Author's Note: Characters and concepts are the creative property of Savin Yeatman-Eiffel and Sav! the World Productions.

This is a collaborative work between me and Queenbean3.

Chapter Seven: Refined Like Runa by Queenbean3

Eva had hoped to see Jordan again in her dreams that night so she could give him a fresh batch of questions to answer. Unfortunately she was so tired from her hectic day that she slept like a rock and had no dreams at all. She might have kept on sleeping for days, but loud music blasted her out of the darkness and back to reality.

Jerking her head up from the lumpy pillow Eva looked to where the noise was coming from. Her pink Diskman was lying on the floor in a pile of rumpled clothes and candy wrappers. In fact, all of her belongings had been pulled from her duffle bag and scattered about the room. Seated in the middle of the mess was a familiar cat-girl shuffling the pages of a star-racing magazine through her paws and chewing on a piece of grape flavored bubble gum.

Eva was now wide awake and bristling all over with anger. She threw off the blanket and stood up, still dressed in the same clothes she had worn yesterday. “Just what do you think you’re doing?”

“Checking for contraband.” Paradice said with a grin. “Don’t you know you’re not supposed to bring your own food into space, Molly? You’re lucky I found it before the Crogs did.”

Eva scooped her Diskman off the floor and turned it off. “If you wanted some candy you should have just asked. You didn’t have to dump all my stuff out of the bag!”

Paradice replied by blowing a purple bubble and letting it pop on her face. Finding the magazine boring she tossed it over her shoulder and looked for something else to read. She found a spiral-bound notebook with star shaped stickers on the cover. A title was written on the front in glittery gold ink: ‘Eva’s Journal: Top Secret. Read at your own risk!’

Eva was busy picking up her CDs and did not notice what her roommate was doing until she heard stifled giggling. “What’s so funny?”

“Dear Journal,” Paradice said, reading from the book. “Today they showed a clip of Aikka’s coronation in class. Is it just me, or has he gotten cuter since I saw him last?”

Eva’s face turned as pink as her Diskman. “Huh?”

Paradice flipped ahead a few more pages. “Dear Journal, tonight I saw a race with a boy from my science class. He wanted to kiss me, but I couldn’t do it without thinking of Jordan.”

The pink in Eva’s face turned to red. She sputtered incoherently. Then she screamed and dove at the feline child, intending to either snatch the book back or strangle her to death. She grasped empty air as Paradice vanished in a blur of green and purple and reappeared on top of the tall table several feet away, still clutching the book under one arm.

Eva growled in frustration and ran up to the table, stumbling over shoes and clothing. Just when she got there Paradice sprang out of reach again, performing a flip in midair and making a perfect landing on the bed.

Paradice grinned at the enraged human with impish glee and waved the journal over her head. “Finders keepers, Molly. You want your secrets back you’ll have to take them from me!”

Eva clenched her fists and fixed the child with a venomous crimson glare. She picked up a sneaker from the floor and flung it at Paradice with all her might, but the target ducked. “You little … Just wait 'till I get my hands on you!”

And so the chase was on. If Rick had been there to see it he would have said it was like an episode of Tom and Jerry in reverse. Eva ran back and forth through the mess and threw as many shoes as she could, but Paradice always jumped out of the way and threw back plenty of taunts. It went on like that for a good while until Eva suddenly crashed into the rabbit cage and knocked it over. The door fell open, allowing the terrified Misha to scamper out into the room.

Eva quickly forgot her anger and called out to her pet. “Misha, come back!” Instead, the rabbit ran away from her outstretched hand and dashed toward the door. Paradice was already there, paw poised over the button and grinning with pure evil. Eva froze. “Don’t--” she started to say, but it was too late. The heavy metal door slid open and the rabbit vanished into the corridor of the huge warship.

Scrambling to her feet, Eva went to chase after her pet but not before sending a few parting words to her roommate. “You are so dead for this!” Paradice just laughed.

