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Sir Robert was a good knight. He was courteous to servant and loyalty alike; he was a strong and effective leader; he was a friend to the princesses.

But right now, Ismeine despised him.

"I found them on the outskirts of the forest, sire," he was saying. Ismeine and Merewyn stood on either side of him with their heads bowed slightly and their eyes on the floor. They may have been royalty, but everyone was expected to bow to the king, even the queen.

"And who was with them?" The king's voice was dangerously calm.

Robert hesitated. He had wanted to avoid this question, for he knew the three would be severely punished, but he had to be honest. "Three servants, Highness. One from the stables, one from the kitchens, and the girls' maid."

"Do you know who they are? Good, then bring them to me," the king instructed at Robert's nod. Once he was alone with his daughters, he stood in front of both of them and paused for a long while before saying, "Which one of you is Ismeine?" Ismeine stepped forward, and the king directed his next words towards her. "Prince Aureo is here today. You are to be married in exactly one year from now."


Sir Robert sighed heavily. He had sent three head servants to find each of the girls who had accompanied the princesses in the forest, and he felt like a monster for doing so. But for the moment, he had to attend to the castle's current guest, Prince Aureo. He felt terribly for Ismeine, who he knew had been bartered off to marry the prince. Robert knew this prince to be cold, selfish, and uncaring, and he had always hoped the princesses would marry gentler lads who would cherish them. Sighing, he entered the room where Aureo was and asked if he needed anything.

Inira finished her breakfast, and was talking to some of the kitchen boys when the head servant marched in. "Do any of you know of the stable girl named Inira?" he demanded. The head cook looked up. "Haven't see 'er." she said firmly. "I'nt she in the stables?" one of the kitchen boys asked. "No," the head servant glowered, "If you see her, tell her to get back in the stables." He turned on his heel and marched off. "Why did you not give me away?" Inira addressed the kitchen. "Servants gotta stick together." The kitchen boy closet to her grinned. She smiled. "Thank you."

[[Yeah, Inira isn't in plain sight. And she's rebellious.]]

Robert grimaced. Thankfully, Prince Aureo had sent him away, but there was still the issue of the servants. He felt terribly for doing so, but he replied to the servant, "Please do wake her. The king is in a terrible mood; if these servants are not there soon, I fear it will be my head."


"NO!" Ismeine was screaming. "I will NOT--" she was interrupted when Azalia curtsied in.

"You will," her father said, giving her a cold look. "What is your name, girl?" he said, turning to the servant.

"Azalia, your majesty." Azalia replied. She hated appearing before anyone of title, except for the princesses, of course. It made her nervous. Her hands were still clutched on her skirt, almost for dear life. She realized this, and let go.

"Father, Aureo is the most boring man I have ever had the displeasure of meeting! I cannot marry him! He cares nothing for God or loyalty or me or...." Ismeine continued to ramble angrily at the king, who ignored her.

"And you?" he said as the second servant entered the room. "Who are you? Never mind that, where is the other one? I was told there were three of you. ROBERT!" he bellowed impatiently.


Robert cringed as he heard the king's cry. "Please find her," he said to the servant. "Please, keep looking until you find her." He dismissed the servant and headed into the room. The king spoke to him, but Robert could not hear over Ismeine's yelling.

"I beg your pardon, Majesty," Robert said, straining to hear.

"QUIET!" Laurentius screamed at Ismeine. She fell silent, but continued to scowl at her father. "Sir Robert, where is the other one?"

"We... we are not certain, Sire. I have a servant searching for her."

"Locate her soon," the king threatened, "or I will send these two to the gallows!" He gestured toward Azalia and Scarlet. Merewyn and Ismeine's eyes grew round with worry over this statement, but did not say anything in fear of making things worse for their friends.


Laurence smiled as the rest of the knights stumbled around. Next time, I will bring better knights, he promised himself.

"What was that you said?" he said to Ame, though he had heard her perfectly well. This one's good, though, he thought about the dame. I shall have to take her with me more often.

Hearing footsteps approach the stable, Inira quickly pulled herself into the hayloft. A young knight strode into the stables. His messy dirty blonde hair was cropped short, and his brown eyes looked exasperated. He had the servant who had come looking for her earlier in tow. "Inira...I know you're up there." the knight called tiredly. When he didn't get a reply, he sighed. "You know that if you don't go see the king soon, he's going to have the other girls' heads." No... Ininra thought, frightened. She hurriedly climbed down the ladder to the loft, jumping when it was safe. Avoiding the knight and servant, she took off running straight towards the castle. "Should I follow, Sir Larus?" "No, no. My little sister has always had the tendency to run like a horse. You'd never catch her." The knight smiled ruefully. Inira ran into the room where everyone else was, bowing hurriedly. "My apologies, Your Majesty." she panted.

"Nothing, sir." Ame replied to Laurence's question. Nothing at all. Except that these menfolk are slower than frozen syrup...

Scarlet let out a quiet sigh of relief as Inira ran into the room. I hope this isn't all of ours' doom, she thought morbidly to herself. The king, in all his richness and royalty, could not at any other moment look more like a most disgusting rat at the moment. He was mad, angry, so that his reasoning and judgment would not be that of a better-tempered day. Scarlet waited.

[[We need JF to post for the king...]]