Slipping out of the castle had been made easy thanks to the commotion surrounding the Troivackian King’s airborne departure of land.

There was plenty of shouting, some swords were drawn, and all the while the House Witch stood back, leaning against the castle wall of the front hall, his arms folded as he waited tiredly for… something.

No one seemed to think to ask whatever it was.

Though Prince Henry looked ready to slaughter the redhead on behalf of his brother as he shouted at Norman.

No one noticed the two servant boys in hooded cloaks slipping out of the castle, and no one noticed them darting through the darkness towards the steep hill of Austice.

“We can’t hire a carriage until after we speak to the bard or else we’ll be seen,” Katarina murmured to the Princess as they strolled down the streets of Austice. Surprisingly the foot traffic was still high despite night having settled over the city, as the hour for tavern goers and nefarious figures emerged from their dwellings for a night of revelry, mischief, or trouble.

The night populace of the city noted the two hooded figures passing by them, but shrugged off their shabby cloaks as unworthy of their time… at least not when the night was so young with plumper prey lurking about the streets.

Katarina set a gruelling pace, but thanks to Alina’s more recent bouts of exercise with the Troivackian King, she didn’t struggle nearly as much as she normally would have.

“Remember, we need to make this quick. I told your maids you went to bed early, but even so this is risky as it is,” Kat murmured under her hood while narrowly dodging a drunkard that stumbled in her path.

“Of course,” Alina huffed as they walked, then caught herself from nearly tripping over a small tabby cat that was sent darting off to the alley beside them.

It took them longer to reach the bard’s residence than Kat had hoped for thanks to the uncoordinated citizens they were constantly dodging, but given the fact that they hadn’t run into any troubles, they still counted themselves lucky.

The two story boarding house was built in three sections with open railing running around the walks to all the rooms. A pretty fountain burbled in its center, and a well kept flower bed at its base added an extra note of cheer.

It was definitely one of the nicer boarding houses in the city, and this alone helped both Alina and Kat feel more at ease.

“His room should be on the second floor, the back left there,” Kat nodded from under her hood before turning to the stairs.

“I must admit, I was bluffing a tiny bit that you knew where he was staying… how did you know about this?” Alina breathed while feeling her heart rate increase as the promise of answers about her brother hung before her.

Kat’s golden eyes shot the Princess an exasperated expression in the dark over her admission.

“I eavesdropped on my parents. They talked about it after an argument about… other things… and happened to mention it...” Kat trailed off. She didn’t particularly want to relive her parents' heated discussion about her reckless behavior.

As the two women finally reached the back corner of the building, Kat wasted no time in rapping her knuckles across the door.

“Remember, he might already be out at the taverns, and if that is the case then we are turning around and-”

Kat was interrupted by the door opening and a swath of warm light pouring over them.

The bard Reese Flint stood in a loose white tunic and trousers in his bare feet. A towel was around his neck and his hair damp from having just washed.

His dark green eyes squinted at the hoods, and it was then Kat took it upon herself to wordlessly lift her face and reveal her identity to him.

“Oh! My Lady! Whatever brings you to-”

Alina stepped forward, her own face raised to face him.

The sight of the Princess rendered the man speechless as he quickly craned his neck outside the door frame and looked to see if there were Knights accompanying them.

“Please… please come in,” the bard ushered them in urgently as he continued glancing around the outside worriedly.

The man seemed rather flummoxed by their appearance– which only spoke well of his mental faculties in Alina’s estimation.

Why in the world would she, a Princess, and a Lady be out without any kind of protection?

“Mr. Reese, you have my apologies for seeking you out in this manner,” Alina began formally. “I am afraid the nature of my visit forced me to resort to this measure.”

Kat said nothing as she leaned her back against the closed door.

The room they stood in was a respectable size, though not lavish, it was definitely of decent quality and comfort. A fire crackled happily, and two worn armchairs whose fabric may have at some point been red sat before the hearth. There was a single window overlooking the street behind the room. A fourposter bed sat unmade, and a tub still filled with water. There was a small round table with two chairs in front of the window, and a chest of drawers with a pitcher atop.

“Whatever could I do to be of service, Your Highness?” Reese asked quietly while gesturing towards the round table and chairs.

Alina stepped forward gracefully and slowly seated herself across from him. When she had settled herself down she lowered her hood, and stared calmly at the man’s expectant face.

“I expect clear answers, and don’t worry about protecting my innocent mind should it come to that,” Alina began waving her hand but her hazel eyes never leaving him.

