Info: This is the country of men that lies to the north. (see Northern March) I am establishing a story leading up to it.

Jena placed the iorn sharpener back in her vest and sheathed her sword. The city smelled of burning embers from the pillars of fire by the palace. She often watched the palace just to see the nobles at work, but soon became very disgusted at their lack of justice. She could have done a far better job; that's what made it so disgusting.
There was only one noble who she saw every once in a while punishing the tax collectors for using tricks to steal from the people, his name was Lord Earethin Theak. So far, he seemed to be fairly well liked by the king (Deronar Oredex), so he must have done something wrong.
Ah well, night is coming and if I do not get back to the farm quickly, Earoven will be worried. Jena thought. Earoven had been Jena's care taker for her entire life; he had kept her in hiding until she was four years of age, and then went to a farm to work for their livings.
Mist was raising from the ground as she walked to the farm, she could see the lamp still burning as she approached. Earoven stepped out of the door of the stables with his thick leather boots, arms crossed.
"Where have you been that you could not return home for our royal guests?"

~._.~'*-*-*'~._.~

Jazerine tapped her fingers against the dining table apathetically. She stared at the male servant who stumbled with her supper at the door, and spilled some on the floor as he walked to the table.
"Here you are ma'am" the teenage boy said in a rather Irish accent.
"What's your name, you must be new to these halls to not know servants do not speak to their betters unless required." She said passivly as she took some of the grapes from the plate.
"Thranodin, ma'am. And please accept my apologies." Thranodin said nervously.
"I'm in no mood to forgive anyone, but lucky for you I do like you. And as a reward of my generosity, you may eat anything you spilled." Jezerine replied.
Thranodin smiled a bit revolted, bowed, picked up what he had dropped and left the room.
Jezerine watched him throw the spilled grapes into a trash basket before the door closed and smiled at his foolish self admiration.
She turned abruptly as one of her maids in waiting stepped into the room and announced:
"Lord Earethin Theak has come to see the Lady of the house." and bowed and made way for the tall and regal Lord.
Jazerine looked away to wipe her mouth and look as respectable as possible before she rose to greet him.
"Greetings my Lord Earethin, I am delighted to see you come to my simple abode. I request you come in, and enjoy the best of what I can offer you." She said as she gazed on him radiantly with a graceful curtsy.
Lord Earethin smiled as he stepped in and answered "Why thank you Lady Jazerine, I am above all things honored to meet your acquaintance. I came on the behalf of my cousins who have just recently arrived in our city, unfortunately one of them has become ill from the travel, and is in great need of a civilized house to-" He paused as he noticed several grapes underneath the table. "-heal. From all that I have heard of your admirable hospitality, I am assured if he stays here of his health."
"My Lord, if you permit my asking, what is the station of your cousin?" She asked gently.
He stared at her for a moment before replying. "He is renound for his wealth, and is a noble courtier Lady Jazerine."
She smiled encouragingly. "I would be all but delighted to accept your cousin into my home."

Thranodin Listened outside the door to his mistress, inviting a rich man into her home to heal, what a joke. But I wonder who the joke is being played on...

~._.~'*-*-*'~._.~

Shinavah stepped out the door quietly, placing a key into her dress pocket and made her way into the servants quarters. The sandy brick walls hid her footsteps from being heard by anyone who might not approve of her being in the kings advisor's sector. As she made her way down the final hall way, Prince Rovethk stepped in front of her with a curious but condescending look on his face. Shinavah lowered her head and bowed.
"Taking a walk? I thought you servants had enough work." He asked.
"Everything has already been taken care of your Highness." She said keeping her head bowed. She figited as he paused in front of her for several moments.
"Well then, since you are free from your other duties, I can think of a few things I would like done." Rovethk said as he took her by the arm and lead her in. Shinavah glanced down the hall to where Nayari was covering for her at the stables. Rovethk closed the door behind her and motioned for her to take a seat.
"Your highness, I do not believe that a servant should be privileged with this honor." Shinava said as she sat.
"You are only a servant if I desire you to remain so." Rovethk said twisting the ring of his royal seal.
"Now truly, what were you doing across the castle from where you are a worker?"
Shinava was no longer bowing, but only gazed at the floor. "I was giving a message to the Kings adviser, of which he had previously requested."
Rovethk's eyes never wavered from hers as she spoke. "And what was the nature of the message?"
"I ask your highness that you pardon me, for if I were to tell someone else of it, he would have me put to death; if your highness desires to know, I ask that you go to the adviser to find it out." Shinavah's eyes lifted to meet his. Rovethk felt himself almost jump when she looked into his eyes, in all his life he had never looked into the eyes of a servant before, and it was not at all what he thought it would be like. Her eyes her soft and brown, full of tranquility and patience. She paused waiting for him to speak.
"What is your name?" Rovethk said gently.
"Shinavah, your highness. May I leave now?"
Rovethk felt like she had just broken his train of thought, even though he had not idea what he had been thinking. Leave? What did I call her in for anyway?... Ah yes, the Adviser.
"Yes, that is all I had to ask. You may return to your quarters."
She got up to leave when the key she had in her pocket slipped out, Rovethk leaned forward and snatched it just in time.
"Here you are." He said as he handed it back to her. She took it from his hands and smiled politely as she stepped out his door. Rovethk stood staring at the door in somewhat of a daze before he glanced around his room to see what duties he had to do.

