The sky was bright and the warm sun blazed over head. While it still may have been glaciem in other parts of the land, Sularia was a haven of perpetual terra and ignius. It was a welcome respite to the cold of the southern regions. Flags waved and the streets glittered. And Justice was happy to be back. If they had every really called a place home, Justice would have felt confident that Sularia was just that. To him, at least, of course he couldn't vouch for Rizka.

His bones buzzed with excitement. They had never been asked to perform for a Goddess before. Not only were they doing a favor for Pyzis, but if they performed well for Angela and her family, the commendations received could possibly set them up for life. And while Justice and Rizka didn't necessarily need it, for they were strong enough performers to be able to bring in their own revenue, every little bit helped.

He looked to Rizka who by all accounts looked as excited as he was as they made their way towards the great palace at the center of Sularia.
"So we are set on our piece selection?" he asked her.

Rizka looked to her brother, her long dark hair catching the breeze and tossing back behind her and nodded. 

"I do believe we have out set list, yes. But are you sure you want to do your Heartbreaker? In the presence of a Goddess would it not seem… crude?" she asked her brother, unsure of if that particular choice. While normally she wouldn't question, she wasn't entirely sure if it would be appropriate for the crowd that they were about to play for. 

"Mother Earth is referenced in the song. If she is as I have heard she is, I think she would find the song perfect for her. Besides, Sularia is a land of women. I don't know how many might be there, but in the off chance there are available single women, who am I to deprive them of the sight?" Justice asked her in return. 

Rizka rolled her eyes. Yes, her brother was all male. Handsome and charismatic, he always had a way with the ladies and had many admirers. But she had never seen him attach himself to a single young lady, and nor was he one to string innocent girls along. She wondered if that had anything to do with the girl he had met at the Festival of Songs three years earlier. While he claimed that nothing had happened, she knew that there was more than song and music that kept him coming back to Sularia. 

They made haste and were admitted to the Palace where Queen Willow of the Rosenites lived. This was where they were going to be performing, and it seemed that they were being waited for.

They were led into a huge dazzling ballroom. The stones of the floor were imbedded with the very lapis jewel that the Rosenites loved so very much. In the room waited Angela as she bounced a very happy Rohan in her arms. She was doing a waltz with him it looked like. The baby was making a bunch of happy noises and as he spotted Justice and Rizka with his beautiful eyes he began to make more noises and jump around in his mother’s arms.

“Easy child!” She laughed as she turned around. Her long red hair was flowing. She did an elegant bow to them. “Thank you for coming here to treat my children and I. I can’t make any promises as to how many will show up but Drae, Rohan, and I will love this.” 

Gently she bounced Rohan. His eyes glued to them and his mouth opened. A song like no other came from his lips. Angela grinned and chuckled. “Bards from my womb! All of them are so talented.” She chuckled as Rohan calmed down and began to grab at her hair and babble. “We do look forward to your performance. Please make yourselves comfortable.”

Justice and Rizka both bowed deeply, both of them familiar with lore and had been to Sularia enough to recognize Angela on sight. She didn't speak down to them, more like they were equals which surprised them both greatly but it allowed them to relax just a little.

"We are honored to be invited and welcomed, My Lady," Justice said humbly. "We are excited to be back in Sularia to perform for you. We only hope you do truly enjoy it," he said as he straightened up. He watched the baby in his mothers arms and was amazed at the sounds that came from his lips, the song he carried inside him.

"I must admit for an infant that is very impressive. I think one day he may be one of the greatest. I've never heard of infants creating such sounds so young," he smiled as the baby burbled and grabbed at Angela's hair. He looked at Rizka who was beaming at the adorable dark haired baby boy and looked as though she wanted to play with him a moment but looked back at Justice.

"We will get set up then," he said and he and Rizka turned and went to the stage and began laying out their instruments.

“Rohan is a boy of many talents. When he was in my womb we had a hard time getting him to move. He wanted to sing instead and he put all of his energy into letting everyone know it too. My womb would make such wonderful noises. It was a shame it was late at night.” She eyed her feisty little baby and chuckled. “He is also a shape-shifting prodigy. We expect great things from him already.”

She watched as they went to set up the instruments to play. A noise got her distracted as a large black bear entered the room. On his back was a giggling and rowdy red haired girl. Angela’s mouth about dropped open. “ADRAEJEN AND IVA!” They were horsing around this entire time! A laugh left her lips. “I didn’t realize we gave out free rides of amusement.” She booped the bear’s nose. “Now change and I have clothes for you.” She had some appeared and offered it out with her hand.

The five-year-old bounded off the bear, half way up the wall behind them, around Justice and his sister five times, smacked into Angela’s backside making her almost fall, and began to roll on the ground. “Daddy I want to play more!” She was out of breath now as she laughed up at her parents. “MORE RUNNING AND CLIMBING!”

Angela tilted her head. “Spawn of demons right there.” Iva laughed more and knew what her mother meant. “Come on get up. We have company.” 

“Do I have to?” Iva pouted and got back up. She had been in a play dress.

“Absolutely.” Angela put a free hand on her hip as she put Rohan on the other one. “Justice and Rizka… this is my husband Drae and my second youngest Iva. You know Rohan already of course.” 

