[@Lumiere][@Darkwatck01] "Genau. Halte deine Augen weit offen, damit der Siebente dich nicht täuscht." A woman in a gray cloak and hood leaned against the doorpost with her arms folded. "I identified the author of the letters," she continued, "and they are not from the Crown. I believe the Seventh wrote them. Follow their instructions for now, but do not trust them." She pulled up a chair to sit across from them and pushed back the hood, letting her midnight hair fall over her shoulder. For the first time, Vali beheld the faces of the two knights, and a small gasp escaped her lips. [i]Princess Kaitra?[/i] Her heart melted. This was none other than the innocent 4-year-old girl she'd met in the palace at Gran Norte that day 20 years ago, the only one of millions in whom there was no Shadow of the Tainted. And Nebel...how could she forget him? To see his masked persona was one thing, but beholding his true face brought back memories of One to whom his allegiance truly belonged - the One she wished never to offend. The queen bowed her head to the table and clasped her hands. "Please, Princess Kaitra and Sir Nebel, forgive us our slight. We should have been honest with you from the start. In truth, your assistance was an unexpected boon for us, and we- no, I- should have treated you with respect. Please forgive me."