There was barely an inch between the princess and Sir Sky that night as the moon shone down upon them. Sydney's heart pounded in her chest in anticipation; she was about to kiss the knight of her dreams, and then he would know how she truly felt about him, he would know how she would pine for him all her days in Troobia.

All of Sydney's little fantasy came screeching to a halt, however, when the knight pulled away. "I do not think what was about to happen is most advisable, Princess Sydney," Sky said jerkily as he stood and brushed himself off. "You are betrothed, are you not?"

The princess went from hurt and confused to flat out enraged. "How dare you lead me on like that, Sir!" she shrieked. "I cannot believe you would do such a cruel and heartless thing to me!"

Blinking away tears of frustration and hurt, Princess Sydney stormed off to her piles of blankets and pulled them over to between Lady Elizabeth and Bridge, as far away from Sir Sky as possible. How could he ever crush all her secret dreams like that, in one fell swoop and in such a vicious way? She had thought herself closer to him than any of the others, had thought there was affection in his eyes when he looked at her and smiled. How could she have been so foolish as to ever think that someone else might come before his precious duty to the kingdom?

She had been an idiot, Syd realized as she pulled her pale pink coverlets over her golden curls so she could cry in privacy. A complete and utter moron for spilling her heart out, and not even using words to do it, but actions! An action that one was only supposed to use with one's suitor or one's spouse. How stupid she had been to want to kiss him. How stupid she had been to believe that maybe he would wrap her in his strong arms and think of some way to assassinate the emperor, therefore leaving the two of them to wed, as she wished. Maybe she deserved the unwanted nuptials to Gruumm, simply based on her naïve little hopes.

The princess was shaking between her blankets, and it was not from the slight chill in the air. The slight chill in the air that she had not even noticed as she had sat with the knight. By the gods, how had her royal parents ever raised such a foolish dreamer?

With that humiliating little incident to taunt her for the rest of her born days, the princess decided she might actually be glad when she was married off to the brute who governed Troobia. Trips to Marin would not happen all that often, surely. And by the time she and her future husband would travel to her mother country, enough time would have passed for her to be able to maintain a straight face in Sir Sky's presence.

By the gods, Princess Sydney would be grateful when she was safe in Troobia, away from the crusher of dreams that was Sir Sky of Silverhill.

She would have to portray her old politely distant self when it came to him. No more riding a distance away from the others and chatting idly. No more staying up late at night and confiding in one another. No more jokes to make in hopes that he might grace her with a smile.

As the princess drifted off into an uneasy slumber, Sir Sky tried to make his spot of ground more comfortable. He had been stuck with an uncomfortable patch of land, but that was the very least of his problems. He had just broken two hearts in one single swift moment, his and that of the princess.

Now she hated him, of that Sir Sky was certain. There would be no more days spent together as the group traveled to Troobia, no more secret smiles and glances. What a buffoon he was, to throw that kind of relationship with the beloved princess away like she meant nothing to him. But he was a Knight of the House of Grayson, by the gods. How would that prove his loyalty to the King and the rest of the kingdom? Carter would never approve of his daughter, the jewel of Marin, to break an engagement unless her suitor was deceased. If Sydney did while Gruumm was still alive and well, it would ultimately mean the downfall of their country, and the princess was far too brave and loving of her people to do that to them.

Sky did not get one wink of sleep that night, which he regretted the next morning as they headed out early. The troupe was puzzled as to why Princess Syd trailed behind them a bit while Sky was in the lead, but none dared to ask questions. Jack had consulted the map and made the announcement that Troobia was two days' traveling time away from the lake. "Finally," he added as a yawn escaped from his mouth. "I really need to get home so I can get more practice in for the joust."

"As if you shall win," Sky retorted, taking his anger out at the younger squire. "I have been named champion of Marin the last three years running."

"Temper, temper," Jack muttered. "Let us be civil, Sky, as we still have to journey home together."

"I am being civil," snapped Sky. "I am simply stating the truth."

"Why is Sir Sky being so abominable, Princess?" Lady Elizabeth queried. "And why do you not ride with him today?"

Princess Sydney's mouth curled into a frown. "We had a little spat last night, Z," Syd replied.

"I see," mused Z. "About what?"

"We were going to…kiss," the princess admitted.
"And then he got cold feet?" Z questioned knowingly.

"I truly detest Emperor Gruumm," Sydney spat. "What a vile creature he is, forcing me to marry him. For it is because I am betrothed that Sir Sky pulled away from me, therefore crushing me."

Just under forty-eight hours later, the multicolored group reached Emperor Gruumm's castle, a horrid structure of black stone perched precariously on equally black cliffs. The whole country gave an eerie vibe, and Syd could feel the goose bumps forming on her delicate arms. She did not wish to spend the rest of her days in the dreadful place.

The hill was guarded by soldiers in strange black uniforms and even stranger metal helmets. Syd felt uneasy as she and her friends passed. Troobia was a bleak, unfriendly land from what she had gathered so far.

The path wound up the hill to the pinnacle of the cliffs. The fortress itself required that a drawbridge be laid across the rocky recesses to gain entrance, therefore keeping out all unwanted visitors. There were at least ten of the odd soldiers posted outside the castle who were in charge of lowering the bridge, and they seemed to know who Princess Sydney was. When she and the rest of her party grouped around the edge of one cliff, the soldiers lowered the gate and the horses started across nervously. The mares, too, shared the humans' anxiety.

The five travelers dismounted their rides when safely across. A little girl no older than eight greeted them.

"Ooh, you're to be the empress, are you not?" she sneered to Sydney. The princess nodded, trying to look pleasant and happy to be in Troobia.

"It is a pleasure to be here in this fine…palace," Syd offered. "What is your name, little one?"

"I am called Mora," the girl answered haughtily. "You are to come with me, O Beloved Princess, to the emperor's throne room."

The princess bobbed her head once more and then turned to Jack and Sky. "I bid you goodbye, friends," Syd stated. "I shall see you again, I am certain." She crossed to Jack and hugged him lightly. "Take care, Jack. Sky will make a knight of you yet."

The younger squire flashed a grin at his companion. "It has been an honor to escort you here, milady. I will make it a point to tell your mother and father you have arrived safely."

Sir Sky was waiting with an impatient scowl on his handsome face, his arms behind his back. "Goodbye, Princess Sydney."

Syd did not bother to give a response, but rather scowled in return. Averting her attention back to Mora, the princess said, "Please show me the way."

Mora led the princess, Elizabeth and Bridge down a dark passageway. There were hardly any candles in the sconces upon the chilly stone walls. Sydney found herself missing the brightly lit corridors of Marin's royal palace.

Mora stopped in front of a huge black door with the Troobian crest painted on it. "Here is where your husband waits, Princess," she snarled.

Throwing open the entrance, Mora shoved Sydney inside.