King Shadow|Skyheort, Talen'sul

[Northen Light36]

"I have to," Shadow admits and Flash nods in agreement. "I'll understand if you'd rather stay here though, dearest," Shadow continues, although a selfish part of him doesn't want to leave his wife for any amount of time.

[Kender Bard]

"No, no," she says hastily. "I think at this point I should be with you there as well. The Storms need to see the gentle side of my land and my people, and I hope to foster a positive image before it turns into something ugly. We should leave immediately while the weather is fair. When do you propose?"

[Northen Light36]

"Well, let's see when Damien's planning to leave," Shadow suggests. "He'll be heading through Maelstorm, so we can travel at least that far as a group." Chuckling, Shadow adds with a mischievious grin, "And if the servants think they'll have to deal with Damien, they might rather stay here and Damien won't notice if we slip off every now and then for some time to ourselves."

"Did I hear my name?" Damien remarks from the other side of the bedroom door, accompanied by Ann's giggling. "Are you two decent yet?"

[Kender Bard]

"Yes, come in, it's a party in here," Lya laughed. "We were just talking about heading back to Maelstrom; the whole family."

[Northen Light36]

Damien walks in with Ann, the child instantly running to flop onto Lya and Shadow's bed. "Well, I'm planning to head home either today or tomorrow. Got to get home with enough time to spread the word we will be having a Sun fest this summer," he comments. "When are you two planning to leave? I'll make sure your kid is escorted home safely, or you two can tag along to Fira and pick up the girl yourselves."

"Sun fest, sun fest, sun fest," Ann giggles excitedly to herself, bouncing a little on the bed.

[Kender Bard]

Lya glances at Ann and smiles before answering Damien, "While I would prefer to get Luminous myself, I just know we're going to be very busy in Maelstrom, and it's better to get that work done now rather than later. I hate to ask you to do this, but could you send an escort with Luminous home?"

[Northen Light36]

"It's not a problem," Damien replies.

"I can take Lumi home," Ann offers. Damien chuckles.

"If you keep spending so much time away from home, the clan will think you don't like them," he replies. "I'll send one of the adults." He looks over at Shadow. "When do you want to leave then?"

"How about tomorrow morning?" Shadow suggests, glancing at Lya to see what she thinks.

[Kender Bard]

"That's not a problem for me," she said simply. Smiling, she added, "It's about time Saph and Laura got back to their duties as well, and Salacia and Twilight will need to see Maelstrom in order to make plans for where to put their people."

[Northen Light36]

Shadow and Damien nod. "Tomorrow morning it is then," Damien agrees. Ann, having been listening to the conversation and sneaking things off the breakfast table, suddenly has an idea and speaks up.

"Queen Lya? King Shadow? Can you and Lumi come to the Sun Fest? It's lots of fun and there's lots of kids for Lumi to play with."

[Kender Bard]

Lya hesitated, wondering if there would be time. On one hand she wasn't sure if they'd have everything sorted out by summer. On the other hand, by summer, she sure would likely want a break.

"I don't see how it could hurt," she finally decided cautiously, though felt butterflies in her stomach. "I don't think I've had the opportunity to visit Naurorod during a holiday."

[Northen Light36]

"I can't think of the last time you visited Naurorod at all," Damien comments dryly. He and Shadow exchange thoughtful looks.

"I think we could probably make the time," Shadow comments thoughtfully, then looks at Ann. "I'm not promising anything though."

"Okay," agrees Ann, grinning hugely. "This is going to be great!" she adds excitedly. Damien shakes his head at Shadow's warning going straight over the child's head.

"A word of advice for the future," he remarks to Shadow and Lya. "Don't tell your daughter anything exciting until the day of the event."

[Kender Bard]

"I'll keep that in mind," Lya laughed. "Well, we had better get packed, and I need to inform Vortai that he'll be moving along with us. I hope that won't be any trouble for him. I leave the servants in your capable hands, my dear." Lya kissed Shadow's cheek and left the room to go find Vortai.

[Northen Light36]

"Come on trouble, come help me pack," Damien sighes, steering Ann out of the room. Laughing, Shadow heads off to make the needed arangements for the trip.

[adris]

Vortai had made his way to the palace immediately after his meeting with his brother ended. He was looking for Lya to find out what he is to do in the near future. Figuring the best spot to find her would be her chambers, not to be gutter minded but she did just get her husband who she thought to be dead back. He happened to see Lya in the hallway and attempted to catch her attention in the most polite way he could manage.

"Queen Lya, may I have a moment of your time please?"

He really just needed to know the state of his charge, then he is content to leaving the woman alone for a long time. He wasn't about to admit it in front of his family, but deep down he was worried sick about the princess while she was gone.

[Kender Bard]

"Oh Vortai," Lya says with a start, hand fluttering to rest over her heart. "You surprised me. I've been looking for you. What is it that you need, though?"