Rick would have said this new chase was like Alice pursuing the White Rabbit. Eva was tired from running around after the cat-girl, but she continued to follow her pet through the winding maze of tunnels. No matter how many times she called the rabbit’s name she did not respond and only moved further away. It was amazing how such a tiny creature could move so fast.

Eva’s lungs were burning and her legs felt like lead, but she refused to stop even when Misha was out of her sight. She slowed down to turn a corner, surged forward again, and crashed into a brick wall. Seeing stars, she landed unceremoniously on her rear. When her vision cleared again she saw that the wall was not really wall, but a familiar Crog staring down at her with what seemed to be a mix of surprise and confusion.

The Crog warrior lifted up one mighty gloved fist. Eva turned white with fear, seeing her own terrified face reflected in the polished blade fixed to his arm. She squeezed her eyes shut and cringed. “Sorry! I didn’t see you there …”

“I believe this is yours,” Kratos said. Eva opened one eye cautiously. Sitting in the center of his open palm was Misha, curled up into a comfortable ball of white fluff. She seemed to be smiling as Eva stared at her in bewilderment.

Taking the rabbit in her arms Eva looked up at Kratos. “Uh … thanks.”

Kratos folded his arms over his massive chest. His tone sounded more like an exasperated parent than a bloodthirsty soldier. “Do not allow her to roam freely, Miss Eva. A warship is no place for pets.”

Eva stammered as she tried to stand up for herself. “B-but … it wasn’t my fault! Paradice let her out!”

At the sound of the cat-girl’s name Kratos’s yellow eyes squinted and his ears drooped. He let out a heavy sigh that made the walls shake. “I might have known. That child has been causing havoc on my ship ever since she got here. I cannot fathom how she will be of any help against Canaletto.”

Eva couldn’t help but empathize with his feelings and felt a bit braver. “Well … I’m sure the Avatar must have a good reason for choosing her. He wouldn’t put her here just to torture us, right?”

Kratos muttered under his breath. “Sometimes I wonder.”

Eva wondered if he was making a joke, but the idea of a Crog making a joke was funny in itself. She tried to stifle a giggle and failed. His ears twitched upward at the sound, uncertain of what to make of it. Noticing his reaction she cleared her throat and looked away in the hope that she hadn’t accidentally offended him.

“I will guide you back to your room,” Kratos said. “And have a talk with Paradice. As long as she is on my ship she must obey my rules.”

Eva smiled, feeling slightly less fearful. “Thanks, I’d really appreciate that.” She fell into step beside him, standing on his left to avoid the sharp blade on his right. Misha remained snuggled in her arms quite unafraid of the long-eared giant.

When they got to her room, Eva pushed the button to open the door. Nothing happened. She pushed it again. Still nothing. She groaned. “Great. Now she’s locked me out.”

Kratos studied the large door, a thick wall of solid metal that weighed a few tons. “Let me try.”

The large warrior lowered himself onto one knee and gripped the bottom edge of the door. There was a creaking noise as the metal buckled under his fingertips like tinfoil. With a deep breath and a tensing of muscles Kratos began pushing upward. The door gave a loud shaky groan in protest but it was no match for him. In a matter of seconds he had hoisted the heavy mass of metal like a champion weight-lifter.

Eva was thoroughly surprised with this display of strength, but not as surprised as Paradice. The cat-girl was seated on the bed with eyes as big as dinner plates, too astonished to move or even speak. Kratos stepped into the room with no trace of sweat on his brow and surveyed the mess on the floor. His yellow eyes focused on the dumbstruck Paradice and flashed with unmasked irritation.

“I see you’re up to your old tricks again, child,” he said, his voice rumbling like distant thunder. “Would you care to explain yourself, or shall I simply take you to the brig?”

Paradice quickly snapped out of her trance and dropped the comic book she was holding. Her super intelligent mind was racing, searching for a good excuse. “Err … I just thought I’d unpack Molly’s things for her! Wasn’t that nice of me?”

