The Fated Trio

The Breakfast

Isabella opened her eyes, closing them a bit, as streams of light from the window made contact with them.

"Ahh", she winced, as pains shot through her body when she made to stand.

Laying back on the bed, she thought of the incident of the previous night. She had managed to arrange her room before sleeping so that no one would notice something happened. She also changed her night gown putting on a new one. She hid it inside her wardrobe not wanting to risk another set of interview with Courtney. Her whole body ached so bad and She tried to stand again but she couldn't so she just lay back there thinking. A lot of things are happening lately and the most of it all is discovering that there are other ladies that could use weapons.

'A lady assassin', how is that even possible. Why would this lady want her dead? She decided to stop asking series of questions and try to find out what's going on.

A knock came from the door."Come in",She answered with a faint voice.

The door opened revealing Courtney in the doorway. She greeted Isabella walking into the room.

"Still in bed?, That's a first", Courtney said surprised "Is everything okay?",

"Maybe I have decided to listen to you and my father", Isabella said rolling her eyes. "I am fine". She tried to absorb the pains she was feeling.

"No you are not. What is it?", Courtney studied her with concern.

"Aren't you supposed to be happy that I am still in bed as you always wanted?", she said pulling off the blanket from her body.

"And that's the problem because Lady Isabella Georgette can't be in bed by this time of the morning. There must be a problem", Courtney repeated. Isabella hated to admit that Courtney was right. Courtney knew her so well but doesn't know where she goes exactly.

"Alright then, you win.", Isabella said defeated. "My whole body is aching", She admitted sincerely.

"Sorry dear, maybe it's as a result of the fall yesterday. Did you hit your head on anything?", Courtney said and Isabella became so tensed . 'Does Courtney know about the assassin?'

"Fall?",Isabella asked to be sure she heard Courtney right.

"Yes have you forgotten how your dress got messed up and torn?", Courtney asked.

"Oh sorry", Isabella exclaimed. She has forgotten about her fall in the bush.

"I will get you some herbs and call the physician to check up on you", Courtney said following her .

"You should get the herbs but don't call the physician", Isabella said managing to stand from the bed as she ignored the pains.

"Your father said I should invite you for breakfast should I tell him you are sick and couldn't make it?", Courtney asked.

That was the best thing to do but Isabella has things she wants to find out for herself so she decided to go. "No don't. Tell him I will be down in a few minutes"

"Are you sure?", Courtney questioned.

"Yeah", Isabella said. "Please ask someone to draw a bath for me". Courtney nodded leaving the room.

After sometime, Isabella walked into the dining room not so sure if she actually wanted to be there. But she has to find out who's this person that wants her dead and why. And there's only one person that could come to her head. Because last night,she always thought everyone loved her. She never imagined someone would ever want her dead.

The dining room was unusually calm when Isabella entered. A few servants moved around the dining table placing one thing or the other one the table. She has changed into a pink dress her hair was tied in a ponytail.

"Good morning father, Good morning Sav", She greeted taking her sit on her father's left. Her body was still aching but she managed to comport herself.

'After this breakfast', Isabella thought, ' I am going to see the physician straight away',

About her familiarity with Saviar,he's just like and elder brother to Isabella. I know you would be wondering,elder brother?,Why not father?,since Saviar is her father's best friend. But the thing is, Saviar is just some years older than Isabella. Their best friend occasion looks like it was inherited. Because Saviar's Father, King Augustus, was Festus' best friend.

Actually they were three friends, King Festus Georgette,King Augustus and Commander Francis von Tess. But the other two died leaving only her father, Festus. But somehow, Festus and Saviar managed to get along so well, and continued the best friend ties not minding the different in their age.

"Morning Bella",Her father responded wearing a forced smile. Saviar waved at her with the same expression, moving his gaze back to his meal.

'Wierd', Isabella thought. Saviar is never the shy type and he's like the funniest person you would ever meet but since his arrival,he hasn't spoken much.

"What kept you so long?", Her father asked further.

"Sorry, I was still in bed when Courtney came to my room", she responded. A servant moved about serving them. Isabella recognized her to be the new servant, Becky. She couldn't still look at her.

'She's a very shy lady', Isabella thought.

"Are you okay?", Isabella asked looking at her dress when she served her. Becky was putting on a different uniform. She was wearing a long sleeved uniform that was meant for winter periods or rainy days.

"Yes my...Lady Isabella", Becky corrected immediately remembering Isabella's warning earlier." Just that my temperature is high", She added when she realized that Isabella was looking at her clothes.

"You should go see the physician", Isabella advised before facing her breakfast while Becky left the dining room.

They all ate in silence which was unusual. She could feel the tension in the room.

"I will be leaving later in the day", Saviar said after sometime.

"Why?", That was Isabella. "You just arrived yesterday",

"Bella dear, I have an emergency to attend to.", Saviar replied looking at her father and then at his plate.

Isabella turned to look at her father who looked away."what's going on?", She asked. They have finished their breakfast and were just sitting there.

"Nothing is going on Bella. Saviar has some emergencies to attend to", Her father said.

"Why didn't you attend to all your kingdom duties before coming to visit?" Isabella queried a little bit upset. But no reply came.

