With the evening's preparations in full swing, the entire Palace was buzzing with activity. Servants bustled around eagerly, The Royal Guard polishing their armor in the barracks, while back in the Palace Mess Hall kitchen, a handful of Trollans had duties of their own.
"A great Trollan wizard, stuck doing dishes like a common servant!" Montork exclaimed as he furiously sent plates splashing through a conjured up miniature waterfall.
"Oh stop bellyaching Montork," retorted Madamme Raaz, sending elegant silverware dancing through the air like silver dragonflies, sorting each utensil and landing them in neat rows.
"Yeah Uncle, complaining won't make the chore go by any faster," his nephew Orko chimed in, "Besides, everyone knows Trollan magic is great at expediting menial tasks such as doing the dishes for the entire Royal Ceremony!"
While Orko caught each wet plate midair that his Uncle passed to him, he'd send them in a furious juggling cycle causing them to dry quickly in the rapid whirlwind.
The Court Magician's mind began to wander as his focus on the dishes started to slip, their circling becoming more and more erratic. He was worried about Prince Adam. He had a strange premonition, similar to the one he had earlier, that something wasn't quite right.
One of the many reasons Trollans were chosen by the Eternals as the dedicated guardians of the Sword of Power was their supernatural connection they formed with its bearer – able to sense impending danger to both the weapon and its handler.
'Prince Adam might be stubborn enough to journey to the Badlands by himself,' Orko realized, 'and he just might be foolish enough to leave without the Sword of Power.' The notion of Prince Adam venturing into the Badlands without the aid of He-Man disturbed the Trollan, the thought sent the dishes crashing to the ground as the magician lost mental control.
Montork winced as pieces of Royal dishware shattered, causing both himself and Raaz to also lose their focus, thereby causing an even bigger crash.
"Orko!" Montork scolded. Madamme Raaz sighed and nodded to her familiar leaning in the corner, and Broom obediently jumped over and began sweeping up pieces of broken dishes.
"Gee, I'm so sorry, I guess I spaced out for a moment," Orko shrugged, trying to disguise his sudden alarm. "I just remembered, there's something I need to take care of right away! I'll be back in a moment!" And without an explanation the Court Magician sped towards the exit.
"Now what was that he was saying about Trollan magic making chores go by quicker?" Montork asked Broom rhetorically, who silently but diligently scooped up the Royal mess.
'Never a dull moment.' Bow thought to himself as he walked briskly through Eternos Square. 'Here I was, expecting to spend a joyous evening praising our good rulers of Eternia, drinking the best wine in the Kingdom and enjoying the company of the lovely Princess Adora, but instead I've been roped into Prince Adam's personal scouting mission to the Badlands!'
That was somewhat of a selfish thought.
Prince Adam asked for his aid, and in turn, Eternia's aid. He should have felt honored that he was the Prince's ideal choice to accompany him. After all, he was the most renowned scout in Etheria's rebellion, not to mention the best archer this side of Eternia.
But that Royal wine sure is tasty. And Princess Adora…well, he needn't distract himself with such thoughts right now.
Even though he secretly regarded the Prince as somewhat of a spoiled brat, he was beginning to respect him somewhat. Instead of his usual opting to calling upon Duncan or the Masters to handle military affairs, he was deciding to take on this mission by himself, unbeknownst to the King and the others. Sounds like something he would find himself doing for the people of Etheria.
He understood why Adam had asked him to sneak Cringer out of the Royal Stables; seeing the Prince leave with his loyal steed would arouse suspicion. And although skysleds would enable them to travel to the Badlands in no time, this was a covert mission so land travel was paramount.
What Bow didn't fully comprehend was why Adam needed him to retrieve his Royal Sword from his chambers as well. Bow had other swords he could lend the Prince; sure maybe not as finely crafted as that of Royal forgery, but sufficient enough for a scout mission. But upon offering one to him, the Prince seemed so adamant, nervous even, that he absolutely had to have his Royal Sword with him.
'I guess that would be like traveling without my trusty bow,' He concluded, making his way into the Royal Palace. One of the Royal Guards greeted him as he entered.
"A fine day, Sir Bow. Ready to enjoy this evening's festivities?" The guard chortled.
"Oh indeed I shall," Bow said forcing a smile, "so much that I'll even enjoy them for you as well guardsman!" Bow made his way into the Main Hall. "That is, if I'm able to get back in time." He muttered under his breath.
The bowman strode quickly up to the Royal Wing; passing by Adora's chambers he paused to listen of any indication she was inside. Silence. He wondered for a moment how she would look in her Royal gown later, how she might arrange her hair and ensemble. Then the urgency of Adam and his scout returned, and the intimate thought vanished.
'Strange,' Bow thought as he turned the key to Adam's chambers he had given him. The door was already unlocked. Perhaps Adam had forgotten to lock it in his haste. Then he heard a noise inside, a fumbling around of some sort. Bow placed a hand on his sword hilt and cautiously entered the room.
The room was empty at first, no indication of an intruder. The scout silently moved to the other side, discovering a figure rummaging in the back closet.
"Halt intruder! Identify yourself!" Bow shouted. The supposed invader leapt into the air by surprise, then there was a brief flash of light as Orko spun around to face him.
"Court Magician! I should have guessed." Bow sighed as he relaxed his stance. "What brings you in here sneaking around the Prince's quarters?"
"I might ask you the same thing, Bow." Orko retorted, visibly hiding something behind him.
"I'm looking for Adora," said Bow, "she wasn't in her chambers, so I thought she might be in here. The door was unlocked." Bow raised a curious eyebrow. "What's that you're hiding behind your back, magician?"
"Oh this?" Orko answered nervously, "I had to fetch this..uh…Royal Curtain Rod for the Queen. You know how she is, wanting the Banquet Hall at its finest!"
"Yes, I'm sure." Bow replied, still not fully convinced.
Just then Teela stormed into the room, weapon drawn, followed by two Royal Guardsmen.
"What's going on in here?" Teela demanded, "I heard shouting."
"Uh, well, we were, uh…" the two suspects bumbled for an alibi. "We were looking for the Prince, but as you can see, he's not here."
"Of course he's not." Teela stated, lowering her staff. "On the day of his parents' anniversary, why in Eternia would the Prince be present at the Palace?" she said sarcastically.
"If you'll excuse me, Teela, I'm needed back at the Mess Hall…" Orko attempted to float past the captain.
"Not so fast, Orko." She halted him, eyeing the object in his grasp. "Curtain rods, huh? Well, someone's gotta do it I suppose." She stepped aside and allowed the mage passage.
"Now I suggest you both get out of here at once," Teela ordered. "And if either of you two happen to find the Prince, tell him he needs to return immediately. The King is having him lead the Royal Procession this evening, and he'd better be ready!"
Before either could respond, Teela spun around and marched out, the guardsmen behind her.
'Uh oh.' the two thought in unison as they left the Prince's quarters.