Taris came around a tent just in time to see Aera quickly walking into the castle. Curious he ducked into an unused tent and scryed through shadows until he found her. Something had upset her badly, he could tell from the set of her shoulders and neck, though her face was a porcelain mask. Aera made her way back to her chambers and shut the door behind her. Something was definitely wrong then.

The assassin pushed out of the tent making a line to the doors of the castle. Old memories tugged at his mind and he pushed them roughly away. He had almost reached the doors when another person crossed his path and they nearly collided. Taris stepped back quickly and looked into the eyes of the princess Risa. Immediately he dropped to his knee, “My apologies, Your Highness.”

The girl had a malicious glint in her eye as she regarded the dark elf with mild contempt. The knight Haxfur was with her, apparently uninterested in the jousting competition. A slight smile flitted across her face, “Now where are you off to in such a hurry?” She looked up to the castle and the smile crossed her face again. “I see, do try not to get caught in the act, then. But gods know she needs it.” With a, slightly evil to Taris, laugh she walked off, Haxfur in tow. Leaving Taris to puzzle out, “Did she really mean that?”

The elf stood after she’d left and made his way up to Aera’s room, debating on whether to knock. In the end he scaled up to a statue and perched upon it, watching her through shadow instead. The memories came back again, and he pushed them away once more. He kept watch until he heard the trumpets sound indicating the joust had finally ended. He jumped lightly to the floor and knocked at her door. “Princess,” he called, listening for an answer, “I believe we had best return to the grounds for the banquet.”