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Kalore sighed and nodded. That did make sense to him… “I guess that’s sensible…” He listened to her, soon leaning back against the wall and just looking up onto the ceiling. Kalore found that he truly couldn’t get angry about all of this. He wanted to, he really did want to, but he just didn’t have it in him at this moment. Glancing over at the other again, he sighed softly before slowly nodding again. “You know… I wanted really badly to get you in here when I realized who you were, Gambler…” He spoke for a bit, just watching her with the slightest smile on his lips. “But… I’m not mad… it’s weird, really.” Another shrug and he pushed himself off the wall, sighing again before gesturing at the door.

“I’d like to talk to you, Gambler… actually talk. I know that we didn’t end kindly last time and… and I really do want to see what all’s going on.” Kalore watched her, as honest as she was. “But I don’t think now is the time. I don’t want anyone to suspect that it was you all because I’m holding you for any real length of time. But… Gambler, if you ever get the chance and you’re not guarding, get a hold of one of us… I’m sure most of us would be happy to see you again and talk with you. Hell, even Dusk got along pretty well with you, didn’t she?” She did… but the thing with Kalore did piss her off. Now that Kalore wasn’t angry about it, though, why would Dusk be?

Kalore had to laugh at that as well, knowing that he had to be quiet. There were spies among them, especially when Kalore’s father was one of the top people of the old Council. He had to be careful, but for just a moment, he didn’t care. Smiling at the woman, he watched her get ready, speaking as he did so. “I’m not telling anyone about this… but maybe Kyoshi or someone would like to see you… plus, I think some people recognized you. I dunno, but I’m sure that Dusk did…” But the woman didn’t show any surprise or cold feelings toward the woman. Knowing Dusk, there really were only a few people that she held grudged against. Gambler probably wasn’t going to be one of those people.

Moving to the door, he nodded again, smiling just a bit at Gambler’s reference to him and Monty. “I’m glad that we are too… and you didn’t kill it so much as we nearly killed one another…” He didn’t mention anything about the weeks that followed Kalore tracking down the man, the ex-boyfriend, the cause for his now slightly past shoulder length hair. It was a good look on him, more practical, but the long hair was more Kalore than anything else. Instead, he dropped everything, became as neutral as he had been before, opening the door and nodding to the other guard. “I thank you both… you may go to your King now and inform him that he has nothing to fear for suspicion going his way.” Actually, he knew that by now someone should have confessed… but they just had to make sure no one knew who did what.

A look of surprise appeared on Kalore’s face as he heard Gambler’s words. “Dreamy?” He blinked but then a laugh could be heard down the hall. How funny it was to hear that from Gambler of all people. A grin stayed on his lips as he left as well, listening to the king’s wishes with a bow, trying hard to control his grin. It was damn near impossible, but with everyone calming down and getting a bit happy again, especially Dusk who was far away from all of the people that she disliked, it at least made sense. “Of course, sir. I’ll be sure to find something for you and send someone your way.” That did pose a problem, though. Sighing some, it didn’t take him long to find some lesser guard to go through with it so Kalore could get back to finding Monty and making sure that the Fae gave back what they took.

In the presence of the king, however, soon a male with black hair and icy eyes appeared, bowing low as a deep voice spoke. “Follow me, sir king, so I may take your queen and yourself to your seats.” Rave stood up, his eyes calm and his demeanor perfection incarnate. He turned but never gave the king his back, knowing better than to do such a thing. “I have found a place for you, but do you have a preference for yourself and your guards? We wish for all our guests to be comfortable.”

The small, breathtaking smile appeared on Rave’s lips again, the man having enough practice to make the illusion of it being real. “I will be glad to get you refreshments, sir king. If there is anything, anything at all, I implore you to tell me immediately. Your welcome is far from overstayed.” He bowed as they reached the seating, nice and comfortable with a wall to their back if they wished and room for their guards. Rising, his eyes scanned all four of them, stopping on the shorter guard. Something was familiar about this one, something that surprised him incredibly. He didn’t show it, but Rave went through his mind, thinking of just who it was that had those eyes. One person stood out but…

He soon left, but soon returned with the refreshments, balancing the tray easily enough. “Here you are, my lady, my lord.” Setting the drinks down, the fake yet beautiful smile appeared on his lips again. “The delay should not last much longer. Ten minutes, I believe, and you may be on your way. We thank you for coming and tolerating all of this, my lord.” Another bow and the smile never faltered, even as he rose, his eyes slipping to the short guard again. “Is there anything that we can do for any of you to make this much more comfortable? Food to go with your drinks?”

Gambler’s tense air didn’t go unnoticed by the man, his eyes shifting over to them for just one moment. Still, she looked too similar for him to simply disregard but the woman that he reminded him of was gone. The possibility of it being her was so slight that he didn’t think of it, didn’t imagine it… someone else other than him would have noticed. Monty was over there, Kalore was there, Kyoshi surely would have noticed and as would have Dusk. Then again, just because they noticed, that didn’t mean a damn thing. All these thoughts littered Rave’s mind as he watched them all, listening and never losing the façade that he played for the guests. “Ah, but my work is but no more than to serve, my king.” He gave another smile, angels practically singing at the beauty.

It was all fake, though. Rave only smiled because he had to, but at least now he knew how to make it look real. For now, however, the reality of it was nothing true. “Your guards, sir, look tense. If you do not mind my asking it, may I inquire on the reason for it?” A small, worried frown appeared on his lips. Things weren’t going particularly well for the wedding, but they weren’t going bad either. What had the guards so tense? Especially the short one. In his mind, he tried to think… just what was going on?

