It had been a surprise for Matilda when the royal decree came out. It surprised no one else for it was well known that the Princess and Prince were marked and Destined and these things had to be handled and of course there would be a festival because there was always some sort of to do with nobles and royalty. But it had never occurred to Matilda and so when the decree came out and her father mentioned that she ought to pack if she was going to make it on time the blonde was baffled. [color=bc8dbf]“Pack? You want me to go?”[/color] She mused, looking around the printing shop uncertainly. “It is not about what I want Matilda…” her father intoned as he started to turn the handle of the crank shaft that would roll the inked stamps across the clean parchment laid out on the table below. “It is an opportunity that not many have and you do. Besides… We’re not the type of family to shy away from exploration are we?” His daughter was already absentmindedly nodding in agreement. Quite right. Quite right. [color=bc8dbf] “I suppose you’re right. I just …Well I hadn’t really given it much thought.”[/color] She admitted, tidying a stack of papers ready for pick up. Her father grinned as he turned the press, the stamps pressing down against the parchment to leave their marks and words there forever. It was very like his daughter to pay little attention to the world in front of her, too busy looking at the past in her histories or at the matters of faith or the poetries of long forgotten wits. Her own life held little interest to Matilda. “Well you’re thinking of it now. So you are going.” He commanded, although this was not an order as much a statement of fact. She had already agreed after all. “I suppose I am. Well…I’ll go pack then…” Matilda finished with neatening the tables of books and pamphlets and flyers before heading upstairs where she and her father lived. Above the printing shop. As she started to prepare a bag she wondered over the festival, her wide blue eyes flicking to her exposed wrist as she folded a blouse and stowed it in her bag. Her Mark was sending her on an adventure, more than anything she had experienced before in her life. Suddenly Matilda smiled feeling gleeful. This would be a fantastic journey and when she returned home she would finally have a tale of her own to tell! Never did she think she’d come home with her destined in tow. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Considering the bustle of the Royal City Matilda should have been alarmed or even nervous, she’d never seen so many people in one place before. And no one in her town was as loud or as pushy, or even as smelly as this lot but then… That was the point of an adventure! She had been fortunate, she found out, that her father had an associate in the city, letting her stay in their home because all the inns were filled up. While it would have been quite something to have to find lodgings and meager protection, perhaps even sleep in the streets, Matilda was glad she didn’t have to find out if she had what it took. Instead she wandered the streets thoroughly getting lost and not noticing as much. She had a bit in the way of money to spend on treats and excitements as her father had put it, the rest of her budget safely tucked away in the shop of his associate as well as her belongings. With wide blue eyes and blonde hair braided and coiled but ultimately a bit untidy she stood out. People jostled her and she apologized as they continued on their way without so much as a backward glance, the hem of her plain brown skirts becoming dirty with the city grime whereas in her town it would only have been dust from the road. Clearly a country bumpkin, Matilda noticed none of this as she was too engrossed in the architecture, never seeing building so tall, or in the vendors, clearly foreign and different, or in the marvelous wares they sold. Soon she found herself in a large square filled with the commotion of trade. Matilda’s mind raced as she watched how quickly people bargained and bartered, finally handing over sums and hurrying off with their purchases. Her thoughts were interrupted by the grumbling of her stomach. She was hungry! This was a surprise, since she had eaten a hearty breakfast… A glance at the sky proved how much time she had lost track of, it was most certainly not early morning now. Meandering around the outer circle of sellers in the Square Matilda was debating on what she should try. There was an interesting cart with various types of meat pies, some having things from the Ocean which she had never had before, but also a dark man who was selling something skewered through a stick and sizzling on his grill that smelled very attractive. Acting on impulse Matilda ended up buying both a pie and a skewer. Looking around for a place to sit she spied the steps of a building that only had one occupant. Everywhere seemed so full that the blonde didn’t stop to consider why the man hunched there was being avoided. [@Snagglepuss89] Coming closer she smiled vaguely and nodded to the spare steps. [color=bc8dbf]“Do you think it would be alright with you if I sat down here too?”[/color] She asked politely, one hand full of pie and the other of the meat on a stick. Before the man could answer she cheerfully gestured to the pie. [color=bc8dbf]“Have you ever had an…What did he call it? Eel? Yes. This pie contains eel meat. I’ve never had such a thing before. I hope it is good.”[/color] Realizing that it might be rude to flaunt her meal in front of the man Matilda blushed but recovered by finding a solution. [color=bc8dbf]“You could try some of it with me if you want Sir.” [/color]She smiled brightly at such a good idea. The fact that he was dressed in rags and dirt covered his hands and face, or that he was missing one eye seemed either to not matter to Matilda at all, or she was completely unaware of such things. It was hard at times to tell with the blonde.