Getting close to some action now! Woot!

But not quite there yet :). Just hang in there.

-----

As the weeks passed, Niira seemed to forget the conversation about her uncle, instead spending her time showing Reezy and Alakyl around the city, at least, what parts of it she remembered. When she wasn't doing that, she was rediscovering an old favorite pastime of hers: sparring with the squires. Except that now, the young men didn't hold much of a challenge for her.

She also rediscovered the 'secret' passageways she used once to get around Indels Schloss unseen. Most were ancient crawlspaces behind the walls that she could no longer fit in. What purpose the hidden hallways had once served, she could never figure out, as they were certainly not big enough to allow an adult human through.

Niira smiled wistfully to herself. Guess I have to act all grown-up now and take the normal halls.

But that doesn't mean I can't use the back halls.

She had used such halls, away from the main walkways, to evade people once her hidden crawlspaces had been discovered. Not that she was technically allowed access to such places, but that never stopped her. She recalled clearly her amusement at running from the castle servants, who tried to prevent her from being where she shouldn't. They could never catch her. Instead, her downfall would always come in the form of running into (usually literally) her father, or one of the ministers who knew her.

I bet Albert still uses that study in the back...

-----

She dashed down the hallway, her feet almost silent against the stone floor. They were close this time. She had made the mistake of letting the servants get too close to her. But she wasn't about ready to let such a fun chase just end like that.

Sliding across the floor slightly as she rounded a corner, she threw herself into the first open door she saw. It only stood open a few inches, but that mattered little as she squeezed in, trying not to cause it to swing open further and give away her hiding spot. Then she dove behind the thick curtains that hung around the windows. She pressed herself against the wall, hoping she didn't make too much of a noticeable bulge in the heavy fabrics. In the ensuing silence, she could hear muffled sound of the servants hurrying past the door.

She smiled to herself. Victory again. Now the trick was to get back out of the castle without being caught.

"Are you going to come out now?"

She knew that voice, the soft tones that carried and air of importance. Immediately she froze in fear. She had run straight into the private study of the king himself. I'm in so much trouble...

"I know it's you, Niira." The voice was kind, not showing any hint of anger. "I'm surprised you're not trying to drag Arlo's boy into trouble with you per usual."

Slowly, Niira edged out from behind the curtain. "His name's Coen. You always forget."

"No, I don't." King Albert sat at a desk, on which a large book lay open. He was dressed simply, obviously not expecting visitors or business today, although his long hair was pulled back as neatly as always. He watched the girl calmly through soft brown eyes.

Niira couldn't shake the feeling that she had committed some terrible wrong, despite the king's good mood and the small friendship they shared. Eventually, she lowered her gaze, clasping her hands behind her back and shuffling her feet. "M'sorry. Won't happen again, maj'sty."

"Sorry for what?" Albert chuckled to himself. "Come now, you've provided me an entertaining break from all of this." He raised a finger, indicating the book. "Don't tell me that you, the queen of boors, are suddenly going to start using manners around me just because you ran into my study. That simply won't do."

Niira dared to glance up at him; he smiled back. She too managed a grin. "Not a boor. You're a...a..." She couldn't think of anything smart-sounding enough to try to use as a counter-insult.

"Don't even think about trying," the king said. "You know I can outwit you in the word game."

She knew this was true, so she said nothing.

Albert had been in Niira's life since her birth. Although age and social status had always held a barrier between them, it was a small one. Albert had always been keen on participating in the antics of his best friend's child, much to the dismay of just about every high-ranking noble who had a place in the castle. It just wasn't right for the king, as young as he was, to be spending time with an still younger commoner. Even if she was the daughter of the First Knight.

Not that Niira cared. She had always ignored the rules of proper behavior, except when such rules suited her current goals.

"Whatcha reading?" The last of Niira's fear had finally melted away. She trotted to the desk, standing on her toes to get a better look at the book that occupied its surface.

"Oh, just history and such. Boring stuff that I have to know, you know how it is."

"Nah, not boring!" Of course, such topics were always boring to her when she faced them in her own classroom. With someone besides the teachers, though, anything was interesting.

"You think so? I assure you, after reading this, you'll think it's boring. Have a look." He pushed himself to one side of the chair, to allow Niira some space to sit beside him. As he has always possessed a lanky build, there was plenty of room for the small child.

She eagerly climbed up next to him.

-----

She had learned a lot of random information from those times when she 'accidentally' ran into the king's study. Of course, such sessions were often cut short, especially once the castle servants and her father learned that she liked to hide there.

