"A SMALL search party!?" Aranhil roared. "I want to know who authorized the number of searchers! And I want their head on my desk!" He did not have the authority to order that himself, and he knew it would not be carried out, but he wanted to voice his displeasure. "You send out a small party for when someone's favorite dancer went missing. Not when your future queen disappears!" Growling to himself, he turned away from the maid and stalked back the way he had just come from.

Tonight it seemed he would be getting no sleep. He was still steaming when he found his parents. His bow was short, and crisp. "What is word on my wife?"

The queen smiled politely at her son. "I have sent most of a dozen men after her-"

"How many?" Aranhil hissed. It was not like him to interrupt.

The queen paused, considering scolding him. She let that one slid. "Ten."

"That is not nearly enough!"

"Shush. I have made the decisions. I have sent ten men out to look for her. She's an elf, she won't have gone far. They'll find her crying on some stump within an hour, I am most certain."

~~~~

Emera sat next to several young women. She was sewing another handkerchief. This one had a bright green flame licking the edges, with a little E in one corner, and an R beside it. She hummed softly, enjoying watching her handiwork come together.

"I think he's very cute." One of the maids giggled. "Maybe I'll see if I can steal a kiss from him. He looks like the kind of guy who would give out kisses."

Emera tried not to be bothered about the fact she knew they were talking about River.

"After all," The girl continued, "I won a kiss from OUR prince. How hard can it be to take one from the dragon prince?"

Emera stuck herself with the needle. "Ouch!" She stuck her slender digit into her mouth, sucking at the blood. "I'm sorry." She turned towards her companion, "You said...you've kissed our prince?"

The girl smirked at her. "Yes. I have. I know how harrrrd you tried to win his fancy, but he'd never look twice at a whore's daughter. Now, excuse me while I flirt with royalty." She stood up and flounced over to the dragon prince.