"GAH!" Oh Lissan Lissan Lissan HELP ME! I'm too young to die, I have things to do, kingdoms to run, people to see! I felt hands run down my back, and I screamed even louder.

"Will you shut up, girl, I'm trying to save your life. Take off your cloak if you want to live!"

Normally, I would yell at him. No one talks to me like that. Ever.

Except when I'm in danger of burning to death; I suppose I can make an exception.

I clutched at the brooch on my neck, yanking at it desperately. The cloak was supposed to be fireproof, but only to so much- I could feel and smell my hair burning, the heat making its way to my dress. Panic overwhelmed me and all intelligence flew out the proverbial window.

"OH LISSAN! Help me, help me, please sir!" I had no more sense left in me, only a running commentary of Oh dear, Oh No, Oh SHIT! I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to-

The next thing I knew, I was on the ground, being yanked every which way. Finally, after forever, the heat subsided, and I undid the cloak's clasp with trembling fingers, barely able to sit up.

There was a man there, staring at me- not much older, by the lack of lines, and not very wealthy, if his clothes were any indicator. He was wiry, with, despite his current state of anger, what looked like a kind face.

"Are. You. STUPID?"

I blinked, unable to fathom the words that had just left his lips. Had he really... no. I had been mistaken, perhaps.

"I'm sorry?"

There are two things people learn when they come to the palace. A) My brother likes to dance around with very little clothing on from the hours of twelve to two in the morning, and B) Never, ever call me stupid. You can call me fat, say I have terrible fashion, claim that I've slept with every one of your family members, I really could care less; but call me stupid and the claws come out.

"I said, 'Are you STUPID?"

"How dare you call me stupid! I am Princess Razia, daughter of King Sangara (may Lissan forever guide him) and the Great Madam Aine (Lissan be with her), the heir to the throne, and I will not allow you to cast aspersions on my intelligence!"

Now, in my defense, I was furious.

When I'm that angry, I tend to forget things. Like the number one rule of being a princess traveling alone is A) Don't- well, really, it's don't get caught. So B) is is you get found, or captured DON'T TELL PEOPLE WHO YOU ARE.

Ever.

As I realized what this man could now do, my anger evaporated and a slow fear ebbed its way in.

"See, now, I really think you're stupid." He smirked, and I glared back, defensive.

"Well, what are you doing? You're in father's forest, and no one's allowed to do so unless they are either a member of the royal court or a guest of the king himself, may Lissan forever guide him!"

His eyes flashed, a grey, deep grey, the most beautiful colour I'd ever seen; but before I'd barely even noticed, it was gone.

"Are you required to talk about the king like that?"

I blinked, taken aback.

"You haven't answered my question," I said, straightening my back- but he shook his head.

"I'm pretty sure you're not in a place to be asking questions right now. So, I repeat: are you required to talk about the king- your father- like that?"

"Like what?"

"With the afterthought. The 'may Lissan forever' whatsit, you did it earlier, and with your mother, too. Is that a requirement?"

I laughed.

"Well, no, not a requirement, I suppose, but common sense itself. In your land, do you not wish your monarchs to be guided and protected by Lissan?"

He cocked his head to the side.

"Where I come from, we do not feel the need to say so every time we say his name."

His eyes flashed again, and I looked down quickly, attempting to break the gaze; an unnatural pulse shot through the grass. I whipped my head back up. "What was that?"

"Nothing," he said, but there was the eye flash again, and, frightened, I looked down to see a strange glow coming from my feet, and I screamed.

"Princess? Princess, is that you?"

Nixil's best friend Armand, the Head Guard- this was NOT good news. I looked at the strange man in front of me and nodded my head sharply.

"Well, sir, that'll be the guards, you know... Lots of them will be looking for me, so I'll just... ahem... leave. It was nice to meet you, and have this chat, and thank you, in any case, for saving my life. So I'll just be on...my...way..."

I could tell, just by looking at him, that this man was not to be feared- but the look he gave me frightened me to my very core.

"So sorry, my Princess," he said with a slow grin. "But your way won't have anything to do with those guards for quite some time."

His eyes flashed again, but for longer this time, and strange words came out of his mouth in a voice that was not his own. My heart began to beat faster and I raised my hand, opened my mouth, ready to scream for Armand to save me- when an indescribable feeling swept over me.

All went black.