7 Leave the Concubine

"…it looked so easy…" King Burdett murmured as the doors closed behind the entourage. He then turned to his wife. "The ambassadors are said to be meticulous and unbearable. How come it only took them one look at Kanaru? Did we send a different message?"

"I think it's because of that man in the middle." Queen Burdett stroked her chin. "I've never heard of a young man among the ambassadors. Could he be… serving King Fenris directly? No, he couldn't be part of the court if he was respected by those two ambassadors. I wonder who that man was."

…

Along the path toward the waiting chamber, Covey walked in front as he led them. However, he couldn't help but glance over his shoulder as Kanaru walked with Rodnir shoulder to shoulder. The degree of familiarity they had didn't seem to fit strangers. Even if Kanaru met that man once before, that was too close. How close could people get after just one meeting?

Kanaru was not planning to say anything, but he suddenly stopped when he passed by a window. He watched the birds fly overhead, toward the scorching sun. "…why are they going in the wrong direction? Shouldn't they be fleeing to the west?"

"Is something wrong?" Rodnir stopped walking as well, prompting the entourage to copy him. He then looked into the window and saw the marbling orange sky and the flock of birds flying away. He could also see the tall tower that stood next to the small kingdom. "The sky in your country is very different from what I can see from Middlemist."

"Hmm? But your night sky had these amazing dancing lights. Compared to our orange skies, it's prettier. Too much brightness doesn't help with the health of the people." Kanaru only glanced at Rodnir. He just stepped closer to the window as if trying to find where the birds were going. "Is there a storm brewing? I don't think the winds are blowing weirdly yesterday."

Kanaru then turned to Rodnir. "When you were traveling, did you feel any strange wind? The birds are leaving the country again. They only do that when there's a storm coming."

One of the ambassadors scoffed. "Watch your words, Prince Burdett. How dare you casually converse with His Grace like this? Know your place."

"…I apologize." Kanaru looked down at the floor before leaving the window. He even bowed down in front of Rodnir. "I didn't mean to forget my standing, Your Grace—"

"Don't pay attention to them. Once you become a member of the harem court, their words won't be anything more than whispers in the wind." Rodnir reached out a hand and caught Kanaru's chin. He then made Kanaru lift his face so their eyes would meet. "Don't bow down easily. Especially not to me. I like seeing your face, Kanaru."

A wild blush tinted Kanaru's cheeks, and he was lucky that the rouge already colored his skin. Else, it would be too noticeable. He just straightened his back and nodded before turning around and began walking again. He couldn't even raise his face again since Covey was looking in his direction.

Then again, Kanaru reined his emotions as he remembered what he was doing. He couldn't be caught taking the fancy of someone else but the king. What if that Rodnir was only testing the applicant's grasp against temptation? After all, the concubines should all stay loyal to King Fenris.

"That was close. I almost failed…" Kanaru murmured to himself. He then sought Covey's gaze and nodded at his brother. He was fine; he quickly realized what was going on.

They reached the waiting chamber, and Covey had to leave them to prepare for the rooms. Kanaru was there if they had questions, but for now, the men had all kept to themselves. Only Rodnir was looking around the room, browsing books in the waiting area while sipping on the warm tea served to them. Even the displays were being scrutinized.

From the waiting chamber, Rodnir saw the communications tower through the huge window. It looked broken and dilapidated, but nothing seemed to be disturbing it. He then sipped on his tea before asking, "What do you suppose that is? It's a relic from the old world, right?"

"It's a communications tower. I think it should be distributing signals to other towers around here. However, I haven't seen another even if I fly for a full day in any direction." Kanaru looked out the window to see the tower again. "Some components have been destroyed when the tower was attacked before. I can't find one that is functional enough for me to turn on."

"I see. A central communication for the humans back in the digital age…" Rodnir only hummed before turning to the prince sitting on his chair. "Can I see it from a closer point? It's interesting."

Kanaru hummed as he pressed a finger on his chin. "Uhm, how good are you with high places, Your Grace? The entrance from the ground is unstable, and the stairs leading to the control room are destroyed. I can only access that place since I fly up to the dome of the viewing deck."

Rodnir turned to the tower again, his eyes trying to look for the supposed aerial entrance. "And where is this dome? I don't see any hole on that wide thing on top…"

"It's just under the dish. You can't see it from here because the dish is almost facing the castle." Kanaru got up from his seat and used a hand to point at the dish and where the dome should be. "I can take you there, but I don't want to be cited for mishandling you. After all, we need to fly very high."

"Never mind. I don't want to remain airborne for so long." Rodnir sipped on his tea again. "We fly over the fields and other monsters, but such a height is too much. It's basically in the sky already. Should I just opt to find a path up the broken staircases?"

Kanaru leaned on the windowsill. "You're so intrigued by it. Does Middlemist have something similar? You even believed me readily."

Rodnir glanced at Kanaru, but a smile lifted his lips. He was going to answer, but they heard a loud clanging sound all over the castle. Kanaru then pulled away from the window and ran to the door. However, Rodnir followed him—so did the ambassadors and the knights in black armor waiting outside.

"Kanaru, what's happening?" Rodnir asked as he caught Kanaru at the corner.

"Monsters are attacking. Please stay inside the castle. We won't let our guests get hurt." Kanaru promptly removed Rodnir's hands on him and ran out to help in the fight. He didn't even care if he had to direct the people in his strange dress.

"Your Grace, let's leave. It's dangerous around here," one of the ambassadors spoke with urgency. "That prince won't leave this country like this. He's just one concubine. We will find a replacement somewhere else. We should leave now."