( the bow has him waving a hand, as if to tell him to not bother. the throne room reminds him keenly of his station, where he might have ignored it in favor of pretending like he wasn't royalty. it's hard to pretend otherwise now. )

It's alright. The Boreas is similar, though perhaps not as... visually intimidating. ( when he readjusts his crystalline staff, it almost seems to glow in the palace's light - and it's more clear that the glowing sword that had been next to areadbhar is its twin. ) Instead, it will just burn the skin of anyone who touches it and is not found worthy. It belonged to my father.

( the fondness in his tone is made jarring by the moving dark figure nearing them, amidst the tangle of vines and shrubbery that's encroaching on the palace walls. aspen, with his back to the figure, can't see it. )