave now?"

"Yes, you're dismissed."

Yara gave the King one last glance before making her way towards the door. But his voice suddenly stopped her.

"Oh, I forgot to mention. You will have a partner for this mission. He just came back from another mission. You'll soon meet him."

|◇|

Song: Adiemus