Nynesi responded with yawning and rubbing her eyes, "Pretty good. I could've gone for more though,"

Miryanna laughed at this. "Yeah, sleep is always welcome after a long day like that,"

Nynesi nodded and returned to her food. Miryanna also continued eating.

As she ate, she thought about the feast last night, which led her to think about the mysterious note left at her vanity. She still wasn't sure whether to take it seriously or not, but the symbol etched in it made her want to. Would someone really make up a symbol to scare someone? And more, what was would such a prank accomplish? Miryanna sighed and decided to concentrate on her food. Very good food too.

i could have gone into detail about the cusine of the nobles and where they get it and why they eat what they eat bu t   noooooo

She was distracted from her thoughts once again when her father came over to bid her good morning.

"Morning, Miry," He said as he took a seat by his daughter,

Miryanna smiled, "Morning, father How did you sleep?"

"Better that I have in a long while," Her father replied, laughing. "You've no idea how uncomfortable the sleeping places of the Fasiks are."

everything is relative my guy

Miryanna's bows rose, "Uncomfortable?"

"Well, their beds, or what they call beds, are merely a few pieces of cloth laid on the ground in their tents. They're nomads, you know, and while the coverings are usually rich furs, I could still do with more underneath."

"Indeed. I know the things I like most about sleep is the soft mattress and warm covers," Nynesi put in.

"Haha, well, now I'll never take it for granted again," lord Dominic said.

Now that Miryanna was done with her meal, she headed back to her room to finish cleaning it. She started with putting away her clothing that was lying around, and putting the dirty clothes into a basket. She then went to her vanity to put away all the spare pins and other hair and face ornaments, and was again confronted by the mysterious note. She sighed, not really wanting to try and figure it out right now, but she saw no better time, so she sat down and picked it up again. The same misspelled words stared back up at her,

so she's a noble, related to the queen, but she cleans her own room, dresses herself, does her own hair. man, i really should have gotten around to what a noble really in this culture and what their duties are and what that involves and everything

Tel no un truble arund the cornor

The strange device of the lion and the serpent. She really wanted to tell someone about it, but she still wasn't sure if she should take the message seriously or not. She decided that it was best to take seriously at first until it was proven that is was just a joke. Better to appear a fool and stay safe than potentially ignore a note that could prove more grave than she had first thought. With that thought in mind, she finished with her room and headed to the battlements with a good book in hand. She was right out of the door when she figured that a cushion would be nice to have, what with the hard stones of the battlements, so she grabbed one of the pillows from her bed and continued in her quest.

*epic music starts playing*

She smiled as soon as she reached them. The breeze was simply marvelous and the morning sun bright and warm; the view was as beautiful as ever. The very far distance, was still shrouded with mist and gave it a ghostly appearance. She placed her cushion on the ground and sat down with her book and was deliciously engrossed in it for over two hours.

So it was to her great perturbation when she heard someone clear their throat as if they wanted to speak to her.

She raised her head in annoyance, but all trace of it disappeared when she saw Andarin looking down at her, an amused grin on his handsome face.

"Andarin, what a pleasant surprise!" She leapt up and they embraced.

your boyfriend coming to visit is a surprise. man the banter in this is so... idk formal. it's like jane austen but worse because it's not clever and engrossing

"You're here early," she commented,

"Yes, I came to ask if you've talked any more to your father about us." He stated directly.

now begins the worst and most contrived and most short lived bit of conflict i ever drudged up

"Miryana was surprised. It was unlike him to get straight to the point, but then again, you wouldn't want to be a slave to convention.

as my dad always says

"I haven't really had a chance so far," She said as means of excuse.

Andarin looked a little disappointed.

he got back literally yesterday and then it was feasting and merriment, it really wasn't a good time

She tried to comfort him, "I don't really think we need to talk to him. We asked his permission, and he said that it was fine,"

permission for what? Sharing romantic feelings? making googly eyes at each other? kissing and beyond? PERMISSION FOR WHAT? And here i could have gone into the details of courting and romatic relationships and how they're expected to work, but oF cOuRsE i just ave to brush right on by.

"But have things changed at all?" Andarin asked dubiously.

"Now why would things change?" Miryana asked.

He shrugged, "Well, we have gotten more serious, I just want to make sure that your father's alright with that."

yeah dad, we bRUSH HANDS every once in a while now

"I'm sure he's fine with it," Miryanna reasoned,

"Still, I'd like to make sure. Is that alright with you?"

aw andarin, so conscientious

Miryanna nodded, "If that would make you feel better, then yes, it's fine."

