'Wren!'

The door to her bedroom swung open and there stood a thrilled Odyssey looking like ten suns had shone upon her face and that the dead had risen. 'I've got absolutely wonderful news!'

Wren groaned and turned around in her bed. 'I'm sleeping.'

'It's six in the morning, Wren!' called out the queen happily. 'I've already gotten the servants to have your bath ready!'

'My alarm doesn't go off till seven!' yelped Wren.

'Well, you want to get up a bit earlier than usual because I have got something to talk to you over breakfast this morning,' said Odyssey briskly. 'Come on, wake up already. I haven't got much time!'

Disgruntled, Wren was practically dragged out of bed by Odyssey. Odyssey pushed her into the washroom and slammed the door shut and Wren heard her parading down the stairs, singing merrily. Wren groaned and pressed her face to her palm.

After dunking herself in her bath, she pulled on her fresh uniform and had the palace servants treat to her as usual. They brushed her coat, combed her hair, lathered cream all over her face and in half an hour, she dashed down the stairs. Odyssey was sitting promptly on the kitchen-table, sipping tea.

'Morning, Wren,' she called cheerily. 'Sit down, will you.'

Wren sat, narrowing her eyes as she looked at her sister suspiciously. Why was she so happy? Wren lunged for some toast but recoiled under her sister's sudden glare.

'Manners, manners,' she warned. Wren hastily recovered herself and promptly reached for the bowl and pepper. 'Would you like some tea?' she prompted.

'I'll go for some chamomile today, thank you,' said Wren. As Odyssey poured her some, Wren reached for some scones and some preserved honey.

'So,' she said, 'what are you so happy about? What were you saying you wanted to tell me?'

'Eat first, dear,' said Odyssey, patting her on the back as she handed Wren the silven, china cup. 'Have you tried these grapes? They are most delicious.'

'Yeah I have, but that's not the point,' said Wren impatiently. 'What's up - what's going on?' she corrected herself mid-sentence.

'These pancakes are the softest, really,' said Odyssey maddeningly. To shut her up, Wren lunged for the pancakes, more preserved honey and a plate of omelettes. 'Try these,' Odyssey added, pushing a bowl of hot mushroom soup over to Wren. For a few minutes, the room was filled with silence, broken only by the clinking of cutlery , the tinkle of glasses ocassionally being put down and the pouring of water every now and then. Wren was on her third serving - croissants and a fruit bowl consisting of strawberries and kiwis when Odyssey cleared her throat.

'Now, Wren,' she said smoothly. 'The news.'

'The news,' repeated Wren.

'The news,' said Odyssey importantly.

'What's the news?' inquired Wren imploringly.

'Argonian is holding a ball,' trilled Odyssey.

Wren's brain stopped working and for a second, she squinted at Odyssey - Argonian, holding a ball - and then she realised she had been thinking about the wrong ball, or course, not the ball that dogs played catch with - the royal ones.

'Oh,' she said. 'A ball.'

'Exactly,' said Odyssey, rapping on the table. Wren gulped her chamomile tea to keep herself from talking. 'The ball will be held in here, of course. In the Grand Ballroom.'

During her first few days in the Palace, Wren had set herself to exploring the palace and the Grand Ballroom was rather grand indeed. It was large, had a little stage up the front and the floor was smooth and polished. When the lights weren't turn on, the atmosphere was dark and quiet and lonely ... just the sort of feel Wren loved but unfortunately, Odyssey had made her swear to never step foot in the ballroom unless she had the permission to do so.

'Marvellous,' said Wren under her breath. 'Why exactly, are you holding a ball?'

'For old times' sake, of course!' cried Odyssey. 'Next Friday. Eight p.m. I've sent the invitations to the kingdom Iridia.'

'Why Iridia?'

'Well, Argonian has been on pretty good terms with Iridia -'

'And?' said Wren, raising an eyebrow.

'And,' pressed Odyssey, 'the ball will help by fostering goodwill and strengthening our alliances.'

'I don't get it,' said Wren pointedly, 'a social gathering just so you can meet the King of Iridia?'

'I've already met him, Wren, as I said, I thought the ball could strengthen our alliances. Besides, who doesn't love a little dancing?'