She didn't like that but didn't show it. She wasn't in the mood to talk too much anyway, she has been thinking about the assassin and who she could possibly be. She can't tell her father or anyone except Susan, without revealing the fact that she could fight so she made it her personal headache.

She!, Isabella was disappointed to know a lady could of all things, become an assassin. She could fight and wanted ladies to learn too but not as assassins. She wanted to fight to defend her people and maintain order but not to kill and murder innocent people.

Just then, someone popped into her head,reminding her why she was here in the first place. Without giving it a second thought, she asked."Sav,who is Alissa von Tess?",

Isabella noticed her father's interested when she mentioned 'von Tess'. Oh, she should have known that was the family name of her father's other best friend.

"You saw Alissa?", Saviar asked looking up at her in Surprise.

"Yes I saw her yesterday", Isabella replied.

"She attended the ball?, that's a first. Alissa never attends balls. Its a miracle she attended one yesterday",

'Not really at the ball', Isabella thought of saying but kept her mouth shut.That sounds so much like her. Isabella would have been happy to see someone that hates balls as much as she does but she still has more questions to ask.

"She's the daughter of late Commander Francis von Tess.", He continued when Isabella didn't say anything.

"Francis von Tess?", Her father asked speaking for the first time since she started discussing with Courtney. "Francis von Tess had a daughter?",

"Yes, her mother brought her back to kesterea some years after Commander Francis died. But, she also disappeared after some months.", He said.

"Did you find out what happened to her?", Festus asked again.

"No, We tried to find her but we couldn't and no one knows if she's alive or dead. Alissa has been living in the palace since then.",

"Where is Alissa? She should be here with us. Why haven't you told me about her yet?", Festus asked again. Isabella knew why. Francis von Tess was a great Commander. The three of them were best of friends before he died in a war.

"Sorry for not telling you about her. she always sticks to herself. She doesn't seem to have forgotten her mother. I have been trying to cheer her up lately and that's why I brought her along with me so she could get out more.", Saviar said.

Isabella listened all along. Looks like their story is alike but there are still some differences. Maybe she was thinking about her mom yesterday. But that has nothing to do with what was running through Isabella's mind.

Who's the assassin?

Alissa is the only other lady she has seen apart from herself, that could at least use a weapon. There's no doubt she could be the assassin.Adding to the fact that she was acting wierd that night. But why would she want her dead? She has to find out but there won't be time for that anymore since they would be leaving that day.

"I am so happy she attended the ball", Saviar said smiling for the first time.

Isabella watched king Saviar, imagining how disappointed he would be, when he realizes Alissa didn't attend the ball. She hoped, Alissa wouldn't tell him that, if he asks her. Which she was sure he would do looking at him,he appeared as though he's going to throw a party because Alissa attended a ball. Better still, because he thought Alissa attended a ball.

" Father,why did you end the ball so soon yesterday", Isabella asked. She knew it must have something to do with the cold and tensed atmosphere in the dining room.

"That reminds me. I didn't see you in the ballroom yesterday", Festus replied looking at her seriously.

'Creepy!', Isabella thought. She knew he was trying to avoid the question.

"I was in the ballroom the whole night.", She lied.

"I don't think so. I think you are up to your sneaking games again and if that's true, you better not let me catch you", He replied.

'Noted!', She thought to herself . 'I won't let you catch me.'

Isabella realized everyone was looking at her expecting an answer.

"I was in the ballroom with Courtney. You can ask her later", She prayed he doesn't ask her. Would Courtney defend her?

"Sav, you didn't dance during the party, that's strange.", Isabella said. She knew she was pissing them off but they better start talking about what's going on. Especially why they both have to leave the party angrily. She would have left it for later which she has decided on but with Saviar leaving,she has to find out before he leaves.

"Didn't feel like dancing Bella. You don't like dancing. And you didn't dance too. so, I don't know why you should be bothered about me not dancing with anyone.", Saviar fired back. His mood seemed to have brightened since they talked about Alissa which heightened Isabella's curiosity about Alissa and her connection with Saviar.

"You want to know why?", She smirked. "Our ever partying and lively Saviar, was all Moody for the first time and left a party angry. Any explanation for that?", She asked. Saviar kept mute.

"Thought as much"

" So are you people going to tell me what's going on or not?", Isabella sat up placing her hands on the table. She moved her gaze from Saviar to Festus. They have long finished their meal.

" Stop being irrational. Its not everyday someone parties and talk too much and you know that.", That was Festus. Sav couldn't raise his face from the table which gave him away.

Isabella knew that something was wrong. But since they didn't want to tell her what it was,she let it be for now. For now,she has to find out why her life is on the line. And the only person she could think of is Alissa. And there's no more time.

"Sav, which room is Alissa in?", She asked noticing the excitement in Saviar's eyes when she mentioned Alissa's name again.

"She is staying with the warriors", Isabella couldn't believe her ears.

'How unladylike!', she caught herself murmur. She wished Courtney was here to hear things that are actually unladylike.

"What?", Her father asked shocked. She didn't blame him. She was as shocked as he was.

How could a lady comfortably take a room among the warriors?

"That's Alissa", was all Saviar said before Isabella excused herself leaving the dining room.