[01:45:13 until Quick Read cools down. Current Reading Speed base 400 words per minute × Int 17, at 6800 words per minute.]

Shortly after Keith left, I went to his office… our office, to finish up the file pile for Requires Review. I was tempted to look through his Requires Response or Requires Immediate Action pile… but that would be a bit rude; I wasn't Queen of the Dark Enchanted Forest.

Yet.

I told myself not to think of that. My King of the Dark Enchanted Forest seemed like he was having second thoughts, but maybe I just didn't know how this all worked. Maybe he got upset at something else? Maybe he had indigestion? Or bad breath?

Or maybe the kiss was only good for me?

Thirty minutes passed with me just awkwardly sitting there doing nothing and then I pulled out and reread the battle plans over again. At some point a shy lizardkin maid shuffled in.

Winrith was in a bit of a panic.

"Your Viciousnesss!" She stopped short when she saw that it wasn't Keith sitting behind his desk. I was expecting her to continue but she simply froze. Now that I knew she was undead, and I'd spent time with more lizardkin, I could see the subtle tells. Her eyes, when you could see them, glowed green and leaked wisps slightly at the edges. Her pupils were pits of the unnaturally vibrant green as well.

She was a very high level undead.

"He's gone to check something, Winrith." I told her. When she remained in place another minute without saying anything I offered, "I could take a message? I'm sure he'll be back–"

"Ria!" Keith walked in. I was glad, I thought Winrith was going to faint soon. "I need to talk to you!"

"Keith."

"Your Viciousnesss!"

"Winrith?"

The maid stammered, "I've b-been sssent to t-tell you. The guardsss have captured sssomeone from Drendil!"

"What?" Keith and I said at the exact same time.

"They h-have them in the g-guard house by the c-castle g-gate." Windrith managed. Honestly, this was the most I'd ever heard her speak aloud. "What are your ordersss, M-master?"

Keith and I shared a look and then he said, "Lead the way. Let's see this enemy spy for ourselves."

—

I could name all of my father's top spies. I knew every knight or combatant in his service who had any skill. I had even memorized the features of all the relevant mercenaries the King of Drendil worked with.

None of them were sitting in the guard house drinking tea with Sithli.

"Brownie?!" My best friend's name escaped me. "What are you doing here?"

The bard kicked back from the table, laughing, "It's good to see you too Henrietta! Or should I say Princess?"

When the woman stood up she dwarfed everyone in the room by a head. Her father was a half-giant, it's where she got her strong build, and her mother was a Priestess, which is where she got her angelic voice. Not that being a Priestess gave you an angelic voice - Brownie's mother just happened to have one.

Brownie also got her violent brown curly hair streaked in red from her mother. And when she smiled, she lit up the room with her high Charisma score.

Nobody stopped us as we went in for a hug, though Sithli tensed. I had to be careful of the lyre slung over her shoulder, and she had to be careful to not smother me.

I loved her hugs.

After a strong squeeze she held me at arms length to look me over.

"You don't look tortured," the bard stated. She eyed Keith behind me. "And you don't look like a sadistic freak bent on destroying our lands."

"What makes you say that?" Keith's grin was vicious and intimidating.

"Your guards politely escorted me here and served me tea and scones."

Sithli looked affronted, "What else would we do? You hadn't done anything yet. "

Presumably, Brownie hadn't set off any of the golems so she was only there for questioning because of her clothing.

"Did you like the scones?" I cut in. Panlith used my recipe, so even though I hadn't made them myself today, I still wanted to know Brownie's opinion.

"They were delicious." Brownie grinned at me. "Now, am I to be hauled off and thrown in the dungeon, or are we going to grab some more tea and have a visit?"

"I think you would like the dungeon," I said, poking the woman in the arm, "it has plants, and a daybed where you can faint dramatically."

Brownie laughed, full bodied. "I do love being dramatic."

I peeked at Keith. "Is it alright if I show Brownie around?"

"That's fine." He gave me a soft smile, so delicate and endearing I almost needed a daybed myself. "I trust you'll have a lot to catch up on… I'll see you at dinner?" He hesitated a fraction of a second and then said, "Your friend is welcome to join us, of course."

"Oh! I'm sorry, this is Bronwynn Lyriel. She's a Bard, and my best friend." I blushed a bit, embarrassed that my excitement overcame my Etiquette. "Brownie, this is King Keith Monfort of Nilheim."

"Actually," Brownie put her hands on her hips and drew back her shoulders magnificently. "You are looking at Minstrel Bronwynn now."

"You levelled up?!" I couldn't help myself and made a very undignified squealing sound.

"Congratulations Minstrel Bronwynn," Keith walked over and slowly reached out and put a hand on my shoulder. "You may call me King Keith. I hope you enjoy your stay at our castle." He leaned in close and spoke softly in my ear. "I'll be in the office if you need me. We can talk about our… interests later. I won’t keep you." He took a breath and continued, "I feel like putting off important conversations won’t get us anywhere.”

“Alright,” Holding hands was heart-wrenching enough, but this was a whole new level! I felt my ears heat up and I resisted the urge to hide my face in my hands. “If it's alright I can introduce Brownie around and then show her to her room - She does have a room, right?”

“There is a spare room attached to your suite… or I could find her one on the main floor?” Keith offered.

“If it’s all the same to you,” Brownie cut in. “I’d rather stay with Henrietta.”

“Oooooh, a sleepover!" I thought about fitting in time to chat with Keith and settle in Bronwynn. I turned to the Minstrel and asked. “Why don’t I have the maids give you a full body bath and massage treatment? I could step out then?”

“Or,” Brownie eyed the two of us, “I could wait right here while you two go talk about whatever it is I'm interrupting? We can do all of that together when you're done. You know I don’t care about etiquette. It won’t kill me to finish my tea with Sithli. We were talking about that one time I played in Oakley while the stage was on fire.”

I put my hand on Keith’s and asked Brownie, “Are you sure?”

“Of course I am!” My friend plopped herself back down in her seat and slapped the table, “No sense in putting off for tomorrow what you could talk about today... Honestly, I forget half the things I put off for tomorrow. Better to just get it sorted out now.” Brownie shoo’d me and the King of the Dark Enchanted Forest towards the door, then turned to the lizard guard and said, “Now, where was I Sithli? Ah yes! So this young Wizard was eating his lunch at the tavern I was performing at - and he’d never heard the story of Drendil’s song The Tragedy of Magicians. Can you imagine? Anyway, there I was…”

I loved Brownie, she was a riot but also one of the most understanding and supportive friends anyone could have.

Keith’s hand fell away from my shoulder. He opened the door for us and we slipped out of the room just as Brownie regaled Sithli with the angry Wizard’s misplaced fireball hitting the little table she brought on stage to put her mug on.