Snippet #1884588

-Everything here is strange and unappealing, I have found two rats under my bed and a cockroach in my soup. I shall count the days until I get to see my you and my sisters. Warn Tabitha and Paulina not to go through my closet and steal my shoes again. Do not let Rathio go out alone to the river with her horse. Tell Idaline and Nadine, Safrina and Selene to stop playing tricks on those strollers and make Etaine and Samantha help along. They're only 11 and 9 for heaven's sake. Seeing two pairs of twins near the cottage will give them nightmares. Remind Cecelia and Ethelisa to practice their instruments because I feel as I might want to hear them play when I return. I must go now. By the time you read this letter, I will hopefully be on my journey home so do not bother to send a letter.

Love,
Ofayle

With the curve of her pen, she ended her letter. She had not bothered to even read it for she knew there was nothing wrong. She put it in an envelope, sitting in an inn. The Queen had called her father to the castle but alas, he was ill so she would go in his place. She was the eldest, a Lady in her own right with a sword on her side. No one dared to move closer to her much to her confusion. For a night, she stayed in the inn as her horse needed a well-rest. She wasn't far from the castle, noticing it on the hill last night. After paying for her meal, room and sending her letter, the young woman left to ride into the Queen's castle.

Despite being a Lady in title, she had hardly seen her father leave the cottage for the castle ever since her mother's sudden disappearance. Her father fell ill for quite some time. Her sisters and her had never left the castle but she was up to the challenge. She listened to her father closely, follow the path and never leave. The Queen had called for her father so abruptly, they couldn't ready the carriage yet. She left that day with her family hugging her.

The weather has been extremely dreary for the past few days and Ofayle had thought it would be different in the castle. She was wrong. By the time she saw the castle, the sky had turned dark as if it was about to rain. She gave her horse to a stable, paying them in a few gold coins. In her leather boots, she made her way over to the castle of Queen Miranda. Halfway through, a guard stopped her. He looked at her suspiciously, noticing her dirty boots, dark cape and hugging clothes.

"I am Lady Ofayle of the Zwolfe family. I am here on behalf of my father, Duke Hugh who is ill. The Queen has called for him and I am taking his place."