Chapter 2

Robina calmly bowed as the crown was placed above her head. Right there and then, she was declared the new queen. A while later, the party began. Many people danced around the ballroom as fancy music was played. Artix and Orbit clumsily attempted to waltz on the ballroom floor. Needless to say, they were both too clumsy. Artix suddenly toppled onto Orbit as both hit the floor. They gazed up at each other and blushed before both getting up. Artix went over to Ash Dragonblade and Valencia Surehunter. "That was great," Ash said to him, "I think I saw Orbit blushing before you did."

"Oh, I don't know about that," Artix said, "I think I embarrassed her."

"Oh come on!" Ash patted Artix on the back. "Anyone can see you like Orbit! I'm surprised she can't! Maybe you should go and fix that!"

Artix spat out the glass of punch he had been drinking during Ash's speech. A nearby woman wiped it off her dress with a handkerchief while scoffing at him. "Er, sorry..." Artix nervously said before turning towards his friends. "I can't do that! This is Robina's special day! Besides, I don't think she likes me back."

"You never know until you try!" Valencia added.

DF

Outside the castle gates, the guards had been tied up and disarmed as a group of bandits snuck in. Their leader, a cloaked hooded person, walked through the halls and hid around a corner as they watched a servant take down an old painting of King Slugwrath and his son and place a portrait of Princess Victoria up on its hook. After he was gone, the bandit walked over, took the painting back down, put up the old one, looked at the removed painting, drew their sword, and slashed across the face on the old picture...

DF

After the incident on the dance floor, Orbit walked over to Robina clutching her sore back.

"Oof, I'm not cut out for dancing!"

Robina laughed. "Oh, what are you talking about? You looked right in your element."

Orbit smiled. "Heh. So did you. During the ceremony? You accepted it like it was nothing."

Robina's smile shrank. "Uhm, thanks..." She looked away. "I didn't feel comfortable though. I wish I could take this crown off and run out the door right now..."

Orbit was surprised. "But during the ceremony..."

"I had to keep up appearances," Robina quickly said, before sighing, "I don't want to be queen. But with everyone in my family gone, I'm the only one left with the responsibility."

"Oh..." Suddenly Orbit was very embarrassed. What was she thinking, saying how good it was that Robina was queen? It just made her feel more pressure. Suddenly she felt like anything else she would say would make Robina feel worse. She quickly thought of an excuse to leave.

"S-suddenly I need more punch!"

Orbit darted off before seeing a guard run into the room, up to Robina. She noticed the guard whispering in her ear before Robina responded with a "What?" and "Bandits?"

Suddenly the cloaked bandit leader entered the room and signaled for their men to attack. The other bandits burst into the room and started to attack the guards. The guests fled to safety as Orbit and Robina made a mad dash to the weapons chest where the guests weapons were stored.

When they got to the chest, they started to open it, when suddenly some bandits appeared and threw a smoke bomb, before knocking one of the women aside and putting a sack over the other. They then fled from the castle into the forest.

Artix and Draco followed some guards to the room where they found Robina, but no Orbit.

"Queen Victoria!" one of the guards exclaimed, "Are you all right!?"

"Yes..." Robina stood up and dusted herself off. "The bandits took us by surprise."

"Where's Orbit?" Artix asked.

Robina looked around and noticed she was gone. "The bandits must have taken her!"

"We have to find her!" Artix exclaimed, "She has no equipment on her! She can't defend herself!"

"Artix, you should go home..."

"No!" Artix exclaimed, "I know I'm a paladin, not a knight, but I can't forgive myself if Orbit dies!"

"I'm going too!" Draco screeched, "Orbit is my human and with her gone I've got nowhere else to go! ...And, um, she's my best friend and all that..."

Robina looked at these two determined friends of Orbit. She understood how they felt. They had all been through so much together. Orbit saved everyone countless times. Now it was their turns to save her...

"All right. We'll all go. Guards, rally my best men. We begin searching immediately! Those bandits will not get far!"