Princess Anna of Merceria was pacing the room. Tempus followed her, and each time she spun about, the great mastiff would run behind her to follow her steps once again. If the situation had not been so dire, Beverly would have found it quite amusing. Arnim Caster was the last to arrive, having come from the stables. He took his seat quietly, nodding to the princess in greeting.
"Gerald is missing," she started, "and we must find him. I think we can all agree that something has happened to him or else he would be here."
"What are the possibilities?" asked Aubrey.
"He might be injured somewhere," offered Arnim. "Perhaps someone tried to steal from him, and he was harmed."
"I find that hard to believe," refuted Beverly. "Gerald knows how to fight, and I don't see him giving in easily."
"
