@saulxs
the king paced around his room, gold and orange robes flowing behind him. the ease that he'd so carefully tried to build over the last weeks burned down like wax on dragonfire. the peace he helped build threatened, on the precipice of ruin and his sons... his sons.
"are they all in their rooms?" he demanded, walking towards his lord commander as soon as he entered the king's quarters. he was happy at least one of them remained safe in sollia but the others... the others were quickly bringing him headaches that threatened his sanity as much as this dove concord did. "i cannot let anything happen to them, saul," he confessed, looking away in anguish as his hands found the commander's shoulder. he was unashamed of his state as saul had seen such a sight before, had risked his own life to preserve the king's. there was none he trusted more. "you must leave my side and take over their watch, this attack... they went after the prince, not the king."
of course, saul was but one man. skilled as he may be, he'd need to stick to the crown prince, even if such a choice twisted his stomach. "they are..." everything, "my legacy. and should they be hurt i will be forced to take action."
the thought was not one he wished to dwell on, he felt the urge to take them away at once. to leave this place and go back home where they belonged. if only his dragon was there...
"there is none i could trust more with my sons lives." his tone was lower, the gravity of the situation impressed into every syllable. his hand pressed against the knight's chest, eyes locked together. "protect them like you've protected me. even before it was your duty." he did not say please but it was implicit into the king's eyes, into the lines of his face and the hands clutching at his knight. that, perhaps, was a first time sight for saul.