And there was a sigh from Marlon, as he simply shook his head. Things just had to be complicated, didn't they? Ah well. He'd have to compromise there, he supposed, and hope the sailors weren't too curious.

"Fine. you'll have a different sword when we go out right now, but once we're on the ship you'll get your own sword back. Wrapped up, as hopefully it won't have to be used."

"Not quite, my dears" But the voice that came through was indeed Anastazi's, but it was not he who knocked on the door, but one of his guards. The door opened and the man walked in checking the room for security before stepping out of the way for Anastazi to address the women.

"But close." The smile was warm beneath his goatee as he looked down at the two women. He wasn't a giant, but he was still a tall man by most standards. "However, during the night some ...issues have arisen. You will be escorted around by two of my personal guards."

Serefina smiled softly, "Thank you, Marlon." It was really as gentlewoman as she got, and the narrator hopes Marlon appreciates it. "A paladin's blade is as much their soul than even a mate could be." Mate, as if it were the more primitive thing that happened before the church had deemed there should be rights before the consummation of a binding of souls.

"I could eventually get over losing a mate...it would be much harder to get over losing Darkness."

Mariah was a little jolted to be grabbed by the shoulder and pulled back away from the door by Aria. She in her half drowsy state had half the mind to push Aria back as was her wont when she was pushed around by her brothers but she quickly stopped herself before she would do anything stupid. She was supposed to be a lady now. Still, she held the candlestick.

Mariah watched the guard enter the room and survey it for security. Normally Mariah would have gotten a little starry eyed at a strong man but she was too weirded out by the vibe that was going on in the castle. After the man surveyed the room, Anastazi entered and addressed them.

"However, during the night some ...issues have arisen. You will be escorted around by two of my personal guards."

"What issues? What happened?" Mariah asked immediately, noting to herself that it must have been pretty bad if they were to be escorted by personal guards of the Prince Regent. Mariah didn't know why she was still holding the candlestick behind her back but she kept a firm grip on it anyhow.

Aria watched carefully as they entered and surveyed the room. She couldn't help but crack a smile at the candlestick Mariah was still holding. Smart girl... Holding onto something, even for just the knowing that it was there, was helpful. It was then that she realized her hand was still gripping Mariah's shoulder, and she let it down slowly. She would have to apologize later.

"However, during the night some ...issues have arisen. You will be escorted around by two of my personal guards."

She nodded with Mariah's question, remaining silent. Indeed, if they were to be escorted by these guards... In her mind, her priorities were beginning to change.

There was a small unit behind Anastazi. Even within the palace. Something was very wrong. He motioned two of the guards forward. "Ladies, this is Ashe and Stol. I believe you known Ashe, Lady Aria?" But he didn't wait for Aria to acknowledge the man before continuing.

"As for what happened, there was an attack upon the Tower of Hope" What was left unsaid, simply assumed was that Mariah and Aria would know the import of. It was the princess' tower. "Two handmaids were killed. An attempt was made on the princess' life."

Aria gasped when she heard the news, one of her hands covering her mouth.

"Sir, my own room just outside the Tower of Hope. Please, let me go over there!"

Anastazi took a hold of her arm. "Your things will be replaced, milady. But at the moment, no one but the royal guard is to go near the Tower. Even the princess has been sent to a place of safety." He looked pained, everyone knew how much he hated to have his sister out of his sight, but he'd obviously thought it had to be done. What was strange, was that Anastazi was telling them all this himself instead of merely sendina servant.

"Ouch. You'll have to find a husband who understands that I suppose, or he might be hurt by the sentiment."

There was, of course, only teasing in Marlon's tone. It was true, of course, but he wasn't trying to reprimand her in the slightest. If anything, he seemed greatly amused by this.

"Anyways, give me a minute..."

He'd dissapear into a back room for a second, and come back only maybe thirty seconds later, holding a serviceable sword and sheathe in his hands. Plain, but...hey, the point was to not be noticed.

"Here. Put this on, then we'll go."

She looked down at the sword, and tried her hardest not to wrinkle her nose in distaste. She spun around and did a little dance. "How do I look?" Okay, she might have looked like a boy before, but the dance totally ruined the boy look.

And from Marlon came a muffled snicker, as he watched her.

"Bettter before the dance. Not that it wasn't a nice dance, but it ruined the whole 'boy' look you're trying to pull off."

And then he was off, heading towards the door, opening it, and stepping outside. Obviously expecting Serafina to follow. He would move at a quick, brisk pace towards the Harbor, which really wasn't that far away, and head towards a ship that...though big, looked at first glance like it was a little run down.

"Ahoy, I need to speak to the Captain! It seems there's been a change of schedule!"

She would have swung, but the sword she was carrying overbalanced her too much, so she sulked and followed behind Marlon. And while her legs were long for her height, it was still a bit of a struggle to keep up with him. But as they approached the ship, Serefina's eyes widened. Didn't matter to her if it looked a bit run down, it was still a ship...one that was going to take her to Chiazu. She almost couldn't resist the bounce that found its way into her step.

It took a couple of minutes of waiting, but soon a man that probably looked more like a pirate than an honest Captain leaned over the raining to look down at Marlon. A large man, with a huge, bright red, grizzled beard.

"Now whats this about a change in schedule, Master Z-Gale." The man had to correct himself there, seeing Serefina by him.

"We've had our whole cargo bought, and are to leave later this afternoon. I'm sorry for cutting your leave short, but gather your crew in, and prepare to set sail."

The captain looked down at Marlon dissapprovingly. "The crew isn't going to like this, you know. They've been looking forward to the extended leave you promised."