Reese glanced warily at Kat, then back to the Princess. “I… will do my best, Your Highness.”

“Good.” Alina nodded. “Now, where did you see my brother, and if you happen to know why he has more or less disappeared, tell me now.”

The bard stiffened.

His face drained of color, and it was clear he was mentally trying to calculate what to say.

“Stop figuring out how to get out of telling me the truth. I need to know.” Alina’s face took on an edge no one could've known she was capable of.

Reese Flint responded with a grimace before leaning forward slowly, his hands folded loosely in his lap. “I don’t know… as much as you might be hoping Princess. I spotted him a little less than a year ago, but I’ve heard more about him- rumors if you will, from the odd soul I’ve crossed paths with.”

“Where was he when you spotted him?”

“He was in a small town outside of Rollom… he was traveling with a few other mercenaries at the time that he seemed to know well.”

“Mercenaries? Not Knights?” Kat interrupted with a furrowed brow.

“Correct. I’m given to understand your brother would… drift in and out of groups since the Queen’s passing.” Reese’s answers were coming slowly and Alina was growing impatient.

“Why was he traveling in the small town outside of Rollom?”

Reese half smiled half winced as he reached up and idly rubbed his thumb against his lip, the silver ring he wore catching in the light. “Who knows? Adventure? Money? Love? They talked about jobs they had taken, though no one seemed to know the Prince’s true identity. He mentioned Viscount Ashowan a good amount… and they weren't kind words I’m sorry to say…” he nodded apologetically towards Kat.

“Why would he need money? Even if he was hiding the fact he was a Prince, he was under the protection of Duke Iones- or should have been! My father would send money for his care…”

“Princess, I can’t know the secrets of your father, or the Duke for that matter.”

“Why is my brother not coming back to where he should be? What was his dispute with the Viscount?” Alina demanded while trying not to let her emotions bubble to the surface.

A look of apology passed through his eyes, and Alina knew right then that he would lie to her.

“If you lie, not only will I refuse lessons from you, but I will make sure you never work again.”

Reese Flint froze.

After a moment, he swallowed with great difficulty.

“Princess it is for your brother to tell you, please… understand my position. What I can tell you? Is that the Prince… it was well known how much he adored you. He would tell anyone that would listen about his little sister. How kind and talented you are. How he had spent months picking out the perfect lute for you and how you loved it so much that you named it Beau, because it was the most beautiful gift you had ever received.”

Alina suddenly found it difficult to talk, and there was a warmth behind her eyes that had her looking elsewhere for a moment as she regained her composure.

“As much as I want to understand your position, Mr. Flint, I cannot. If my brother were present, rest assured I would take my questions to him, but given that he is not, the onus then falls to you.” Standing, Alina stared down at the bard who looked more than a little saddened by her obvious heartbreak.

“Princess, if I weren’t protecting my own brood I’d be swayed by your woe in a heartbeat, but I’ve had to become a changed man. Please know, that while I hold you in the highest regard… I know for a fact Viscount Ashowan has the resources and motivation to make good on his warnings. A feat I do not believe you can at this time.”

Alina felt her teeth grit. She wanted to shout at him, and swear that she could bring tenfold the consequences on the bard... but instead she merely gripped her hands into fists until her nails cut her palms.

“Come on Kat, we better get back.”

Turning towards the exit, Alina waited for her friend to open the door.

So far the entire day had gone into the dung pile.

Despite having grown… perhaps a little in love with the Troivackian King… he had proven that he would give her nothing but pain and regret.

Then, she had almost found out about her brother, only to gather more useless information.

She was tired, angry, and wanted to scream into her pillow before sleeping for an entire year at most.

When Alina stepped outside into the cool night, she took a deep fortifying breath, and began to turn to the exit when a flutter of movement caught her eye, but before she could react, a cloth with a stinging scent was pressed to her face.

She struggled for a few moments, while hearing the sounds of Kat shouting and scuffling alongside Reese Flint, before darkness claimed her, her body falling limp before she could even get a proper look at their attackers.

The only thought she managed to work out as she felt fear grip her stomach in her final moments was:

‘Gods… we’re in real trouble now… aren’t we? I hope… Father doesn’t… hurt the Troivackian King… too much…’

*

The shouts and fighting in the castle entrance were finally beginning to settle down when a very wet Brendan Devark stepped through the doors, his face pale and his hands clenched at his side.

