To: PyschoLioness33, Mango Sam, oceanspike: Thanks 4 ur reviews! Maybe I'm moving this story a little too fast...but there will be MANY more chaps!
-TO Lady Knight Daine: Glad to get a new reviewer!!!!!! Luv ya!
-Chapter 11:
"What!!??" sputtered Mitzi. The room had been silent until then, even the animals kept quiet.
"Your mother and father -the King Geoff and Queen Lily of Norwestia- were captured three days ago," repeated Numair softly. He appeared quite calm but his brown eyes were troubled. Both he and Daine loved the vain, but charming princess...it hurt them to have to break the news. But Lord Wyldon knew of their friendship with the girl and had decided that she would hear the news best from a friend. It was probably better that they did it anyway...imagine hearing Wyldon trying to do this!
"How?" She demanded, her eyebrows pushed up, giving a strained look to her face.
"Their castle -the palace you used to live in- has been under siege for weeks. Your uncle had the whole city surrounded. It was only a matter of time before the castle supplies ran out. The archers needed new arrows but there was no more wood...the people food, but no supply carts were allowed into the city after it was captured."
Mitzi looked down, her amber-colored eyes moving back and forth as if she was reading and trying to absorb information.
"But how did Uncle Henri manage...when I left, not two seasons ago he had no army...no supporters...nothing! How did he manage to conjure up such a large force as to capture the city Hali? How did his weaponry exceed my father's?"
"Your uncle did get support honey," Daine said. "In fact he has gained the alliance of the Lorderr province."
"But that's not even part of Norwestia! Why would it join into the fight?"
"Because you were betrothed to the prince of Lorderr before Tortall's Roald."
"Who else has betrayed?"
"Several other small provinces...but the problem is that these provinces hold land full of immortals; centaurs, hurroks, and griffins are all being captured and used against Norwestia."
"My parents..." Mitzi once again went pale and Daine scrambled to get together a tray of tea.
"We don't know what condition they are in," Numair answered, taking a cushion and propping Mitzi up, against her chair. "Sir Myle's spies only returned recently and they had no news."
Daine returned with some steaming tea and forced a cup into the princess's grasp. "There's nothing we can do for them," she said firmly. "But we can try to protect you."
"They know I am here?"
"Yes, once your Uncle captured the palace they questioned almost all the servants working there...and several admitted that they knew you had been sent away. Under torture those same servants confessed that you had been sent here, under disguise."
"I wish I knew which servant told!" Mitzi said suddenly. "I'd kill them!"
"No need to do that," Numair commented. "Your uncle already did."
Mitzi blinked several times.
"If they know I'm here...will they try to attack?"
"That's what Lord Wyldon and the King are worried about."
"All because of me..." Mitzi thought guiltily of her friends. Of how supportive they had been even though they knew not what she was going through. And now their lives might be risked because her uncle sought her.
"We have the palace under double guard and more spies have been sent out. But there could be an attack any day...maybe not directly from your uncle, Henri Yunshard, but perhaps from immortals he sends."
Mitzi set her teacup down, suddenly.
"We have all sorts of protections set up," Numair continued. "But it's best if we teach you a couple defensive spells to protect yourself...which is why we are switching books."
Mitzi didn't reply.
"Mitzi," Daine asked. "Are you listening?"
"I must go," said Mitzi abruptly, as if coming out of a daydream. She stood up and moved to the door. Daine grabbed her arm.
"I really must go," said Mitzi so calmly and firmly that Daine the Wildmage let go and the princess was able to flee down the hall.
-Meanwhile:
Prince Roald walked down the hallways. He needed to think.
"The Princess Mitzi is in danger," his parents had told him not five minutes ago. "And what more, Tortall could be attacked."
Roald still didn't know much about Mitzi...but he was loath to have her hurt, and what more killed so that they would have to find another princess for him to be engaged to. After all, Mitzi seemed charming...and he didn't want to take a chance in the next princess being worse.
For a moment he wondered how Mitzi was taking the news.
The prince rushed down the hallways, glad for the solitude that he need when thinking...hard.
