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They walked through Au’revele’s quarters, which consisted of only the ground level. It had a comfortable living and sitting room, two bedrooms with a walk in closet, an elegant cleansing room, and a small alcove and kitchen within which she could store and prepare her own food, if she so chose.

“Is it to your liking, Au’revele? Be honest now, dear. You can change anything that isn’t,” Eula said.

“It’s beautiful, Sovereigna. I’ve never had my own space, and this is so much more than I ever dreamed of having.”

“Oh, I’m so glad you like it,” Eula said. “Let’s go straight through to the corridor and I’ll show you the rest of the wing. Are you feeling up to it, daughter?”

Vivian nodded convincingly. “I am. I need to see the layout so I don’t get lost.”

“It’s not hard to navigate. It’s just as I explained. Everything is a square. All corridors are laid out in a square pattern around the courtyard. The main of which will lead you from your wing to the center of the palace. I’m assuming you will post guards at the arched entrance to the East wing. It is what we do for the West wing to be sure that no one enters the private living areas that shouldn’t.”

“Yes, I think that would be best,” Vivi said.

Zahn and Rel suddenly appeared to investigate Au’revele’s quarters, having finished their assessment of the rest of Vivian and Quin’s quarters.

Zahn in particular focused on Au’revele’s suite. Nodding to himself as he checked the windows, doors and entry points.

Eula walked over to the front door of the suite and led the way out into the corridor.

“Now, this is the royal corridor, where obviously, your living quarters are, hence its name,” Eula explained, looking at Vivian, “and as I said, because your quarters are so expansive, there are only six other suites in this same corridor. Ba Re’ and Elisha have been assigned a suite nearer the beginning or front of this same corridor. We passed it when we first stepped into this corridor at the other end. There’s a suite right next to theirs on the same side along the courtyard, and one across from it, next to yours, Vivi. There’s Au’revele’s, that one,” she said, indicating a door that was a little further up the hall, actually about halfway between the royal residence and those assigned to Au’revele. “Another further down on the same side as Au'revele, and one more across from that.”

“I’ll take the one halfway between the royal residence and Au’revele’s,” Zahn said, having stepped out into the corridor with them. “I’ll be able to watch over both your suite, Sirena, and Au’revele’s since my door is located across from and between the two. It is necessary to be near Au’revele as well as the royal residence, since her quarters have access to the nursery.”

“Of course,” Vivian said, trying not to smirk. She had long been aware of Zahn’s fascination with Au'revele, and knew that while he did consider hers and Quin’s safety paramount, so was the need to keep watch over Au’revele as well.

“I believe we’ll put Kail across from Ba Re’. Asl between myself and Ba Re’, and Li’Don at the end there, next to Au’revele, with Rel next to me.”

“It’s a sound placement of everyone most familiar with security for our Sirena,” Rel said, striding confidently away from them to take a look into the suite of rooms that would be his.

“Now, the one on the end there is closer to the intersecting corridor that leads to the East kitchen and servants quarters just beyond. Whoever takes that one may hear some coming and going because it’s in a more active area,” Eula warned.

“It works perfectly for Li’Don. He watches everyone. It’ll be easier for him to do if he’s in that one, Sovereigna,” Rel said on agrin as he returned to their group and briefly gave her a slight bow.

“This corridor will be well secured from one end to the other. We’ll fit the rest of our security forces in on the parallel corridor bordering the other side of the courtyard, and any who’d rather be in a different housing situation can speak to us and we’ll find alternative housing.”

“There is no short supply of additional quarters in that corridor for additional personnel. But if there are those who’d prefer, the barracks are available if they need them.”

“I’m telling you, I’m going to get lost,” Vivi said, shaking her head.

“You won’t get lost. It’s just so large it seems that you might,” Eula explained yet again, anxious to keep Vivian comfortable in her new home.

“With so many kitchens, and dining halls, and great rooms, do you stay to your wing for everyday living and needs?” Vivian asked. “I can’t imagine that all three kitchens are in use every day.”

“Actually, they usually are. We more often than not eat in the main dining room in the center space of the palace. But when it’s not time for a meal, I often wander into the West kitchen and forage, making myself what I want personally, rather than asking for a meal. And we feed the warriors and all who live on the grounds. If anyone is hungry and on duty here, when it is time for their break, they are welcome to eat in the main dining hall rather than going all the way back to the barracks. It wasn’t always like that, but I rather enjoyed the camaraderie of the crew all eating together on Command Warship 1, so we changed the rules to allow them to have access to the dining room. And we are usually hosting someone from some delegation, or meetings for one thing or another, and they take place in the main portion of the palace. So, there’s always sustenance available for them, too. It’s the area that is used when welcoming those who are not part of our inner circle. When we welcome dear friends or family, they are housed in our wing. The East wing was always meant for Quin. And remember that you arewelcome to cook not only in your quarters, but in the East kitchen if you’d like to. Whichever chef is on duty will be busy baking or helping prepare dishes to be moved to the main kitchen and then to the main dining hall for the warriors or elsewhere as needed. He won’t mind at all whether you ask for a meal, or that you putter around preparing your own food. In fact, I’d venture to say that once they figure out what your particular favorite foods and snacks are, you’ll find they’re always on hand for you.”

“I’d like that, I think. Being able to make my own things if I want to, and finding things I really want to snack on available often,” Vivian said.

“And once your youngling is here, you will of course have things available for him or her there as well as in your own kitchen in your quarters,” Eula added.

“This is going to be a huge change, but one that I’m looking forward to,” Vivian said.

“Don’t let it intimidate you. It’s really nothing more than a huge building with three separate homes under one roof and military guards on constant duty, along with outbuildings for our warriors’ training and animals, and fields for produce and people who work it all.”

“It’s like its own small working city,” Vivian said.

“Indeed it is,” Eula agreed.

Then a thought suddenly hit Vivian. “You said that the East wing has always been meant for Quin, but what about Rokai? If he wanted to move home to the palace, where would he live?”

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