Kratos obviously did not believe her. He walked up to the bed and stood with his fists on his hips. “Clean it up.”

Paradice shrank back, but she remained defiant. “Y-you’re not the boss of me!”

Kratos narrowed his eyes and bent forward, engulfing her in shadow. “Now.”

Paradice’s pupils shrank to pencil points. “Okay.” She sprang from the bed and began frantically picking up clothes and shoes from the floor. Eva couldn’t help smirking. The spoiled child was finally put in her place.

Kratos turned to look down at the human girl. “Do you need anything else, Miss Eva?”

She thought for a moment. “Hmm. Can you tell me how much longer it will take to get to Nourasia?”

“We have finished the first hyperspace jump. In two more days we will land on Nourasia. I have sent a message to the king announcing us.”

Eva’s eyes grew wider. “You did? What did you say? Did you tell him I’m all right?”

“I told him what he needed to know. The Avatar has already contacted the king, and sent him Guardians of his own. Still, the Nourasians will have very little time to prepare for our arrival.”

Eva frowned. Earlier she had hoped for a happy reunion with her friend, but now she pictured an army of beetle-mounted knights converging on the Crog warship.

Kratos seemed to sense her uneasiness. “Do not worry, Miss Eva. I have sworn an oath to the Avatar. There shall be no fighting unless your safety is threatened.”

Eva smiled with some relief. “Thanks, Kratos. You can go now.”

He bowed and glared at Paradice one last time before leaving the room. While the cat-girl continued to shove her belongings back into the duffle bag Eva turned the cage right side up and placed Misha back inside. The rabbit was still smiling.

Thousands of light years away, the young King of Nourasia was taking a much needed rest from his labors. The past two days had been non-stop work for the arrival of Molly and her Guardians, the most exhausting two days of his life. He stayed up late into the night deciding where his guests would sleep, what food they would eat and how to entertain them. He inspected every nook and cranny of the palace, the beetle stables, the courtyards and the hot springs. He made a list of all the honorable lords and ladies to invite and had G’dar’s shell polished until it shone like a gleaming sapphire.

But every afternoon at precisely two o’clock the king had tea with Lady Runa. It was one appointment in his busy schedule he actually looked forward to because it never failed to relax him. They sat at a small table on a terrace in the same garden where they used to play tag as children. The trees were all in bloom and birds chirped sweetly in the branches. As Runa poured tea for him Aikka felt his stress melting away.

“It is good to see you smiling again, your highness,” the lovely maiden said, bright and cheerful as always. “I was concerned that all this serious business would wear you down.”

Aikka accepted the teacup from her with a nod. “Not at all. It has been a long time since I have felt so happy. I look forward to seeing my friend Molly again very much.”

Runa took her own teacup in her hands and blew some steam off. “I look forward to meeting her myself. From the stories you tell she sounds like a very interesting young lady.”

“She is,” he said warmly. “I have met very few women with such strength and courage, even among our own people. Did you know she defeated two Crog pilots?”

Runa’s green eyes grew wider. He had told her those stories before, but she never tired of hearing them. “Goodness! No wonder she became the champion, with skills like that.”

Aikka chuckled lightly. “I hope you will become good friends with her. She will need someone kind and trustworthy to help her through the purification ritual when she arrives.”

Runa almost dropped her cup in surprise, but she quickly regained her composure before it could fall. She blinked a few times as his statement registered into her brain. “Your highness … are you really asking me to perform one of the Holy City’s most sacred duties?”

Aikka gave a firm nod. “I am. There is no one else I can trust with this important task more than you, Lady Runa. Will you accept?”

The maiden was smiling brightly as she folded her hands in her lap and bowed her head. “I would be honored, my lord. Thank you for granting me this privilege. I will not disappoint you.”

“I am certain of that,” Aikka said with a smile.

