Safety in the Castle

"Isn't the Mountain safer though?" Lexie questions you as the two of you walk hand in hand over towards the Villa to get Zoe.

"Well, yeah, I mean..." you scratch your head "I would bring all you guys to my chambers where I know it'd be extremely safe but it's a smaller room...and to fit four of us in there..." you glance at Lexie who just smirks back as she knows some of the stories of what has happened in your chambers "But I'd feel better if I could keep my eyes on all of you, ya know...make sure you're all safe. Plus the castle will have more to do, more space to walk around, more food."

"Aww, so caring." she grips your hand a little tighter.

"Plus come on, you think Karisi could live without her servants and people bending their knees to her if I brought her into the mountain for the night?" you laugh "Oh boy she probably wouldn't survive!" the two of you chuckle together.

As you reach the Villa and make your way towards Zoe's room you continue to spread the word about the oncoming storm. Telling Sunriders, Warriors and Civilians alike to make sure to stay indoors and weather out the storm. It looked awfully powerful from the long distance away and it was coating the entire ground with constant lightning strikes so you knew you didn't want to be outside during it.

With a knock on the door you slowly push it open and even though it's still a couple hours later, Zoe is still trying to rest on her bed. "Oh Zooooeeee..." Lexie's chipper tone rings out as she walks over to the bed "This is so unlike you! Sleeping in so late!" her voice is so happy.

"Feeeeel better but..." she rolls to look at Lexie as her eyes barely open "Head. Hurts. Ughhhh...."

"Up up up up!" Lexie grabs her arm and begins to pull her out of bed "Movement, fresh air and some water will help! Come on, a storm's coming and we need to get to the castle!"

"A...storm?" Zoe questions "Here?"

"Never seen one up here in the Syndicate before..." Lexie let's out "Usually they are always farther south but Darien said it looked powerful so we're going to the castle to hunker down with Karisi."

"Yeah, it looked quite spectacular from the distance but there isn't much time left before it starts to pelt us with it's power. The sooner we get to the castle the better." you inform Zoe.

"Just...so tired." Zoe pushes herself up in bed and looks like a complete mess.

"I'm sure there are some potions in the castle that will help you feel better or at least give you some more energy. Also, grabbing some food and drink in the castle should help!" Lexie decides.

"Ugh, no more drinks..." Zoe grumbles as she swings her legs off the bed.

Lexie laughs at the inexperienced Sunrider and helps her up, helps her get on some proper clothes and then holds her arm as your two High Commanders exit her Villa.

Even during your walk up from the mountain towards the Villa to get Zoe the temperature has dropped multiple degrees, the wind has started to pick up and the skies are slowly getting darker and darker.

It isn't long before Lexie, Zoe and yourself are walking side by side to the castle. Lexie and you are doing just fine as it's just another day with each other's company. Zoe on the other hand, is still tired and somewhat out of it. It's quite the change of pace compared to her normal can't-shut-her-up self.

You actually just make it to the castle right as the sky begins to break and a few droplets of water start to rain from above. It is still building up so it's nothing too terrifying at the moment but the cold water from the sky did feel quite refreshing compared to the normally parched desert air. The sound of rumbles and thunder echo through out the skies in the west as the heart of the storm is getting closer and closer.

"Whoa..." Zoe's voice perks up a bit as she leaps herself inside the castle doors "That sounds big..."

To the Throne room you three go, just assuming Karisi will be there so you can let her know your plan of the four of you hanging out together for the entire storm. You didn't know if Karisi would approve of it but you wouldn't take no for an answer. In your mind, you knew this storm was powerful, you knew it was a freak occurrence here in the Syndicate and you knew you wanted to keep these three women safe no matter what.

It was actually quite surprising because there wasn't really too many guards through out the castle. You figured maybe Karisi already knew the storm was coming and told them to either go home to their loved ones or to lay low here in the castle as well.

The marble floors and decorated walls were a little more dim than usual as normally plenty of sunlight cascades through the windows but with clouds overtaking the skies made the entire castle feel a little more mysterious as shade was flowing through it's halls.

As you open the Throne room and look ahead you see a door in the distance close almost immediately after the three of you open the door you step in from. Karisi turns away from the door which just closed and looks back at the three of you "U-Uhh...Hello!" she seemed to be flustered and a little surprised by your random interruption.

"In the middle of something?" you look at Karisi's face which is a softer shade of red. "Who was that?"

"N-Nobody. Nothing." she almost stomps her foot down, catches her breath and then turns into her normal self "Just, don't worry about it" she replies "Holding up in the castle for the storm?" she immediately rebuttals.

You just squint your eyes at Karisi and give her a glance letting her know this conversation isn't over "Of course, I want to make sure my three ladies are watched over." you wrap an arm around each of Lexie and Zoe's waist and pull them into your body "And I figure it would be fun to hang out, the four of us, catch up, have a good time and just ride this storm out."

"Yeah Queen Karisi!" Lexie smiles "What do you say?" she tilts her head with a quizzical look.

Karisi looks between yourself, Lexie and then Zoe "What's wrong with her?" she questions with a nod at your black haired Sunrider.

"Hungover" you laugh out loud causing Zoe to wince from your loud voice.

"I'll get something worked up for you. A potion of sorts, should help hydrate and energize the body." Karisi smiles "But come on, if we go to the west wing of the castle we can probably watch the storm roll in. Seeing the wind, the rain, the lightning, it can be quite the sight to withhold." she goes on. "I use to love watching the storms roll in back in Rathkin."

You actually didn't know that about Queen Karisi as she generally kept a lot of her personal stories and facts about her life more on the hidden side. "Come on, let's go" you step forward and wave the three ladies on "It's already starting to rain and by the sound of it the wind and rumbles are picking up. Let's go take a look for a bit then get back to the center of the castle and hunker down!"