Time to strike

Well, here goes nothing, Taira thought as she saw Yuuro walk up to the guard. Of course it was risky… it had been risky from the start, but they still had to try. She glanced at Stelline, but her unicorn sister looked more confident than she was. Ever since they had heard Shanjahen’s speech, now three days ago, Stelline had been certain this is what she could do to help. Surely her presence as an actual unicorn would make an appointment with the High King so much easier, which is something Taira knew as well.

However, Stelline was a woman, which was not something they could easily deny. Considering Shanjahen’s recent policy regarding women, Taira was worried that this might become a problem, but it was a risk they had to take. Getting in touch with him was their main problem, after all. They didn’t even know why Shanjahen was looking for a unicorn, after all.

Yuuro waved at them, signalling that it was okay, and they approached him.
“We’re allowed to enter and see one of the High King’s councillors. He’ll decide if we are allowed to advance to the High King.” Yuuro explained.
The four of them followed one of the guards who let them inside the building. Of course they were not allowed on the castle grounds yet, so they met the councillor in a large building close to the castle gates.

The building was richly decorated inside. The red carpet on the floor looked as if it belonged in a palace, and the beautiful paintings on the walls contrasted nicely with the light yellow walls. They were led to a room near the back of the building, which had large windows that looked out over a majestic garden shining brightly with prana. Even though she had seen gardens like this for days now, it didn’t cease to amaze Taira.

A light grey pony with dark red mane greeted them from the other side of his dark wooden desk.
“Welcome, welcome, dear ponies. My name is Rahel.”
“My name is Yuuro, and this are Taira, Hikary and Stelline.” Yuuro introduced them. Stelline was, of course, still wearing a hat to hide her horn.

“I heard you want to arrange a meeting with the High King regarding the request he made during the summer fair.” Rahel said.
“That’s correct. We believe we can help the High King with his search for a unicorn.” Yuuro said.
“I see. Well, you will have to understand, I can not just let you visit the High King. He hardly ever meets any commoners, and unless you have some vital information I…”

Rahel stared at Stelline, who had taken off her hat now. Her silver horn was shining nicely, and Rahel’s mouth fell open in surprise.
“You see… we would really like to meet the High King.” Yuuro said once more.
“Ah… but… yes… I’ll have it arranged…” Rahel said as he stumbled out of the room.

An hour later, the large gates of the palace garden opened in front of them. Escorted by four guards, they entered the palace grounds. The garden was gorgeous, of course, but Taira didn’t pay much attention to all the different flowers, structures, bridges and paths. She was focussed on the castle in front of her. Its square castle towers towered over the garden filling most of it with shadows. The windows were closed, and so was the large wooden door.

The door opened miraculously when they appeared before it and they entered the hallway. It was large, like the rest of the castle, and both the walls and the ceiling were richly decorated with paintings and special tokens, but as there were no windows the only light came from large candles that hung on the walls, which made the drawings hard to see.

“This way.” One of the guards stated shortly and led them through a door into a long stretched hall.
They passed several doors and were finally led into a very large room. It didn’t really look like a throne room as there was no throne, but it was definitely as large as the throne room in their castle in the Friendship Lands. There was a huge desk in front of the only window the room had. The window was high, but not very broad.

The huge desk was empty, as was most of the room except for a few chairs.
“Please sit. The High King will attend to you shortly.” One of the guards said.
Two of the guards remained behind as the other two left, and Taira and the others did as they were told and sat down. The room was dark and empty, and Taira wondered if there wasn’t a better way to receive guests as a High King. Surely her throne room didn’t leave such an impression on her guests?

They waited for what seemed like ages. It was about noon when they had entered the councillor’s room, but now the sun was already setting outside. None of them dared to speak because of the guards that were standing at the door. Looking at the window, Taira realized it could not be opened.

Finally, the door of the room opened, and High King Shanjahen entered. He looked way less impressive than he had done during his speech, without the prana surrounding him, but he was still a tall and proud pony, well aware of his importance in this world. They got up and bowed deeply before him. He was, after all, the High King of the west.

“Greetings, High King. It is an honour that you grant us this audience.” Yuuro said. Shanjahen did not reply. He walked to the other side of the large desk and sat down, glancing at Stelline.
“So… explain to me, how did a woman end up being a unicorn?” he asked Yuuro.
Taira noticed he did not even glance at the others, nor did he introduce himself. She had to suppress the urge to tell him that they, too, were royals, worthy of his recognition.

“Allow me to explain, your majesty.” Yuuro said. “We… are from the east. As you might be aware in the east there is no prana, but a different power only women wield. It is said, that sometimes a male gets born with a small ability to wield these powers also. Should he get a child together with a woman who is strong with the eastern powers, his own power might get transferred into the baby, creating a unicorn child.”