Wren was staring at her oddly.

'No,' she pronounced slowly.

'No what, Wren?' said Odyssey, pouring herself more tea.

'You ... want me ... to got to your ball,' said Wren, hardly able to believe it.

Odyssey put down her cup. 'The ball, Wren. And of course, I thought you knew that already! You are the princess of Argonian, it is your duty to take part in any kingdom events or gatherings held! Bear that in mind, Wren - we are the hosts of this ceremony next Friday so please, please turn up and behave like -'

'- a princess, I know,' said Wren dully. 'I can be tamed, you know.'

Odyssey turned pink. 'Alright, alright, I'll spare you the lecture. If you want to invite some of your friends, they can come. Just tell me who you're inviting for me to approve, alright?'

'Alright,' said Wren, looking slightly more cheerful. 'Well, I best be off. Goodbye!'

'Also,' said Odyssey, 'I've already invited the poor boy in the hospital wing. I heard there had been a fire in the school recently? Well, not so recent but I've ensured protective charms round the Academy - but anyway, there was this poor boy who got injured -'

'He was bleeding half to death, alright,' said Wren moodily. 'Lucian Ailwood.'

'Yes, yes, that's the one,' said Odyssey, looking delighted. 'I've invited him to the ball so don't worry about sending him an invite again -'

There was a muffled, choking noise in the air and Wren sprang up looking like she'd strangled herself. She choked on her own spit and when she tensed down a little, she bellowed, 'What?'

'Are you alright, Wren?' said Odyssey, looking flustered. 'Oh dear, you haven't choked, have you -'

'What in the name of the devil -'

'Wren!' cried Odyssey angrily.

'Lucian Ailwood?' wheezed Wren, clutching her throat. 'That rotten - spoiled brat? You invited - him?'

Odyssey looked unconcerned. 'Well, he's a friend of yours, isn't he? I took pity on him for no one deserves to be bleeding by a silly fire -'

'Friend of mine?' said Wren, trying her best to control the volume of her voice. Apparently, her brain had only registered those three words. 'Odyssey, if it was the last thing on earth I had to do, I wouldn't do it!'

'What, be his friend?' said Odyssey, bewildered.

'Never!' said Wren angrily. 'Uninvite him, Odyssey - he can't come to the ball if I'm there -'

'I can't!' said Odyssey, looking perplexed. 'It wouldn't be a decent thing to do, to uninvite someone - on, the thought of it -'

But Wren had already dashed out of the Grand Doors.

She barged into the school grounds, looking like a wild fire, her red hair tangled and the wind was whipping into her face. She didn't bother finding Jake and Ladislaya first - she thundered into the corridors in hunt for Lucian Ailwood. Eventually, she caught sight of a familiar white-blonde head.

Growling to herself, Wren forced her way through the sea of students to Lucian Ailwood. Some students parted to make way - the princess of Argonian was angry and they sensed it but now, Wren was deaf and blind to everything but Lucian Ailwood. When Lucian and his gang of friends were turning a corner, Wren grabbed him by his collar and dragged him with her.

'Wha - I - geroff me!'

'You,' growled Wren, 'are so not invited to the ball next Friday.'

It took Lucian Ailwood a moment to realise what she was talking about. He straightened his tie and sneered down at her; that sneer that made Wren want to smack him across the face.

'Like you can do anything about it, Princess. Your sister sent me an invitation - I'm afraid there's nothing you can do about it. You don't have the power.' He began striding down the corridor again but Wren dragged him back.

'Oh, I've got the power,' she said aggressively in his ear through clenched teeth. 'Try me.'

'What are you going to do, hex me?'

'I'm uninviting you to the ball next Friday!' yelled Wren. At that exact moment, Jake burst in, looking delighted.

'Just finished my homework on time this morning, we'd better get to class Wren - why is he here?'

'Because,' said Wren, drawing in a breath, 'Odyssey's invited this prat here to an upcoming ball she'd holding in the palace and I'm here to uninvite him.'

Jake stared.

'Princess, I don't want to go to the ball for you,' drawled Lucian. 'I'm going because I might as well get into the good books of the Queen of Argonian. Preferrably, I wouldn't want to see your face there.'

