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[color=ed145b][h3]~Isabella~[/h3][/color][/center]

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[b]"Eee, these trees are so tall!"[/b]

[b]"Someone's excited."[/b]

[b]"Well have you ever seen such tall trees before, Kinsey?"[/b]

[b]"Heh, well I have now."[/b]

[b]"Aren't they gorgeous? You'd never see anything like this back in the Monarchy."[/b]

[b]"Yea, the nobles would use 'em all for their private hunting grounds and whatnot, Edith."[/b]

[b]"Pfft, that's terrible Kinsey. Princess might leave ya here if she hears ya talking like that."[/b]

[b]"And I'll have you flogged and tied for your slacking."[/b] A serious voice interrupted the jovial banter of the cartographer and other guard as she approached.

[b]"Eeep! Valora, when did you get here?"[/b]

[b]"Hmph. Shape up, Edith. You're not a guard but you joined in on this little venture. I expect some form of discipline. Kinsey, you should no better. We're in unfamiliar territory here, and our duty is to protect the princess."[/b] The princess in question was currently dressed in silver armor, custom fit for her as to provide both the best protection as well as offer a small sense of elegance to it. She sat on a fine white steed, one of the best bred horses the king and queen could get their hands on. She was royalty after all, even if all the way out here so far from the Monarchy. Even if her parents had practically disowned her. At least they had the courtesy to exile her instead of simply ordering her execution for treason and had given her at least a smidgen of a chance of survival out here.

She cast a passive, neutral glance to the two guards and Cartographer. Edith immediately straightened her posture and gave a quick bow. Kinsey waved casually before yawning, earning a smack on the side of his head from Valora. To them, it probably looked like she was just coolly demanding some sort of obedience. In truth though, she was wondering what they were talking about but was too nervous to ask about it. So instead, she remained silent and turned her head back towards the road behind them. A wagon full of supplies trudged along behind them at some distance - on the seat sat an older blacksmith and a commoner. Mervyn and Lana, if the princess recalled.

[b]"Hey! Someone's coming!"[/b] One of the other guards - Prescott, she thought his name was. Valora turned in the direction he had indicated.

[b]"He's wounded! Tripp, Prescott approach with caution!"[/b] Valora commanded, the two trained guardsmen didn't need much more convincing before hurrying to the mans side.

A wounded man? Isabella frowned, hopping off of her horse with all the grace one might expect of her.

[b]"Princess?"[/b] Valora questioned, but before she could stop Isabel the princess had already walked over to the mans side with the two guards. She knelt beside him. Oh dear, his wounds were severe. More than she'd be able too heal, even with her...skills. She had been hoping that she could help, but all she could do was give him her usual calm expression.

[color=ed145b]"...is there anything we can do?"[/color] She asked the wounded man. Normally speaking was somewhat difficult for her, especially to strangers. This though, was different. Her eyes drifted over to the blade that rested on his back. A dull blue glow easily caught her attention. Tripp and Prescott had their hands on their weapons, just in case something happened. Everyone knew the princess wasn't exactly the most combat capable of people.

[b]"...Princess,"[/b] Prescott said with a sigh. [b]"He's...no longer with us. We should probably get a move on. Whoever or whatever did this probably is still around."[/b] Isabel frowned, but said nothing. She had never seen a dead person before. That said...there was something she was extremely curious about.

The sword.

But taking a sword from a dead person? That would be...rude and bad and all kinds of terrible, wouldn't it?