Three days

Two days were spent not doing much of anything and the third spent getting to the capital. Limira and I stepped out of the carriage we rented having finally arrived at the king's palace. The building wasn't much to look at on the outside but inside it was a picture from a fairytale. Tall and thick pillars from floor to ceiling, black marble floors, large drapes hanging to frame equally large windows.

At the end of a ridiculously long purple carpet in the middle of the room, a raised platform with a single chair holding the weight of a man I presumed to be the king, but I could only describe as being 'rotund'. There was no regal or royal air about him. The woman behind him, on the other hand, was almost hypnotizing to look at.

After what seemed like another full day of waiting, a stalky man in some almost comical clothing, who I learned had the job of announcing each petitioner to see the king, called Limira and I forward.

" Petitioners to the throne for recognition of status and witness to the claim, Rath Cambson, and Limira Fairbarin. Approach the throne and be heard. "

Huh, so that's her last name

Limira led me to the end of the carpet and stopped at its edge then knelt. I just stood there very obviously looking past the king and at the woman behind him while she spoke.

"Your majesty I have brought this man as a witness to his claim of status."

I would have continued to stare past the man but his voice drew my attention, not because it commanded respect or had any special charm.. I just couldn't believe something so hilarious was actually someone's voice. He sounded like Alvin the chipmunk has sucked on a helium balloon, it took every bit of me to keep from falling down laughing.

"What rank does this man seek to claim and what proof do you each bear to base this claim upon?"