Runa felt her heart skip a beat and glow with warmth. She so cherished every tender smile her beloved king gave her. Still, a nagging worry gnawed at her thoughts. “My lord,” she said, looking down at her hands. “I have been wondering … do you know for how long you will be on Oban?”

Aikka’s smile faded. “I wish I could answer you, but I do not know. I suspect it will be a shorter time than the Great Race was, though.”

Silence fell. Aikka sipped his tea. Runa chewed her lower lip. “In that case, would it be all right if I were to accompany you?”

The king gave her a look of pure astonishment. “What? You know that is impossible! Why would you ask for such a thing?”

She looked up at him, green eyes filled with concern. “I am afraid you may not return this time. I want to assist you however I can, and be sure that you are safe.”

Aikka’s face softened. “Runa, do not worry yourself over my safety. I have powerful Guardians and the Avatar himself to protect me.”

“I know that, but still … Is there no way I can help you?”

“The best thing you can do to help me is to remain here. If you came with me there would be no one to help my mother rule the kingdom.”

Runa gripped the fabric of her dress tightly, building up her courage. She looked the king steadily in the eye. “Then promise me one thing, Aikka. If I cannot go with you, will you agree to marry me when you come back?”

Aikka stiffened. He knew Runa was serious because that was the only time she ever dropped his formal titles and called him by his name. Even as children at play she was very careful to respect his higher status. It was always ‘your highness’ or ‘Prince Aikka,’ never ‘Aikka’ unless something was wrong.

Runa’s gaze remained fixed firmly on him and it was making him very uncomfortable. He looked down into his tea at his own face staring back at him. What could he say to her? He cared for Runa very much. She was a dear friend to him, almost like family. But he had never liked the fact that his future wife was chosen without his consent. Secretly he hoped the wedding would never happen, and it had already been delayed many times. First it was from the Crog invasion, then it was the Great Race of Oban, and then the death of his father. Runa was growing impatient, and so was the rest of the kingdom.

Aikka continued to stare at his tea, hoping it would give him some escape. He could feel Runa’s eyes boring into his chest as she waited for an answer. “Aikka--” she started to say, but was cut off by voices coming from somewhere in the garden.

Two very un-Nourasian women came marching up the path. They were both white-skinned and black-haired, and dressed in red and black clothing that clung to their shapely bodies. Their eyes were blank and their black lips were parted in sharp-toothed grins. The leader sported a pair of small wings on her back. “Hey! King Aikka! Look what we found!”

The second woman had two thick curving pigtails styled in the shape of horns. She dropped a large squirming bundle on the ground in front of the table. Both Aikka and Runa gasped and jumped from their seats. The bundle was in fact a middle-aged Nourasian male dressed in plain clothing, bound and gagged with thick vines. Aikka glared at the two women. “Ning, Skun, what is the meaning of this?”

“We caught this little weasel snooping around in the bushes,” Ning said. “Pretty suspicious, don’t you think?”

“He’s gotta be a spy!” Skun said. “I say we rip him open before his boss finds out!” She flexed her right hand and instantly her fingernails grew as long as swords. The man on the ground gave a muffled squeal and tried to shuffle away.

The king straightened up and spoke with authority, making him seem almost as tall as the two females. “You will not kill this man, Skun. He is no spy. He is merely a gardener.”

The two Inna stared at him blankly. Apparently on their planet they had no concept of what a gardener was. Aikka could feel a headache returning. “Let him go. He has served my family for years and has never committed a single crime against us.”

Ning frowned. “With all due respect, your highness, we’re your Guardians. We’re here because you aren’t safe anymore.”

“That’s right,” Skun said. “The Avatar sent us to protect you because we’re professionals. Trust us; we know what we’re doing.”

Aikka arched an annoyed eyebrow. “All you’ve done since you arrived is harass my servants and disturb the peace.”

Ning leaned forward to glare down at him from her impressive height. “You have a problem with the way we work, king?”

