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Ost was still ready to kill this traitor's son even after his cargo became clear. However, he was no longer concerned about the family attacking. They were clearly beyond such ambitions. But, another concern replaced it. For a demon to successfully slay multiple senior family members was quite a rarity. That he seemed to have avoided serious harm was amazing, and unsettling. While his sword was ready to obey any order, Ost now wondered whether or not he would be enough to stop the demon in front of him. Though, the king's decision would likely make that concern irrelivent for the immediate future. While his mind kept working, nothing changed in his expression. He was as boring of face as ever.

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Shale followed the king's reasoning and felt some little sense of pride that he had calculated correctly in bringing so much proof with him. King Lareth had a good point regarding his name though. The name of Azuranal had been tainted for too long to be repaired. It must instead be replaced or forgotten. However, he had never thought that he might annihilate his link to that legacy without paying with his life. The king's offer was very generous. Shale would not hesitate or fail to serve. However, the real question now was what name to choose.

Then he remembered a rare and dangerous creature native to the wasteland region where he had been raised, a sleek pack predator that flew with two sets of wings for short distances and would turn on any pack member that refused to obey, shredding them without hesitation. A creature admired in art for beauty and grace and in martial circles for magnificent strategic instinct. Elkeil, wind-reapers. The only simple beast that could challenge most demons in combat without magical aid. Shale's decision had been made and he bowed, placing his right hand over his heart as he intoned his reply in the formal form.

"I entered this chamber as the last of the house of Azuranal. By your majesty's will, I will leave it as the first bearer of the honorable name of Elkeil. May the future find it to be as worthy as he whose magnanimity granted it being."

Shale moved forward and signed the record of his new name, then he placed his dry thumb where the blood print was to go. When he took his thumb away there was a perfect thumbprint in blood left behind though his thumb was uninjured. Control of one's own blood is a rare gift, but a useful one.

The state of the family estates was not something that Shale had concerned himself with as he would probably have demolished it and started over anyway. Staying in the castle was no burden. He would be more directly at his king's disposal and in a better position to become indispensable. Being shown to his quarters by the king himself was not the kind of thing Shale expected but he chalked that one up to the changes in court manners since his family's exile.

"Yes, your Majesty." He said simply. The king was busy and visibly tired so it was unlikely that he would appreciate a long description of how much his generosity humbled his newest follower. After all, Shale might have a new name but the only title he ever held was 'exile'. There was going to be a long list of things to do and a longer list of things to learn.

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Ost simply waited at the ready in case something changed and his sword was still required. When it became clear that that was not immediately necessary he withdrew his sword back into his left arm. He could still call it in an instant but it would be rude to have a bared blade in the presence of those of higher rank and age who he did not have to kill. So, he prepared to follow his king as instructed. Though, he was never comfortable inside the castle proper. He felt vulnerable in here without access to his titan aspect.

"As you wish, my King." He said smoothly. He had some pleasure at being back to aiding his ruler but, as usual, none of his reactions showed at all. At one point Ost had wondered whether or not his King found him dull. Then he realized that it hardly mattered whether or not he knew what king Lareth thought of him. He would obey regardless.

All that's needed is a drop of....blood



Kael sauntered into the Throne room as if he'd never left the castle all those centuries ago. He'd dressed himself in a fine black silk shirt with swirling crimson designs embroidered on it, black and crimson leather pants and supple black leather boots. When Gypsy had left him in her tower, the Demon Lord had taken a short nap before dressing and leaving himself.

Now, he walked the room, re-aquainting himself with it's layout. Before long, Kael strode up to the throne and sat in it, awaiting either Gypsy or his old friend Lareth to appear. He conjured up a small flame to entertain himself and set it dancing between his fingers. The Demon Lord wondered just how Lareth would react to him still being alive and sitting in his throne, just like he used to back in the day. All he had to do was wait...

Ost truly had nothing to say to his King's doubts and fears. The movements of His Majesty's heart were swift and seemingly fickle. The King was like fire and so believed that all others were as he was. Ost was not like fire. Ice does not change its course unless forced to. It simply would not happen. He had been set on a path between his King and danger. So, he would continue.

However, outside the throne room he was given a question that required a difficult and uncomfortable reply. Ost was still quite young by normal standards in the Demon realm, only two and a half centuries old. Many of those he protected and their enemies were far older. He had only achieved his present level of power and skill through specializing excessively. Penetrating a disguise was one thing. Crafting one would be a different matter altogether. Although, he could use a similar method to the ward web... He interrupted his thoughts when he realized that he had been silent for too many seconds for the delay to go unnoticed.

"My skill in disguise is limited to the obvious and opaque, your Majesty." Ost said with his usual flatly smooth voice. "As guardian I have thought little about concealing myself." While he knew that a defense could be made stronger by surprise and stealth, just like an attack, he had simply not had enough years to diversify his skills that far. "I am able to conceal myself or alter the appearance of an area or object but while anything under the illusion would be concealed thoroughly, the fact that an illusion is in place would be obvious to anyone with more than nominal skills."

Ost understood the orders given by his King. He also understood that he had, again, lost a portion of his King's confidence. But, he did not know how. If King Lareth had expected an emotional response from the half-titan then he must be so distracted by the enormous number of things requiring his attention that he forgot that Ost's nature was more closely tied to primal ice than to his demon heritage. He either showed nothing, or everything. And, very recently, he had showed everything and been set down for it, harshly. He was not the kind to repeat such an embarrassing mistake.

Yet, for now, there was nothing he could do but obey. He knelt to his monarch's back as he entered the throne room before turning and running through the halls. He was far faster and quieter than most would expect. He could not disguise himself; he could not help with the scheming of politics; he could not protect his king from the many personal stresses and distractions that were piling up on top of him; he could not satisfy his King with his abilities or loyalty. While his appearance showed nothing, the wards tightened ever so slightly with his growing frustration at not being of greater service. He was beginning to feel as though he would never be able to feel his King's approval again. But ice never changes its course.

((Exit))

Lareth simply gave him a look that said; 'Go off and die again for all I care' before his facial expression changed to curiosity as he caught the tossed token.

He held it in his hand and looked it over and listened to what Kael had to say. When he was done speaking his peace, Lareth looked at him instead of the coin.

"...so instead of simply saying, 'I have to go' it was better to fake your death....humph. Childish thinking...even for you."

He flipped the coin back to Kael.

"But you didn't come back to hear me whine and gripe about how angry I am with you."

Lareth shoved his hands into his pockets and wondered what was so damn important that the fool before him was no longer smiling.

" So tell me Kael, what is it that you found that even has a chuckling bum like you, worried."

Lareth frowned as they were interrupted. When he saw it was Gypsy, he didn't care as she would find out about what Kael was going to tell him later on anyway.

But Kael didn't get a chance to answer as Gypsy told Lareth about the battle and then proceeded to scold him about whom he should be an a** to. He rolled his eyes as he turned back to Kael as she turned to leave.

He had noticed the look Gypsy had given Kael and noticed the glint in the mans eye. If he could kill them both he would have, as he knew something had happened between the two of them.

Then there was a thump and Lareth turned back to her and saw her out on the floor.

He said nothing as he sighed and conjured up a cot nearby. Then he picked her up and dumped her unceremoniously onto it. He went back to Kael and spoke.

"I don't know what your about to tell me but hold off on that. Just watch your new 'friend' here. Apparently I have to check up on a incubus who is pouting in his coma."

Lareth left Gypsy to Kael as he went to find Ash who was wallowing in his own self inflicted sadness, in a coma.