"Family meeting this morning." Amelia, Christa's personal assistant informed her as she straightened up her room. King Peyton had always made his children clean up after themselves. It was one of the many things that Jonathan and Christa had been informed of and expected to do, when they joined the royal family. Christa loved the rule. It made her uncomfortable having people clean up after her.

"An actual meeting? What is it about?" The family made a point of getting together several times a week; sometimes for a meal, sometimes in the evening for a game or just to chat. Papa, as Christa called him, felt that running his family was every bit as important as running his kingdom. He worked hard at both. It was rare however to have a formal meeting.

"I have not been told."

"What else is on the schedule?"

"You have your first meeting with the heads of your sections, the rest of the day is free."

"What is on Ilya's schedule?" Her heart beat a little faster hoping for time with her beloved.

"He has a breakfast meeting with your brothers then is free until lunch. I believe he intends to be there for your meetings in case you need him."

"Excellent. I am going to their meeting."

"Very well, your highness, enjoy your day."

Christa skipped up the hall to the next door and knocked firmly. A disheveled Alexis answered.

"I suppose you have already finished your morning chores." Her croaky voice gave away the fact she had barely woken up.

"Of course, and if you hurry up, we can crash the boys' breakfast meeting."

That was all the motivation the princess needed. In short order they marched themselves into family room. The boys were already eating. Alexis took the chair across from her brother while Christa squeezed herself between Jonathan and Ilya on the bench.

"We have a family meeting when you boys are done." She announced helping herself to Ilya's grapes. "Do any of you know what it is about?"

The boys shook their heads.

"What were you boys meeting for?" Alexis asked.

"We were going to discuss the folly of eluding the ghost guard."

Christa turned to Jonathan who was suppressing a giggle. "Again? How did you do it this time?"

"It is so easy if you don't follow the schedule and take an extra set of stairs."

"I wonder if that would work for me."

Watching Jonathan absorb the glares from both his brothers while winking at his sister set Alexis to giggling. A knock at the door prevented further comment. Logan opened it and allowed the kings personal assistant in.

"William, how can we help you?"

"His Majesty is here."

They were all gathered together, the king having settled himself at the head of the table.

"Have you gotten familiar with your sections of the castle?"

In the previous weeks the king split the duties of head of the household, previously held by Ilya, between the two girls and Jonathan. Ilya was still in charge of overseeing them and helping them adjust to being in charge. Transferring into a place of leadership came as naturally as breathing to Jonathan. Christa had struggled a little until Ilya had explained that all she had to do was work with the heads of each section. They were to deal with the details.

"I have met with the heads of each of my sections. They have walked me through their areas, familiarized me with their missions and their needs. I have set up a regular time to meet with each of them." Jonathan reported.

"I am meeting with my people this morning. I know what they are all supposed to be doing, so I think things are going well." Christa answered

Alexis chimed in right after. "My sections are all taken care of."

"You are all doing well. Good work. News has come to me that there is an issue at our border. I will be riding to the province Ira to get firsthand information. Keep on as you have been while I am gone."

They all nodded. Good byes were said and the king went on his way. Christa and Alexis soon followed agreeing to meet Ilya in the afternoon to go riding.

"I am headed to the stables." Already on his way out the door Jonathan spoke over his shoulder.

"Just a moment." His brother's deceptively calm voice halted him. He turned back slowly grinning. He had almost made his escape. "Do you happen to recall why we were meeting in the first place?"

"Of course. You were going to tell me that some hideous punishment will befall me if I dodge the ghost-guard again. Then I was going to be contrite, agree that I will behave, and you will say something vaguely threatening like 'You better'." With that answer Jonathan ducked out of the room Ilya's laughter following him into the hall.

Jonathan grinned to himself as he made his way to the library. Several hours of study were waiting for him. He was expected to learn about every battle that had occurred since the beginning of the Kingdom. "Not just who fought whom, and who won the battle..." the king's voice echoed through his memory. "I want you to know the geography of the battles, the tactics, even imagine the weather and how it would effect the outcome." He was also to memorize a detailed map of the kingdom. He settled into a comfortable chair with the first scroll.

~~~~~

The meetings had all gone well. Castle life was so well organized that things ran smoothly most of the time. It was a simple matter of meeting with the head of each section, hearing their reports, making sure they had what they needed. Christa still wanted to walk through her sections. She liked knowing people. Housekeeping was the first section she decided to investigate. Finding the housekeeping staff was more difficult than finding her brother when they had played hide and seek when she was four. Trained to be almost invisible the housekeeping staff were proving how good they were. The castle was spotless and Christa had yet to find any of the workers, she was impressed. Stopping at a large window overlooking the orchard, Christa took a moment to just enjoy life.

The window was in a long public hall full of windows. The stone walls made every sound reverberate and even whispers could be heard quite far away. The tapestries did little to stop this phenomenon. This made it possible for Christa to hear every word of the two noble girls as they made their way down the hall.

"My father says the adoption is perfectly legal. I just can't imagine what the royal family is thinking adopting peasants. They will never adjust."

"I agree. They will never belong with us. No matter how much you dress up a pig, it's still a pig. I've heard the prince is in love with the girl...I guess they aren't technically related, but if she is adopted into the family, that just seems odd."

"The new prince is supposed to be soooo handsome..."

Their voices faded as the went into a sitting room. Christa headed straight for the kitchen.

Chloey, the head chef, was mixing up batter in the huge castle kitchen. It was mercifully quiet, only a couple up scullery maids cleaning up. Christa spilled out all that she had heard.

"Honey, you have lived among the castle folk all your life. You know people talk." The kind cook spoke in a comforting voice.

"I know the servant's gossip. I just, I thought that the nobility would be more genteel, have more self-control."

"They are just people, given to the same faults and sins as the rest of us. The royal family is always under scrutiny, and will always be criticized. Many of the younger nobles especially have too much time on their hands and indulge in mean and destructive pass times. You will just have to ignore them. Always hold tight to the truth."

"Thanks, Chloey."

"Any time honey. Now take these muffins up with you. Those boys will be hunting for a snack."

Christa took the basket and headed up the servant's stairs. She felt better but didn't really want to run into any more of the nobility.