The Princess's Servant

41. The Report

"You wanted to meet in the throne room, Your Highness?"

Marcus stepped into the darkened hall and knelt before her princess. Sybil was seated on her mother's throne, backlit by glowing golden stained glass that trickled yellow, orange; blue light. The princess herself was only partially visible, with the whites of her eyes and the glimmer of her skirt beaming through the shadows. The guard knew that the princess wasn't technically allowed to sit in the Queen's chair, but she also knew that she only sat there when she was in a horrible mood. So Marcus said nothing. 

Sybil stared down at her guard in a quiet but terrible fury. Marcus took in breath.

"The mission was a success," she attempted. "We harassed Eris and stole back the coin you were forced to pay. The bandit circle was disbanded and there was no significant injury to your sister, or her village. All has gone exactly as you've commanded, Your Highness." She delivered her lines like it was jovial news, but still, the princess said nothing.

Marcus half-cleared her throat. "Did your highness have a question on the matter?" She asked. "Or perhaps a new mission for your faithful servant?"

At last, Sybil shifted. She turned her head to the side and brought one hand to her lap. "A representative of the Wardian palace arrived this morning," she said.

"Oh?" Marcus held down the shake in her voice. "And what business were they on?"

Sybil's eyes met hers. "He was looking for his prince."

Marcus nodded, entirely at a loss for where this conversation might be going. "I... hadn't been aware," she replied.

"I agreed to help him with his search if he helped me with my search for my servant." Sybil tossed her head. "We scoured the forest and managed to pick up his trail."

The guard nodded once. "That's excellent news, your highness."

Sybil's eyes cut to her guard. "We traced his tracks back to Eris's camp. And then to a bandit camp." She moved her hand back to the throne's arm rest. "Your bandit camp."

Marcus felt her heart do a backflip in her chest, but she kept her head lowered and pretended she didn't feel the weight of Sybil's gaze.

"I know you've seen my servant," the princess said.

The guard flinched. "Your highness, I..."

The princess stood. "I know you had him in your grasp. Why have you failed to bring him back to me?"

Sybil's tone told Marcus that lying would be — at best — a Bad Idea. So instead she bowed her head further and tried to remember the truth. "Forgive me, my liege," she opened. "I was able to capture him, but..."

"'But?'"

"But..." Marcus looked up at her princess through thick eyebrows. "I encountered many troubles on the road," she completed.

Sybil scoffed and tossed her head again. "'Troubles.' In my forest, as my guard? What 'troubles' could you have possibly encountered that made you fail your most important mission?"

Marcus took a beat. "There were monsters," she said. "And demons. Wicked creatures the size and strength of mountains. They attacked me every step of my way."

Sybil shook her head in chiding skepticism. "And yet here you are unscathed. Am I to believe that my noble guard gave into these 'creatures' so quickly that she lost my servant without a fight?"

"Nay, your highness." The guard held her head high. "I won."

Sybil stifled a laugh. "I'm sorry?"

Marcus proceeded in total earnestness. "I won," she said. "I wasn't defeated by ghost or ghoul or evil spirit."