Aikka glared back at the tall woman unafraid of her sharp gleaming teeth. “Your methods of protection are too aggressive. We Nourasians are a peaceful people, and you must respect our ways.”

Skun tapped her sword nails on the table top. “You’re one to talk. You weren’t exactly a pacifist during the race.”

The king narrowed his blue eyes at her. “That is beside the point. You are in my kingdom now and you must obey my commands. As king of Nourasia, I order you to release this man immediately.”

Skun smirked. “Or what?”

Aikka’s patience was wearing thin. How dare these barbaric outsiders disobey him? Instinctively his hand drifted to his side and drew his sword. Runa, who had remained silent until now, gasped audibly. The two Inna warriors grinned like hungry carnivores and fell into fighting stances, eagerly anticipating an exciting battle. But before they could make a move on their opponent there was a shout. “King Aikka! What are you doing?”

The king was surprised to see his mentor approaching. The elderly knight had arrived unnoticed and looked very displeased with what he saw. Aikka fixed his eyes upon him defiantly. “I am defending my honor, Canaan. Do not interfere.”

“I mean no disrespect, sire, but I see nothing honorable about this.” Canaan glared daggers at Ning and Skun. “These women are abusing their power as the Avatar’s chosen by stirring up contention.” He looked back at Aikka disapprovingly. “And you are making a scene in front of your future wife.”

Aikka had all but forgotten that Runa was still there. She stood behind her chair with her hands over her mouth fearing the worst. Seeing the girl so frightened made his stomach twist into a guilty knot. Canaan was right; he was letting his temper get the better of him. This was no way for a king to behave.

He looked down and noticed the gardener whimpering pathetically on the ground. Swinging his blade he sliced neatly through the vines binding him. Now free, the man quickly threw himself at the king’s feet and wept noisily. “Thank you, your majesty! Thank you for rescuing me from these savages! I am forever in your debt!”

The king was in no mood to deal with groveling at the moment. “Return to your duties now, gardener. There is still much work to be done.”

The man obediently picked himself up and hurried off down the path. Ning glared at him as he ran off. “That’s it? You’re just gonna let him go free?”

“I told you before, he is harmless,” Aikka said as he sheathed his weapon. “Do not mistreat my subjects again, or I will see to it that you are both given just punishment.”

Skun grumbled something as she shrank her nails back to normal length. The king chose to ignore her and looked back at his former mentor. “Was there another reason you came looking for me?”

The elderly knight’s face became worried as he gave a respectful bow. “Your highness, I fear I must bring you bad news. An urgent message has just arrived for you. It is from the Crogs.”

A shockwave swept through the group, then a dark and heavy cloud settled in. Everyone looked at the king, waiting for him to say something. Aikka’s face bore no expression but both hands were clenched into fists. “Take us to this message immediately. I have a feeling it is something all of us should hear.”

“You sure that’s a good idea?” Skun said. She glanced over at Runa. “It might be too much for your girlfriend to handle.”

Runa straightened herself up, mustering all the courage she could. She feared the Crogs more than Ning and Skun, but she could be brave for Aikka. “I will follow my king wherever he needs me.”

Canaan led the group to the palace in silence. He brought them to a secluded room where Queen Nori was already waiting. She exchanged an anxious look with her son and his companions as they entered. Runa joined the queen in her corner of the room while Ning and Skun stood behind Canaan and Aikka. The king said nothing as he took his place before a large round mirror on the wall, the only means of communication beyond his world. The glass flared up with aqua-tinted light and dimmed as the image of a Crog warrior became clearly visible. The transmission was on a one way frequency, a pre-recorded message sent from distant space. As the dark figure spoke his voice was tinged with some faint static but still rumbled low and deep with thinly veiled menace.

