High up on the cliffs above I could see them. There were great pillars standing out from the cliffs at an angle with nearly invisible white stands pulled tautly between them. While I was admiring the wonderful new instruments the man repeated his question. "Shall we dance, miss?"

He offered me his hand dramatically and I reached out my own when someone else stormed up. "Rupert, what on earth are you doing? You promised me the first dance and the second after that."

A woman had swiped the man's offered hand from before me and began leading him off towards the dance. She was so determinedly walking away that she did not notice the wink that Rupert gave me. I was surprised by his behavior and felt foolish for buying into his charm. I wondered how many other people had been lured in by him so far today. I shook my head and cleared the incident from my mind. It was not an ideal way to start the day, but I was determined to not let it ruin the rest of my time here. I continued my search for something to join in since now the dance was out of the question.

The wind still played the harps as I walked between the games and festivities that were taking place. A group of giggling girls were playing a game that involved carved ducks floating on water. One of them would pull a duck from the barrel, turn it over then show the others who all would laugh. I wondered what sort of game they were playing but did not want to endure the girlish laughter that was taking place enough to find out. Whatever sort of game it was, I did not think I would enjoy it.

Farther away on the beach away from the larger crowd were people flying kites. Dragons and butterflies flew high over the ocean while men and women held their strings. Perhaps I would try my hand at kite flying. As I was making my way over to where the kites were, I heard a very familiar sound. I had not noticed before, but the cliffs took a sharp turn and the beach pushed farther inland. Where the beach was widest, a different sort of game was set up. I forgot the kites and turned to where a row of about seven people were standing facing round targets in front of them. It was an archery contest and it had been so long since I had a chance to practice with a bow. Of course, it was mostly men who were competing and being admired by women standing to the side. It did not matter to me; Andrew had taught me well and I was sure I could hold my own. The men nocked their arrows and took aim. Five of the men hit the target but two arrows buried in the sand. No one scored a bull's eye but one man got quite close. The men who missed the target and one who had just barely hit his put down their bows and stepped away. I stepped up to take one of the empty spots and could hear the whispers.

"Going to try and play with the big boys, eh, girlie?" One of the men jeered.

I ignored him and tested the draw weight of the bowstring and did not notice another person step up beside me. "Do you think you will be able to keep up with us, Sit Wyatt?" The person jeered back.

I recognized the voice as female. Wanting to see what other woman was competing at archery; I looked to my right and almost lost my grip on the bow. Empress Pandia had taken up the other bow and was pulling and arrow from the quiver. She turned and winked at me. "Hello, I am glad to see that there is someone to represent the fairer sex in the lineup."

"Archers, to your marks," someone called. The other archers and I took aim. I looked at the empress out of the corner of my eye. She looked at ease with the bow in her hands and her yellow cat eyes focused on the target. While her gauzy white dress looked out of place for archery, Pandia looked perfectly at ease.

The man gave the order to fire and six arrows whizzed off towards the targets. No one missed this time, although some came close. My arrow hit the third ring from the center circle and was one of the top three shots. Next to me, Pandia was lowering her bow. She had hit the target dead in the center which elicited shocked gasps and cheers from the onlookers.

"Oh dear, Sir Wyatt, it seems your shot got away from you." Pandia teased. "Is this what it is like playing with the big boys?"

The man who was standing at the end of the line was laughing. His arrow had only just hit the target. "Forgive me, empress. It seems that when it comes to archery, you greatly surpass me. This will teach me for doubting you females." Sir Wyatt bowed first to Pandia and then to me and I smiled at his good humor.

"That was a well aimed shot," The empress said to me. I was speechless at first and could not believe that she was speaking to me. She was the heir to the most powerful kingdom of them all and she was speaking to me.

Frantically, my mind tried to form a worthy sentence. "Thank you, your majesty. You are quite skilled yourself."

The empress laid down her bow in the sand. "Would you walk with me?"

I quickly laid down my bow for I did not want to refuse Empress Pandia anything. I was in awe of how important she was. I had grown up reading about her family's and country's history. I had never dreamed that I would meet her in person, let alone be able to converse with her. She slowly walked away from the archers and I walked beside her. She stood taller than me and her feline face was even more beautiful up close. Her white fur was glossy and smooth while her eyes sparkled. There were silver hoops lining the outer edge of one pointed ear. I remembered reading that the hoops where a sign of her authority.

"Archery is not a common talent among women in Lantine. How did you come to learn it?" She asked.

"My brother taught it to me. I have not picked up a bow in years." I explained.

We were nearing where the people were flying kites. Pandia showed no intention of stopping so we continued. "Is your brother here today with you?"

I shook my head. "My brother left years ago to become a knight. He is patrolling the kingdom right now. He has sent word that he may be coming to Pharyss for the celebration. I do hope he arrives soon."