Rave actually looked a bit surprised, thrown off at the mention of what had happened between Kalore and him in order to get the two dumbasses together. Blinking, he actually laughed, the sound surprisingly and meltingly good. It was real. Soft, gentle, low, but real nonetheless. “Ah, I have tried to forget that day, my queen… Your brother has not allowed me to be too close to Kalore since.” Amusement appeared in his eyes, the first time it had been there in… months? Almost a year? Probably more, actually. Gambler had been gone for a long time, added in with the month before she left, maybe more. He sighed softly, trying to understand just why it was that she was in his mind now, of all times.

Then it came.

With the words from Nova, Rave stiffened and his eyes were like lasers onto the short guard. Gambler. No, that was impossible. The eyes of the guard, now filled with hate and anger, could only belong to the woman. He wasn’t even sure on what it was that he could do at that moment. Did he fully confront her? Rave wasn’t one to become dramatic, demanding that Gambler reveal herself in front of this many people, causing a scene and being one to get what he wanted at that moment. The icy eyed man knew better but that didn’t stop him from taking just the slightest step forward, catching himself soon enough.

“Miss Gambler…” Muttering that, he still was at a loss on what to do. With the eyes from the demon woman, however, Rave knew that this was intentional. Taking in a slow, careful breath, his eyes went to Nova, a cold look in them but it wasn’t aimed at her, or anyone really. He had to center himself and make sure that what was done now wasn’t going to get him in trouble. Now wasn’t the time for that. “My queen,” bowing, his hands stayed humbly down but his eyes remained sharp, far from the soft look from before, “May I speak with your guard? I believe that I may know just what is troubling… them.” He rose, but no malice came from him; not yet, anyway. Unlike Kalore, Rave had a better way of getting what he wanted, insuring that he would get exactly what it was that he required.

“If protection is a problem, I believe I can get the finest elven guards to protect you. I do not wish any ill harm to come across anyone here today.” The smile appeared on his lips again, but this time it had nothing to do with the kind look from before, but instead held a careful, calculating look. Rave wasn’t happy and if anyone didn’t know any better they’d believe that he was planning something. Well, maybe he was but for once he didn’t have every step planned out. Gambler had that effect on him, sadly.

Rave didn’t speak for a moment, his eyes never leaving Gambler. It was no secret, really, that something had happened between him and Gambler. Many people knew about it and it wasn’t like he was going to fight to make sure that it kept secret, but that didn’t change the fact that he knew that there really weren’t that many people that knew about it. Nova, however, had to be one of those people that knew about their relationship, their failure, and now what had happened right before this woman abandoned them. if this was true then why in the hell was she doing all of this? As the king spoke, the icy gaze went to him, but respect remained in his eyes; something Gambler did not receive.

“Harm? No harm will befall either of your guards, sir. I just need to question them, especially if there is something wrong in the castle.” There was something wrong in this castle but it didn’t have anything to do with the other guard, just the short one. His eyes soon remained on Gambler as he slowly bowed, not wanting to do such a thing for such a woman. The anger that he felt surprised him, really. Why was he angry with her? Was it for leaving him? No, that wasn’t it… that did hurt, though, but that wasn’t it. Was it lying? Yes… Yes, that’s what it was. People didn’t lie to Rave. None could get away with it for long and most didn’t have the gall to do such a damn thing. That had to be it.

“If you two will follow me then we can get this over with… and I shall send over a guard or more for your protection my king, my queen.” Another bow and it didn’t take long for them to be off, the man soon leading the two to one of the rooms that were used for the interrogations of the others. Opening the door, he looked directly at Gambler and spoke, his tone nearly ice. “Inside. Now.” Looking at the other guard, he gave a respectful bow to him. “I wish for you to stay out here, sir. If there is an emergency then you are free to barge in.” Once Gambler was inside, he followed, nearly slamming the door shut, trapping them both with a locked door. “Mask off, Gambler.”

The challenge didn’t go unanswered. In front of her in an instant, the mask was yanked off and her chin was in his fingers, held by two as Rave stared into the eyes that he hadn’t seen for nearly a year. “I believe we are past pleasantries by this point, Gambler.” There was anger in the other’s eyes, but nothing could be caught from the voice, numb, actually neutral. He didn’t know what to do with the anger. He still couldn’t hurt Gambler, at least not intentionally, but he still couldn’t just let her go. It wasn’t in him to let the woman just walk away without figuring out something, figuring out just why it was that she did what she did. For now, though, he could only stare. Soon enough, however, his hand dropped but he didn’t move away from her.

Silence continued as the tension thickened. Rave’s eyes never left her, the pain, the anger, the accusatory look still there, but he did slowly begin to get his mind back together. He couldn’t keep Gambler here for too long… then again, he actually could. Now wasn’t the time to think of that as the word that he wanted to ask came out before he could stop it. “Why?” Such a simple word, so vague yet it was obvious on what he was talking about. Rave didn’t care on why she was there, that wasn’t what had caused all of this pain. Why had she lied to him? Why had she left him and gone with those that didn’t make any sense? Why did she cause all of this trouble?

The trouble he could handle… it was honestly just why she had done all of this to… to him. Rave felt petty but he wasn’t letting her go until he knew. No matter how petty it made him feel. “Why, Gambler?”