"Fine then. I'll give them extra pay, to make up for it. But we leave in six hours."

And that was that. Marlon just turned back to Serefina now, looking down on her with a smile. "Now then...is there anything you're wanting to do, in particular, while we wait? We can't spend all the time packing, after all."

Serefina looked at Marlon, her eyes wide, it was almost comical to watch them then narrow in thought. "You had your whole cargo bought? When just yesterday you were trying to get into the palace to get rid of it...and you've spent almost all of the time in between with me..." She was starting to put things together and wonder anew at Marlon and Anastazi's motives.

"Let's just say I came across a lucky sale, by someone who realized that as a merchant I had to sell my goods."

And that was all Marlon was going to say, to that. Really, if Serefina couldn't figure out that Anastazi had bought all of it so Marlon would be able to leave more quickly, she didn't really need to know.

"Of course, it pains me to leave without cargo, but..."

Oh, she figured it out all right. She just didn't want to put words to her thoughts because of the way it made her feel. One hand went to her shoulder, testing the weakness there before. Her eyes lowered, and she looked away from Marlon and looked out on the dock. It was dirty, filthy and full of men who worked harder in one day than she -had- to work in her life. And she loved every second of it.

She took a step...

...and tripped over the sheath of the sword, which slung over her belt that was meant for her 'Darkness' weighed too much and dragged it down. And what a shame it was that it had rained the night before, because it caused Serefina to land face/chest first in a giant puddle of mud. But to give her credit, she didn't scream like a girl as she fell forward.

And there was a wince from Marlon, as she tripped and fell. He would have caught her really, if he had been fast enough, but unfortunatly for her he wasn't. Instead he reached out a hand to help her up, trying not to laugh.

"Here, I think we have one thing on the agenda. Getting you back for a bath."

She gripped his arm; like a man, instead of his hand like a woman to allow him to help her up. She didn't even want to think what she looked like at the moment, but the smirk on his face made her chuckle.

"Why, it will just prove all the more that I am a boy. Girls don't go rolling in mud puddles after all." She looked up at him, her lips soft with amusement even though her face was smeared with mud.

"But it does remind me, what exactly is my position to be on this trip?"

"As far as I know, you're simply to be another of my guards. You'll get your own quarters, due to your circumstances, but..."

And really, unless she had a better idea, that was all really. He didn't know of anything more, at least. Still, it helped that she'd asked, so he didn't have to just tell her later.

"And you will take a bath. I don't like the people working for me being too dirty, doesn't look good for me."

There was a deep heartfelt sigh from 'Fina. "Damn, and I was hoping for an excuse to wallow in mud for a bit." But she rolled her eyes, ruining the sulking boy effect. "I suppose it's a bit much to hope for a hip bath?" She'd heard about normal bathing from tubs, but it didn't sound like much fun. But usually only royalty and high nobility could afford a copper hip bath. But she did want to get her hair clean one last time before the trip.

"Actually..."

Marlon had to think, here. Did they still have that one in the warehouse, that hadn't been sold yet? That had been a case of a woman asking for it, only for the husband to say no when it arrived. Stupid fickle Eirosan nobles...

"...I might. I'd have to check the warehouse, to see if it's still there, or if it's been sold."

Serefina's eyes lit up. She had one in her quarters because she was a princess, but she had resigned herself to being without it while they were gone. But one last bath. Sigh.

--"Move it!" Serefina got shoved into Marlon as a man with a purple striped sash went past. It was one of Prince Anastazi's personal messengers.

"Hey!" She squeaked, before attempting to lower her voice. "No need to be so rough!" Oh yeah, if she didn't watch her voice, no way in hell would anyone think she was a boy, even a prepubescent one. The man turned, looked her up and down and sniffed.

"I am the dockside represenative for his royal Highness, Prince Regent Anastazi. Be gone, I have important news to deliver. There has been murder done at the palace. All ships are to remain in dock until the murderer is found."

'Fina's eyes grew almost larger than her face, and she clung to Marlon. Anastazi!Surely not.She had to get back to the palace. She looked around her like a cornered animal, trying to figure out which way to run.

"Calm down there, boy. Don't panic, it's not like you've done anything wrong."

The captain had come back to the rail, in time to see this, and seeing him Marlon gave a look. A look that said keep preparing, we're leaving anyways. It's not like this would be the first time he had broken through this kind of thing, after all.

"Now then, let's go back and get you cleaned up. If we can't leave, then we might as well just relax."

Hopefully, she'd catch that last part, telling her to slow down and think rationally. Panicking never help anyone.

She looked up at Marlon and nodded, trying to take a deep breath. "My brother..." The messenger moved on, and so didn't hear anything out of the ordinary. He was making his way to the dock master. Her hand went to her chest, clutching the shirt there. "No...Adrian wouldn't have kept something like that from me." She had to believe that.

If it had been Anastazi, it would have been announced across the city that the prince was dead or harmed. He was okay, he had to be. But the only other reason they would shut something like this down was...

Her face jerked back to Marlon's face. "Someone tried to kill the princess..."

And Marlon simply sighed dramatically, as he turned away from Serefina and began walking back 'home'. Wasn't much he could say really, and he didn't want her to know he'd kept that much from her. He'd really wanted to wait until they were on the ship.

"Ah, that prince, sending mixed signals. Sending someone to ask me to leave today, and then shutting down the port to make it impossible? If you weren't in my care, I'd almost suspect him of trying to set me up. Which means either he didn't think things through...or someone's using his name without him in one of the two cases."