What I wouldn't give to be able to do that again, she thought as she climbed a short flight of stairs.

"What are you doing here?"

It's was a girl's voice, but the tone and formation of the words indicated someone who was well-educated. Niira glanced down to see a child of perhaps eight or nine years in age standing next to her, a superior look on her round face. She wore a pale pink shift beneath her white dress, giving her the effect of a small flower. You're the one who snuck up on me. Wait... Niira had to blink a few times to make sure she wasn't seeing things. She looks familiar somehow.

"Well? Who are you to be allowed in this part of Indels?"

At first, Niira wasn't sure what to tell the girl. She decided the truth would be the best choice. "I'm a dragoon. My name is Niira."

The girl tilted her head. "Oh?...oh!" Her features suddenly lit up.

I know that look. That's exactly how King Albert looks whenever he find something interesting.

"You're Sir Lavitz's daughter."

"Yes."

"Father told me about you. Sir Lavitz would never say much."

Niira bit her tongue. Because he hurt for me. I caused that pain.

"What are you doing back in this part of the castle?" The girl touched Niira's hand questioningly.

"Just...looking. It's been a long time since I was last here." She found herself walking down the hall with the girl. "Who are you, anyway?"

For a moment, the child looked almost offended. "I'm Princess Diandra of Serdio!"

"What!" The half-blood's near-shout echoed. "But... I'm sorry. I wasn't aware Albert was married." And here, people are getting mad at me because I haven't told them everything that's happened in the past thirteen or so years.

"Of course he is!"

"Who's your mother, then?"

"Emille of Tiberoa."

"Ah." Not that I know who that is.

"I have a little brother too, but he's too small to walk around the castle by himself." Diandra sounded proud of herself.

"What's his name?"

"Aricin." The princess turned to open an nearby door and stepped through. Niira followed her, realizing a moment later that they were in the throne room, entering through one of the side doors on the upper platform. It was an entrance Niira had never used when she was a child, because it opened in full view of the entire room, and was only a few steps away from where Albert's throne sat. Not a place she wanted to be when trying to evade capture.

Albert's throne was still there, but it was now accompanied by a second one, in which a woman sat. Niira assumed she was Emille, as she certainly looked Tiberoan with her warm skin and dark features. She was talking softly with Albert and was the first to see them enter.

"Diandra, what did I tell you about...oh." She looked with surprise at Niira.

Albert turned in his seat to see what was going on. He smiled warmly at the girls. "I see you two found each other. I knew you would. You both have a habit of being where you're not supposed to."

Niira glowered mockingly. "I prefer to call it a talent."

"Are you contradicting me, knave?"

"Varlet."

The king raised an eyebrow curiously. The last time they had played this game, Niira had failed miserably. She smiled at him. "Maybe you've learned a few new tricks, but you still fight like a girl," Albert said at last.

"I am a girl, or didn't you notice?"

Diandra glared up at Niira, then at her father. "That's not very nice."

"Yes, dear." Albert was still smiling. He motioned for his daughter, and she ran to her parents, wrapping her short arms around her father.

"You sort of failed to mention to me that you were, you know, a family man now," Niira said.

"I'm sure there's plenty you haven't told me."

"Perhaps."

"Then we're even." At a look from his wife, Albert attempted to pull himself back into a more serious mindset. He seemed to have a problem doing that whenever Niira was around. "I'm sorry. Emille, this is Niira Slambert."

"Oh! I thought she looked like Sir Lavitz. Very nice to finally meet you." The queen smiled. She had a light, soothing voice.

Niira frowned. "I don't look that much like my father."

Albert chuckled, an action that ended with him coughing a few times. Niira glanced at him. She had never known the king to be ill. But that certainly hadn't sounded good.

Before she could ask, however, a distraction was sent their way. Happy Tail glided in through one of the windows that was kept open for him. He landed in the middle of the throne room with a bounce, then bowed quickly to the royal family. "Sorry to be disturbing you. I was sent to fetch Niira. Couldn't find her, didn't even think to look here..."

"What is it this time?" Niira wanted to stay and talk with Albert. He was one of the few people who hadn't acted completely strange to her since her return.

"Your fellow Northlanders would like to speak with you."

She sighed. "All right." Now what?

"They're to the south of the barracks. You know, where Marach likes to spend his time moping in the forest." The avian smiled, his muzzle crinkling pleasantly.