King Adrian Gasies, of the small kingdom of Ewistaven, was one bearer- of- bad- news away from slinging his crown across the throne room and just saying ‘fuck it!’ All day it seemed that every time someone was announced to come forward to speak to him it was bad news...some of the summer crops were failing, the small fleet of fishing boats that were out during the storm two days ago had not come in yet, and presumed lost, the war against a not so close neighboring kingdom to the south was not going as hoped (AKA, they were getting the arse kicked!), and the two closest Kingdoms, east and west of his own, Vuzar and Kheria were still holding out for some kind of treaty to come help with the war. There were two reasons the bordering Kingdoms were still in talks...One... while Vuzar, and Kheria was twice, if not three times the size of Ewistaven, their coastland was mostly high vertical cliffs, and jagged coral reefs all along it shores. Ewistaven, though small, snuggled gently in between the two, and up close to the best coastland and waterways, and in that, the best shipping lanes within hundreds of miles to either of the boarding kingdoms. It was estimated that 98% of foreign trade came through Ewistaven, and filtered out to neighboring towns, villages, then onward to everyone else pretty much on their side of the unscalable mountain range that split the content, and roughly all coastal shipping and trade came here. And not to forget, both boarding kingdoms had military barracks on some of his land, and navel fleets moored along the edges of ‘Taven’s and their own watery borders, which King Adrian could revoke all rights to at any time.

Two: well, two was a little closer to home and heart to King Adrian, and by the look of the red-faced woman, and gruff, yet frazzled guard holding a not- too-small padded covered cage walking towards him as he sat on the throne, his hand unconsciously reaching for his crown, he felt that Two was about to have him cuss! “Morgan, ... William, ...set that there behind the partition…everyone else…please leave for a moment... So,” Adrian started after the throne room emptied, but for a handful of guards, “tell me what she did now”. Adrian nodded to the two, and then motioned the guard to set the cage behind a folding wall, and scrubbed at his face with one hand, as he brought his other hand down from top of his head, crown still intact.” Let's see...” Morgan started, sour look upon her old wrinkly face, "She was caught trying to board a departing ship to the Outer Islands, after she was seen running through the upper market down by the main fishing dock, upturning several stalls, spilling almost half a day's catch, then enticing all the closest stray cats to come feast! She was also caught before all this shredding some of the upper court ladies' newest gowns, I fear that is what may have prompted the ruckus in town.”

“It was just one court lady, and the dress was so...so... UGLY!” a voice came from behind the paneled wall,” Just like this monstrosity of a dress I’m trying to get ON! I did them a- drat it all- MORGAN, come help, this dress is to unruly...I did her a favor papaw!” The woman went around the wall, and after a few moments, another woman followed her back to stand in front of the king. King Adrian looked at the younger woman and sighed at the tawny-haired daughter of his." Tabitha Lenel, you must stop causing such a stir right now, we have Emissaries and the Princes that should be here tomorrow, from Vuzar and Kheria, I cannot have you run around like this! It is too damn important to get the other two kings on our side, the war with King Tagon is not going well, and we need Rupert, and Silas to help!” Tabitha lowered her head and tried to not grit her teeth, and sighed,” Sorry father, I will try to behave...” “Your acting like a six-year-old, not a twenty year old,” the king cut her off,” If you can’t behave, you’re going to be treated like your acting, now, please, go to your rooms, I must deal with the mess you made, then try to get everything else wrapped up before getting things settled in the palace for our guests. William, escort Tabitha to her rooms out the back hall, Masson,” the King called out to a guard standing by the main doors, “let the court out there know we are taking a half hour break, and Morgan, give me the list I know you have of all the damages.” King Adrian sighed, and Tabitha stared at her father as he turned away from her to talk to her old nursemaid.” Come along princess…” the guard, William, said quietly, as he lightly took her by the elbow, and led her towards the back of the throne room.