“Greetings, Aikka, King of Nourasia. I am Commander Kratos, leader of a group of renegades from the Crog Imperium. We are under orders from the Avatar to transport the Earth girl, Eva Wei, and her Guardians to your kingdom. Our mission is strictly one of protection. We are not to engage in fighting unless the safety of our charges is threatened. In two days we will arrive on your planet. We will then convey you and your Guardians to the planet Oban. We expect to be received peacefully.”

Here the Crog’s eyes squinted into hard yellow slits. “Do not attempt to attack us. Our warship is more than a match for the powers of your knights. Respond to this message promptly. This is Commander Kratos, signing off.”

The message ended and the image faded into nothing. Heavy silence fell, every eye focused on the king’s back. Aikka remained standing at the mirror with his jaw clenched firmly and trembling fists balled at his sides.

“Your highness …” Canaan said carefully. “Are you all right?”

Slowly, Aikka turned around and faced his companions. His face was an expressionless mask, his voice level and firm. “I need time to consider this matter.”

“Your highness,” Ning said, looking very solemn. “Time is exactly what we don’t have enough of. Kratos is bringing his warship here in two days. We need to be ready in case a battle breaks out.”

“There will be no battle,” Aikka said sternly. “I will not allow any more violence against my people.”

Canaan spoke again, his face lined with worry. “But sire, the Crogs are far too prone to violence. We cannot allow them into the Holy City, not after what happened last time.”

Aikka looked toward his mother and fiancée. Runa was holding the queen’s hand trying to calm her even though she was clearly just as distressed. They both had been present when the Crogs landed in the Holy City of Dol. They could clearly remember the Nourasian Knights trying to defend the capital. Despite their valiant efforts, the brutal Crog army surpassed them in strength and numbers. Within a single day, they broke through the defenses and took the city by force. Even King Lao had been forced to obey them without question.

Now Aikka knew how his father must have felt back then. He did not want history to repeat itself. The safety of his kingdom was at stake once more, but now Molly’s life could be in danger. If anything were to happen to her …

“We will continue our preparations as planned,” he said, addressing everyone at once. He was careful to keep his voice steady. “Say nothing of what you have heard until I announce my decision.”

The group then separated and returned to their individual duties. It was hard to pretend nothing was wrong. All the servants in the palace were trained to sense the moods of their masters and respond to their needs, especially the king. Earlier he had been in good spirits but now everyone could tell his mood had changed for the worse. Even Ning and Skun could sense it as they continued to shadow him. His smiles seemed strained, his comments were empty, and he denied any offers of help.

That evening, Aikka did not join his mother and fiancée for dinner. The two women waited for him for a long time. When it became obvious he would not appear they ate their cold meals in silence.

Queen Nori kept glancing at the empty seat, worrying for her son’s welfare as any decent mother would. “He should be eating,” she said eventually. “Aikka never eats properly when under too much stress. His father was the same way.”

Runa nodded her head in agreement. “Perhaps we should bring him some food. He will need all the strength he can get for the days ahead.”

“Yes, you are right. I will have a servant deliver a meal to his room.”

“Well, actually, I had hoped to take it to him myself …” Runa said, twisting her fingers under the table.

Nori gave the younger woman a weary yet sincere smile. “You are so kind to him, Runa. You will make him a fine bride and queen.”

The compliment brought a rosy blush to Runa’s cheeks. “Th-thank you, your majesty.” she said, bowing her head out of both humility and embarrassment. “I am honored to serve the king however I can.”

Nori had the cooks prepare a tray and selected the food she deemed healthiest for her busy son. When it was ready, Runa carried the simple meal to his chambers. The two Inna warriors were standing guard on either side of the doors like living gargoyles. Skun leaned against the wall with her arms folded and Ning polished what appeared to be a small laser pistol. They both heard Runa approaching long before they saw her. They eyed her suspiciously but made no move to attack.

The Nourasian girl remained fearful of the strange women, but she did her best to be polite nonetheless. She gave a humble bow and smiled bravely. “Good evening, honored ladies. May I have your permission to see the king?”

