Prince Kurt had a fitful sleep that night. The bed was new to him and this was the first time hed had his own suite of rooms. Back at the old castle he had lived in the childrens quarters, surrounded by the other children of the castle.

“Good morning, Prince Kurt,” his bodyguard said. Puck was the son of one of his fathers soldiers. He was a few years older than Kurt – hed been through the training camp and knew how to wield a sword as well as ride a horse as if they were one. He had been trained in hand-to-hand combat and excelled in it. The best and most valuable asset of Pucks however, was that he was totally devoted to Prince Kurt.

“Good morning, Puck. How did you sleep?” Kurt asked. Puck had appeared to be sleeping quite heavily when Kurt woke in the night, hearing a wolf howling. He wasnt used to hearing things like that in the larger city where hes spent his childhood.

“The cot is comfortable. I heard you get up and pace around your room, my prince. Was the bed not to your liking?” Puck asked, looking at the floor as he addressed Prince Kurt.

Kurt was a very observant person, but it didnt take that to know why Puck was being so formal. Someone was near and that person might object if they heard Kurt and Puck with their usual banter. It wasnt right for a servant to address a royal in personal terms. Kurt looked at the doorway and saw a shadow of someone waiting in the hall.

“The bed was fine. I was just restless after the long journey. I will sleep better in a few days when Im used to this place,” he said. Puck nodded, giving him a look as if to say they could finish this conversation when they were alone. There was a knock at the doorway.

“Enter,” Prince Kurt commanded. He did not like people listening at his door, not making themselves known to him.

A young girl entered, her knees practically shaking as she brought a tray to his table. Kurt saw that there was fresh water in the ewer by the window and now the girl brought clean towels and a cake of soap. She glanced quickly at Puck and her skin grew a bit more pale.

“Your highness,” she mumbled, not looking at the new prince she had been tasked with serving.

“Whats your name, child?” Kurt asked, saying it gently so as not to scare the poor girl any more than she already was.

“Marley, my lord,” she answered.

“Well, Marley, you neednt be afraid of me. I am not some ferocious beast that wants to eat you for breakfast. Thank you for your service. Next time, however, announce yourself when you wish entry to my suite. I dont appreciate eavesdroppers,” the prince said. “Good day. Please tell the housekeeper that I shall be down to eat with my father.”

The scared girl gave Kurt a small smile. He wasnt as frightening as she had imagined. She was turning to leave when Puck stamped his foot, giving her a glare. She ran out the door and the two could hear her scurry down the long hallway to the stairs.

“Puck! Was that necessary?” Kurt admonished. Puck at least had the decency to blush.

“Sorry, Kurt. She was just....I dont know. Scared of me? I thought it was funny. Ill apologize to the lass later, I promise,” he said.

“Be sure you do. The poor child was scared out of her wits,” Kurt said, turning to see his clothing set out for him.

“Did you hear the wolf howling last night?” Kurt asked.

“Yes, I did. Did you catch a glimpse of it? I saw you looking out the window,” Puck asked.

“No. It came from the Forbidden Forest. Do you know anything about the people that live to the North? I know Ariannes people are from farther north than the forest, but I wonder if she knows about them,” Kurt pondered.

“Kurt, you know your father strictly forbid you from going there. I, as your bodyguard, need to remind you of that,” Puck said, scrutinizing the prince closely. He could see that Kurts curiosity was peaking. “And I would be remiss in my duties if did not strongly advise you to heed his words.”

“Yes, Puck. I know and I thank you for the reminder – though it wasnt necessary. I know what my father said,” Kurt snapped. He knew that wolf howling last night might be the one he saw at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, the one with the man hed locked eyes with. His gaze became dreamy, thinking once more about the beautiful man hed seen just a glimpse of yesterday.

“Kurt! I know what youre thinking, and youd better not be entertaining any thoughts of going into that blasted forest without me. I dont want to be whipped when you get kidnapped by a bunch of barbarians and they shave your head and burn you at the stake. You know the level of animosity between those people and our own?,” Puck practically growled.

