The Prince's lost lady.

Chapter 3

They had been planning this, and now many kingdoms were crippled and many soldiers lost. It was Tyern who had to send men from their army to these other lands to help them, leaving them not fully equipped and almost vulnerable. They were stretched thin. They had crept up slowly, and no one had even realized they were druids until there was a survivor from one of their raids.

He looked around the burnt houses and dead people and felt an anger rise inside him.

"How do we keep missing them? We need to station soldiers close by to these small towns."

James, a close friend and comrade who'd trained with him came towards him, " How do we know which town will be next? We don't have enough soldiers to station in every town. If we managed to station a few, they would be useless if a horde of these monsters came."

Renat rubbed his temple with his fingers and sighed. "Any survivors at all?"

"No, my prince."

"We have to follow their trail. Let's go!"

**

Sierra sat on the balcony with a wonderful breakfast spread of fruit, bread, jams, sausages, tea and fresh juices laid out in front of her. Her mouth watered and she began to dig in. She looked up at Maria, her handmaiden, " You don't have to stand there, join me."

"I cannot, it is not allowed milady." She said tautly.

Sierra rolled her eyes. "Are you such a stickler for the rules that you would pass up on such a delicious offering? Eh?"

Maria looked at her, "Yes, milady."

She blew a raspberry, "I couldn't even finish it all if I tried. It'll all waste, what a pity."

Maria said nothing.

Sierra sighed, her mind wandering to Prince Renat. Those eyes and hands... His face came into view, he was pushing her against a wall and she was struggling against him...

She shook her head. What was that? Was that a fantasy? She needed to get a grip, he was a prince and she, well no one knew what or who she was. But the way he'd looked at her was...

"Milady!" Maria shouted.

"Yes, I'm sorry, what is it?"

"Is everything all right with the food? You stopped eating."

"Oh no, it's fine." She looked over the banister into the green fields below. "I'd like to go outside after we're done here. I want to see the grounds."

"As you wish, milady."

Sierra looked at her maid, "I'd really love us to be friends. I don't know anyone here, and you really don't have to be so formal with me."

She looked thoughtful, "As you wish, milady."

Sierra picked up the small black bottle physician Holmes had left. She threw the contents into her mouth and washed it down with fresh sugarcane juice. She pushed her chair back and stood.

"We can leave now."

They walked down the hallway where heavy paintings lined the walls. A woman who looked to be in her 40s walked with a gentle gait towards Sierra. She was donned in a regal purple dress, and a crown sat on her head, signaling just what her status was. So when her maid signaled for her to bow, she did not hesitate.

A step behind her was a blonde younger woman who walked with a similar aura. She was dressed in fine brown silk and held her head haugtily.

Sierra raised her head and saw the queens mouth set in a fine line, a resemblance to that of Renat's. Her hands rested lightly at her sides, but there was a tension in the way her fingers curled.

"So, you are my sons honored guest?" Her eyes perused Sierra and rested finally on her face. "You look well enough to travel. Why on earth do you still walk these halls?"

Maria quickly said, "This is the Queen, her majesty, milady."

"It would appear her majesty is displeased with me, for some reason. I apologize for whatever wrongdoing I may have done."

"Displeased? Why do you think? A complete stranger has taken residence inside the walls that house the royal family. Especially in such perilous times, I might add." She pursed her lips and tilted her chin slightly.

"Who are you?"

"I unfortunately do not have that information. I can't remember anything besides my name, my lady-"

"Your Grace." The woman behind her corrected. "And what is your name then?"

"Sierra, your grace." She looked towards the queen. "I am very grateful for your generous hospitality."

The queen gave a tight smile, "i have matters of greater import to attend to." She walked past Sierra gracefully, the blonde woman following.

Sierra waited for them to be out of earshot and said in a hushed tone to her maid, "She does not seem to like me."

Maria scoffed, "She likes no one. A horror really."

"Who was the woman that was with her?"

"Jane, her lady-in-waiting. A worse horror." She glanced at Sierra. "You'll want to steer clear of them both."

"Any other vipers i should be warned about?" Sierra joked.

Maria just looked at her and kept walking.

They came towards a hallway and Maria pointed, "That is the kings wing."

Sierra peered down the hallway and saw guards stationed like statues.

"Right, is he anything like the queen."

"He's...not unkind."

Sierra held a secret accomplishment that Maria was speaking more freely with her. She would try to gain her trust. If she was going to survive here without memories, she would need someone like her. Someone who knew everything about the palace and the people in it.