Rizka started visibly when the massive black-furred bear came careening down the hallway into the ballroom, bouncing the red-head on his back as he went and slid to a stop in front of the Goddess. Rizka watched in amusement as the Goddess spoke to the bear and tapped his large wet nose. He huffed at her, blowing her hair back slightly but taking the clothes offered in his jaws carefully and wandered into a side room as the little red ran around the room with boundless energy, enough so for her to literally climb the walls, calling out to her father that she wanted to play more. 

The bear huffed at her, and a gutteral voice actually came through the growls. "If you so wish to play more, Imp, go play with the children in the courtyard. I, sadly, have been ordered back to being my less furry self," he said as he disappeared into the side room. 

Rizka watched as Angela urged her daughter back to her feet and brought her over to introduce to them. Rizka smiled and knelt in front of Iva, and Justice did the same. 

"Hi, Iva," she said sweetly. Justice smiled at her. "What a beautiful young lady you are," he told her. "Beautiful red hair just like your Mother." It was something she had undoubtedly been told all her life. 

The side door opened again and out strode a half-elven man with hair as black as pitch, looking quite dignified in his fine attire, his long hair slicked back into a partial ponytail. 

"So, you two are the bards that Pyzis has told us about. The ones she met in Adeluna?" he asked them as he came up to stand beside Angela. 

Justice stood and nodded.
"Yes, sir. We do hope that Lady Pyzis is well," he said politely. "I understand that she might not be with us today."

"Don't mind that. She has a lot on her plate right now," Adraejen said with a wave of his hand. "There should be more of an audience than just us. I do know that several of the others intend to come. Pyzis' praises did not fall on deaf ears, I can promise you that," he said charmingly, and Justice wondered briefly if the man's charm could be attributed to some sort of performer or if he had been born with it.

"I do hope we don't disappoint. Rizka and I are ready to begin whenever you are ready for us to begin," Justice said pleasantly as he motioned to the stage and the chairs that had been set up.

“Well now… ordered seems harsh Dear. I am just giving friendly advice so our young bards do not get so bored without your charming face.” Angela said it in a pout before she began to introduce everyone. 

Iva shied for a moment as she started to grin. “Thank you.” She reached up and pulled on her red curls. 

Angela grinned a bit. “We’re expecting our grandchild any time now. We’re really excited. Despite Drae thinking he’s way too young.” She winked a bit and laughed. “The praise she gave was immense and we cannot wait to see what she has ordered for us.” She moved with her husband and children over to the chairs and sat down.

When it started Angela helped Rohan clap his hands. She was entertained by the babe’s love for the music he was hearing. The door creaking open caught her attention for only a moment. It was Holly wandering in. She had her dark hair twisted up with the poinsettia pin in her hair that Justice had given her. She came over without looking to see who was playing.

“Mother you asked that I be here?” Holly tilted her head as she sat down. She didn’t look like she had aged at all.

“Of course Love. These are fine young bards are a present from Pyzis.” Angela smiled as she moved a hand over to sweep some of Holly’s hair back behind her ear.

Holly was wearing a rather plain looking dress today. It was her casual day after all.

Justice had began the concert with a quick stepped tempo on the lute, singing the song of a man who had gone to sea and had sinned greatly, wondering why the gods had taken away his love, and his promise to never sin again if they brought her back to him. He was so engrossed in what he was doing he didn't initially hear the door open or look up when Holly came into the room and sat down. However, when he did look up, he was so shocked and surprised to see her that he fouled the strings on the lute and it snapped completely. He turned a bit red in the face and Rizka looked over at him in surprise.

"Pardon," he apologized, as he stood up from his stool and moved to quickly restring the lute his mind still reeling. What in the… why was SHE here? Not that it was a bad thing but he had dreamed about seeing her again and here she was. Fantastic that she had seen him foul up. His hands were shaking hard enough that he was having a hard time re-stringing the lute, and Rizka knew it. She quickly stepped in and began playing a rousing flute piece and gave him enough time to recover and get the instrument back in order. Once the instrument was fixed, he took a deep breath and went back to his stool and patiently waited for Rizka to finish, and tried very hard not to stare at Holly.

Angela was enjoying the show when Justice messed up. Immediately her god powers kicked in and she amused. Holly looked up and her face grew a bright red. “You are…. Supposed to play the lute not break it.” it was the only thing she could say to him before Angela was laughing.

The goddess was up and put her hand to Rizka for a moment. “Let me indulge your brother for a moment.”

“Mother don’t you do it,” Holly’s voice raised and Angela looked over at her young daughter with a smirk.

“Don’t tell me what to do I’ll make it ten times worse.” Holly grew red as Angela came around Justice after giving Rohan to Drae. “What an interesting desire you have.” She put her hands on Justice’s shoulders and turned him to Holly. “You know Holly. You didn’t tell me that you knew Justice.”

Holly was bright red. “To be fair I don’t think we–”

“Ever exchanged names,” Angela smirked. “Just how far does this train of thought go.” Angela was highly amused by what Pyzis brought her. “He’s been looking for you for the past three years.” Holly was a brighter red. “He wants to dance. Why not give the boy what he wants? Rizka could play for you.”

Holly had her mouth wide open. “Why do you always do this?” It came out as if she was flabbergasted but still, she got up. She wanted to as well. If not for that Angela wouldn’t have said anything. “I’m sorry… that I never came back…”

Angela frowned a bit. “That’s incorrect. She was in Arri but no one could see her.” 

“Mother that’s enough please don’t tell him.” Holly snapped.

“I was going to say you were sick but,” she shrugged and those words alone leaned towards something malicious that had happened.