The women exchanged a look and silently agreed that the girl was harmless. “Sure, go ahead,” Skun said. “He was pacing around a while ago, but he’s pretty quiet right now.”

“See if you can cheer him up,” Ning said. “It’s no fun protecting him when he’s gloomy.”

They pushed the doors open for her to enter. Runa gave a grateful bow and stepped inside. The king’s chambers were completely silent and quite dark, illuminated by a few small lamps hanging from the ceiling. She found Aikka in his study. He was seated on the floor by the window, his legs crossed and eyes closed in meditation. Immediately she felt guilty for invading his privacy and stood perfectly still in the doorway, wondering what to do. She decided to try leaving the meal on his desk and then sneak away without disturbing him.

Quietly she held her breath and tip-toed across the floor. She had only gone as far as five steps when Aikka suddenly turned his head and looked directly at her. Runa froze like a cornered animal, heart pounding furiously. Quickly she remembered her manners and bowed deeply. “P-please forgive me, your highness! I did not mean to intrude!”

Aikka arched a brow, amused by her flustered behavior. “It’s all right, Runa. What do you have there?”

She stood stiffly and held up the tray for him to see. “I … I thought you might be hungry … I brought you some food.”

He turned back to the window, hiding his face from her. “I will eat later.”

Runa took a brave step forward. “Your highness, you must keep your strength up. You cannot rule a kingdom properly if you neglect your own health.”

“Very well … Bring it here.” This request seemed odd to her but Runa did as she was told. She walked over and knelt beside him, placing the tray on the floor between them. She was about to stand again but his hand landed suddenly on her shoulder. His blue eyes were looking straight into hers. “Stay.”

Runa could not resist. Her knees melted instantly. Aikka removed his hand from her shoulder and gazed out the window once more. She studied his face silently. To others the expression he wore would seem an unreadable mask, but she saw a subtle tension there that betrayed his emotions.

“My lord,” she said softly. “Please tell me what is wrong.”

Aikka’s facade of strength finally crumbled. His shoulders sagged, his head bowed and his long ears drooped under the weight of an immense burden. “Everything,” he said despairingly. “I do not understand why the Avatar is letting this happen.”

She tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

“Back when I knew him, Jordan despised the Crogs as much as I did. He was also fiercely protective of Molly. It does not make sense for him to place his own partner into the hands of his enemies.”

Runa frowned and looked out the window at the night sky. She could sense Aikka had more to say, and waited for him to continue.

“He distrusted me, as well. To him I was ‘the Lapdog of the Crogs.’ Perhaps this is his idea of a cruel joke. Or perhaps this is not his work at all. Canaletto could be the one who is really behind this.” He groaned, sinking deeper into despair. “In any case, my options are few. I must let these Crogs come to Nourasia, or risk losing everything. My people will hate me, but it is the only choice I can make.”

He fell silent and stared out the window again. Runa pondered his words for a moment before making her reply. “No one will hate you, your highness. You are doing the best you can in a difficult situation. That is what your code says you must do. It is what your father did, and what all good kings before you have done.”

Aikka closed his eyes and bowed his head even lower. “This burden is too great for one man to bear. I do not feel I have the strength all those kings before me did.”

Runa gazed at him directly and spoke with firm conviction in her voice. “You do, Aikka. You have more strength than you realize. This is just the first of many obstacles you will conquer. One day, you will surpass all the kings before you and lead this kingdom to a brighter future.”

Aikka looked back at her in surprise. She had called him by name again, the second time in a single day. “Do you really believe that?”

She smiled at him warmly. “I do not just believe it. I know it. I will always support you, my king. No matter what trials may come, I will stand by your side.” She pushed the tray on the floor closer to him. “Now eat, before your meal grows cold.”

A shaky smile formed on Aikka’s lips. As he ate the food she brought him, he felt his burden grow somewhat lighter.