Lauralye sat in the highest tower of the castle, looking out the window. She had seen her father's wagon leave not to long ago, leaving her alone in the palace. Of course, she was not actually alone. The castle was filled with servants and guards, it was quite impossible for her to ever truly be left alone. There was a knock on the door and she sighed, "Come in..."

The guard, who was assigned to watching her for the day came in through the door, "Your breakfast is ready, Your Highness."

Lauralye nodded and stepped away from the window, wandering down the large flight of stairs into a giant dining room, where she would sit and eat alone. She sat as the food was brought to her. She gave the servant a mere nod as she look out the large windows that looked out to the garden. She could not see the sun rising, for it was hidden by the rock walls that separated her from the rest of the world. She could see the sky begin to change colour though. She smiled softly and slowly began to eat.
~
A small bidding war began for Robert Williams, men calling out prices rising higher and higher. Until a man with a small white beard stepped forward, calling out a price far lower than the others had been calling out. Everyone silenced. This was a man from the palace, an adviser to the King. To deny the purchase of the slave or to bid any higher against the King, who sat in a carriage not to far away surrounded by guards, could be a dangerous task. None of the bidders saw Robert Williams as something to die for. The adviser walked to the stage and two of the guards broke away from the carriage and followed him. The white haired man took the change out of a royal blue bag and held it out to the caller, "We'll be taking him now."