“Brother! Thank the Gods you are alright! We cannot let this attack rest, how could they-” Henry burst out rushing over to his brother and checking him over head to toe.

“-Henry. It’s fine. I asked Viscount Ashowan to do what he did.”

The room fell into stunned silence.

Brendan’s dark gaze swept over the many heads of his entourage, then the Daxarian nobility, and finally landed on Finlay Ashowan who continued leaning against the wall, though his blue eyes were bright and shimmering.

“Viscount, did you retrieve my sword?” Brendan asked calmly while stepping forward and waving off a trembling maid who had stepped forward with a towel for him.

“I returned it to your brother, though he did try to stab me with it afterwards which I can’t say I was fond of.” Fin straightened then slowly strolled over to the Troiackian King.

It was clear to the witch, that there was something different in Brendan’s eyes. There wasn’t the fire of anger hiding his pain like there had been when they’d fought…

Instead there was… sadness… and remorse thatheld his pain up clearly.

Fin bowed his head. “I’d prefer to not have to blast you off like that again, Your Majesty.”

Brendan barely registered his words before turning to Norman who stood watching him stonily with his assistant at his side.

“I will go along with whatever the Princess wishes and end the engagement. I only ask that I be allowed to apologize to her before I board the next ship out to Troivack.”

There was an explosion of whispers amongst the nobility.

Everyone knew, Troivackians didn’t apologize.

Especially their King.

He had indeed committed a grave sin if he needed to apologize.

Norman’s jaw flexed as he stared at the young man before him whose tone left no room of doubt with regards to his sincerity.

“You may. Ruby, please go fetch the Princess. We can send His Majesty out tomorrow morning if he so chooses. This way Alina will not need to be woken, and it is out of the way.” The Daxarian King’s voice was cold as the Head of Housekeeping debated telling him that the Princess was already asleep in bed, but decided she’d rather face her slight upset over the Daxarian King’s wrath. She immediately nodded to the nearest maids who took off in a near sprint up the stairs.

“Your Majesty, why are you apologizing? What happened between you and the Princess that warrants us being chased out?” Prince Henry demanded while turning to face his brother and eyeing the nobles that were hanging around simply to enjoy the theatrics.

“That is a matter between the Princess and myself. No blame is to be placed on her, and please let it be known that she has conducted her time with me with the respect and bearing of a future Queen. It is simply our irreconcilable differences that have us believing she would be better appreciated here in Daxaria.” Brendan’s voice boomed effortlessly, and it was clear to everyone in the room that he was ensuring no one had any scandalous ideas or canon fodder for rumors pertaining to her virtue.

“Brother,” Henry dropped his voice down to a whisper as the Daxarian guards finally began herding the onlookers out of the way. “What in the world happened? You asked to be shot off land into the sea? And now you’re apologizing?!”

Brendan fixed Henry with his eerie stare once more, and his brother backed up a step. Brendan no longer looked… impenetrable. Something in him looked rather defeated…

“I will tell you about everything once we-”

Several shouts of alarm interrupted the King that drew everyone’s eyes up and over to where the two maids Ruby had sent reappeared with a slew of guards.

“The Princess isn’t in her room! No one has seen her since she went to bed!” One of the younger maids burst out fearfully while ringing her hands.

“Lady Ashowan is missing as well!” another maid who had lagged behind gasped out as she began racing down the stairs alongside her coworker.

Norman’s head snapped to stare at Finlay who looked equally concerned by the news.

Brendan felt a heavy dread fill his stomach. His gut instinct was screaming at him… it wasn’t at all like the time the two of them had disappeared to go camping…

Alina had been angry and upset… Katarina knew how to sneak around… but…

Something in the air felt off.

Norman glanced at Brendan as though he was thinking the very same thing.

“Everyone fan out and search every inch of this castle. Viscount, send word to your estate and see if they went there. I want them found before dawn, am I clear?” the monarch ordered as all guards and Knights within earshot snapped to attention.

Fin immediately strode towards the doors past Brendan and his entourage without another glance back, his anxiety clear as day as his eyes began to shine even more brightly, as his magic already began to glow to life.

“How can we help?” Brendan stepped forward, his eyes hardening and his fists curling at his sides.

Norman turned and regarded him for a brief moment before wearily shaking his head and turning to the stairwell. “Nothing. This is not your concern anymore, Your Majesty.”

Then, he left, and Brendan could feel the cold hand of helplessness seize his heart as his gut continued to bellow that things were far from alright… and he began to fear that he may never get to see Alina again…