“I don’t believe he talked to me that way!!” Tabitha announced as she walked into her spacious royal rooms, pulling at the dress she was forced to wear- god awful blue taffeta mess, with yards of itchy lace - William leaving her at the door. “Who talked to you what way?” a male voice asked from further into the three roomed-four if you counted the semi- enclosed balcony, of her suites. “Dad! He pretty much chewed me a new one, right in the throne room, in front of everyone! Oh, This DRESS!!” Tabitha fumed as she stomped further into the room and saw the owner of the voice sprawled out onto an overstuffed, low backed couch, upholstered in a sturdy, yet silken fabric done in rose and lavender colors, Tabbitha’s favorite colors, with white and gold throw pillows, which were ,at the moment, partly under the voice owner’s head, in the living room part of her suite. She barley glanced at the raven-haired man as she swept past and went into her bedroom, slamming the door, which bounced back open by the force.” You probably deserved it from what I’ve been hearing, the Head Fish mongers stall? Really Tabby!?” Tabitha came back out, wrapped in a silken house dress, close to the color of her hair and eyes, those forest-colored eyes sparking in outrage and just a little humor, and stood in front of her brother “He was just paying for the swat on my nose that his wife gave me when she caught me using her new court dress as a scratching post!” The man gave a feline like stretch along the couch that made his arms sling over his head, and his legs go up and along the back of the couch and let out a laugh, “leave it to you sis to stir the shit right before big-wigs show up!” Tabitha looked at her twin brother, older by fifteen seconds, and let out a groan, “I completely forgot all that was supposed to be going on, Simon, but shit, she HIT me, no one is supposed to do that when we are…” Simon quickly sat up and took his sisters hands and pulled her down onto the couch beside him”, “Some people don’t know about…” “But she should of! Hell…her whole set of rooms smells of cooked trout!!” Simon chuckled, and then tapped her on the same offended nose. “You know dad is touchy on the subject, only a select few is on the Need-To-Know list.”

Tabitha let out a sound that was close to a low growl. “But why is my question. Everyone knew about mom, no one treated her any different…did they?” Simon shrugged, the sadness in his green tinted eyes, not quiet the deep green of his sisters, more of an emerald shade, shining a little from extra moisture, “Still don’t know how she died Tabby, it was very suspect remember?” Tabitha sniffed a little, “yea...” she breathed tilting her head so it could touch her brothers, taking some comfort that she wasn’t left completely alone with her, her brothers, and their mom’s secret. Simon rubbed his cheek along his sisters then pulled back, with a sad smile. “Ok, enough of that, you’re going to ruin my mood, I’ve got plans with a very busty blonde later tonight after supper!” Tabitha let out a not-so convincing laugh, “Fine, what every, leave me to wallow, you go live up to your nick-name –‘Nip’” He stood, finally letting out a true smile that lit up his face. “Can I help it if I am irresistible?” Tabby threw a pillow at his retreating back as he sauntered out of the room, and got a chuckle from him, and herself.

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Later that evening, Tabitha, Simon, and their father, met up in King Adrian’s small private dining room. Done in the colors of dark peach and cream, the room held some dear memories :they had started an almost nightly ritual of eating the evening meal together after the Kings wife, Cara, died, and after four years, even when they were not getting along, which was rare, it was not a habit none of them really wanted to break. The king was already sitting at the head of table when the twins walked in, and Adrian waved them to their seats as servants began bringing in their dinner. Tabitha, dressed in a simple frock of rose and green silk, bent to kiss her dad, who let out an amused grunt, she sat on one side, and Simon on the other. “Please say it isn’t fish tonight.” Simon asked as server sat a covered dish in front of him. Adrian glared at him as dishes where set in front of himself, and Tabitha, “Oh...it’s lamb in dill sauce,” Tabby said as she sniffed daintily around the lid of her dish, “I thought you would still be made at me Papaw, not serving my favorite meal!” “He’s actually going to tell her this part tonight?!…” Simon grumbled as he took off the lid, and there was his own favorite, Huge slices of lean ham, with pepper gravy and a heaping of asparagus, “Oh she’s not going to like this …not after this afternoon.” Simon thought to himself as he looked over at his dad, who winked at him before turning his attention to his daughter. “No harm, no foul today Tabby,” the king said as he nodded at the server with the wine glass to pour for his daughter, then himself, “The Monger was not that upset by the mess in his stall, he was more worried about the missing ships, they were his best fleet, so the price to fix was minimal, and that dress was not worth taking it out on you. So, it hurt more to pay to replace that nasty bit of muslin and lace than anything.” Tabitha smiled at her dad, feeling like all was forgiven, and started to dig into her supper.

“But,” he went on “Oh here it comes…” Simon said under his breath, “you are going to have to make a kind of amends towards me dearest.” “Papaw, I am a little too old to ground me to my room you know.” Tabby replied as she wiped her mouth and took a drink of her wine. True,” the king answered,” but not too young to wed.” Tabitha spit out her wine in shock, and her brother was startled into a burst out in laughter. “WHAT?!?!?” the girl almost screamed as she gave her dad an unbelieving look.” Well, yes...that is one of the stipulations to these treaties with the kings of Vuzar and Kheria! They are both sending their sons well-Vuzar is sending his oldest- but you must marry one of them, and yes, Simon, you are to wed King Silas’s daughter, Bethany.” Simon nodded to their dad as he wiped a little wine off his chin, and went back to eating. “Nip!” Tabitha cried out, “You’re not mad about being pushed into marriage?” “I’ve seen Beth, at some royal function in Kheria about three...four years ago, ” Simon said, using his fork to enunciate his words,” nice enough girl...our age...pretty jet black hair…I could do worse...” Tabitha pushed herself away from the table, glaring at both her brother and father, “Well I do NOT agree to this! I will not be just rushed into a marriage not knowing anything about either of them!” “You must! You will have some time to get to know them Tabby…” King Adrian started, but Tabitha just shook her head in horror, and then hurriedly left the room.

