Straight into the fairytale today:

Straight into the fairytale today:

Prince Reginald rode away and tried, with great difficulty, not to look back at the beautiful seamstress. He knew that he should be less distracted. Luren may be massing forces and there may be a Lurenese sorceress harbored in Hardenstall. But that woman was so beautiful, and she did not fall flat on her face when she saw him. She looked him in the eye without defiance and without fear. When he spoke to her, he forgot he was a prince; he forgot, for a moment, about Luren and about all his responsibilities.
"Your highness?" Lord Urbond rode next to him, straightening his horse, who was about to head off the path.
"Sorry, I was... well, I'm concerned, obviously."
"Yes, but you need to at least make it to the meetings today if we are to solve any of our problems with Luren."
The problems Lord Urbond was referring to were, of course, the growing threat of Luren going to war with Evars. Having lived in peace for over three centuries, Luren and Evars were neutral neighbors. However, about 16 years ago, the Lurenese ambassador's daughter, a born sorceress, was abducted and lost somewhere in Evars. It was thought to be by one of the family's many Lurenese servants, and the search continued and was evenutally dropped. However, peace remained between the countries. It was not a political crime, but a personal one. Lately, though, one Lurenese magician had attempted, in hopes of solving this long mystery, to connect with the girl's magical side, to see if she was still alive or at least magical enough for her corpse to give a read. This magician, an enchantress named Ulianne, was convinced that the young woman was still alive and hiding in Evars. However, some other magical force was clouding her ability to get a good read on the whereabouts of the girl.
Of course, Luren took this to mean that someone in the kingdom of Evars was harboring this young woman under magic, which would, of course, require consent of the Evarian government. So, negotiations began for the permission to search Evars for the missing young sorceress.
Prince Reginald took responsibility for this matter. His father, unknown to any but a few, was falling seriously ill, and the Prince was taking on more and more responsibility.
Of course, this left the Prince wondering why this girl was supposed to be so important and how a sorceress powerful enough to break through a magical shield had gone unnoticed for so long.

Aurelia closed her shop early that day. She had to create a gown for her dinner that evening--something fit for royalty, but it was the first time she would be composing in the city limits. Her methods, being magical, may have turned some unwanted attention her way, so she preferred to work in her shop without interruption.
Using finest silks and lace, she created in just half an hour, a dress worthy of a princess. However, she stared at it awhile and realized its decadence might give her away. Somehow, though she didn't understand how, she knew that Lord Urbond suspected that she had a gift. And in just thinking about making the dress less, it morphed into a still elegant, but much simpler, creation. Through it all, she could not quit thinking about her interaction with the prince. He looked nervous--almost as nervous as she felt. And as she thought about him, she realized she could see him in her mind. This happened when she thought too long on people. Though, it did not happen often since she had so very little outside contact. He was in meetings with the city's mayor, asking permission to set up camp on the outskirts of town near the great lake--and near her house.
Curious as to whether or not she could control the Prince's thoughts and actions, since she could see them, she projected, or she felt she projected, a location about a mile west, beyond the cliff, where her house would be out of sight.
To her surprise, when she tuned back into the Prince's meeting, he selected the location on the map. However, in addition to her relief, Aurelia felt a twinge of guilt.
She shook her head and stood up, clearing her mind. She put on her dress and did her hair, getting ready for dinner that night.