Snippet #2194436

Sir Branen Stonewall of Spindlewas was so far quite frustrated by his stay in Mewhaven, and the lack of straight answers he had been given by the feline population in Carabas was a contributing factor. No one would tell him anything regarding Bettina of Mewhaven, not if they knew her, or if they knew where she was, or if she was even alive. Their refusal to answer the last question left the young knight with a particularly tight knot of anxiety in the pit of his stomach. Branen had no right to feel this way, he knew that, but the thought of the beautiful, sarcastically witty, and damaged girl he remembered being dead filled him with such a sense of overwhelming grief he could hardly stand it. She could rage at him when he found her, slap him even or call him names. He deserved that much, especially as he was seeking her out now for a favor he had no right to ask, but he simply prayed she would be alive to do those things.

In the end, it had been Snow’s tears after the twentieth cat had refused to tell them whether or not Bettina was alive that had given them their lead. An old woman with a kindly, though troubled, face had told them to seek out the legendary Puss in Boots. That task had been easy enough, though their welcome once they’d found the famous feline had not exactly been warm. It had not been until they’d been taken to meet a young blind woman, and she had announced that they would have a role to play in fighting the Empire, were they allowed in the palace, and they had been shut up there ever since. Puss had at least told them that Bettina was alive, and that she worked for him (which had come as a surprise to Branen, though he knew not why), but informed them they were not to refer to her by that name. That response had baffled Branen, but the infurating feline had not designed himself to answer any more of his questions, and Neither Bran, nor Snow had seen him since they had been ushered away to their guest quarters three days ago.

It therefore came as a bit of a shock to Branen when they were suddenly both summoned to the hall, and the young knight wasted no time getting himself ready whilst his sister practically vibrated with excitement. He could think of no other reason for them to be summoned besides Bettina, and Bran felt almost nervous as they made their way down to the main hall. The sight that greeted him however, was not the petite curvaceous woman with golden curls he had expected, but instead the tall athletic figure of a woman he had met only a handful of times, but was never likely to forget.

“Your highness!” Bran exclaimed in shock, quickly taking a knee in front of his princess to show her his fealty. Taking the cue from her brother, snow also made a polite curtsy with her head bowed.

“Might I present to you ‘ighness, Sir Branen Stonewall and Lady Snow Stonewall of Spindlewas. I do believe zey ‘ave been searching for you.” Puss introduced in a manner that came off as almost bored. His dislike of the young knight was fairly transparent, but just because he thought Bran was an uptight, overly moral cur who had no right to come seeking Bettina out now, did not mean the man did not have a value or purpose in this war. Princess Mornalee need all the loyal knights and fighters she could gather, and the ever moral Sir Branen came free.