Andarin grinned again, "Good. Is he busy right now?"

"Um, last I saw him was at the breakfast table, but that must be three hours ago by now," Was her reply.

"Alright, we'll look for him. Where do you think he is?"

"In his study probably," Miryanna answered.

And so the two of them made their way to lord Dominic's study.

They found him and after a courteous greeting, Andarin got straight to the point again about him and Miryanna. To both of their delight, Dominic again said he was fine, just so they didn't get too serious about each other yet. They both smiled and thanked him and went back to the battlements to hang out. There they talked and talked some more until Nynesi joined them.

Okay so what's tooo serious? Kissing? -_-

"Ah, there you guys are. I thought I'd never find you," She said as soon as she saw them.

did you think you'd never find them nynesi? did you?? *sigh* this dialogue is so filler and stereotypical ugh

"Well, now you've found us," Andarin said, "And how are you today, princess?"

Nynesi shrugged, "Just fine."

This answer didn't satisfy Andarin, however, "Just fine, not any better?"

Nynesi peered at him out of the corner of her eyes. "Did I say I was doing better than just fine? No. I said I was doing just fine."

She and Andarin stared each other down for a few minutes, Miryanna grinning wider and wider every second that passed.

that's an awful wide grin for this impromptu staring contest. yes YES friends are goofy and fun with each other and that's great! It reallt is, but this doesn't feel like people who are familiar and comfortable with each other, this feels insipid.

Finally, the corner of Andarin's mouth started to turn up slightly, then Nynesi also had to try her hardest not to smile. Silence reigned only a few more seconds before they both cracked up and Miryanna with them.

"Alright, enough if this foolishness, what are we doing today?" Nynesi said, getting serious again.

i love how they have to like doo something everyday. and how often do they all hang out anyway? one does not simply third wheel nynesi, but to andarin and miryanna just third wheel nynesi all the time? don't they have any other friends? no? it is truly shameful how much I don't know about my own story and characters.

It took Miryanna a bit longer to regain her composure, and Andarin took longer than both of them. "Alright, alright," he wheezed, trying to get his breath back. "Um, I the only things I have on my plate today are helping my mother with some interior decorating," here he made a face, "and helping my older brother teach my younger brother how to shoot."

what was he making a face about? stereotypical male character andarin says it's about the interior decorating, and the andarin that i (used to)know says it's about the brother-brother time because choppy family relationships oooOOOooohh. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Nynesi nodded and turned to Miryanna, "Well," She began, "I got my room cleaned this morning, but other than that, I've got some studies to finish up with, and father and I were planning to go out on the town this evening. How about you?" she asked Nynesi

Yeah, studies? What's the schooling like? Being homeschooled I kinda default to uhhhh go read a book or smth but what kind of schooling goes on in Terinnia?

Nynesi just shrugged, "I've also got some studies, and I was going to finish that bit of needlework I'm making for mother, but that should go pretty quickly. Is there anything all of us wanted to do together?"Nynesi then asked.

It's always been in my mind that Nynesi is going to be queen after her parents. She doesn't have to marry but if she does, her husband will be a king consort or something like that. So of course she's getting the schooling to be a good queen. But that rather contradicts with the impression I give of her being flighty and not really caring about anything political. Of course, maybe she really is just hella smart and can totally juggle being a rad queen with killer fashion, but later events in the story do not lend to Nynesi being of the greatest intelligence. In certain areas that is.

Both Miryanna and Andarin looked at each other and shrugged "We're game if you are," they both said noncommittally.

Nynesi smirked, "Sooo decisive." They laughed "I guess it's up to me to figure something out."

"We could do what we did yesterday," Andarin piped up, "that was fun,"

The girls nodded, "It was fun," they both said. And so they gazed over the battlements and observed the crowd below.

oh shoot more people who could be intersting but we never hear from again.

"Look," Nynesi pointed, "there's the Fasik from yesterday."

Miryanna and Andarin both saw him also, as he stuck out like a sore thumb, what with his unusual by any Terinnian's standards clothing.

"Are you sure it's the same one?" Andarin questioned.

"Of course it is, I recognize him by the big golden ring in his ear." Miryanna spoke up. "Besides, what are the chances of there being two Fasiks in a city this far up north?"

"Slim, unless they were traveling together." Was Andarin's reply.

"Well what are the chances of those two Fasiks looking exactly alike?" Miryanna countered.

Andarin sighed and grinned, "Maybe they're brothers. Plus, we're up high so we can't see them as well. Maybe they look different up close."

