Rick felt it before he even saw it. That oppressive atmosphere that made all of his warrior instincts snap into high alert.
He wasn't sick for long. Before he even knew what he was doing, a wisp of white flame flickered into existence and cleaned his face. It then flashed into the container and burned everything in there as well.
Rick had no control over it, but he stood ramrod straight and looked ahead as if everything was under his control nonetheless.
And that is when his knees hit the floor.
He was in the presence of the king.
The Teleportation circle was not set in some room off to the edge, not away from critical areas.
No, It was in the very center of the court of Vaught, in the beating heart of Valenthir. It was built right into the middle of the throne room.
It was directly before the throne, as if an open statement that the Royal family feared no one foolish enough to attack them right at the center of their seat of power.
And all who entered the throne room had to kneel. The had to show that they knew their place, before all else.
The Royals were really good at politics.
Ancient sigils were etched into the floor. This floor was made out of an amalgamation of liquid gold and star-glass.
The floor seemed to move underneath the feet of all who stood on it, even having a faint glow. That was a subtle security feature, Rick noted.
Runes shimmered in it in captivating constellations, arranging and rearranging themselves slowly, like a quiet arcane artificial intelligence.
Directly beyond the magnificent circle, there was the throne.
It was a simple seat, but it oppressed and dominated the entire room. It was forged from sun-forged gold and was veined with white aetherstone.
It seemed invioble and divine in presence. Its back stretched high. It was shaped like the unfurled wings of a phoenix mid-beat.
Each and every edge was etched with moving enchantments. They weren't decorative, but thrummed and faintly glowed with power.
And yet, for all of its might, the throne looked impossibly comfortable.
The seat was layered with cushions woven from what looked like golden phoenix feathers.
It gave of the impression of the kind of seat with just the right amount of support for the absurdly decadent amount of comfort it gave.
The armrests were carved into the relief of a beast, though Rick could not place it. The eyes of the roaring beasts were jewelled with what looked like liquid fire.
That throne had presence. In that moment, Rick understood a bit. He would probably go to war to sit in a chair like that.
One's eyes couldn't help but want to be drawn to it. The throne had presence.
But the rest of the seats in the room were no slouches either.
Rick quickly turned around to sneak a peek.
Around and in front of the throne, the chamber opened into a vast, semicircular rise, like an imperial amphitheater.
Platforms ascended in layered areas.
Directly ahead of the throne were two seats.
It should be noted that although called seats, they were platforms. There were multiple places to actually sit there, just like there were 3 other seats in the throne. The throneroom was always aware of all the members of a bloodline that existed, and which ones were the main ones.
The 2 seats across from the King were luxurious and opulent, decked out in silver and gold as well. They were just a notch below the luxury of the King, but not enough to actually matter. They were the Ducal Seats.
Behind them were the 3 Earls and slightly behind the 6 Marquises. But they were very clearly and evidently lesser than the 3 royal Seats. And Behind them were the lesser nobles, who were sat in accordance to the faction they supported.
Everyone who mattered was already seated in the throneroom. It felt like the Albrechts had just walked into a discussion they weren't supposed to be part of.
The entire hall was dead silent too. All eyes on the Bright Family.
"You always did have a flair for dramatic entrances, cousin" said the King.
"Forgive me your Majesty, but My name is apt, Bright things such as the spotlight can't help but bestow me with their grace. Just look at the radiant honor I have right now of being in your presence, how exquisite." the Baron answered, eyes glued to the feet of the monarch.
"Hmph, slick with your words as usual I see. Take your seat, Baron."
The Brights lifted themselves up, gave a bow to the King, and then went to the empty Ducal seat.
The other Duke snorted.
"What right do you have to sit there, Bright? You are not a Duke anymore. Know your place." The ice duke practically huffed.
The Baron used his pinky to pick at his ear.
"Do you hear a dog barking? That's weird, I thought all of the king's dogs were well-trained. I guess one really did slip through the cracks."
"You dare-" Rick's heart practically jumped into his throat. That guy was doing the thing! Saying the words! He was just a few insults shy of saying the legendary spell of cannon fodder.
"And why not dare? I can sit here because I am strong, and of the blood of the King. What? got a problem with me?"
"Courting Death!" Rick almost squealed. The rest of the court murmured. Cannon fodder had appeared.
"Order in my court. I will not have my dukes squabble like school children in my own throne room. Ikos, you know as well as I that Bright can sit there and only there. Stop prodding him. We have bigger issues" The king interrupted,
Normally he would let all of this play out, and he would be the oriole behind the mantis, but the situation called for no games.
"I'm sure the dukes and Earls have sensed this. We are at the cusp of a new era, this is why I have summoned all the nobility of the kingdom. The time for change is upon us. Do you stand with me?"
"At your will!" The entire court replied.