"So," said Touchstone. "Now that you see how quickly you may find yourself in the royal position, would you consider answering one of these?" He plucked one of the myriad envelopes off her desk and dangled it in front of her face.

"Fine," Ellimere sighed, swiping the letter from his hand.

A week later, she was pacing the dining room. "Honestly, where in the Charter is he!" Lords, guards, judges had all been late before, but never a suitor. Granted, the last one had come decades ago, but still! His graces with her were slipping by the second, though it seemed he would be a respectable man.

The messenger hawk sent by his...Well, she didn't really know what position they had held, the boy's accent was so heavy. Likely some sort of low-level hired help. Still the message proclaimed the Chief...Herald, she thought, to be the greatest ruler they had ever known.

A brief trumpet blast announced his belated arrival. Ellimere peered out the window, trying and failing to catch a glimpse of his entourage. Sighing, she returned to her seat by the door.

"Your Highness, I present..." Ellimere readied herself, drawing a deep breath to raise her already unusual height to its full complement. What was that smell? The suitor must have a dog with him. I would sooner keep a wolf as a pet than something of that stench, though. Still, a good king is worth putting up with a pack of the smelliest mutts in the kingdom. "...the Chief Hunter, Jokval." Hunter?! What in the world?

A large man, easily six foot two, strode into the room. His shoulders were heavily laden with furs, and a single black feather clung to his snow white cloak.

So, my father's idea of a suitor is a barbarian hunter. No matter, it is just a couple hours after all."

Jokval did indeed have a small collection of the kingdom's more undesirable pets. The were two flanking him to either side, as well as one behind him. All were a dark tannish color, had short ears, and were unbelievably rank. The dog closest to his right had matted fur on its muzzle, and was stained with something that looked a little too much like half-dried blood.

"Shuntai and I thought we'd bring a bit of the meal ourselves," he said, patting the questionable canine on the head. "I left it with your servant."

"I'm sure it will prove excellent." Ellimere gave a weak smile and took her seat at the table. "While the chef cooks it, have some salad." She pushed a large bowl full of the mix over to him. Without acknowledging the tongs, he stabbed a fork deep into the salad. Jokval lifted it to his nose, inhaled deeply, then ate. Apparently satisfied that it was not poisoned, or whatever he had done the sniff test for, the barbarian quickly devoured the entire bowl.

I suppose it'll be just meat for me then.

The next course came, and the hunter stood as it was placed on the table. Perhaps he does have some slight idea of etiquette. The thought was rejected as Jokval pulled out five extra chairs and a dog leaped onto each. Ellimere watched in horror as the hunter cut off a limb and set it on the table in front of each dog, presenting the head to Shuntai. Her disgust only grew as he ate the roast pig's belly as she would eat only a fowl's leg, by holding it in one hand and tearing off chunks of meat in his mouth.

At last, the princess could stand it no longer. Ellimere rose from her seat and all but kicked him out the door. She would never resort to that particular method of removal. After all, that what guards were for! Heir to the throne, she stomped up the stairs to her chambers, pausing only to give her bewildered father one very dirty look.

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A/N As that chapter was very short filler, the next will be up sooner than usual. I'd expect it to be up Tuesday or Wednesday if all goes well.