They were brothers. i told you i meant to do something with the fasik dudes. rip

"But the one from yesterday had a big golden loop in his ear and so does this one. Why would two Fasiks have the same kind of ring, in the same ear?" By now the argument was getting ridiculous and they both knew it too.

how is it getting ridiculous? your guyses standard of ridiculous is ridiculous

Andarin slapped his hands down on the battlements and laughed. "There is a custom among them in which family members get the same piercing or tattoo, which would also support my previous argument that they're brothers." Andarin finished matter-of-factly.

how did andarin know that? If anyone was going to know that it would be Miryanna. Unless Andarin is a secret Fasik scholar to impress Miryanna. which would not be outside the realm of things Andarin would do.

Nynesi stepped in, "Good grief, guys, this is getting ridiculous! Are you ever going to stop?" She exclaimed exasperatedly.

i did't think it was getting ridiculous. I have had arguments with friends that went along very similar lines and we were far past the point you were before we even conceived in our minds that it was ridiculous.

Miryanna and Andarin fell into gales of laughter, "Only when he admits that I'm right and he's wrong," Miryanna chortled.

chortled

They continued in their observations until it was lunchtime, which wasn't very long. Andarin left to accomplish the deeds he had described earlier, and Miryanna and Nynesi did likewise, after eating a hearty lunch. Miryanna went to her room for some peace and quiet to do her studies, and was surprised to find her window open when she didn't recall opening it. She dismissed it as one of the maids coming in and opening it and continued with her day.

oh so there are maids that come into rooms. maybe that's just for taking stuff like dirty clothes, chamber pots, garbage and stuff

That evening, while she was out with her father, they came across Andarin. Miryanna was pleasantly surprised, again with the pleasantly surprised and by all appearances, her father was also. They walked around together for a bit, until Andarin said he had to go. He'd just turned around the corner when Miryanna saw that he'd dropped something. One of his riding gloves that he had tucked into his belt. It must've slipped out. Miryanna knew that it was his favorite pair, and so she picked it up and told her father that she was going to give it back to Andarin while he was still near. She dashed after him, but hearing lowered voices in grim tones stopped her from just rushing in. She knew that eavesdropping was wrong, but her curiosity was piqued, so she stopped to listen. When she heard Andarin's voice, she was more curious than ever. The other voice was low and rather rough sounding. She sneaked in a bit closer so she could see as well as hear, all thoughts of going back to her father had fled from her mind.

*rubs hands together*

"...Growing more powerful." the low voice said.

She heard Andarin sigh and saw him run a hand through his brown hair, "how could they grow so quickly? It's like people would rather fight against the kingdom than for it," He said very concerned sounding.

The low voiced one, she saw him now. He was tall with dark hair and eyes, clad in dark clothing and the grimmest expression she'd ever seen, was raising an eyebrow at Andarin's words. "With such a king it's little wonder. We should be surprised that this many have decided to join us."

Andarin peered at him from narrowed eyes, "Are you saying that our king isn't a good one?"

"No," The dark one answered quickly. "But even you can see that he's not doing the best job."

okay dood cut some slack he's trying his best

This upset Miryanna. What was wrong with her uncle's rule. He was good, and fair, and had kept the country going and out of any wars. Didn't that make him a good king? "What's wrong with our king?" She accidentally said aloud. She immediately covered her mouth with hand, but the damage was done.

The dark one looked up instantly. "Who's there?" he called out more firmly than before, but no louder.

Andarin was also looking in her direction. "Miry?" he came closer to her hiding spot and found her, huddled up against a wall, trying to hide. His brows rose in surprise, "What on earth are you doing here?"

At the same time the dark one had also approached saying, "How much did you hear?"

Miryanna was speechless. She feebly held out the riding glove to Andarin. "Y-You dropped this. I'd come to return it," She squeaked.

He gently took the glove from her shaking hands and wrapped his larger hands over hers. "Miryanna, you can't tell anyone what you've heard. Understand?"

Before she had a chance to answer, lord Dominic's voice came from the end of the alley, "Miry? Are you there?" He sounded concerned.

The dark one's eyes smoldered. "She's heard too much. We can't trust her."

take a chill pill, roric

"Please, Roric," Andarin argued, "She's trustworthy. Just let her go." He pleaded.

Roric, as the dark one was apparently called, didn't think so, however and grabbed her and put a hand over her mouth before she could say or do anything. Before she knew it, another hand went over her eyes and she lost consciousness.

DA-DA-DUM

I promise Roric is more intelligent than this episode would have you think