Getting an Audience

Arriving near the capital, which didn't appear all that much bigger than Braxel - from the air at least, Mai and Lygawa easily got to the stone wall that surrounded most of the regular housing and shops that completely surrounded the modest middle area. Mai figured that the next 'layer' held the upper-classes dwellings, perhaps to some of the Nobility - that in turn, circled the smallest area with the biggest protective walls.

From their brief overhead view, the innermost parts had much bigger properties, and one overtly impotent looking castle, sitting right in the heart of everything.

It reminded me of the castle defences and designs of the Shogun era... there's even a moat or two...

They had quickly touched down in a small woodland area, a safe distance away, before walking to one of the many entrances of the outermost defensive walls.

Mai still had no clue as how they would get all the way in to see the leader of the land, as it probably required meetings with others or applications, or something else, so it wasn't going to be easy, but she was serious to see whomever she needed to, and as quickly as possible too. Presumably he was in the heart of the capital, so they'd get as close as they could, then figure out the next step then.

Getting inside was a breeze, with no one cared about another couple to come in to the already busy place, that Mai finally realized, was much bigger than she expected.

What I thought were just streets filled with little houses, are actually big two or higher floored buildings...

The amount of foot traffic all around them also reminded her of her previous worlds metropolises, and while Mai got over her slight hesitancy, and settled in to the moving masses, Lygawa was apparently having a tougher time about the crowd.

"Oh, uh excuse me... oh... Mai help!"

She was lost amongst the shuffle, after accidently making contact with another busy commuter.

Mai waited for her to push through, again.

"Here just take my hand already..."

Mai reached out and tethered the slightly startled lizard to her.

"Then you won't get separated again..."

"That is a great idea, yes, thank-you."

She looked to her hand in Mai's with a reassured smile and slid up close to the human's side.

"There are so many... here... I would not have thought it was possible..."

"Yeah it's pretty scary how many people can squeeze into a place..."

Mai thought back to her previous trips into the busier parts of Tokyo, having been caught in a couple of encompassing rush hours, on the odd occasion.

As Lygawa settled a little more alongside, Mai looked to escape the mass, but still continue toward the centre of Leksand - the capitals original name.

Eventually getting to a less crowded area, they both finally relaxed a little more as they went on, by the large and expensive looking stores that surrounded them now.

Suddenly an incident occurred near them, as a man in a dark-grey outfit grabbed a passer-bys purse, and attempted to yank it away from the finely dressed woman who owned it.

"Stop - thief!"

She called out, getting nearly all about her vicinity's attention, but nobody immediately stepped up to assist her.

"Unhand that...!"

The lady didn't release her purse, as she had a decent grip on her belongings, but that only seemed to anger the thin offender, who suddenly pulled a shiny knife into view, but it was too close for the well dressed victim to notice.

"Look out!"

Mai called out, as she stepped their direction, freezing both with surprise in their mid-jostle.

But the quick dragon-girl took the cue, dashing to the pair and whacking the would-be robber centrally, with enough force to make him cough and then slump.

Releasing the grabbed bag, he let his blade go too, so as it clattered to the street, only then did the lady realize how seriously in danger she'd been in as she stepped back.

"Are you okay, Miss?"

Mai came to face her, as nobody else seemed to care, as she'd frozen still again, watching the attacker finally fall flat beside his weapon, next to the silvery girl.

"Oh gosh... I think so..."

She looked about her person, as the watching crowd stood still and gave them plenty of space.

The ash-blonde woman briefly patted down her bright yellow dress, before smiling with satisfaction that she'd not been injured at all.

"Thank-you young ladies - I am in your debt..."

Mai didn't think she was really much or any younger, but played down her part.

"No, think nothing of it please, anyone would have..."

Except no-one had, as they continued to have merely many spectators around them.

"I still must pay my debts..."

The quite yellow woman took parts of her mostly yellow dress and raised them out as she bobbed her head.

"I am Francine Clover, and I insist."

"I'm Mai Misaki, and that's Lygawa..."

Mai pointed to her companion, who watched over the fallen assailant.

"Thanks so much Miss Misaki, Miss Lygawa... if not for you..."

The woman reached out and took Mai's hand with a serious gaze.

"You did act quite hastily in my defence... It was almost like you knew before..."

Lygawa looked up to her with a smile.

"Well she is a 'Seer'..."

"Lygawa!"

Mai snapped - but was too late.

The lady went from slight suspicion, to surprise, then awe - to a giddy appreciation.

"You are a fabled 'Seer'? Oh! I am so very blessed to have been saved by you...!"

She nearly feel to her knees before Mai, but didn't let go of Mai's hand, before rallying back up again, just as some local guards finally arrived through the gathered crowd.

With the perpetrator, victim, intervening 'citizen' and many witnesses - all still on the scene, the guards had an easy time of putting things together, before hauling off the still incapacitated thief.

We got involved in yet another troublesome incident...

Mai and Lygawa were left with the woman they had aided, who still wanted to reward their intervention.

"Please, come with me!"

She noted the crowd around them had started to creep closer, now the guards had left, possibly wanting to learn more about this rare 'Seer' before them, so Francine lead the pair away, not that it helped, as some watchers now continued to follow them along the street.

The yellow covered lady eventually skirted into a store, housing some sparkly jewellery, and with the permission of the stores people she apparently knew well, ushered Mai and Lygawa out the back exit, finally loosing the following pack.

"I'm sorry about that, but I guess that happens all the time..."

"No actually..."

Mai gave a short glare at the sometimes dense dragon, who she'd repetitively asked not to sprout her details about in public.

"I would still like to treat both of my saviours with the greatest thanks I can deliver..."

Francine beamed a bright smile at them.

"Please name your desire, and I will do my best for you!"

Mai pondered for a little, but didn't have any 'desire's - apart from her hopeful visit, so she jokingly asked.

"We're actually trying to see the King, but I wouldn't think that would be an easy thing to organise..."

"I could get you a meeting."

The better dressed lady sounded so sure of herself.

"Come again?"

Mai was quite shocked.

"Isn't that... difficult?"

"No, not at all..."

Francine smiled politely.

"My father in a prominent advisor to the throne, so getting you a small face to face would be a great service indeed!"

"Really?"

Mai couldn't believe their luck, as they'd happened exactly across the right person they needed.

"I will need to see my father, but I can get you into the throne-room by this evening, no problems."

"That would be... fantastic, thank-you."

Mai recovered to give back a grateful smile of her own.

"I assume it is rather important; so I'll get the ball rolling. Just go to the court's main entrance, and someone will be along to fetch you."

The yellow haired and dressed woman already started to back away, and returned into the store after a brief wave, leaving the out-of-towners alone in the ally.

Lygawa stepped before Mai, smiling too.

"See, letting others know about it isn't 'a big deal'..."

"On this occasion, maybe... but please, please stop shouting things out all the time..."

She pleaded with the silvery dragon.

"I keep the fact that you're a dragon secret from everyone..."

"But that would lead to panic and fear from those who know no better; so it's not the same..."

No, only I would have the panic and annoyance then...

Mai just stared at her, till she submitted.

"Alright... I'll do better."

"Thanks. Now all we have to do; is go to the right gate to that big castle... which we have no idea where it is right now..."