The man named Ethan Graves began answering her questions, but he could have been speaking a whole new language because Serenei did not understand a word that he said. [i]For the love of everything cold, what does he mean by 'Interloper' and 'frigate' and 'RIFT tunnel'? Where is Sybaris? What are Vaskrans? What is a 'Novus Naval Orbital Installation'? Why would we need repairs?[/i]

Serenei shook her head slowly. "I...I apologize, but I am afraid that I do not know what you speak of," she answered tentatively. "I do not know what 'frigate' and 'Vaskran' and 'RIFT tunnel' mean." Graves asked what Itervia was, and Serenei's mouth almost dropped open in shock. [i]He does not know of Itervia? Why, that's like-that's like someone not knowing of Father Sun and Mother Moon![/i] Graves grabbed her shoulders and began to shake her, and Serenei cried out in alarm, unaccustomed to being touched by someone so unfamiliar. Graves pleaded for her to 'stop acting crazy', which only made Serenei more confused. [i]I am being perfectly rational! It is this Graves character that is acting crazy![/i] she thought indignantly.

A new voice appeared out of no where. "Hey, what's going on here?" asked a man standing in the threshold of the chamber. Serenei hadn't even noticed the doors opening. Speaking of doors...where [i]were[/i] the doors? Serenei frowned. They had disappeared into thin air!

Serenei caught her breath and looked at the newcomer. He was dressed very, very strangely. And so was Graves. Serenei's gaze flitted down to her body and she noticed that she was attired in the same peculiar manner. "Why am I dressed like this?" She noticed the second man's features for the first time. He had pale skin (it wasn't as pale as hers, but still rather pale) and ocean-blue eyes and chocolate-brown hair. [i]Another Itervian![/i] thought Serenei excitedly.

"Hey, what's going on?" he asked, not unkindly.

Serenei let out a breath of relief. "Oh, thank the honorable Ophelia, please tell me that you know why we have been taken away from Itervia," Serenei pleaded. "I am afraid that everyone will be terribly cross with me if I do not get back soon. Princess Phillipa and Prince Frederick are due to arrive at Illyri any minute now!" Serenei's voice was growing increasingly agitated, and she bit her lip. [i]Calm. I'm supposed to stay calm.[/i]

Serenei had never been very good at staying calm.

*****

Clarrik and was becoming very, very worried as Serenei declared that she had neither a husband nor a "boyfriend" (whatever that was supposed to mean). And then...and then Serenei went on to declare that gods did not exist. Clarrik felt the blood run out of his face, and he flinched involuntarily. Serenei didn't seem to notice his reaction as she continued to talk nonsense, saying that her name was 'Private Samantha Ashley' before rattling off a bunch of words and phrases that meant nothing to Clarrik. Something about what she was saying struck a wrong chord with Clarrik. In his distracted and distraught state, he caught the words 'General Combat Infantry Battalion', which indicated that Serenei was saying that she was part of the military...but that was all wrong. And then she said that kings and queens were 'out of service', which made everything all the more concerning.

Replying to Reyanna, Serenei ordered her to 'just fucking stop', to which Reyanna responded with a frightened step backwards. Reyanna glanced at Clarrik, who was staring at Serenei, wide-eyed and as pale as a sheet (which, granted, was not much paler than he normally was, given the fact that he was an Itervian). "I don't know what's happening, I don't know what's going on, and I don't know who I am anymore. Just...just tell me what planet this is, what star system this is, and the location of the nearest spaceport. Seriously," said Serenei.

There was a tense moment of silence. Reyanna hesitantly spoke up. "Your...Your Grace? I am not entirely certain what you are talking about, but...but we are in Almerinte. In Itervia. You are speaking of stars...perhaps you mean Sister Star, and the legend of how she shattered herself to pieces? We do not have, er, [i]spaceports[/i] in Illyri, but I can arrange for you to be at Queensport for the arrival of the Alumnallens if you wish, Your Grace."

Clarrik shook his head slowly. "Lady Reyanna, I think that something is very wrong," he interjected before Serenei could begin shouting again. "Before you came in, she denounced the goddesses. Something along the lines of the goddesses not existing."

Reyanna's eyes grew as wide and round as saucers. Like Clarrik, the blood rushed out of her face all at once. "Y-your Grace," she stammered, frantically looking around to see if anybody was within earshot. Fortunately, the handmaiden who Reyanna had rushed past had left the room, though Reyanna lowered her voice nonetheless. "If the High Priest hears you say that, he will have you punished severely, family or no. Snow above, if word ever reaches the honorable Ophelia herself..." 

Clarrik stood up. "She said that her name was Private Samantha Ashley earlier as well," Clarrik told Reyanna. "It has a rather Alumnallen ring to it, if I say so myself." Clarrik and Reyanna stood in stumped silence.

Reyanna was the first to compose herself. She took a deep breath, plastering a smile onto her face. "Well, Your Grace, it is quite evident that you are not feeling well. I recommend that you get some rest and perhaps see a healer-priest. Prince Clarrik, forgive me, but I shall be on my way to oversee the preparations for the arrival of the Alumnallens. Would you be so kind as to notify me if Princess Serenei, ah, overcomes whatever has been ailing her?"

Clarrik inclined his head. "Of course, Lady Reyanna." And with that, Reyanna Weystermont fled from the chamber. 

Clarrik rubbed his eyes. "Look, Serenei-" Clarrik paused and drew in a breath-"or Private Samantha Ashley, or whatever you wish to be called, please do not ever say what you said about gods and goddesses again." His eyes darted fearfully to the window, which was partially obscured by fine damask curtains. The sky was a bright pale blue, and rays of golden sunshine streamed in through the curtains. It was an unusually clear day, but Clarrik knew that the sky could turn dark and that the rays of golden sunshine could be replaced by a vicious blizzard in the matter of minutes if Ophelia was angered. "Have you lost your mind? If-no, [i]when[/i]-the priests and priestesses hear about this, there shall be consequences. I'm sure you remember the story of how the honorable goddess Ophelia put your family into power," he continued. "And she can take your family out of power just as easily. Please, I beg of you, Serenei, for Ryne's sake, tell me how I can help you. Tell me what is wrong. Tell me why you are acting so strangely." Clarrik turned to face her, fear and concern in his ocean-blue eyes.