Roskva stood in front of Aneira’s suite. Working up the courage to knock on their sibling’s door.

“It’s easy. Just say sorry.” Roskva whispered to herself. She glued her courage and knocked on the door. It opened instantly and Lady Callafon stood there, worriedly.

“Roskva? Have you seen Aneira?” She asked. Roskva’s heart sunk.

“What do you mean? Aren’t they with you?” Roskva asked. Lady Callafon shook her head. “Oh no. Where could they have gone? Has anyone else seen them?!”

“I thought they were with you.” Lady Callafon said, she threw the door open wide. “I’ll summon the wolves, they can help us.” Lady Callafon ran out of the suite to alert the guards to Aneira’s disappearance. Roskva entered the suite, looking for any hint or clue to where Aneira could have gone. She looked on every surface, knowing that if there was a clue in the main sitting area then Lady Callafon would have found it already. But that didn’t stop her from looking. Peeking into the washroom’s open door; and knocking on the bedroom door. Of course there was no answer.

“Roskva, there you are.” Starkon waltzed into the room. “Is Aneira around her somewhere?”

“No. They’ve vanished.” Roskva said, beginning to cry. “And it’s my fault. I told them to leave.”

“Didn’t you want them to leave?” Starkon asked, Coming to her side to comfort her. “I was under the impression you wanted them to leave so you could have your independence.”

“Of course I didn’t want them to leave!” Roskva wailed, Falling into his shoulder.

“Really?” Starkon said, He sounded surprised. “But they’ve always dominated your life in such a tyrannical way, I thought you’d be happy to see them gone.”

“What?” Roskva asked, looking up with shiny tear filled eyes.

“Your whole life revolves around them and what they say.” Starkon shrugged. “It’s always Aneira this and Aneira that. When was the last time you thought for yourself?”

“Uhm…” Roskva sniffled and wiped the tears from her cheek. “When I told Aneira to leave.”

“See what I mean?” Starkon said, squeezing her shoulder soothingly. “That outburst might be your real thoughts while everything else is just manipulation.” Roskva stared at the buttons on Starkon’s jacket as they thought through the confusion in her head.

“Okay, I’ve alerted the guards and they are mobilizing.” Lady Callafon ran back into the suite. “Is there any place you can think of that they would go?”

“Uh.” Roskva shook her head to clear it.. “Home? Or. Our family’s farm?”

“You’re still going to look for them?” Starkon held Roskva’s shoulders and looked into her face in disbelief.

“They are my family. I have to know they’re safe.” Roskva said resolutely. She breathed in and pulled away from Starkon to face Bellaire fully.

“Also check the city. There’s a possibility they’ve gone out to check over the changes in the town.” Roskva said. Taking control and issuing orders like a true queen. Surprising both Bellaire and Starkon. Though more surprising, Aneira slid into the doorway in a panic.

“Aneira!” Roskva cried.

“Roskva! Are you hurt?” Aneira ran into the suite, gliding to a stop in front of their sister. Inspecting her.

“Hurt? Why would I be hurt?” Roskva asked. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s an assassin in the palace,” Aneira said breathlessly. “I lost track of them, I was terrified they’d find you before I did.”

“Really? You should have hid and told someone!” Roskva shook her head and stepped back. “You’re putting your life at risk!”

“I had to make sure you were okay.” Aneira said.

“How do you know there’s an assassin?” Starkon asked. “Did something happen?”

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“I saw someone in all black break a window and enter the palace.” Aneira said. “They are armed and I don’t think it’s that much of a leap to infer the target.”

“They broke in through a window!?” Lady Callafon shut the door and ran into the room. Picking up her own weapons. “I just sent the guards away from the palace! This is the worst time! Where have you been?”

“I was” Aneira paused. “I was in the Queen’s study. I wanted to try and learn more about her.”

“Aww.” Roskva smiled. “Did you learn anything good?”

“Yes. She was lonely, and wanted to be reunited with the family she lost.” Aneira said. “I discovered a bit more than that too but that’s not important. All three of us need to stay here with Lady Callafon until the guards return.”

“Three of us?” Starkon asked. “I didn’t think you cared.”

“I don’t wish you dead.” Aneira said, “I don’t wish any ill will to you at all. Doesn’t mean I like you.”

