The sewage-caked royal washed her clothes in the tub, drained and washed the tub thoroughly, leaving her now much cleaner clothes hung over the door to the bath to dry. She then soaked for a while, picking at the dinner the inkeep had left for her. Gods, how she needed this. She was so tired, and the water felt so good... Before she knew it, Fai'lana was asleep.

Which was just fine with the observer who slipped in through the window, admired her sleeping form in the tub for a moment, then quickly searched the room. The lithe form that did so obviously had experience; they were dead silent, and left not a single thing out of place as they checked her things... until the black-clad figure realized that what they were looking for wasn't there.

"Tch!" was all the intruder said, but it was enough to make Fai'lana stir. But she didn't seem to notice the shadowy figure in the other room, so they hid. The would-be burglar found a dark spot and disappeared, making not a movement nor a sound.

Fai'lana opened her eyes, oblivious, stretched, and took a nibble of her cold meal. She got up, started into the room proper to get a change of clothing from her bag, when there was a loud thud. Two men in full plate burst in on the naked, wet, and very surprised young lady, and she froze.

"You! No funny business, or we'll-"

He didn't get a chance to finish that phrase, as a knife sailed from the shadowed corner and into his eye socket, burying itself to the hilt, a spray of blood and vitreous humour bursting forth as he fell onto his face. Fai'lana finally reacted, screaming and holding her shirt in front of her.

"Get down," the shadowy figure said in a feminine, yet stern voice, and Fai'lana dove over the bed to hide behind it. The stealthy woman pulled a sword from her back and went at the other, still stunned from the death of his buddy, but with enough wits to have drawn his weapon. He'd been in it for easy money, since they just wanted some prissy princess, but thsi wasn't what he'd bargained for. He dropped the sword and raised his hands.

"Please don't kill me. I was just hired to take the Princess. I'd rather give up and live than end up like Charil there."

The woman pulled off her head wrapping to reveal a demi-human face, with cat-like features, down to the whiskers, ears, yellow cat eyes, and grey fur.

"Then you need to start explaining."

It was then that the Princess stood, her shirt and some panties on.

"Hold up. Who the hell ARE you people?! And what the hell is going on!?!" The Lady next in line for the throne was having a very unladylike meltdown about everything. Understandable, given the circumstances.

"In short, I was sent to search your things for the family seal... it's missing. These schmucks were here to kidnap you but I wasn't willing to let that happen, your majesty. Now, any more questions before I talk to this man?"

"No," she said abashedly. "And thanks for saving me." She sat on the edge of the bed and let the feline question the man. She then said something stern to him, and the man nodded, gathered up his dead friend, and left.

She grabbed a towel, and used it to clean up the gore in the room and soon, it looked like nothing had ever happened. She then sat on the bed next to Fai'lana, and took a deep breath, holding out her hand.

"Hi. I'm Arisa. I am a professional thief. Your parents hired me to get the family seal if you'd taken it but I didn't find it here. I'm guessing you didn't sell it or lose it anywhere?"

"Of course not! I'm not a fool, even if I am a bit inexperienced being out here..." She took the proferred hand and shook it, then continued, "And I'm fairly certain someone in town must have noticed who I was and sent those men to take me for ransom? I knew that was a possibility but so soon...? Am I that well known here in Lunk?"

"Apparently, your majesty. Well, the seal was not the only objective I was given. I was to track you secretly and keep an eye on you, keep you out of trouble. Guess my cover's blown, but until my report to your parents about everything gets a reply, guess i'll just stick around and help out. I'm paid up for a while anyway, and it's much simpler to help out if I don't have to hide all the time. That okay with you?"

"Well if my parents sent you... Arisa... guess I don't have much choice. At least THEY'RE not trying to kidnap me and force me to come back home."

"Oh, trust me, they considered it, but your aunt told them they should let your spread your wings a bit."

"Bless you Auntie Llyris. Well, thanks again for that. By the way, what did you say to him before he left?"

"That if he ever showed his face in this town again, or anywhere near you, I'd castrate him and feed him his own testicles," she smiled, "if you'll pardon the crudeness, Princess."

"Oh stop with that, please. I ran away to get as far from all that as possible. Just call me Fai'lana. Guess I need to change my look if I don't wanna get recognized again."

"Okay, Fai-fai... I can help with that," Arisa said simply, "No worries. First thing tomorrow."

"What the hell did you just call me?" the princess blinked at her.

"Fai-fai." She grinned a cheshire grin at her, full of mischief, "And you can call me Ari."

"Oh, gods..." Fai'lana rolled her eyes, "You're going to be a handful, aren't you?"

"Yep, and proud of it," Ari replied, "Now let's get some shut-eye."