Taking Notice

Luna looked at Willow. She seemed a bit simple, but Luna didn't feel like she was. Perhaps Willow just has a bubbly personality. But Luna wasn't sure what to make of the woman.

They discussed their thoughts on a possible conspiracy, but didn't get too far. There were many unknown variables. A good thing about having Willow was that she was much more free to move about. Luna had too many eyes on her. Thus, she asked Willow to be her eyes.

Willow was to see if there were any strange characters hanging around. Luna assumed that either the puppet master or a representative was still around. She was sure that her attack was just one of several plans in motion.

Meanwhile, Luna decided go to the library. She thought that she should study what had happened in the last ten years. It would be Solarea leaning, but she could at least gleam the important details. It also shouldn't arouse too much suspicion. Being well read and learned should be expected of a princess.

She spent the whole afternoon in the library. She focused on general events from the last ten years, but it didn't lead anywhere. It sung the praises of the Solarea people, but with very few details. She wanted to see more. She walked throughout, looking for anything that caught her eye.

Before long, she paused at a row. It seemed less used and forgotten. What caught her eye was that it was written in the ancient dialect that was often used in the teachings of dark magic. How very odd. If they view all dark magic as blasphemy, then why keep a book linked to it on display.

She dusted off the book, and took it off the shelf. She was proficient in reading this kind of text, but she had never seen this one before. Luna thought she and her sister had consumed all known written texts on the dark arts. This one also had a word that she wasn't familiar in the title. What could it be about?

She was too lost in her thoughts, and she failed to notice that someone was watching her with great interest. He was looking for a certain book to help in his spell casting for a new weapon, but he lost interest when he saw her. As far as he knew, Princess Olivia had no magic ability. What was she doing here? And even more, she was looking at a very strange book.

The man was too focused on his thoughts that he didn't realize that the book he was holding fell from his hand. This snapped Luna out of her daze. She quickly took the book, and left the area. She could study it in the privacy of her room. The man hid behind a shelf. When he no longer heard her, he stuck his head out. Noticing that she was gone, he ran out as well. He needed to tell his closet friend what he saw.

In the evening was the banquet to welcome the envoy home. Luna smiled and did her part. She left early saying she was tired. She couldn't get out of there quick enough.

When she returned to her chambers, she quickly changed and headed to the training grounds. She had never encountered anyone at this time of night there. She was certain it would be even more empty tonight with everyone at the banquet.

A man snuck behind Prince Peter when he left to get some fresh air. "Peter!" The man whispered. "Over here."

Prince Peter nearly rolled his eyes at his friend. Why must he be so obnoxious? People were starting to stare at them. Prince Peter dragged the man away from the crowd.

"Jacob, what is it?" Prince Peter asked.

"I saw the most unusual thing in the library today!" Jacob insisted.

"What?" Prince Peter looked at him incredulously. "Did you find a suitable mind to fill that head of yours."

"Please," Jacob pled, "be serious! I saw your wife looking at magic texts."

Prince Peter frowned. He knew very little about his wife, but he was sure she didn't have any magic ability. "Are you sure?"

"I am very sure. Not only was she looking at books on magic, she took one that was written in a strange language." Jacob defended.

This made Prince Peter want to clear his head a bit. The best way was with his sword. Jacob followed him to the training grounds, babbling about the entire event in the library. For some reason this really bothered Prince Peter. He disliked not knowing, and this felt like he might have missed something.

Soon, they arrived at the training grounds, but instead of a quiet, serine environment, they were greeted to an odd sight. There was Princess Olivia threatening a bird. She followed the bird as it flew with what appeared to be a string used to tie her hair. She looked like a mad woman with her hair going in all directions.

Both Prince Peter and Jacob really had no idea what to make of this scene. This is hardly how they would expect a lady to behave, much less a princess. What in the world was going on?