“We all have to start somewhere.” Roskva said with a resigned shrug. “But I think Aneira is right. We have to stay put together until the guards return and find the assassin.”

“If there even is one.” Starkon said. “Not that it isn’t possible someone, or someones, would want any of us dead. But I find it a little hard to believe that an assailant broke a window and no one heard it or went to investigate it. As well as, Aneira having the good fortune to witness the whole thing without being seen.”

“I understand your hesitancy, but please trust me. Or at the very least humor me.” Aneira said. They saw the ghost child walking through the room. Shrugging to say that they had lost the assailant too. Aneira played with their hands wringing them together anxiously.

“Aneira really does seem upset,” Roskva said, “I think it’d be a good idea to trust them. Until we have the Wolves back.” Starkon let out a long sigh.

“Very well. For you, anything.” He said. Bellaire finished packing her quiver with crossbow bolts and shouldered her crossbow.

“We should stay away from all the windows.” She said, Glancing at the two giant balcony windows. “They could be compromised. It might be a long day while we’re in lock down so let’s try to get along with each other.”

“You’re right,” Roskva said, “We could try playing a game of some kind? To pass the time?”

“I think that’s a wonderful idea.” Starkon said,

“It just seemed like talking might lead to problems.” Roskva blushed. Then she turned to Aneira. “Does that sound like fun to you?” Aneira hesitated. Looking back and forth between Starkon and Roskva.

“Okay. we can try that,” Aneira conceded. “What did you have in mind?”

“Uhm.” Roskva stared blankly ahead and then laughed nervously. “I suppose you don’t have any board or card games in your room or in the suite at all, do you?”

“No. I don’t think so.” Aneira said. “Any other ideas?”

“Tons! We could play charades, uh, danger danger, twenty questions, Sing along popcorn, Alphabetical afters…” Roskva ticked off all the games she knew.

“That’s quite a list, should keep us busy for a while,” Starkon said with a smile, “What’s alphabetical afters?”

“You say a two word phrase and the person that comes after has to take the first letter of the last word and make a new two word phrase, it can go until you run out of ideas.” Roskva explains. “The idea is to keep a single theme the whole time.”

“That sounds fun, but what theme should we use?” Aneira asked. “I can’t imagine Lord Starkon knows many farm or ranching terms and we aren’t as familiar with palace life.”

“Books? Food?” Roskva suggested. “Ooh, maybe not food. I’m getting hungry already.”

“Music is always popular, or names of royalty?” Starkon suggested. “It gives us a chance to go over the guest list and if you’ve acquainted yourself with the kingdom’s trade partners.”

“Ooh, a chance to learn AND play! That’ll keep us busy.” Roskva agreed. “Let’s try that, Aneira!”

“All right, I can start.” Aneira said. “Duke and Duchess of Bridrasta.”

“Ooh, a B. I can work with that.” Roskva said.

“Wait a minute,” Starkon said with a small laugh. “We didn’t invite the Duke and Duchess of Bridrasta. We aren’t on friendly terms with them.”

“We aren’t?” Aneira asked, “Funny, our aunt’s letters say otherwise.” Starkon’s face pinched.

“Don’t call my mother that.” He said through clenched teeth.

“Why not? She was our aunt.” Aneira said.

“You never knew her!” Starkon snapped.

“Okay, let’s just move on!” Roskva interrupted. “B. I can think of someone on the guestlist that starts with a B…”

“We used to be on good terms with Bridrasta.” Bellaire said wistfully. “I used to know their son, he was fun. Why did we stop being friendly with them? Lord Starkon, do you remember?”

“They opposed my father’s rule.” Starkon said. “And then their nobility came into question. It was a long and very tumultuous fight.”

“That law seems unfair.” Aneira said, “I think it needs to be amended.”

“It does not!” Starkon insisted. “It’s a valid law that has cut out the weeds in the garden!”

“Weeds like my family?!” Bellaire snapped. Starkon turned his glare to her and Roskva ducked inbetween them.

“Okay, everyone calm down!” Roskva said. “Aneira, help me!” Bellaire sneered at the former prince but a glint at the window took all her attention away from him.

“Your majesty! Get down!” Bellaire ran and dropped Aneira to the ground as a bolt flew through the window and shattered a vase.