Isabella paced the throne room of the castle, seemingly trying to wear a rut into the stone surface her boots clicked on with each heavy step. It had been a week since her childhood friend had been taken from a family hunting trip out in the country side and no word from anyone other than a note that was left behind stating that they were to await instructions. Each day, each moment that ticked by seemed to last an eternity and the sands in the hour glass seemed to taunt her. The sun cut into the room through the stained glass windows and the colors seemed to dance about the darkly clad form of Isabella. 

	Her mood was as dark as her clothing for she blamed herself, she had been off dealing with her guild when the family vacation had occurred and she felt confident that had she been there this would not have happened. Stopping in her tracks she decided that she was tired of waiting around for something or anything to happen. Looking over to the king and queen she pursed her lips slightly, thinning them out as she stood there.

	"I am leaving," she stated in a flat voice.

	"What are you talking about? We must wait to find out anything," the Queen stated as she sat there in her throne.

	"No offense but you can sit and wait all you want, I am going to do something," she retorted before turning and ordering the guards out of her way. They held their ground for a moment before the king waved them off their post. The door opened and Isabella push her way through the castle and to the stables to retrieve her horse. they could wait until the gods returned for all she cared, she was going to go find Chritina. 

	"Why did you let her leave?" the Queen asked her husband and liege. 

	"You know why," he remarked as he leaned back in his throne. "She just would have left under the cover of darkness if I didn't."

	"You could have barred her windows ages ago."

	"And what cage her? Wasn't that something we have tried not to do. Our arrangement with her has proved useful, especially now," the man said as he looked over to his wife.

	"I know, you're right, you're right," she said with a deep sigh.