Tabitha’s maid, (which Tabby never treated her as one) -slash-Chamber woman (That title is how she kept the actual maids in line), and a close friend, Brianna, was just finishing up turning down the huge four poster bed when Tabby came rushing into the room, angrily tugging at the lower laces holding the back of her dress closed as she came in. “Oh Bri’, could you go see if Delilah is in her rooms, I have to talk to someone before I punch something, or someone!” Brianna stood up from fussing with the rose and lavender colored blanket, and dusted off imaginary lint from her overdress, “What did Simon do now?”

Tabitha gave up with the laces, and tugged the dress over her head, leaving her just in her underclothes, and sat on the edge of her bed, staring up at the curtains that were pulled back on the bed that matched the blanket, “It’s not Nip, its dad, He…. he…Damnit Bri, he wants me to get married!” The maid hung her jaw slightly open, and let out an open-mouthed gasp,” Yea…I’ll go get her mam. Would you like me to bring back something to drink for you both?” Tabitha nodded as she stood and headed for a solid looking chest of drawers to rummage for a sleeping gown, “Something STRONG for us all Bri! You must come back also!” The girl nodded and took off towards the outer doors. A few moments later Bri was back, following a deep auburn-haired beauty as she stormed into the room, her black, lightly lined, Kheria sheep woolen house coat billowing out behind her, a bottle of something brown inside, and three glasses in hand.

Delilah Bithian, at only a few months older that Tabby, was the daughter of Bridgette and Oscar Bithian, who owned the three biggest trade shipping fleets in the Kingdom. And, as also being from where Tabby’s mom was from; The Outer Islands, Delilah’s mother was also a distant cousin of Tabitha’s late mother, Del was Tabitha’s best friend since they were put together in the nursery that all upper-class families shared in the castle, and had stories to tell of mischief they both had gotten into over the years, and close scrapes the escaped when they went prowling around. “ What the Hell Tabby!” the woman said as she the glassware down a tad too strongly, making it all clatter, on a waist high, intricately carved table that sat in between of where Tabitha, teeth chattering either from cold-or nerves- (Del was going with nerves), bundled in a thicker, pale gold Kheria Sheep- lined house coat, was sitting in one of the two oversized and plush chairs in her bed room that set in a small nook off to the side of a fireplace, and she took the other chair beside her, with Brianna going over to the fireplace to get the fire going better, since it had turned chilly during the evening.

“He’s lost his friggin mind Del, that’s all I can say.” Tabby said as she leaned to the side to uncork the bottle, and pour three glasses half full of the bourbon,” Hun, I think ,in this case, you can fuckin’ mind because; he has lost his fuckin mind!” Del replied as she took one of the offered glasses, and took a swig “Oh...good burn..” she gasped after she swallowed, her dark violet-colored eyes watering, and handed the third glass to the Brianna who had set on a large stool with a nicely padded pillow between the other women in the chairs. “So, who is it got to be?” Brianna asked after she took a sip of her own drink. “There are two contenders ‘for my hand’,” Tabitha answered sarcastically as she waved one hand in the air before she took a long drink out of her own glass, and then pounded on her upper chest, “the Prince of Kheria and the oldest Prince from Vuzar “Yea…good burn…” she mimicked Delilah’s response from her first drink, and they all giggled.

“How long do you have till you have to choose?” Del asked, and Tabby shrugged. “Papaw didn’t really say, he just said ‘you’ll have some time’, however long that may be…a week…a day...an hour?!?!? I didn’t give him a chance to say much else, I stormed out.” Del tapped the side of her glass as she thought, then gave a wicked little grin. “Why don’t we do have a little contest Tabby…see who can ‘bell a cat’. Brianna rubbed her hand in anticipation, and Tabitha smiled, remembering other times they played this; their own custom made game with some long ago school age crushes, her grin matching her friends own, “I like it… it’s been awhile since anyone was worthy enough to even try that with…hmmm...should it be one...or better yet...two!” The women let out gleeful laughs, and all three clinked their glasses together and drank down what remained in their glass, and then poured more. “Now for the details of the rules… it’s got to be a little different since they are Royalty you know” Delilah said in a snobbish voice and then giggled as she asked Brianna to find something to write with, and on….