Marinette Snow White shakes her head in dismay. She can not believe what she hears. 

      Juleka stands there with a look of pity on her face. She is about to explain more about the matter, but the almost newly crowned queen speaks.

     "Left? Why was I not I told before now?"

   "We did not want to trouble you with the matter."

     "Trouble me?  My friends went on a journey to who knows where and you concern yourselves that telling me as soon as you noticed would worry me?"

        "Sorry, your highness."

        Marinette does not say another word about the matter.  She returns to her chambers at once. She puts on a special cape and changes her shoes. She packs a small sack.

       "Juleka, you are in charge of the place while I am away. Make sure the guards do not let any riff-raff while I am gone."

        "Oh, and here, you may keep this for self-defense purposes shall it come to that which hopefully it shall not."  She hands her a small dagger.

          "What about you? What shall I do if you do not return?"

          "You will take my place."

    Marinette takes a sword, a dagger, and a shield with her. She grabs up the sack. She leaves the palace at once.

    "Guards, close the gates. I will return in three days."

       The guards do as told.

     She goes to the stable, saddles her best horse, attaches the sack to the horse's side, and climbs aboard it. The weapons are hidden in the sheath under her dress. 

    She must find them.

     Find out more to come in Chapter 20

    bye, bye little owlets!

 -Summer out!