[b]Sighart[/b]

The advantage of being promised to wed a woman was the almost instant retreat of ambitious mothers parading their daughters in front of him like lovely flowers he could pick. He used to enjoy the attention when he was younger, but faking a smile and polite gestures were tiring. Now that the day he was to wed a stranger draws closer, he wondered what it would be like to have picked a lovely flower on his own accord, and not accepted one that his father had chosen for him.

Voices of his father’s guests filled the room. Some were cheering while others were laughing at the little people performing their practiced routine. Sig just sat there, watching with a lazy smile on his face. He was lucky to be seated between the Emperor and Jan Leon, not being in direct contact with his father’s guests. He listens to conversations around the room now and then, and responded accordingly to some congratulations remarks. He even caught the particular conversation between his brother and a nobleman who was asking for the prince’s help to speak to a deceased relative, but as the night went on he listened less and thought more about the favor that he would like to ask from Risey. 

Sometime during the course of the dinner, the Emperor announced that he had organized a little entertainment for his guests for the following morning. The men, sober or otherwise, sat in attention. Everyone knew that the Emperor enjoyed hunting. The woods were dense around the capital, perfect for unleashing the hunters within them. Therefore, the Emperor mentioned, it would be wise not to drown in the spirits of alcohol. The lords were, of course, more excited than the ladies, although women were known to participate in these activities as well. And yet, by the end of the night, many of the men spoke in slurred syllables, needing help just to get to their feet.

“I’m glad both my sons have enough sense not to get drunk tonight,” he heard the Emperor mumble as he rose from his seat. The Empress did the same and so did Sig. From the other end of the table, his already red-faced uncle seemed to have encountered no trouble getting up to his feet. His children, Sebastian and Elys, were long sent up to their chambers to rest, leaving the Duke, the Duchess, and their guest. It was a pity that the woman did not sing for them that night, Sig thought, for he adored her singing voice. It was as if magic was at work whenever she sang for it tugged at his heart and made him feel the words come to life. 

[b]Dawn[/b]

She noticed the crown prince studying her and she raised her gaze up to his. How could she establish contact with this man? It was impossible to carry out her task without at least a conversation with him. Her magic worked that way. She had to say out loud what she wanted her target to do or believe or see. Shouting it from across the room was an option, but it was one that would surely cost her head. She could take the risk and do it, except that she was ordered to make it look like an accident or a suicide. The goal was to slowly destabilize the Empire from within and her role was to eliminate key people.

The dinner came to a close with the Emperor leaving the table. Sighart nodded in her direction as if acknowledging her presence, then went off after his mother and father. He would most likely retire in his luxurious suites to rest that pretty head of his in preparation for tomorrow’s hunting trip. She was so distracted in watching the retreating backs of the royal family that Dawn failed to notice that the fourth member was missing.

[i]“I wanted to thank you...for singing to us earlier,”[/i] said the youngest prince. It took Dawn a few moments to realize that the voice was talking to her, and that the thank you was meant for her as well. Actually, it took Lady Cecilia’s elbow on Dawn’s arm. The younger woman looked up at the lady, who curtseyed to the prince who was apparently standing there.

“I shall rest tonight and catch the biggest game tomorrow,” declared the Duke. He clapped his nephew’s shoulder with uncontrolled force then gestured for his wife to come with him, but before they left, he added, “A bear perhaps, and without magic. I shall see you in the morning, Jan.”
 
Lady Cecilia squeezed Dawn’s upper arm. “I apologize, but I have to leave you. He’s not his proper self and look how he’s walking away without me,” she whispered urgently. The duke may have been able to get to his feet on his own, but he swayed here and there. “Prince Jan, would you care to walk our Dawn back to her room?” She didn’t wait for an answer though and hurried after the Duke leaving Dawn and Jan behind.

“I do not require an escort, your highness,” she said. His cheeks were flushed – though perhaps just a light tint of red – she noticed. Was he drunk? Perhaps she should be the one escorting him back to his rooms. “I thank you for…” [i]thanking me,[/i] she thought, but didn’t say it out loud, because it just sounded foolish. Instead she smiled. “I’m glad you appreciated the song. Elys loves it when I sing to her, insists it even. So you can tell that I’ve had enough practice.”

The room was clearing up, leaving only her and Jan, plus the servants. She noticed that the black-haired servant who tackled Jan Leon was missing. “Did you need help getting to your apartments, your highness? I think I remember the way. Just please promise not to throw up along the way.” She started to move closer to his side to better support him if he was unstable on his feet just as an idea started to take shape in her mind. “You may lean on me, if you want to.” And perhaps she had found a way to be closer to Sighart after all.