His face was covered by his hood and the shadows as he silently slipped past a crowd of people and down a dark alley. Reaching a dead end, he turned around and leaned his back up against the wall as he listened to his surroundings and waited for his contact to arrive. The streets were crowded with people that evening all with the rumor of the search for the lost princess on their lips. It filled the air like an unwritten drama ready for the stage.

"Have you heard? They say the late king's daughter is still alive."

"Are you serious? What is the queen planning to do?"

"The queen is searching for her."

"I wonder what will happen to her once she is found?"

"What do you think? That princess is a threat...that damn demon can't fool me."

"Oh, you're right, poor princess. She's better off lost forever."

He scoffed as he folded his arms across his chest and hung his head as he listened to the foolish women gossip and more people nearby chimed in.

"Oh, the poor child. She will be locked up in a dungeon cell until the queen feels like killing her."

"Yeah, I don't believe for a second that she truly has any motherly love for the child of the previous queen."

"She has no love for anyone, but herself."

"Well of course not. She only keeps the eldest alive because without him she can't hold onto the throne."

"He is her last hope though seeing as her other two children have been exiled and stripped of everything."

"Oh, I've heard about them, I think they are being held in a dungeon in one of the neighboring kingdoms."

"Well, they do deserve it. The young idiots went on a rape campaign and brought shame to Serenity."

"Oh my, how horrible. How did I not hear about that?"

"The queen tried to hush it with money and political power, but by the grace of the Ancestors the twins were brought to justice."

"Now she hangs on to her Eldest son. Even though he is extremely ill."

"What is wrong with the eldest prince again?"

"What isn't wrong with him is the question you need to be asking. He has a weak heart, weak lungs, and fragile legs. It's a wonder how he managed to live for so long."

"I truly feel sorry for the prince. To be so ill and have such a mother who would rather have you suffer as a caged animal instead of letting you go peacefully.

"Any mother would do the same. Could you let your child die?"

"No, I guess not."

"So, the search for the lost princess is just her way of ensuring her son can keep his claim to the throne?"

"Yes, after all, it's what she killed the queen and king for."

"Shush, don't speak so loud about such things."

"Oh yes, the last few that spoke ill of the queen were taken away and put to death publicly."

"I was there for one of the executions. Such a horrible way to die. The sword was dull, so they hacked at the poor girl's neck until it came rolling off."

"Oh my!"

"You could hear her screams of pain and the queen's laughter echo throughout the streets."

"I remember that. The people had to be there for it as it was mandatory for everyone in that area to see it. Her family especially were given front row viewings."

"The poor girl. She must be haunting the castle even till now."

"Let us pray that the Ancestors have welcomed her into their castle, and she can rest in peace with them."

He listened on as the conversations became darker. Each tale is laced with a bit of truth and speculation. It was only natural to form rumors in such a manner. The more elaborate the story the better chance there was for someone to believe it.

Hearing footsteps coming towards him he peeked up in their direction and saw a shadow that walked up to him and stood there. The small roundish figure was one he knew well, and he smiled to himself.

"Vestin...it's good to see you are doing well." The shadow said.

"I see you found your way here without any difficulties." He replied.

"Is it supposed to be hard to enter this part of town unnoticed?"

Vestin shrugged his shoulders and chuckled,

"Not really, I guess. Anyway, I have some news for you. You and the rest will be extremely happy to hear this."

The man stepped forward and lifted his head slightly. Seeing only his lips and the bottom of his chin clearly, he said,

"What have you found out?"

Vestin pushed up off the wall and walked towards the man. He leaned forward, peeked under the man's hood, and looked him in the eyes.

"The princess is safe, and they have her in Ay Su."

The man's head rose and he took a step back. Shaking his head, he looked at Vestin his eyes wide.

"Ay Su? She is supposed to be in Mossca. Why would he send her to Ay Su?"

Vestin stood up straight, exhaled deeply then scoffed as he waved off the man's last comment.

"From what I heard her life was no longer safe there. It was decided that on her birthday she would be taken to Ay Su secretly."

The man muttered a few words and ran his hand over his face slowly and sighed.

"The king must have had a hard time with his children then. The selfish little brats."

"I hear that she was almost killed."

"Those ungrateful bastards. Mark my words, they'll get what is coming to them soon enough."

"Anyway," Vestin walked back over to the wall and leaned back up against it, "The Secret King will be sending a small band of men to bring her back. I am the one in charge of this mission. We set off in two days. You must have some people ready to follow and be ready to hide the princess if anything gets messy."

"So 'The Secret King' is not just a rumor. I thought the queen's movements were too calculated. She is not that bright to successfully plan the events that have taken place."

Vestin looked up at the man and folded his arms across his chest.

"The 'king's' name is Jayel. Have you heard of him?"

"Jayel? That name sounds familiar."

"He is the man that is always speaking on behalf of the queen and her son."

"Ah yes...if not for him the queen and the young prince would have been exiled along with the twins. That's how he became the King's Second."

"Gotte, he has his plans for the princess. As the oldest of the children, she is the rightful heir to the throne. Both Jayel and the queen know this. The queen wishes her dead, at least that is what she is leading Jayel to believe. Jayel wishes to marry her and in doing so he steps out from the shadows of the queen and current king, taking the throne for himself. If he succeeds with this plan, the princess won't last a week after their wedding night."

"Vestin, you must protect her at all costs. Reach her before anyone else and bring her to the cave. We will put in motion the next step of the plan."

Vestin walked up to him and looked him in the eyes, a fire burning within him his eyes narrowed and he replied,

"I planned on it. I gave my word to her mother that I wouldn't let anything happen to her. The fact that her life was in danger while she was in Mossca makes me angry, but I don't plan on letting anything happen to her while she is in Ay Su. Once I make contact with her, I will signal you when to meet up."

"We will see each other again in Ay Su. Now get going before someone spots us."

"I highly doubt anyone would be coming into such an isolated area. They are too busy spreading rumors as they gossip."

"Sometimes rumors and gossip can work in our favor."

Vestin walked past him as he pulled his hood further over his head. Pausing he investigated the crowd and raised his hand. Pulling his ring finger down and placing his thumb over it he held it there. It was the sign they came up with before leaving New Yorland. They told the people there that if they received this symbol the person was a friend and could be trusted. It was also a way to promise each other they would meet again.

"Until we meet again, old friend"

Gotte returned the sign and sighed.

"Keep out of trouble until then, you little brat...you've done well so far."

A smirk crossed Vestin's lips, and he turned his head to look back at Gotte.

"No worries, I'm always careful. I had the best teachers after all. Tell the guys I said hello."

"Will do, now get on."

Vestin walked back down the alley then slipped into the streets and blended himself into a large crowd that entered a bar. Gotte watched on from the shadows. Looking over the people as they went about their daily lives.

"Soon you shall have your princess back and the Kingdom will be at peace once again."

He then walked out into the street and disappeared among the people.