Kingsley Family/Alyssa/Important Things

Critically important, even.

Everlight

Dressed simply in her training tunic and pants, Isana tidied her long dark hair into a single braid in the mirror. Her pulse was high in her throat, anxious chills of heat ran along her skin and collected in a nervous swirling in her belly. She let her eyes drift closed and took a long, deep breath, then sighed it out slowly. Somewhere outside bells tolled the hour.

Aly will be home soon.

Am I ready?

Her eyes flicked open and glanced down to the wooden desk and the few items gathered there. Her long hands sorted through and green-blue eyes scanned for the fourth time to be certain she had everything. Carefully each item was slid into the satchel at her hip, and she flipped and secured its latch closed, then scanned the room and gave a nod before departing with swift steps.

Here goes.

A sheet of parchment lay behind on the bed in the chamber she shared with Alyssa in the Royal Suites. Edged in shining gold leaf, it held a lifelike drawing of the black cane corso Shadow with a peony in his mouth leaping over a short message. The words in elegant script read:

  My Darling Sky,
  Come meet me in the Royal garden? I have a surprise for you.
  -Your Dawnstar

Kingsley

Light poured into the throne room of the Ducal Palace, the large stained windows depicting important figures of Perdan's past looming over her expectantly as the waning afternoon sun lit them from behind.  The queens and kings of the past watched her and wondered what the new Queen would make of herself and the realm they had each presided over.

"I think that concludes things." Lord Davenport, the Palace's castellan said with a mischievous smile and a bow.  Sir Graham Goldenfields, commander of the city watch scrutinized his counterpart but said nothing as the other turned and departed.  Graham had been senior when they met upon her knighting so long ago, but now his face, torn and ripped from the Butchery in Brive and aged and weary from so many battles, looked worn and tired, though his eyes still held the spark of dedication they always had.  Alyssa worried for him, but she knew the very suggestion of retirement would offend the old knight, so she held her tongue.  He had earned his place after all, with faithful service to her and to the realm.

"I shall escort you my lady." He said respectfully to the Queen.

"No." She replied firmly, her hand resting lightly on the pommel of the sword at her hip.

"I shall escort her!"  The bard known as Maron called out from across the great hall as he entered dramatically.  Graham rolled his eyes as Alyssa turned to see the impeccably fashionable singer prance into the room and striding over towards where Alyssa was standing.  "A woman so beautiful as our beloved Queen should be accompanied by someone equally as lovely.  Not her grim elder."

"No."  Alyssa said dispassionately.  She was tired, and had not been sleeping much over the past week since her confirmation.  It was far after nightfall before she returned to her Royal Suites, and early in the morning that she woke. There was far to much to do, new rulers were popping up all over The Continent, and reforming a government was especially difficult.  But she had set to her task, and sleep could wait until the kingdom had stabilized.  "Soon my dear..." she muttered softly to herself.  Her two companions apparently did not hear her as they had devolved themselves into a heated discussion about the worthiness of escorting the queen.  Alyssa closed her eyes and took a deep breath.  She was tired, and rather than indulge the two proud servants before her she stepped away across the great hall on her own, to return to her chamber a little early for once.

Her faithful dog Shadow greeted her excitedly when she entered the bedchamber.  She had half a mind to simply lay down and fall asleep immediately, but the parchment at the edge of the bed caught her eye.  She smiled at the crest displayed proudly upon the sheet and at the little message.  Sleep can wait a little longer then. She decided.

"Come my noble escort."  She commanded to Shadow who heeled obediately as she signalled him.  Together they took their leave towards the destiny that awaited them in the Palace's Garden.