AYLETH
She made it back to the castle, through the gardens and past the guards. She even got to the balcony—but before she could crawl over the railing she heard frantic voices inside.
"Lady Trayn! She isn't here! The Queen will—"
Ayleth froze, her heart thumping in ears.
"Calm yourself, woman," Trayn snapped and Ayleth closed her eyes, wincing as her boot scraped on the railing when she crawled over, though the women inside didn't seem to hear it. "It may not be the… emergency that it appears. The Princess has a great deal of attention right now. She may simply have—"
"I already called for Lord Nearheart."
"Falek?" Trayn gasped. "Oh dear, he will—"
"I will what?" The dark, disapproving voice of her Knight Defender growled through the room and Ayleth scrambled towards the door.
"I only meant, sir, that you might be more concerned than would be strictly necessary for—"
