• The Princess •

"Sorceress?" I called in the library. No reply. I frowned and disappeared in the maze of shelves.

I popped out at a desk with stacks of books. She must've just been here.

"Finding everything alright?" Frenhu's voice startled me. I spun around to find him standing on the other side of the desk.

"I-I'm just looking for the sorceress." I stammered.

"Hm." He swept around the desk over to me. "What for, your majesty?"

"I-I..." I trailed off as he took my hand. With a grin, he got closer to me. I took a step back, but bumped against the shelf.

"Can I help you find her?" His words hissed around me, making me dizzy.

I slipped my hand out of his grasp and turned to leave. "No, that's alright. I think I can manage on my own."

"And why might you need her services?" He asked as I turned to leave.

"That is none of your concern." I stiffly replied. He came up behind me and I felt his shadow looming over.

"The sorceress is unavailable." He grumbled.

"I'll be the judge of that." I raised my chin and quickly left the library.

———————

I turned around a corner and almost crashed into a servant carrying cleaned blankets.

"Oh, your highness!" He gasped and dropped the fabric on the floor. "I-I am so sorry-!"

"Do not worry, Denmuk." I smiled and helped him pick up the blankets. "It was my fault."

"Please Princess-" He stammered. "You do not have to help me."

An idea popped in my head. "Oh, do you happen to know where I might find the Sorceress?"

The servant froze. He had been given orders from the sorceress herself not to give out her whereabouts because she needed to meditate in peace. "Are you certain you need her? Frenhu is perfectly capable-"

"No, I'm afraid I need to meet the sorceress and no one else." I picked the last blanket up and handed it to the servant. "You wouldn't want me to tell the queen how you dropped her favorite blankets on the dirty floor, would you?"

Denmuk's eyes grew in fear. I smiled internally. He had no choice. "B-but-"

"-I would very much like to see her, Denmuk." I looked him in the eye.

"Please don't do that!" He begged. "She's in the gardens!"

I grinned. "That's better."