Noh was surprised when the wind magic started to vibrate the gilded leaf he wore as an amulet. It had been many years since he last used the communication magic. There was no one he knew that still could perform the spell; even his usage of it was only possible if someone else started the connection. Thinking back, his master had made the final journey to the Land of Spirits years ago defending her husband. “Who uses the magic of communication?”

“It’s your noble travelling companions. Are you going to the Princess’ Ball?” Noh knew this was going to be trouble as he listened to Cael’s explanation while motioning Jote and Swallow closer. He had a very worrisome task assigned to him, but it fell in line with the kingdom’s request of their team. About this time, a young man rode up on their camp and handed a letter off to them. Jote smiled for a moment as the introductions were made. “I am Baron Wyen of Ahnek, which of you is Jote the Silver?” Jote nodded as the Baron continued. “You indicated that I would be needed to help your group escort some nobles of Tumal to a ball?” All eyes focus on him. “What? When we met the girls I had already known there was a ball coming. We should arrive at their camp in two days, by the way.” Noh just shook his head at the light mage. Few if any had the gift of premonition and healing spells, but Noh would’ve left Jote behind years ago if he wasn’t a cousin to both the king of Ahnek and the queen of Tumal. “Your cousin must be overjoyed to know your gifts. Oh, wait, she’s not spoken to you since you were five… when her sons died a month after you told her that a woman was out to kill them.” Noh knew he shouldn’t have said anything, but Jote surprised them with his response. “We’ll be meeting her as well.”

Swallow readied a trademark ball of steam, not many could use both fire and water successfully. “Start talking sham of a Duke! What have you gotten us into?” “Sham, I am no sham! We have four wonderful girls waiting on us to solve a mystery! What more could four bachelors ask for, unless you would rather have the Black Princess? Minor baron’s should know that we Dukes have to marry nobles, and it’s suggested the same for you three. My visions suggest that the ball is the best place to meet the proper women. But, and trust me on this, it will be dangerous to think that the women we are meant for will be pushovers like a village wife. But, it’s not set in stone that the women I’ve foreseen are the ones we’ll marry. I see multiple paths from the ball.” Jote frowns for a moment as Swallow begins to enlarge the steam ball. “Wait, wait, wait! If we don’t go, Ahnek and Tumal will be at war and we’ll be framed for starting it!”

Wyen asked, “And why would that be?” With a sigh, the answer shocked them. “Because the girls will be killed. And we have already been linked to them at the village we met them at. The forces after them are diabolical, even I don’t know if what we were told is the truth about their heritage, but they are unknown in Tumal, dress like nobles, and the Black Princess is a textbook example of a paranoid royal: bad for anyone around her. With us around, she’ll think she has a way to divest herself of potential rivals, if she even looks twice at escorted women.”

-- Troll's note: Short, but I needed to move the story forward.