The servant bowed her head and followed behind the royals. She stayed quietly behind the Empress and out of the way as greetings were exchanged. Her hands were folded in front of her as she waited for her orders. "Risey." The Empress called as she turned in the direction of the servant woman. 

It was the moments like this that made Risey's heart and stomach turn. The Empress was kind, spoiled and bossy, but kind. She wouldn't deserve what was coming to her. But it had been her husband and his men, even Jan, who participated in the siege of Galorien. They had taken everything from her; her peace, her love, her family and friends, everything. It had been easy at first for her to come into the castle and put in such a well thought out act - to play the part of a loyal servant while feeding information to the rebellion back in Galorien. But it was becoming harder and harder for her to focus on her job of spying, for when the signal was to come she was to return to Galorien. 
Risey called Galorien her home and it was for the most part, but her place of birth was a different kingdom all together, one that had been glorious and wonderful but it fell into shambles at the hands of her vile uncle. Her salvation had come in the form of the royal family of Galorien.

"Will you please go and find my niece and my sons?" The Empress asked kindly. A wide, gentle smile stretched across her lips. 

Bowing once more Risey turned to leave but she was stopped by the whisperings of the Empress and the wife of the Duke, the Duchess as she had been introduced. [i]"She was the servant that tackled Jan Leon!"[/i] The Empress laughed softly.. 

[i]"That woman is quite close to Jan Leon and she is my personal servant. She was the servant of..."[/i] 

Risey continued walking on as the Queen told the story of her previous employers and their unfortunate demise.

She knew just were to find Jan and the others. He wasn't that hard to predict either. The youngest Prince was fairly creative and she had aided him in the dark hours of the night with creating his beautiful objects.

---

Jan had been given a small two story building that had been originally for practicing his magic but his mother had forbid brining the deceased into the castle walls so it had been converted to something that Jan liked better. It was a workshop. Within the first floor were his various tools, a work table, some stools with red goose feather cushions on them, a small display of brightly colored stones and gems stood along the far wall away from the hearth where he melted scraps of gold and other metals given to him by the Royal Jeweler. 

Hammers of various sizes, drawplates, files and pliers hung from hooks on the walls. The second story contained a bed, chest and a display case where he stored his projects. Jan's father had allowed this little slice of heaven for the youngest prince due to the calming effect that crafting objects of gold had on his son. It kept the voices as a dull murmur in the back of his mind.

"Happy birthday Elys!" He said as he held out a thin box decorated with gold colored flowers. 

Inside the box was a small child sized necklace. The necklace was a slender gold colored chain with hand carved, small carnelian beads and a single tear drops shaped sunstone that was suspended from the necklace by a small gold link.

"It isn't much...and I cut myself a few times trying to make it for you...but I hope you like it."

Jan had learned the skills of metal working by observation. His mother wanted him to learn something other than magic after all.

Risey arrived at the shop shortly after Jan had handed the young girl the small gift. She stood in the corner of the room with a small smile on her face. Her eyes focused on the Galorien woman, knowing who she was and what her job was at the castle. 

Jan glanced at the servant in the corner and he smiled widely. “I see mother has let you go. I don’t know how you can always seem to find some way to get away from her.” He joked. 

“I take it she wants to see Elys?” Jan asked. He adored his younger cousin because she had the childhood that he could not – she was treated as a child, she wasn’t anything else but that. The servant woman was leaning against the wall for a few moments before Jan picked up one of the small stools and threw it in her direction. 
Risey managed to catch it and she quickly set it on the ground. Sitting on the stool she quickly discarded her shoes and left them in the corner as she observed everything. 

[i]’She’ll like it Jan. You don’t need to worry.’[/i] Risey mouthed to him.

Jan smiled and turned his attention back to his cousin. “By the way…where is my brother?” 

Risey shrugged. She didn’t know where the heir was, and she wondered if he knew where to look for Jan first.