The sun came up over Marin like a piece of tangerine candy. Princess Sydney's eyes swept the tower bedchamber, from the window seat to the elaborately carved mahogany chest that held cherished reminders of her childhood to the pile of bags containing all the belongings that she was to bring along with her to Troobia. The clothes folded neatly over her vanity chair were a simple riding skirt, a loose-fitting pale pink shirt, made of soft cotton and a cape of some exotic fur for when it was cold. They would suit the nearly two month long trip to Troobia admirably. Her fancier clothing had already been sent ahead north by cargo ship, seeing as how Marin was a port kingdom. But only cargo ships docked in Marin's seaside towns, such vessels were deemed unworthy for a member of any royal family. So Sydney and her entourage were to ride on horseback.
In the trundle bed next to her, visible only by two lumps underneath the bright yellow coverlet and the few wisps of dark brown hair that were fanned out on the equally yellow pillowcase, but that was all. Elizabeth was not a morning person in the least bit. Of course, Sir Sky was of the opinion that the whole party must leave by nine that very morning at the latest. It would be mildly amusing to see how the two of them got on during the trip.
What would not be amusing was having to bid him farewell on a permanent basis. Sydney hated that she had to go off to the empire and marry the brute who governed Troobia with an iron fist, but she knew in her heart it was for the good of all. Lady Jennifer, her godmother, had commented of how princess-like the willing sacrifice Sydney was making was and that she was an example all girls in Marin should aspire to be like. Sydney was fond of Lady Jennifer, whom she had known her entire existence. Lady Jennifer was one who she'd especially miss in her future days that were sure to be full of homesickness.
No, the task of saying goodbye to Sir Sky was to break her heart, secretly. She had gazed upon him from afar, discreetly watching him in jousting tournaments and cheering him on. He was a year older than she, and as very small children they'd played together a few times. But then she was made to learn all the etiquette being a princess required and other such nonsense her mother and father insisted she need to know, so as not to make Marin look foolish. It consumed all of the princess' time, the lessons, and then she was allowed to sit in on court sessions to see how the government she would one day rule was worked.
Needless to say, she and Sky had not particularly stayed in touch, as he'd gone to learn to be a knight. So when he came back to the castle from which the country was governed, the princess had treated him as any of the other knights keeping Marin safe: distant, but cordially so.
Elizabeth was in desperate need of a rousing, Syd decided as the church's clock chimed seven times in a row. They were to be off in two hours and counting.
When both young girls were fully dressed in their simple skirts of pink and yellow, respectively, they made their way down to the Great Hall for Sydney's farewell breakfast. Sir Sky was seated next to her father, no doubt speaking of the extensive trip about to begin. Syd allowed herself a moment to gaze upon the knight lovingly before sitting near Elizabeth and across from her Uncle Rhian, the duke.
"My niece, I am aware you have been informed of the selfless person you are, agreeing to marry the beast-I mean, emperor, but not from me. So go forth on this journey with my blessing and a piece of wisdom: Don't hold back on your true feelings for the one whom you are not betrothed to, dearest, for I've a premonition he returns them. Once out in the open, your true destiny will fall into place."
Having said that, Rhian stabbed himself a sausage from the red china platter near his plate, took a bite, and walked off.
"I do not intend to speak ill of your family, princess, but is your Uncle Rhian a bit…odd?" Elizabeth questioned, frowning after the duke.
Sydney shrugged. "My mother once explained to me that Uncle Rhian has always been a little off. He was a prisoner of some sort, I think, back in his younger days. Perhaps it addled his brains."
Elizabeth was not able to respond, seeing as how King Carter stood and raised his goblet. "To my daughter, Princess Sydney, the bravest woman I've known in all my days."
The other various inhabitants of the castle raised their goblets, toasting to their beloved Princess and drinking in the name of her sacrifice.
Sir Sky looked rather appalled at the whole little ceremony. He really wanted to get on the road if the traveling party was to make any sort of dent in the excursion before nightfall. As Sky had to accept she was to wed another, he'd spent the night staring at the stone ceiling and deciding that for the duration of the mission he was to act as she did: formally polite, and not a trace of his true affections could be shown to her.
Quite a crowd gathered outside of the castle to see the little troupe off on the trip to the neighboring empire. Five beautiful mares in shades ranging from dapple gray to inky black were loaded with all the supplies and the five travelers were ready to mount. King Carter and Queen Dana each clutched their treasured daughter to them and kissed both of her cheeks. She curtsied to her royal parents, then to Duke Rhian, and then to Lord Wesley and Lady Jennifer. All three wished her and her new husband the best of luck, and made her promise to write when she was settled in. Princess Sydney gave her word, and with assistance from her father, swung herself up into the horse's saddle.
They were a colorful bunch, the princess mused as the four others joined her on their respective mares' backsides, blue, red, green, yellow and pink. It cheered the princess very slightly knowing there was to be such brightness around her as they traveled; she disliked things that were dull and gray.
"May the gods protect you," King Carter gave his blessing to the party. "Travel safe, my daughter. Travel safe."
With that he stood on his toes, kissed her cheek once more, and then drew back to rejoin his queen. She let tears slide down her face unchecked as the king pulled her gently into his arms.
"We need to travel twelve miles at the least today, Princess Sydney," said Sir Sky, guiding his mare to trot along next to her own. "Shall we move now, while we still have some sunlight to ride in, or should we let the moon light our path?"
"Easy now, Sir," Sydney spoke up. "Not all of us are coming back home at the end of this journey."
"He's just a little impatient," Jack uttered hastily. "He is eager to complete this little quest we've been sent on."
"I'm not," Syd retorted, urging her mare into a canter.
The Court Jester Bridge and Elizabeth –or Z, as she told everyone to call her- both eased their rides into a slow stop. "They're an amusing pair, aren't they?" Bridge observed.
"He wants to be proper around her because he knows there can never be anything," Jack said. He and Bridge moved forward, but Lady Elizabeth looked at her new friends' backs thoughtfully for a moment before continuing.