The unfamiliar man asked if she was having nightmares, and said something about a 'barber drone'. "A barber drone? What is that? Where am I? Is this some secret place in Alumnall that nobody knows about?" Alumnallen technology was known throughout all of Almerinte to be the most advanced, of course, but what Serenei had seen of the gears and cogs and steam-powered contraptions in the realm of red leaves was nothing compared to...this.

The man gently laid a hand on her, and Serenei flinched away from his touch. She glanced down at her bandaged chest again. Why was that there? Why did her body feel wrong? Serenei held her palms up in front of her face; they were darker and more calloused than she remembered. 

The man began speaking again. He was...Ethan Graves? "What kind of name is 'Graves'?" Serenei asked, puzzled. "I-I mean no offense, of course, but the only realm that would have a family named 'Graves' would be Alumnall, and, well, pardon my saying so, but you most definitely do not look very Alumnallen." Serenei paused to collect her thoughts as her terrified mind scrambled for an explanation. She took a deep breath, sour old Ravella's words coming back to her. [i]An Itervian lady does not let her emotions rule her judgement. An Itervian lady is polite at all times. She does not burst into fiery fits of passion, but remains stoic and still, like a glacier.[/i]

Serenei bit her lip. [i]Ophelia, give me strength,[/i] she thought. "I apologize for my outburst, but I do not understand why we would be sharing a bedchamber, considering that I am a woman wed. I do not know what being 'on the [i]Interloper[/i]' means, and no, I would [i]not[/i] like to visit the infirmary until you tell me why I am here, if you please," Serenei said in the coldest, calmest voice that she could manage. "I will have you know that I am Princess Serenei Farwynd of Itervia, and I would very much like to be taken back to Illyri."

There. That sounded rather glacial, did it not? [i]Snow above, how does Marleyna do this all the time?[/i]

*****

Clarrik was genuinely worried. What was wrong with Serenei? Why was she acting so strangely? "I am Clarrik. I am...I am your husband, Serenei. We have a child. Ryne. Do you remember Ryne? You are in our bedchamber, in the palace. We are in Itervia. A delegation from Alumnall is due to arrive at noon today, to discuss a feasible way to end Itervian-Alumnallen tensions that have existed since Mother Nature and Father Earth put our four goddesses in this world," Clarrik said in the calmest voice that he could manage. "Serenei...you are Serenei. You are Princess Serenei Farwynd, the Lady of the Keep and the daughter of Queen Alaysha and King Lanner Farwynd. Crown-Princess Marleyna Farwynd is your older sister. The honorable High Priest Bryce Farwynd and the honorable Lord Lorgan Icewylle are your brothers." Clarrik paused to gauge her reaction. He nervously ran a hand through his crop of chocolate-brown hair.

The door burst open. A flustered handmaiden stood at the threshold of the bedchamber, while Lady Reyanna Weystermont walked briskly inside, dropping a hasty curtsy in front of Serenei before speaking. She did not seem to notice Sernei's unusually aggressive stance. "Your Grace," she began hurriedly, rifling through the stack of parchment in her arms. "Pardon me for the intrusion, but I was told that you were awake and this is a matter of [i]utmost importance[/i]. We have received word that there are [i]eight[/i] rubies inlaid in Princess Phillipa's tiara, not nine, and we must make the proper arrangements for that..." Lady Reyanna paused and shoved a piece of parchment at Serenei, shaking her head. "I cannot believe these [i]men[/i]. Oh, do not misunderstand me, Your Grace, but I had hoped that Captain Derrik would have at least had the sense to note the rubies," continued Reyanna with a sigh. Reyanna hesitated, seemingly noticing Serenei's anger for the first time. "Your Grace? Is everything alright?"