We had looped around and were heading back towards the people on the beach. We walked on the water's edge in front of the kite flyers now. "I have a little sister who is waiting for me back in my home. She is barely more than a kitten and I miss her dearly. I told her that when the celebration has ended and the princess is married that I would fly back to her on the wings of an Aves. I could not imagine being parted from her for years as you and your brother have been."

I smiled at her story. Pandia was kind and gentle. I was sure that one day she would make a wonderful ruler of Mekt. "It is not so terrible. He is happy being a knight and we write letters to each other as often as possible. I nearly have an entire chest full of letters that he has written me over the years." I laughed a bit at the memory of the wooden chest that I kept hidden under my bed at home. It was nearly overflowing now.

Pandia laughed with me. "I'm sure once my sister learns how to send messages that my letter collection will rival yours."

Together, the empress and I walked down the beach to where the picnic tables were set up. We ate and talked for a good half hour at least. She told me about her home in Mekt and I told her about Andrew.

"The last letter he sent me said that he may be coming to the city soon. He has been promoted to an officer because he fought off a dragon. Though, the story may have been exaggerated a bit because he does love to embellish. He said that they were fighting a pine dragon in the west. He and his commanding officer were separated from the other men and my brother saved both of their lives. He is very puffed up about the scars across his face and says he looks dashing now." I proudly told the story of my brother.

"I have heard guards talking of dragon attacks near Eroban. They said that only one man survived and he had lost both legs and one arm. These big ears hear a lot of things, but not all of them are entirely true." Pandia twitched her ears for emphasis. "If it was indeed the same dragon, then your brother sounds like a wonderful man. I would like to meet him one day. You must tell me if he arrives in Pharyss before the royal wedding. Hopefully, the guards had the story wrong and your brother and his patrol did all survive with limbs intact." Pandia talked as she sipped sparkling wine from a goblet.

I readily agreed. Andrew would never forgive me if he did not have the chance to meet a Mektous empress. His fascination with Mekt was even greater than mine. He would never forgive me if he didn't get to flirt with an empress. When I write to him of Pandia he will surely hurry to Pharyss as fast as his horse can possibly go. "He would be greatly honored to meet you, your highness."

"Maybe the added incentive of meeting me will speed his journey here which would be good for you as well." Pandia tipped her goblet towards me.

I laughed and tapped my goblet to hers. "That was my thought exactly."

We were becoming friends and it was almost too unbelievable for me to comprehend. I had never dreamed that I could ever know as many royals as I did now. Talking with Pandia, I felt the weight of all that had happened since I arrived in Pharyss. I was sure that nothing could be better than the things I had already done and seen. Being in Pharyss was like a wonderful dream that I never wanted to end. I was certain that the celebration could only get better from now on.

"Uh oh, here comes trouble." Pandia said and motioned over my shoulder. I looked and saw Prince Hector and Sir Brockton approaching us. "Those two are inseparable. I remember last year at the grand council meeting they couldn't be found for two hours because they had not stayed in the council hall. Brockton had got it into his head that he wanted to look at swords so of course Hector suggested they leave and go to a smith in the middle of a meeting."

Hector and Brockton sat down beside Pandia. "How are you enjoying the party, Pandi?" Brockton asked leaning over the table and craning his neck to look at Pandia.

"I am not having as much fun as you two are, I'm sure. Did you steal a barrel of ale again?" Pandia's yellow eyes sparkled with delight. The three of them must have been close friends.

Hector laughed and Sir Brockton gallantly defended himself and his friend. However, it was obvious that the two of them had been drinking already and were a bit off. I looked around for Victoria; she had been following Hector around recently after all. I did not see her so she must have found Giselle somewhere and stayed with her.

After some playful banter between the three of them, Pandia turned back to me. "Now, have you two met my good friend, Ebony Valix? She and I have been having a lovely conversation. I'm told her brother is a hero."

"Nice to meet you," Brockton exclaimed as he grinned broadly at me from Pandia's other side.

"Have we met before? You look familiar." Hector mused. "You were travelling with Victoria. She told me about you. She said you have been spending some time with my little brother."

I nodded and tried not to blush at the mention of Christian. "Victoria is my stepsister and Prince Christian showed me the hall of pictures a few days ago."

Sir Brockton spun around on the bench and scanned the people on the beach. "Ian should be along shortly. Last I saw of him he had just bested some man in a drinking game. That boy sure can hold his ale. He was with that beautiful blonde woman – Victoria's sister. What was her name? Marielle?"

At the mention of Christian, I began scanning the crowd as well. After a moment I spotted him approaching the table. He was holding a tankard above his head in victory and I could see Giselle following closely behind him. Christian was smiling broadly at everyone he passed and joking with the couple who were walking along with him as he approached.

Hey, look at that - another chapter!