There was something that excited her about the fact that he remembered who she was after all this time.  She must have left just as big of an impression on him as he had on her.  A nod of her head to confirm it, she stated, “It's wonderful to see you again, Dalious.”  Mouth falling open as the he addressed her, she exclaimed, “You spun me off and ran out the door!”  It had not been her intention to ditch him, but she remembered scarring the man in the town and the mob coming after her only to lose them somewhere in the forest.  For a long while she stayed there with the animals until the elves came.  Her horse was still with her in the stables.  

A glance in her direction, Everendall appeared stunned.  A name she had spoken before in a youth, but forgotten in more recent years, he looked back at hunter.  “The man who saved your life?” he asked, indicating he knew the story already.  There was a troubled expression on his face as his piercing emerald eyes focused on Dalious, trying to gauge the type of man he was.  Despite not knowing him, he instantly decided with this bit of news and seeing their camaraderie as if a day had not gone by, he did not like him.  

Tensing at the pirate's request, the King drew his lips into a thin straight line.  “I would not have not sent you a contract if I planned to send Sybil,” he replied.  

“Oh, but darling,” the Queen interjected happily.  “Sybil is quite the skilled witch.  Surely, accompanied by these fine men, she should be fine?”  She saw this as a chance to get rid of her husband's mistress once and for all.  If the creatures of the Hellsmouth did not kill her, as they had managed to successfully injure her last time, then perhaps Dalious himself could convince her to leave the kingdom and, by extension, Everendall.  

Sybil wanted to go—she enjoyed being out on the field and being useful.  If she were to sit around and gossip all day, she would go mad.  But she also knew Everendall did not want her to and, whatever he asked of her, she would blindly follow.  She looked to her King.  He did not look back as he simply said, “You may go with them.”  He knew her well enough to know what she wanted as well.  In a more private setting and different circumstances, she would have thanked him generously.

“Ardenelle,” he ordered to the woman.  “Show him to the library.”  He gave them all a wave of dismissal to show that he he had said all he needed to and was done.  The King stood up without a word to leave.  The Queen lingered behind.

“Sybil,” she said.  “I trust you will show Dalious and his men around the castle?”  

Sybil was already walking down the steps to join the pirate.  “Yes,” she assured her receiving a nod of approval in response before she followed after her husband.

Standing beside Dalious, she looked up at him, still in disbelief that he was still alive before balling up her fist and punching him in the shoulder for running off and leaving her in the tavern all those years ago.