Back at the Seven Hill Kingdom, evening came and went, ushering everyone to their beds. As the stars shined on the unsuspecting sky, the small window of the tower was illuminated by the full moon. The sound of a metal hook, followed by a menacing dark figure appeared on the sill, only slightly disturbing the peaceful night. Quiet as a mouse, he stepped onto the wooden stand and tiptoed to a large bed. Moving the delicate curtain, the masked intruder could see fair long hair of the sleeping queen.
The man in black readied his sword. Holding it like the pendulum, he approached his unsuspecting victim. He struck!
The blunt noise confused him, sounding nothing like the usual crunch of the broken skull. Moreover, his weapon remained clean. As he pulled it back, soft goose feathers emerged from the small cut below the hair. It was a decoy.
The intruder gasped, glancing in the dark. He felt the presence of something sinister. Quiet growls were followed by roars and ended with the unfortunate man's screams.
The guard outside the chamber entered with the torch, making the three wolves move away. He examined the intruder, who was maimed but not dead.
"Well done?" he told the wolves. The large creatures waved their tails, turning to their mistress. She was sleeping, wrapped in a bed cover, under the table-like structure of the window sill. She rubbed her eyes, getting off from the cold floor, and looked at the body.
"Thank you my friends. I know ow difficult it is for you to be in human-made spaces," Zora said, patting the closest one.
Scowling, Theodor kicked the man. "Who sent you?"
The man squealed, coiling into a ball. "If I tell you, I'm dead."
The knight scoffed. "Trust me, what I intend to do is far worse."
"That is enough for now. Could you take the assasin to the dungeon? And make sure there are no others lurking nearby," Zora said.
"Right away, your Highness," the knight said, dragging a man like a sack of potatoes.
The princess sighed. It was obvious who was to blame. She looked at the small case with the long white hair. With one move of the hand, she could transform into a large beast, strong enough to rip anyone's throat.
Viniria was mean. She told her that the only way to transform was to hold the hair in her mouth. A very tedious and, at points, impossible task. But, as she soon discovered, it was not true. Zora could transform by other means as well, like putting the hair in her ear or braiding it in her hair.
"How many assassins do they have to send before you come to your senses?" Theodor asked, returning. "Just kill that foul king and be done with it!"
"Killing him now won't do any good. What is worse, it might just escalate the situation."
"Worse than this?" the knight was determined, pointing in the direction of the dungeons.
"Yes."
"How?"
"It's a political thing," she said with a sigh. "Do not worry. You will see, in the morning. Bright and early, a messenger will come inviting me to the noble assembly. There I will have a chance to explain the situation in front of all the noble houses. Hopefully, that will be enough until Aidan comes back. After that, we will act," she said, touching her large belly.
Her guard bit his tongue, begrudgingly bowing. "Understand, your Highness, that I would fight for you with my last breath. And I will follow your orders. But be certain, that these people are not your family. They are out for blood. Yours and that of your unborn child!"
Zora took in a deep breath. "I realize I am endangered. That is why I will go to defend myself. Will you accompany me?"
"Of course!" the knight bowed.
In the meanwhile, queen Olivia was watching the castle from a telescope. She had not moved from that spot for hours. After a while, she angrily threw the tool.
"Call prince Mark! Tell him it is an emergency!" she yelled at the sleepy servant.
Woken suddenly, the senior prince stumbled his way into the throne room. "What is the issue, sister-in-law. Some news from Nathaniel?" he asked.
The queen was standing with his arms crossed. "No. I am getting worried."
"Oh. What would you like me to do?" he asked.
"I need you to call the assembly. That little shapeshifter has become too conceited. She must be put in her place."
"Pardon?" he said. "You mean, Zora?"
She turned furiously, toward him. "Of course, I mean her? Who else would I be talking about! Mark, please, focus."
"Sorry. Sorry," he stuttered.
"Call all the noble houses. Tell them they need to come right away," she ordered.
"Yes, yes. Of course. We need to arrange a search party for my brothers," he said.
The queen looked him over. "Tell me something, brother-in-law. Which brother would you like to find first?"
The man shrug uncomfortably. "Both," he answered slowly.
The queen took in a deep breath. "And why are you still standing there? Go do what I said!"
"Right away," he said, running to the door.
The invite was sent. "Come to the main hall of the king. No weapons. No soldiers. Only civil discussion."
sBy late afternoon, everyone has arrived. Princess Zora gazed yearningly into the distance. With bags under her eyes, she revised what she will say to these men who would gladly see her gone.
Her knights noticed. "Is everything alright, your Majesty?" Theodor approached worried. She took in a deep breath and nodded, sad.
"Yes, is everyone inside?" she whispered.
"More or less."
"Good. Let us go in," she said, letting her guards help her into the grand-looking room.
Taking her place on the high chair, the pregnant princess observed the men of noble birth. They have seated themselves on the semicircle benches watching her cold and impatient.
Taking in a deep breath, she started, "Nobles of the court, I assume you are all eager to learn what has happened these few days."
"Exactly!" one yelled. "Where is our king? And why are you addressing us so boldly?"
Theodor stood by her side, clenching his hands, unused to the lack of weaponry.
Letting out a quivering sigh, Zora continued, "I am sad to inform you that ever since my bellowed husband went missing, the number of strange occurrences has increased. First, king Nathaniel had recieved a strange ransom note and had been gone ever since. Unknow people were reported to lurk in the woods. Furthermore, just last night, an assassin was sent to take my life."
Everyone in the assembly gasped, before the room filled with chatter. The middle prince and his wife, looked anxiously around hoping no one points their fingers at them. Still, no one was more nervous than the queen.
"And where is the assassin now?" another asked.
"Locked away. He has not spoken yet, but I suggest-"
"Who visits you at night is of no importance to us!" the queen yelled out. "We need to find my husband, the king of this land."
The princess nodded. "I agree. Finding my own husband is of greatest importance to me as well. That is why any bit of information is important," she said, turning her gaze to the commander of the guard.
The commander, now in his early fifties, was a man of a vast military background with a very dislikable personality.
The man stood up, and bowed respectfully. "I assure you, your Majesty. My men are constantly combing the area," the knight replied.
The princess hummed. "Is that why they have not noticed a dingy caravan that caused my husband's disappearance? Or why they failed to capture the culprits when they escaped?" Zora added with a cold stare. Theodor slowly moved towards the door, making sure no one could leave the room.
The guard raised his nose, offended. "If any of my guards are failing in their duties, I will personally see that they are punished."
"That's besides the point, commander. The main matter today is to find the king and prince Aidan. I suggest that-"
"How dare you? I am the one who should suggest anything here," the queen yelled. "That is why I demand that this shapeshifter be put in chains!" she said, pointing at Zora.