Sorry this chapter took so long, but those of you who read the author notes will know that I don't write during the holidays, not on the computer anyway. I a making an exception for this story so be happy.

Before I forget, I would just like to say a huge great big thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far, they will e remembered and are as follows: CartoonFan13, Surreptitiously Anonymous, Novindalf, Swetlana and sweetlilsunshine.

Anyway as Pumba from the lion king once said, you've got to put your behind in the past, or was it you've got to put your past behind you...

Ah well, here it is, I hope you all like reading it.

A Threat

The prince walked into the hall feeling extremely tired as he remembered how his very difficult speech had gone. Yes the people had been attentive and yes he had manage to pass it off as the result of the unreasonably hot Talian sun. It had been so difficult to do because he knew he was lying through his teeth to his people.

He knew that someone had disappeared and he could of sworn that two manoush were looking at him strangely as if they knew he had been deceiving them.

Still he was worried about what he would say to Luciano when he saw him again. He hadn't told the man immediately that he had met Karina. Would the Bellezzan Lord now think he was a liar?

It was always very confusing being a leader, if you said something to the wrong person then you were likely to start a feud or even a war between cities. Politics was a very dangerous game to get caught up in.

Rodrigo was surprised when he was approached by a servant.

"Your majesty," started the servant bowing low. "The Bellezzan Lord has left to attend to some urgent business involving his beloved city state."

Rodrigo raised an eyebrow, what was it that could be so important?

"Never mind," shrugged the prince. "Is he still in the city?"

"Yes you r highness," replied the servant. "He has retired to where he is staying."

"Right," muttered the prince absentmindedly. "Thank you, that will be all."

The servant hurried away and Rodrigo slowly made his way towards the stairs. He was feeling faint so he summoned a maid to bring water to his room.

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Luciano had been sitting quietly in the music room waiting for the young prince to return when he noticed a piece of paper lying on the floor. Walking over to examine it, he noticed it was addressed to him. He knelt down on the dusty floor to pick it up.

Opening it he began to read. The letter went as follows:

Cavalier Luciano of Bellezza,

We are unfortunate enough to have to inform you of the disappearanceof the young duchess of Bellezza. We do have her and promise that she will not be harmed so long as you do exactly as we tell you to.

Do not attempt to find us, we will find you and bring you up to date on what it is that is required of you. For the moment we merely wish for you to stay in the city of Romula and await further orders on the course of action you must take.

P.D-C

For a while Luciano stared at the writing as though wishing it to suddenly disappear.

There was no doubting who the letter was from; Phillipo di Chimici. The current Grand Duke of Tuschia had been extremely careful for by using his initials he had made sure that Luciano could not prove that it was him.

Luciano decided he had to make sure that it was definitely true. He had to find out if Arianna was really missing.

It was as he came out of the palace that he ran into none other than Enrico the spy.

"Can I ask you something?" inquired Luciano keeping the worry out of his voice.

"Fire away good sir," replied Enrico.

"Did you see anyone suspicious enter the palace?"

"Now that you come to mention it, I saw two mysterious figures this day here," he said. "One was a girl dressed in a simple, but obviously expensive dress. You see, she climbed out of a window and slid down a rope to the flower beds and patch of garden over there." The spy pointed to a rough position at the foot of the palace wall. "The second was by far less remarkable, he was a scruffy boy with a cut on his cheek and grubby clothes. He entered the palace through the door. He didn't strike me as palace folk."

"Right," muttered Luciano. "Thanks."

He handed the spy a bag of coins.

"Get yourself some new clothes," advised the Bellezzan Lord. "And take a bath...you stink!"

The cavalier then hurried away from the spy in a distraught fashion.

Once back at his apartments, Luciano took out what looked like a mirror to the untrained eye, but was really a communications device. He tuned it until the face of Rudolfo appeared.

"My dear boy what's the matter?" asked the old man looking slightly nervous.

"It's true isn't it," sighed Luciano sadly.

"What is?" asked Rudolfo.

"Is Arianna missing?" he asked a little panicked.

There was a long silence that was ever so uncomfortable. Finally Rudolfo spoke.

"Yes," he said quietly. "I'm afraid she is."

"I got a letter," Luciano held the paper up to the mirror.

"If we can find out what paper that is, we ay be ale to find out where the young duchess is being kept," suggested Rudolfo. "I also received a letter and I am carrying out various tests on it."

"It's from the di Chimici, Phillipo to be precise," Luciano pointed out.

"I guessed as much," replied Rudolfo.

"What should I do?" asked Luciano.

"Well..." the regent hesitated. "I think it would probably be best if you did what the letter says for the moment. Good luck, I'll contact you again soon. Oh and if you get another letter then I think it would e best if you told us."

"Alright," agreed Luciano as the man's face faded from the picture.

This was the first time Luciano had been sent somewhere on his own and now he felt that for once he really was alone. He wished Arianna was there with him.

Don't you just hate it when nobody reviews? (This is a hint!)