Shinavah stepped back into the stables only to receive a scolding from her friend Nayari.
"What gave you the idea you could take your time?? I could loose next weeks rash ins over you!"
"I'm sorry, the Prince stopped me," Shinavah replied.
"The Prince?! Did he notice anything??" Nayari asked more worriedly.
"He saw the key but didn't think anything of it. Now I suggest we get back to work."

~._.~'*-*-*'~._.~

Jena placed a pan of cool water by Kiranor's bed. Nothing was wrong with him except an infection and several bad bug bites, but he must have been allergic to one of them by how sick he was. The other guests were being taken care of by other workers, so she was left to tend to Kiranor. She placed a few herbs into his drink and handed it to him.
"Thank you." He said weakly. Jena was a little surprised at the manners of this noblemen, for a moment he seemed like just a normal man who had fallen ill.
"Is there any word from my cousin, Lord Earothin? He went to the house of Lady Jazerine almost two days ago to seek her aid."
Jazerine, that is where my friend Thranodin was sent as a common slave because of his parents debt.
"No word yet, Kiranor." Jena replied. "Were you going to stay at her house?"
"Yes, Earothin believes there is no finer place I could stay, don't you agree?" Kiranor asked.
"Oh, it is the best of its kind." Jena answered, knowing what kind of place it really was.

Jena stepped outside Kiranor's room when she saw Earoven standing at the front door with a grave look on his face. As she walked towards him, she noticed the paper in his hands of the King's royal order. It read:

"By order of King Deronar Oredex, beginning immediately, all first born male children are to be taken at the age of two, and trained by the royal guard to become soldier in the Kings army.
Any first born male child who is not physically able to become a soldier will be executed for the good of the people."
~King Deronar~
Jena began to feel her blood boil at the King's madness.
"What should we do?" Jena asked Earoven.
"The better question is what can we do, and the answer is absolutely nothing. Not yet anyway, a time will come when we are able to change kingdom for the better, but not now."
Earoven did not see Jena's face redden at his comment, after that Jena went into her room and began to make arrangements for the kingdom to change.

~._.~'*-*-*'~._.~

Prince Rovethk paced back and forth in his quarters, still twisting his ring. He turned as Shinavah opened the door and asked,
"You wanted to see me your highness?"
"Yes, please come in and sit down."
Shinavah sat in the same seat she had been in before, wondering why the Prince had said "please" to her.
"I have just been made aware that the king's adviser has had a conversation with assassins meant for the King, and am wondering what his intent with them was."
"Your highness, I cannot speak for the adviser."
"Yes, I know. All I need to know from you, only according to what you know of him if he meant to have the king assassinated, or saved." Rovethk said kneeling in front of her. Shinavah looked up at him,
"Yes... the adviser may be trying to assassinate the king."
Rovethk sighed deeply. "Good."
"Good? What do you mean?" Shinavah asked.
"Can you honestly say that you would want him ruling any longer with all he's done?" Rovethk asked in a friendly tone.
"Well no, but how could you want your own father to be assassinated?"
"I've really only had him as my father when in court, other than that, I have tutors to raise me. He hasn't earned that position, and once he's gone, I will be king and change all the evil that he has done to the kingdom." Rovethk said resolutely.
He may not see it, but he has many of the flaws his father has. "I see, for the good of the people. Have you been wanting this for a long time?" Shinavah asked.
"I wanted it to happen indirectly. Now that he will probably be killed and I will become king, I wont have to worry about it. However, now I have the most need for a loyal friend."
"Should a servant really be privileged with that honor?" Shinavah asked quietly.
"If I desire it to be so."

~._.~'*-*-*'~._.~

Lord Earothin welcomed his cousin Kiranor as they walked up the stairs to Jazerine's house.
"And remember cousin, she thinks you are a very rich man so don't let her know otherwise." Earothin said as the doors opened to her home. Jazerine came up to greet them as the rest of the family said saw him off from the bottom of the stairs.
"Welcome Lord Kiranor!! It is a delight to finally meet you! Please come in and make yourself comfortable."
"Farewell cousin Earothin, I hope to see you again soon." Kiranor said as Earothin left the room.

