[b]Jan Leon[/b]

Jan Leon and the dead knight spoke for hours despite his tiredness. They talked of many things; Jan Leon knew death well. He knew the ins and outs of it but not what happened after death. "Do you think I'm going to hell," he had asked, "For all of the things I have done for my father?" The knight was taken aback and he didn't know how to answer the prince. Was Jan really a damned man for something that was out of his control? 

"I do not think so." The knight had finally answered, "You are a kindly man. It is your father who will go to hell." There was no sense in the knight holding his tongue against the emperor for he was already dead. How much more could he be punished? As the two talked, the prince was beginning to feel a weight lift from his shoulders. There were very few people in the world he could tell his secrets to; Risey was his first one, the second was any spirit that was willing to listen. He had begun to notice that there were less and less spirits each year in the castle. He raised his concern with the dead knight who merely told him to shrug it off. 

Sometime during the night he had fallen asleep and the dead knight had left him. In the morning the prince had woke early to the sounds of the servants bustling about. Hunting days usually were a bit dull in the morning save for the noises made by the servants. Jan Leon dressed quickly into an old pair of dark colored trousers and a simple green shirt and he ran a comb through his messy brown hair before lacing up his boots and leaving his chambers. He couldn't remember if he even heard of where Dawn was staying or if she was staying in the same room as Elys. Now that he thought about it he remembered something he had said to her last night - he would pull the strings to make her able to come on the hunt today. Why had he offered to do that for her in the first place? Was it because he wanted to show thanks for her being a friend to Elys, or singing for them or was it something else entirely? 

Jan brushed the thoughts aside as he called to the nearest servant. He rarely needed their help and it was surprise when the young man he had called came forth. "Y-yes my prince?" the man said with a shaking voice. Many had long since learned to fear the necromancer. 

"Find Dawn, the Galorien woman who came with my Uncle last night. Bring her here to me with a change of clothes - preferably something with pants." The man nodded before scurrying away. Now all Jan had to do was wait.

[b]Risey[/b]

Her hand flew to hide the wide smile that was splayed across her face and her shoulders shook in silent laughter. Risey had a difficult time imagining that someone would believe it if he chose to dress as a woman. Risey was in charge of making his mother into a painted beauty but she doubted that her skills with makeup would help the prince. When her laughter calmed down and she was able to keep a straight face, the woman looked up at the prince and nodded. She understood that this was to be carried out in secret and it would work out for her in the long run if she simply went with whatever he planned. 

Her thoughts drifted back to the food within her pocket and she approached the other side of the table. "The children do not get enough." she said softly. Risey's throat was beginning to hurt but she continued talking. "We do get fed better than most," she took another pause. "But the children need more, and a sweet every once in a while wouldn't hurt them." She took a few steps back from Sig before bowing deeply. The brass beads in her hair weighted down the locks and the beads clinked together. As Risey stood straight she took a bead into her fingers and worked it from her hair until it rested freely in the palm of her hand. It had a surprising amount of weight to it. She pressed it into Sig's hand before trying to wordlessly explain her thoughts. 

When she failed in trying to convey the message she mouthed everything slowly. '[i]Once in your disguise - I will help - you must make your way from here and down to the lowest levels of the castle. If any servants stop you show them this. I have to report to your mother after helping you. But I will meet you in the lowest levels.[/i]' Risey's position as the personal servant of the Empress carried significant weight with the other servants. She was able to go into many places where they could not. Any servant with a brass bead from Risey would be granted these permissions since the Empress would often ask for the help of other servants under Risey's charge. She gave a polite nod and smile to the prince before leaving the room through the main door. After she was safely within the hall, Risey bolted down one of the hidden passageways. 

---

In the morning the servants woke before the sun, like they always did. Their tasks for the day were started; clothes and other things were gathered to be taken to the river to be washed, the horses were fed and washed, the cooks went about cleaning the kitchen and preparing the food for the day to come. Most servants began to sweep the halls, and dust the paintings. Some even washed the floors with sponges attached to wooden handles. They would be done before most others would wake in the castle. Today was a hunting day, so the servants would be allowed to roam the halls as they went about their chores instead of taking the hidden passageways. The nobles were too worried with their own tasks of preparing for the hunt to pay any mind to the servants that went about. 

In the early morning hours Risey was already preparing the clothes of the Empress to be taken to the river. The fine silks and delicate stitches were only tended to by three servant’s total: Risey, a plump woman with a ruddy complexion named Gabriele, and a younger girl with pale blonde hair named Angeliecia. Together they made up the Empress's servants. While Risey was her personal servant, Gabriele tended to her chambers and Angelecia, a new servant, was tasked with aiding Gabriele and occasionally she was taken under Risey's wing. With their arms piled high with various dresses, the three couldn't see where they were going and would bump into each other every once in a while. Gabriele was the most vocal of the group and her laughter bounced off of the walls and echoed back to them. She was a kindly woman with a large and warm heart. Her dark hair was tied into a knot on the top of her head with a simple piece of white cloth tied over her forehead to keep her bangs back. Her olive green dress was adorned with a white apron that held a few scented bars of soap that they would use to wash the dresses and some scrubbers as well as their rations for breakfast. 

In the middle of the group was Angeleica. Her long, thin, pale hair was left to fall freely down her back in soft waves. She was one of the few of Nicaean blood that worked within the castle. It wasn't quite common but many of the Nicaean servants and slaves in the land were often sold by their families for food or money. "Are you still alive Risey?" She joked as she attempted to glance over her shoulder at the dark haired woman. Risey had enough experience as a servant to handle such a large load of clothes but she was quite small compared to the other women so it was quite comical that the pile of clothes was nearly as tall as she was. Only the very top of her head was visible as she walked, occasionally she would allow the pile of clothes to slip just under her eye level. 

"Oi Gabb! I think Risey needs a break!" Angeleicia grinned widely. "The tower of clothes is too big for her!" 

Risey wouldn't admit it but the friendly teasing reminded her of home.