Outside of the castle, perched upon a section of rocky cliff, sat the youngest Prince Jan. He did not like the confining walls of the castle nor did he like many of the people, save for the servants, that dwelled within. Looking out across the horizon the Prince sighed heavily. His brother was to be married soon and with preparations for the ball being made two weeks in advance, Jan was left to do as he pleased. His father had more pressing matters to attend to anyways. Soft footsteps approached him from behind. Turning slightly to see who approached him from behind was his mother's servant woman Risey. 

Jan talked to the woman and she listened intently often. She didn't question him nor did she scold him for talking so badly about his father. That's right - the youngest son despised his father, who seen Jan as nothing more than a tool. Understandably his older brother would inherit the throne, it was rightfully his after all, but Jan was regulated into the tool category for his father, despite having a high rank. Jan was resentful that he had been born with magic...dark magic. Even among the magic users he was avoided due to his necromancy. Often he felt like he was cursed by the gods with this gift, as many called it. 

The woman, as far as he understood, had been injured years ago and had become mute, well not entirely mute. She had talked a handful of times within her year at the castle. Jan had been told of the house fire that took the life of a lesser Lord and his wife. Their children had been spared thanks to a few of their servants. Risey had been the servant of the Lord and Lady before their untimely deaths. The one responsible had been captured and hanged for his crime. "Hello Risey." He said before looking back over the city below. As expected she had remained quiet but it surprised Jan when she touched his shoulder and sat down next to him.

Her plain olive colored dress was smoothed out before she turned her head to look at him. A small smile formed on her pale lips as she looked at him. Risey was quite average in the terms of looks...except for her eyes. They expressed what her voice could not. Her thick raven colored hair adorned with brass beads was left free flowing and the Prince reached over and plucked a lock between his fingers. "My mother often laments that she is unable to figure out how you get your hair like this," he said with a small smirk on his lips, "I had almost convinced her that you apply a mixture of cow’s milk and horse shit on it at night." 

Risey appeared to be laughing and he briefly wondered what she sounded like when she could talk. 

Jan was free to be his true self around the servants, Risey in particular. 

The woman covered her mouth with her hand before turning back to the Prince. He was able to read lips quite well and they had developed a small way of communicating with one another. '[i]Your mother wishes to see you...And your brother.[/i]' She said, although no sound came out. 

Jan sighed heavily, "Really? She couldn't fetch him herself?" It wasn't that he disliked his brother...it was just that well they were treated very differently. 

"Has our dear little cousin arrived yet?" 

Risey shrugged as she stood to her feet and brushed the back of her dress off. '[i]I've been looking for you so there is a possibility.[/i]' 

Jan nodded and took her hand when she offered it to him. "Fine let us go and find my brother...or well, you can. I have something to check really quick! Bye!"

If Risey could have talked he was sure that she would have cursed him. Chuckling lightly to himself, Jan went to the stables to check on his favorite horse. 

---

Risey scowled as she made her way into the castle, using a series of small passages that were provided to keep the servants out of the views of the nobles. When she finally reached the last place she remembered the Crown Prince was last in, the woman opened the secret door that blended into the wall. Quietly stepping inside of the room she waited a few moments for them to finish their conversation before she knocked lightly on the wall since she couldn't really get the attention of the two men through other means.

"Y-Your mother...Wishes…to…see you." Risey said softly, her voice was barely a whisper. She had retained some of her ability to vocalize but she preferred to stay quiet most of the time.