Kiranor lay comfortably in a hamik viewing Jazerine's lush gardens as Thranodin served him desert.
"So how long have you been in Jazerine's service?" Kiranor asked interestedly.
"Almost a month now." Thranodin replied, not as interested.
"So short? How was it that you came here?"
"My father owed Jazerine far too much money than he could ever pay back, so he gave me to her to pay it off." Thranodin answered.
"Did Jazerine allow you to work here to pay your fathers debt?"
"No my Lord, I am to be a slave here for the rest of my life because of my father's transgressions."
Jazerine strolled into the room wearing a beautiful, but slightly sheer evening dress.
"Has my servant been satisfactory for you?" Jazerine asked.
"Incredibly,how many do you have?"
"Oh, I couldn't be absolutely sure since I'm always getting more, but I should think some seventy-five."
"That's quite an accomplishment."
"I'm sure it isn't as much as you, how many servants do you have, if you don't mind?" Jazerine asked in the sweetest tone.
"Well to be honest, there are almost three hundred servants in my house." Kiranor said, referring to his fathers servants.
"Lord Kiranor, that would make even the king blush for shame!" Jazerine lied.
Thranodin finished poring the wine and walked out of the room to the great relief of both Jazerine and him. He seems to be just as pitiful as she is. Those two are perfect for each other.

~._.~'*-*-*'~._.~

Shinavah and Nayari looked up from their meals as they heard someone tapping on the window. Nayari walked over and opened it as Jena climbed inside.
"What are you doing here? You could have been killed if the guards saw you!" Nayari interrogated.
"No one saw me, I have a way to get in that isn't noticeable. The king has done something terrible, and I can't let it go through, so I need to be a servant for a while." Jena said.
"What were you planing to do?" Shinavah asked.
"All I need to do is change the documents so all the children are fit enough to be a soldier, and therefore wont be killed."
"Anyone could still notice an extra person working in the stables." Nayari protested.
"No wait, if no one sees our faces, Jena and I look could exactly the same. A noble would never look into the eyes of a servant, so what would be the difference?" Shinavah asked.
"There would still be two of you. Shinavah, you would have to leave the palace for as long as Jena is staying." Nayari stated.
"There are several royals staying at the farm where I live that are expecting to meet another relative from the north who they have never met and do not know her first name, just go there and say that you are Lady Shinavah Relindur and they will accept you as one of the family." Jena said.
Shinavah smiled. "First a servant, and now I am suddenly a noble. I have no complaints. Here, take this key. It goes to the Advisers door which should be where the orders are sent from. Good luck Jena!" Shinavah said as she opened the window and slipped out into the night.
After a few hours of Jena preparing herself to look like Shinavah, another servant from somewhere else came in the door and told Jena that Prince Rovethk had requested her services.
"Thank you." Jena said, when the servant had left Jena turned to Nayari and asked, "How exactly does the Prince come into this picture?"
~._.~'*-*-*'~._.~

Shinavah slid the satin slippers on and stepped in front on the mirror. The dress was blue and gold silk with white vial streaming elegantly from the waste all flowing to one side and from shoulders to the back. She would never have been able to get the dress if she hadn't met a tailer with a bad habit of betting.
"Lady Shinavah Relindur." She whispered to herself with pride. Shinavah could never remember a time when she had been this happy and exited.
Jena's farm was only a mile from the tailors shop, but she hardly took five steps before someone offered to give her a ride. The farm was a very charming place with apartments up to the second floor. Shinavah stepped off the carriage, thanked the driver, and knocked on the front door. A handsome man opened the door.
"May I help you my Lady?" He asked.
"Yes, my relatives are staying at this farm, and I have traveled from the north to meet them." She replied.
"May I ask you name?"
"Lady Shinavah Relindur." She said with the highest satisfaction. The man bowed and motioned for her to come inside.
"The Lady Shinavah Relindur has come from the north." the man announced. A small crowd of nobles turned their attention to the image of angelic elegance standing before them, their faces lighting up with delight. Many of them stood to greet her, and comment on how she was so evidently from their side of the family.
"Welcome Shinavah, I've just met you and I already feel like we're best friends." one said.
"Why hello, my your face seems so much like my aunt's! Come, you must tell me more about yourself!" another said as they kept showering her with complements and invitations. By the end of the day, they had already booked the next four months of her visit with social events and parties.

Shinavah slipped out of the room to find a moment of silence on the deck outside. She gazed steadily into the mountains as a storm flashed radiantly in the distance. The smell of cinnamon caught her sent, and she looked over to the side to see the man who introduced her reclining in a comfortable chair.
"Have you been there long?" She asked.
"Before you came out." He answered coolly.
"What is your name?"
"Earoven. Tell me, since you are a noble lady, what do you think of the King?" Earoven asked.
"He, is a strong king, that never removes himself from the affairs of his country; but could honestly use his strength in a far better way."She said.
"I wonder with such a king what will become of us if we were to go to war." Earoven questioned.
"King Deranor does not desire to have peace with his enemies, but believes he can unite the people under tyranny if they go to war and find another enemy to hate." Shinavah said, still looking off into the mountains.
"You speak as if you know this king." He stated.
Shinavah turned to him. "I have kept track of his actions for along time."

One of the relatives stepped out onto the deck with them. "Oh there you are, we've just gotten news that Jazerine is throwing a mask in the Price's honor. We have all been invited, don't you think this is the most wonderful opportunity for you to get to know people? And just the fact you will be meeting the Prince! I know he'll love you!"
"Yes, I think so too." Shinavah replied.

~._.~'*-*-*'~._.~