The Report

The journey back to the main palace of Focaveh was long and tedious. Astraea and Teresa had alternated reading to Daphne while Morgan napped or brooded.

The main road they rode down into the palace courtyard had been lined with people who lived in the town. Much to Teresa's dismay, Daphne leaned out the window to wave at well-wishers as they rode past. She laughed and giggled as Teresa tugged at her waist and begged her to come back in and laugh like a lady.

"Let her be." Astraea said. "It's been a while since we've heard happy laughter or pure cheer."

"Even if it's false happiness?" Morgan looked up from her blade finally. "They only cheer because they think you killed Drystann."

Astraea sighed again and went back to waving at the crowds of people.

Astraea's butler, Colin, greeted her as she stepped down from the carriage steps. Morgan, Teresa, and Daphne followed behind her each being greeted by their head of staff. Astraea and Morgan departed for their separate offices and Teresa's butler and Daphne's nanny led them into the palace's front doors so they could wash up and get back to their pre-festive lives.

In Astraea's office there was a staff of papers on her desk. She sighed and sat down in the oversized chair."Were there any emergencies while I was gone?" She picked up the pen and started to leaf through the pages of reports.

"No, Your Majesty. It was business as usual while you were gone. There have been rumors of stirring violence in some of the villages near our border with Vallisa but no official intelligence yet." Colin bowed and set another folder on her desk. "I'll leave you to it."

Astraea stared at the pile of reports. She scratched her head while she pondered how being gone for less than a month and had a ridiculous amount of reports to go through in addition to finding a squad to go to the outskirts.

*******

Morgan had dumped her travelling bag inside her rooms after saying hello to Claudia. Claudia had wrinkled her nose at Morgan wanting to check on the training grounds before cleaning up but hadn't verbally disagreed.

The soldiers on the field were shooting at targets in the distance when Morgan made it to the grounds. She observed them while she tightened the straps on her wrist guard and then whistled sharply.

Picking up her bow, Morgan gave the signal to lower all weapons. She smoothly walked in front of each of the targets, releasing one arrow through the dead center of each as she did so.

Reaching the end of the line of targets, Morgan shook her head. "The average between the lot of you has been one bullseye for ten shots. That's not terrible but you must get better."

She surveyed their faces. "Fifty move shots each and then run ten laps. I expect to see better results tomorrow."

Morgan spun on her heel to walk away as the soldiers behind her groaned but lifted up their bows. The soft sounds of arrows hitting targets echoed behind her as she made her way to the palace back entrance.

Inside her rooms, Claudia was standing beside a steaming tub of water. She pointed to it and Morgan climbed in with complaint. She leaned her head back and Claudia poured water over her hair before starting to scrub.

"I am always shocked at how all four of you go to the same place and yet somehow you always end up dirtier than everyone else. Not even Daphne had this much grime on her."

Morgan opened her eyes and glared. "I am always shocked at how you forget I could fire you on a whim."

"Which would mean you would have to find and train someone new." Claudia snorted. "I won't hold my breath on getting fired."

Morgan closed her eyes again as Claudia ran a damp cloth across her forehead.

"You are very lucky. You exercise like a fiend yet your skin is nearly perfect. How do you do it?"

"It's my royal genes. Imperfections just dare not appear." Morgan opened her eyes so she could wink, "And I have the most amazing lady-in-waiting to help me clean it after I train."

Claudia laughed and smacked her arm. "Ok, ok. Out of the tub. We need to get you dressed before dinner."

Morgan was the first to walk into the dinning room. Teresa and Daphne arrived shortly after, both squeaky clean and wearing new dresses.

When Astraea finally came in, the first course had been served but the silver covers were not lifted. Her three sisters stood as she walked to her chair and she waved a hand to make them sit and the food be uncovered. They tucked in as Astraea picked at her food.

"What's wrong?" Morgan asked.

Astraea looked up and at the walls. The servers leaning against them took the hint and left.

When the door clicked shut before the last, Astraea said, "There are rumors of an uprising near the border with Vallisa."

Morgan put her fork down. "What are you planning to do?"

"The only thing I can do. I have to send a team to investigate."

"Which means you need to deploy me." Morgan nodded her head thoughtfully.

"Not you necessarily. I don't think it would look good to send the Crown Princess of Focaveh to a possibly hostile environment for the purposes of investigating. I think I will Philip or someone else instead."

Teresa interjected. "I know this is important talk but can it wait until after dinner?" She looked pointy at Daphne who was staring wide-eyed at Astraea and Morgan.

"Yes, sorry." Astraea leaned back in her chair and looked at the ceiling. "It's hard to believe we just got back from the Hunting Festival and yet it feels like we never left."

Daphne nobbed vigorously. " I know! All my toys and books look the same! Not a single bit of dust on anything."

Morgan smiled at Daphne. "I'm glad your stuff is clean. I checked the training ground today and the standards seem to have slipped a little."

"You'll have to go a little easy on them. The hospitals are filling for some reason and we don't need any sick, exhausted knights taking up bed. " Teresa laughed.

Astraea took in the lighthearted conversation, a stark contrast to the worry racing through her thoughts. Standing she excused herself and said goodnight before walking to her office. She sat in front of the files again, this time with a notepad so she could start planning. Tomorrow, she would confer with Morgan but tonight she needed to brainstorm.