'Well, too bad for you because I've already told her you're a brat,' said Wren furiously. 'You are so not invited to the ball, Lucian. Call it!' she snapped at Jake.

Jake looked bewildered.

'I -'

Lucian glared at Wren.

'You know you can't do anything, Princess, because if I turn up, the Queen won't shoo me away. She's too hospitable for that, unlike you. And I tell you what, I'm going next Friday. You can't -'

'Look, don't tell me what I can and can't do!' exploded Wren furiously. She turned to Jake, glaring at him. 'I said, call it!'

Jake sighed.

'Now!'

He brought his wrist to his face, watching the hands of his watch. '8:23.'

'Lucian Ailwood, your invitation to Argonian's ball next Friday has officially ended, 8:23 a.m.'

Lucian looked like he didn't believe for a moment then -

'Nice meeting you, Princess,' he said, and stalked away, leaving Wren sputtering angrily behind him.

'What was that all about?' said Jake, bewildered.

'Odyssey's hosting a ball,' said Wren aggresively, still agitated. 'She's taken pity on Lucian for having bled almost half-to-death. Nobody's forgotten his little incident, apparently,' she gave a sneer worthy of Lucian. 'You know what? I was going to invite you and Ladislaya, but only if you want to come -'

'Yeah, I do!' said Jake enthusiastically.

'I've got to ask Odyssey though; I think she'll approve -'

'Why did she have to invite him?'

'I told you,' said Wren bringing emphasis on the word, 'she's taking pity on him the fact that he was almost killed in a fire. I don't relate; he's a stinking great -'

'- fool and a prat, Odyssey ought to know that,' said Jake angrily as the two stalked off to class. 'Didn't you tell her that?'

'Oh, I told her alright,' said Wren. 'She just didn't want to listen. Said it wouldn't hurt to invite someone to a ball - morning, Ladislaya.'

Ladislaya was outside the classroom, waiting for them. 'Where have you been?' she cried, pink and flustered. 'We're almost late for class -'

'Odyssey having a ball,' Jake informed Ladislaya. She looked surprised and bewildered at the news. 'Wha -'

'In here!' muttered Wren, shoving the door open and shuffling inside. The three bagged a seat at the back of the classroom (Ladislaya didn't approve of this but she sat with them anyway) and Wren got out her books from her bulging bag.

'What do you mean, a ball?' said Ladislaya in hushed tones. 'A royal ball? Really? That means there will be a feast and dancing and - and -'

'And everything a typical ball has,' whispered Wren crossly. 'Lower it down, Professor Alvina's not going to like the idea of us talking in class.'

Ladislaya dropped her voice. 'I didn't get an invitation.'

'That's because I was about to invite you,' said Wren, getting out the telescopes from a cupboard behind them. S'By the way, why are we studying Astronomy in broad daylight? I thought we were studying the stars or something -'

'Professor Alvina's already told us that we'd be checking the morning stars last lesson,' said Ladislaya earnestly.

'But that's not possible,' said Jake, looking dignified. 'You can't see stars in the morning, you've got to examine them at night -'

He lapsed into silence under Ladislaya's haughty stare.

'Alright, keep it down you two,' hissed Wren, now adjusting her telescope and flipping her book. 'Although I agree with Jake, this is completely pointless.'

'If you and Jake carry on going to classes in this manner, I don't see how you're going to pass your exams this year,' said Ladislaya in a haughty manner. Jake looked indignant.

'Well, I'd just enchant the examiner to have him hand over the answers, then! What d'you think the use is for Enchantment class -'

But Ladislaya had already seized his telescope and forced it to his hands.

'If you mustknows, that's completely illegal,' she said fiercely, 'enchanting an examiner in your exams - you could be arrested! You could be - expelled! That's even worse than being arrested! Imagine your future pouring down in front of you -'

'A little more action and a little less talk over there, please!' called Professor Alvina, looking slightly annoyed. 'And Mr Jake, your telescope is in the wrong direction. We are doing West today, dear.'

Jake scowled and adjusted his telescope rather violently.

Hi guys! See that tempting star shaped 'vote' button? I'd tap that if I were you :)

Stay tuned for Chapter 20 *gasp*