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[sub]Mentions: [@Aamaya]  • [@sly13] [/sub]

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[color=silver]Evangeline's thoughts were still spinning from the interaction with the Primfira princess as she headed towards her room. The dress around her body began to feel so wrong, too tight, too formal. But she forced herself to ignore it. As she turned around a corner and the door to her chamber came into vision, she was glad to notice the two guards still standing outside it.

[color=82ca9d][b]"So Laurel did not escape your watchful eyes then?"[/b][/color], she asked them as she came into earshot. [color=white]"No, your majesty."[/color] They both looked proud enough as they assured her she had not left the room. [color=white]"She has not attempted to leave once she heard it was your wish for her to stay safely put."[/color]

Hearing those words Eve gave them a look that clearly asked if they were seriously that stupid. She held their nervous gaze and watched as the younger one began to sweat on his forehead. [color=82ca9d][b]"Leave now. You are clearly not capable of fulfilling my orders. I am not surprised that she escaped you, but I have to say I expect more wit from my guards. Take a look at Laurel Mith, because she's the standard you are expected to meet."[/b][/color] She took in a deep breath. [color=82ca9d][b]"You tell the Captain that the both of you are not to return to my service until you have reached the strategic thinking that is required from you. And if your combating and improvising skills are any like your strategic thinking, you better not let me realize that."[/b][/color] She waved with her hand to send them off and the two men hurried away with scared faces.

The princess sighed. If she could convince Laurel to train the new kingsguard trainees, that would make a great impact. One of the things Princess Evangeline would change once she would take the throne over from her father was the training program of the kingsguard. She had different ideas and considered their methods slightly outdated. Of course their warriors were strong, fierce and skilled. But they lacked in certain areas. [i]If I ever become Queen...[/i], she thought. She had a feeling that her father was not fond of her being his heir, the next ruler of his Kingdom. He would surely find a way to keep her away from the throne. Perhaps marry her off to someone who was a better leader with more political skills than she had. Perhaps he considered Aamaya to be such a person.

Evangeline pushed the door to her chamber open and found it as empty as expected. She went to close the opened window, through which her friend had escaped, and was filled with pride. A smile played on her lips. Truth be told, Eve did not expect anything less from Laurel than to flee her direct orders without a second thought. She would have been more than disappointed if her friend sat waiting for her return like a trained puppy. That was one of the reasons the two had gotten so close. Their rebellious streak was something they had in common. And Eve wouldn't have it any other way.

The woman sat down on a massive arm chair in the room. Several things were going through her mind. She should talk to her father about what happened last night. Find out what his thoughts and plans are now. Would he reward the Earthica man that slayed the beast? In what way? She thought he deserved recognition from the royal family and a reward for his braveness. So did the rest of the men that survived, in her opinion. She had to find out what exactly happened, how many died, how many of her own. A conversation with the Caption of the Kingsguard was long overdue. Not only from princess to captain, but from friend to friend. She had known this man all her life. She would have to find Laurel later that day, make sure her friend was doing alright. Laurel had not been able to help during the fight and it was only natural for her to feel guilty about that, just like Eve did. She had to talk to her about Valeri as well, later, once things had calmed down. And of course there was Aamaya, she had to talk to the princess and express her sorrow. Eve wanted to let her know it had not been her fault, she was not responsible for the lives lost. But the same voice in her head that had warned her about Valeri was now whispering that she could not be certain of that...

Eve shook her head slightly, the loose strand of hair dancing in front of her eyes. It would be a long day. The festival days had so far not been coming along as accordingly. Trouble of one kind or another had occurred on both days for her.

She rose from her seat and began to write short letters. One to her father, asking to meet with him. One to Princess Aamaya, sending her sympathy and expressing her hope to find some time to talk to her during the day. Another to the Captain, but she never finished that one. She hadn't gotten past writing his name, she didn't know what to say. Calling for him to meet with her felt wrong.

Evangeline took both letters into her hands, sealed them into envelopes and began to wonder how long it would take her to find someone of her own people to task them with delivering those letters. But as she opened the door of her room she was met with two shoulders standing on each side.

[color=82ca9d][b]"Oh!"[/b][/color], she exclaimed. [color=82ca9d][b]"I see."[/b][/color] Her head peeked to the left, then the right. Two guards were standing on each side of her door. [color=82ca9d][b]"They at least had the wit to replace themselves. Guess they had the minimum of intellect to accomplish that bit."[/b][/color]

She stepped out of the room and closed the door, spinning around to stand in front of her new guards. She began to look them up and down. [color=7bcdc8]"Shall I run and deliver those to the king and to the princess of Exodus for you, your majesty?"[/color]

[color=82ca9d][b]"I am sorry?"[/b][/color] Eve wasn't used to her guards talking to her. Most of the time they silently prayed for her not to do something stupid, like trying to run and shake them off. So the young voice asking confidently to do a task for her was unexpected.

