Calico had [i]known[/i] something was up when the head butler informed her that she was relieved from her regular duties and would instead be serving drinks to Emperor Rioga, Prince Alvin and the rest of the individuals that the Emperor had specially summoned to the throne room.

Or, more specifically: she’d known something was up, and she’d known it pertained to Prince Alvin. After all, who [i]else[/i] would bother pulling the necessary strings to get a mere [i]serving girl[/i] into the throne room while the Emperor delivered what was clearly an incredibly important and highly classified mission?

By the time the Emperor had finished delivering his speech, Calico’s hands were shaking, and moreso than usual. The only thing that kept her from spilling anything on her rather hefty tray was some very carefully used dark magic, and even with that, it was a close call.

She’d known Jehanna was invading: of course she had! That much had become obvious to anyone with half a brain over the course of the past few days: even if Jehanna had once been Grado’s allies, their troops marched across Grado’s lands, letting nothing stand in their way. Their destination was clear: Grado Keep, the castle that Grado’s royalty called home.

Even now, there were enemies practically at their doorstep. Plenty of servants had fled: Calico’s own family had been one of the few that had stayed behind, loyal to the very end. They had been serving the royal family for decades, after all. But by now, even Prince Alvin was being ordered to flee, and take with him some sort of priceless artifact.

When the Emperor looked directly at her towards the end of his speech, Calico blinked, startled. “The princes may possibly have trouble looking after themselves,” said Rioga. “I am not going to demand you to follow them…”

…but that was the unspoken implication, wasn’t it?

Go with them? Well, that certainly made sense. Prince Alvin and the visiting Prince from Renais had been pampered all their lives: without at least one person to wait on them, how would they be able to cope? She highly doubted that either of them knew how to cook, or do laundry.

And besides, Prince Alvin was her friend. He’d helped her a lot over the past years. Perhaps she would be able to return the favor. Her powers would certainly be useful to them: if there ever was a good time to reveal one’s self as secretly a shaman, it was probably now.

Somewhere, in the back of her mind, Calico had to admit to herself that she was afraid. At least this way she would have a chance to fight, instead of simply being taken prisoner if Jehanna managed to take the castle.

Wait. No. She couldn't do that.

How could she... how could she even [i]think[/i] about running off to fight in a war, when her family needed her? Her father, her mother, Kiel...

She couldn't leave them. There was no [i]way[/i] she could do something like that.

She had to go. Run. Warn them. Kiel worked in the stables, maybe they could steal a few horses and run for it? She was sure the Emperor wouldn't mind.

She took a deep breath, and carefully set down her tray of drinks. Almost instinctively, she smoothed out her skirt: it was something of a nervous habit of hers. Some people were already streaming out of the throne room to throw themselves into battle, but Prince Alvin still remained, and he was the one that Calico needed to talk to.

“Milord,” she said, her voice trembling. “I cannot come with you. I apologize for my cowardice, but I have to go. My family... I have to warn them.”

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel. The door of the throne room was heavy, but she pushed it open and slipped out anyway.

She had to run. She was just a servant, they probably wouldn't even stop her on her way out.

She had to warn her family.

[quote]Exit screen. Somehow.[/quote]