Shanjahen did not reply right away. He simply stared at Stelline, and Taira could see Stelline did not know whether to stare back at him or not.
“So… you are simply the product of the fact that your father was able to wield those… powers you say you have in the east. How interesting.”
He stared at Stelline directly, and Taira could feel her sister growing more uncomfortable.

“My lord… We gathered from your speech you were looking for a unicorn. Stelline here is my family, as my older brother has married her niece. Could you maybe explain to us why it is you seek a unicorn?” Yuuro asked.
“I desire something, and according to an old prophecy, a unicorn is required for this.” Shanjahen stated, and from the look of his eyes Taira could tell he wasn’t going to tell more.

“High King Shanjahen…” Stelline began. Taira could see he was disgusted by the mere fact that a woman dared to address him. Still, Stelline went on.
“I understand a pony of my kind is necessary for whatever it is you wish to achieve. I will happily help you in any way I can, but there is one request I would like to make.” Shanjahen stared at her, wondering how a mere woman dared to request something of him. Still, he acknowledged the fact he needed Stelline and he probably needed her help willingly.

“Yes?” He said finally.
“You see, my family and I, we travelled here all the way from the east because we are looking for an artefact… an item we need to possibly save the entire world. My sister Hikary here… she heard a prophecy that we need to collect all five guardian stones to allow the guardians back into this world so they can save it from darkness. As you miht have noticed, the stars in the sky are fading… and once they’re all gone, nothing can save this world from certain doom.” Stelline explained.

Taira could not make out the expression on Shanjahen’s face. He seemed surprised for sure, and after a few moments he even smiled. But Taira missed something… sincerity.
“I see. Well young lady, that is an interesting story you told me there. How about this proposal? You come with me so I can show you what your role would be in my research, while one of my guards brings your family to our extensive library where you can do research? I will promise I will have ponies look into the matter as well.” Shanjahen proposed.

“That sounds… fair.” Stelline said.
She was obviously a bit uneasy to be alone with the High King, but the proposal was so good they could hardly refuse it. Indeed, if they refused it they probably wouldn’t get another chance. Shanjahen nodded, and called for a guard, who came trotting in only a few moments later.
“Please, dear man, could you show these ponies the library?” He asked.

“Of course, your majesty.” The guard said, and bowed before his king. “Please follow me.” He continued towards Taira and the others, and they followed the guard.
“Good luck, Stelline. Don’t do anything you don’t want to do.” Taira whispered in their own language, and Stelline nodded.
“Don’t worry.” Stelline reassured her.

While they followed the guards through the hallways of the large castle, Taira began to ponder the events. Shanjahen had been rather eager to help them, while he had seemed rather hostile in the beginning of their conversation. And he hadn’t seemed remotely interested in their story about the stones, while it should be a rather shocking story indeed… did he simply not take them serious, or did he know more about this than he let on?

“Down here, please.” The guard said, as he opened a door. Taira could see behind the door was a staircase that would lead them down.
“The library is downstairs in the basement?” Yuuro asked, surprised.
“Yes. We keep the books there to shield them from the sun and elements. It has proven to be very good for the books as the temperature is constant and there is little light.” The guard replied.

“Fair enough.” Yuuro replied, and he followed the guard.
Hikary and Taira followed them too. The stairway was dark and only lit by a few torches. There was a red carpet on the floor which abruptly ended when they reached the bottom. They were in a square room now with several doors, and a smaller hallway across the room. The room was better lit but Taira didn’t like it at all; if the library was here why were the walls bare and why was there nothing to decorate the floor? The rest of the castle was so nicely decorated it was just plain odd that such a public section would look so poor.

The guard led them in the hallway across the room, and Taira saw there were doors on each side, but they had no windows and all were closed, so she could not look inside them. They stopped walking at some point, and the guard opened one of the doors.
“In here please.” The guard said.
“That’s no library…” Yuuro hissed, and Taira quickly turned, eager to dash off. On the other side of the hallway, however, she could see at least three more guards coming towards them.

“It was a trap…” Hikary whispered.
“And we were too stupid to fall for it.” Taira added. She looked desperately for a way out, but there was none. She couldn’t fight; these soldiers surely knew how to use prana in combat. They couldn’t use their own powers here. The guards forced them into what appeared to be a square prison, without any window or light, and closed the door behind them.

While she heard the guard lock the door, Taira said: “He tricked us… the High King betrayed our trust.”
“That he did, Taira… and what of Stelline? What will happen to her now? What will he use her for?” Hikary panicked. I don’t know… I don’t know. But we’ll have to get out of here, as soon as possible.” Yuuro said.
Taira agreed to this wholeheartedly, but she had no idea how… they were effectively locked up inside the castle of the High King… and somehow she didn’t think getting out would be as breaking the door