[color=7bcdc8]"The letters in your hand, your majesty. They are addressed to the King of Earthica and the Princess of Exodus. Would you like me to make a run and deliver them for you?"[/color] The confidence within the voice captured Eve's attention.

The princess stepped closer to the warrior that was now tasked with guarding her. [color=82ca9d][b]"What is your name?"[/b][/color], she asked. The other guard was starring bluntly ahead, trying to not lose his posture and looking quiet uncomfortable.

[color=7bcdc8]"Maiya Adisa, your majesty."[/color] - [color=82ca9d][b]"How old are you, darling?"[/b][/color] - [color=7bcdc8]"Nineteen, your majesty."[/color] - [color=82ca9d][b]"I like you, Maiya..."[/b][/color] Eve smiled slightly. [color=82ca9d][b]"Most of my men fear to look me into the eye, they must think of me as Medusa. I guess they fear that it will encourage my rebellious impulsiveness."[/b][/color] - [color=7bcdc8]"I do not fear. I solely respect your majesty."[/color] - [color=82ca9d][b]"Oh stop calling me that!"[/b][/color] - [color=7bcdc8]"Would you like me to deliver the letters, princess?"[/color]

Eve looked at the letters in her hand and shook her head. [color=82ca9d][b]"No, thank you. I think I will have the statue next to you do it."[/b][/color] She handed the letters to the perplex looking 40-something warrior. He did not seem to understand the world anymore. [color=82ca9d][b]"Be quick. And make sure to get an answer for me from my father."[/b][/color] The man looked at her with one more confused look, questioning if she was serious, but quickly beginning to hurry away when she raised her eyebrow at him.

As she looked back at the young Maiya Adisa, the warrior looked back at her. Maiya tried to hide it, but Evangeline could see that she was disappointed. She had wanted to do something more exciting than standing in front of a door all day, delivering two messages to royalty was certainty a little more thrilling than that, and it would have given her an excuse to move her body from this stiff posture. [color=82ca9d][b]"Don't let your emotions show, young warrior. I can see that you are disagreeing with my actions and you are never to show your disagreement on your face. Understood?"[/b][/color]

[color=7bcdc8]"I apologize, princess Evangeline. I did not mean to seem doubtful. I trust in your judgement completely."[/color]

[color=82ca9d][b]"Oh but you do not, do you? You thought you did. You thought you knew me. And I have disappointed you. I have not acted as you imagined me to."[/b][/color] Eve looked at the brown eyes of Maiya. They showed openly what she was thinking. [color=82ca9d][b]"You have a lot to learn, Maiya. I find a liking in you. Which is why I send that old bloke to play fetch with my father. You are coming with me. I have to visit someone."[/b][/color]

She began to walk and Maiya hurried to catch up to her. [color=7bcdc8]"But your chambers, princess, they are unprotected!"[/color]

[color=82ca9d][b]"There's nothing valuable in there anymore. It does not need protection. Your skills would be wasted on an empty room."[/b][/color] - [color=7bcdc8]"Intruders and assassins - "[/color] - [color=82ca9d][b]"Will not be hiding in my closet or under my bed. It is risky, highly unlikely really."[/b][/color] - [color=7bcdc8]"Poison."[/color] - [color=82ca9d][b]"The statue will return to guard it. Does that sooth your worry?"[/b][/color] - [color=7bcdc8]"By a fraction, honestly."[/color] - [color=82ca9d][b]"It must do."[/b][/color]

Evangeline requested Maiya to guide her to the chamber of a certain person and Maiya was prepared enough to know her way to their destination without a single doubt. They walked through the castle, down some stairs and Maiya led her through corridors, all while having one hand at the sword strapped to her side. Eve noticed that her sword was shorter and thinner than those of the men. She wondered if they had given her a lighter one because they thought a female couldn't handle it. But as she walked after Maiya she quickly began to notice how she moved her feet. Light and quick, with a definiteness that she seldom saw in her warriors. The warrior was aware of every step that she was taking. It reminded her of herself. Eve had always preferred weapons to be light and thin, so they would not slow her down on her feet. While she was trained in wielding a sword, she excelled in other areas. Daggers, throwing knives and her bow and arrow being her preferred choices of weapons. 

She made a quick note to keep an eye out for Maiya Adisa. She seemed different. And Evangeline liked that. 

They soon reached the chambers of the Captain of the Kingsguard and Maiya took her position at the side of the door. Evangeline knocked and waited for an answer.

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