• “Did you hear that?” The young girl asked, frightened. There is nothing to be afraid of, came the comforting words. The girl nodded and turned her attention back towards the wooden door. She pressed her ear onto it gently, taking care not to lean on into it too much. Worried voices came from within. “This is not the time for rash acts of violence!” A high, tight voice came. “Rash?! This is not rash. We are merely doing what is best for the Empire!” A deep rumbling voice. “That may be the way you see things, but we are not as blind as the others. We are very well aware of what you intend to do. Don’t think for a second that you’ll get away with this!” A woman’s voice hissed. The girl gasped involuntarily. Everything went quiet in the room. The sound of chairs scraping against the floor told her that the occupants of the room were coming. Jumping back from the door, she swiftly ran down the hall and to the stairwell. She silently bounded up them. Please don’t come this way, she thought as she opened the door at the top slightly and squeezed through. She blew out her candles and slipped underneath the covers as she heard several footsteps coming up the stairs. Do not fret. Calm down and control your breathing. They will not know it was you at the door, a soft, warm voice came from seemingly no where. The girl barely managed to get her breathing back to normal when her door opened. Three people streamed in. “Princess? Are you awake?” came the high, tight voice from before. The girl acted as if she had just been awoken from a deep sleep. “Hmm? What is it?” she asked as she yawned and then stretched. “Our deepest apologies, madam. We heard someone outside of the meeting chambers and decided to check if you were safe.” the woman’s voice from before said. To the girl’s shock, the three people in the chamber had been none other than Lady Cavalean, Sir Fredrick, and Sir Callington. “Oh. Well, if it’s not too much trouble, I’d very much like to get some sleep before tomorrow. You may leave.” The girl said as she waved her hand disdainfully. The three bowed stiffly and left. The girl flopped back into her bed and blew out a sigh of relief. “That sure was close, Tallia.” the girl said as she grinned. A young girl of the same age seemed to materialize out of the wall. She returned the grin and floated over to the bed. Yes, but it wouldn’t be fun if they didn’t try, she whispered. Her tinkling laughter filled the room.