Snippet #961022

Sorana surged to her feet and leaned over to grab Starfire’s reins as soon as Duste stopped talking and turned away. Vesper flapped at her sudden movement but calmed as she and the horse behind her jogged towards Duste. As she passed Cynoc, she smiled at him, showing that she had no hurt feeling with his disagreement of her plan. She rather liked Cynoc – almost as much as Duste, and maybe more, in a different way. The girl’s feet slowed as she drew next to Duste – Starfire huffing at the unexpected but disappointingly short exercise.

“Duste, I have an idea that could make our job easier – with yours and the Princess’s permission. I know that sometimes, when nobles or royals travel to places they are unsure about, they bring a similar looking bodyguard to stand in their place. That way, if an ambush or attack does happen, the enemy often attacks the body guard, thinking that they are the real target.” She looked up at him, her brown eyes dead serious. “The princess and I are the same general height and as for the other differences… I don’t think most know what Her Highness actually looks like. It could end up saving the Princess’s life.”

The girl looked back at the Princess and pursed her lips. “She could pose as myself – no one knows or cares what a ‘hand-maiden’ looks like. She would be more likely to be passed over as unimportant. Vesper would stay with her to complete the look and act as a guard, if the Princess is comfortable with him and knows how to handle birds.”

The hand holding the reins reached up to brush escaped hair out of her face.