Cotis bowed formally "Princess Lily it is a pleasure to be in your presence."

"Lieutenant Cotis I assure you the pleasure is all mine," Lily says giggling. She had known Cotis just as long as I have, but she found the formalities he used while on duty amusing. I don't know why I found them annoying.

Cotis related the same report to Lily. He told her how they checked all of Anna's rooms and how they found nothing.

"I know," was her reply "First, if there had been anything you would have taken the intruder to the dungeon before you stopped to talk to us. And second, did you even stop to think about the thunderstorm, I mean even come on even Jeremy figured it out."

"Hey," I protested.

Cotis laughed, dropping the formalities " Of course I figured it out Lily, we all know that I am smarter than Jeremy, but I am required to search the other rooms even if I know that there is no one there."

"Hey," I protested again. " I bet you can't name all the countries, their ruler, his spouse, and the names of all their children," I smiled triumphantly. Glad the boring facts I was forced to memorize came in handy.

Cotis smirked "I can but that would take a long time. Did you really think that just because I was not forced to learn it, I didn't?"

Lily laughed as my smile fell straight off my face. "What is it, pick on Jeremy day," I muttered.

"No," Cotis said laughing also "That's every day except for Wednesday"

Lily laughed harder "Oh Jeremy, catch on already, we have been using this schedule for years, Wednesday is make Jeremy feel utterly foolish day. While all the other days expect alternating Fridays and Tuesdays is pick on Jeremy day."

I knew she was not lying, I have seen her calendar and it is marked, but thinking about that made my head spin.

"I think I am going to go back to bed," I said tiredly turning to Cotis "Until you arrange for Anna's guards, you and my guards shall stay here with her."

Cotis did not look happy about this and with the shake of his head replied: "Prince Jeremiah, you know I can't leave your side." His voice had lost all amusement and turned serious.

I sighed "You know very well that I can use a sword effectively and besides there was no real threat."

"Threat or no threat, I am still not allowed to leave you, but if you insist Anna must have protection let Lily leave her guards." I could tell he was not going to back down, but I tried to persuade him anyway.

"Lily's guards are not allowed to leave her either," I said trying to sound confident.

"Nice try," Cotis said laughing "Lily and Emily can stay with Anna until morning, there is still a thunderstorm going on and I would love to not have to run back over here just because Anna screamed again."

"Ugh, you're impossible," I groaned "I should just simply disappear into a 'silly secret passage' and spend the night there without you!"

Cotis did not respond immediately. Finally, he says slowly "If you disappear, count on having sword practice be twice as long and we will be dueling."

"No, I hate dueling with you, " I complained.

Cotis smirked "I know," Lily had been laughing uncontrollably during the whole conversation.

"Your help was greatly appreciated Lieutenant Cotis," I replied turning to formalities, "you're dismissed, I will be out after I check on Anna." Cotis nodded, accepting his orders and left to wait outside for me.

When he was out of earshot, I turned to Lily saying "Why didn't you help me? You could have thought up a reason to get me away from him."

Lily smiled "Nothing would have changed his mind. Just disappear, take the passage next to Anna's bed." I opened my mouth to remind her of Cotis's threat but she cut me off.

"You don't even have sword practice tomorrow and you spar most of the time anyway. So a long practice tomorrow is a short or maybe normal practice any other day. Go now before Cotis comes to look for you. I will take Emily and Anna and met you, so we can all sleep under the stars."

I smiled, it had been a while since we had slept on the rooftop garden. Lily and I had discovered it when we were eight. It could only be accessed from the passageways, and can't be seen from the courtyards below or the towers above.

"Ok," I said, "You take the girls, I will get the blankets."

Lily smiled "Hurry he will be back soon."

Nodding, I waved goodbye to Anna and Emily and ran into the passage. Just as I slipped into it I remembered the storm.

I turned and headed back to Lily "It's raining, we'll get wet on the roof." Lily seemed shocked. Ha, I thought I finally thought of something befo- Lily overcame her shock and laughed interrupting my thoughts.

"Just go, we will meet you there," Lily said pushing me towards the tunnel.

"The rain," I remind her.

"Go," she said hastily "We don't have time to debate, Cotis will be back soon, go."

I dashed towards the passage and just as I closed the opening I heard Cotis's voice. It was muffled but it was definitely Cotis's.

"Where is Prince Jeremiah?"

"He isn't with you," she responded innocently "We saw him leave just a minute ago."

"Lily," Cotis said warningly "Where did he go."

"Out the door," Lily lied so smoothly that I almost believed her.

"Are you sure he went out the door," Cotis asked.

I did not hear anything after that but muffled footsteps. So I assume that Lily nodded and Cotis went to go look for me. I am so dead in the morning. With a smile, I walked through the passage to get the blankets. 

SORRY THAT THIS TOOK SO LONG BUT I WAS HOPING I WOULD GET A LAPTOP FOR CHRISTMAS SO I KEPT PUTTING OFF TYPING IT UP. I DID NOT GET A LAPTOP SO I JUST HAD TO STEAL MY BROTHERS TO TYPE THE REST OF THE CHAPTER. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE CHAPTER. :)