“Yes, I know. What makes you think I have any wish to expose myself to that kind of danger?” Kurt asked, afraid hed been found out.

“Kurt, I was right beside you when we rode along the north side of the castle yesterday. I saw you and that boy in the forest exchange heart-eyes. I know you better than you know yourself, my prince. That is not something you should pursue. Even in your dreams,” Puck said bluntly before he turned with a flourish and stepped back into his small room by the hallway.

Kurt just stood, open-mouthed at how Puck could have picked up on something he himself had barely acknowledged. The price told himself he would just have to tread carefully – but he was determined to find that boy with the wolf-eyes.

Rachel had woken up in her new room. She wondered if this was really intended to be lived in by the first-born of the reigning king of Lourienne. It was clean, neat, and had very nice furniture and linens – but Rachel felt a bit lost without her usual opulent rooms at the old palace. This place was not a palace by any stretch. A castle, yes, and a large one at that, but luxurious? Opulent? A decided no.

“Good morning, my princess,” said a voice at her door. Rachel acknowledged the voice and her Lady-in-waiting came in, dressed for the day in a pale blue dress and frilly white pinafore.

“Good morning, Quinn,” Rachel said, a smile gracing her lips.

Quinn and Rachel were of an age and had known each other since birth. Quinns mother was the daughter of the Duke of the South Riding and her mother was Quinns aunt. When Idrina died, her sister had taken care of Rachel along with her own daughter, Quinn, who was just a month older than Rachel. They had been very close ever since.

“Did you sleep well, my lady?” Quinn asked.

“Yes, I did. I heard something in the night, though...a wild animal close to the castle I think. I was going to look, but my windows face east and the noise was coming from the north,” she said. Indeed, the howling had frightened her, but in the light of day her fear seemed foolish since she was safe behind brick walls.

“May I enter, your Highness?” said a soft voice at her door.

“Yes, come in,” Rachel answered, seeing a maid with arms full of fresh towels and linens and another one with some of Rachels clothing.

“Good morning, your Highness. Shall I set out your clothing for the day?” the second maid asked. She was small and had long brown hair braided and curled up in a bun on the back of her head.

“What is your name?” Rachel asked.

“Marley, my lady, and this is Madison,” the small girl offered, her head down in respect.

“Well, thank you, Marley and Madison. I will wash and then my lady-in-waiting can help me dress. Please tell my father that I will be down for breakfast. May I ask you a question?” Rachels voice was calm and soft with the new serving girls, they seemed almost frightened of her and Rachel wondered what rumors they had heard.

“Yes, your Highness?” Marley asked.

“Are there a lot of wild animals close to the castle?”

“No, maam. There are animals in the Great Northern Forest, but they dont come on castle grounds. They would be afraid to come out of the forest. There are few trees near Castle Sunvale, my Lady, and wild animals are usually shy of open spaces,” the little maid told her mistress.

“That relieves my mind. I heard some sort of howling last night,” she said.

“Oh, the wolf. I heard it, too. Ive never heard one so close before, but youre safe in the castle. One of the soldiers would surely kill a wild animal so close to the castle,” Marley said.

Rachel turned to Quinn.

“Do you know how my father and brothers slept in their new beds?” Rachel asked her.

“No, my Lady. I havent been away from my room at all this morning, except to come in here,” Quinn answered.

“Begging pardon, your Highness,” Marley interrupted.

“Yes?” Rachel turned back to the maid servant.

“I was helping Prince Kurt this morning and he said he heard the wolf also. His bodyguard had heard him get up and pace in his room last night. The prince did say that he was not greatly disturbed by the wolf, though,” Marley told the princess.

“Thank you, Marley. You may return to your work,” Rachel said kindly and waited for her and the other servant to leave the room.

“Quinny...are you afraid?” Rachel asked when they were alone once again.

“No. I have faith in our soldiers, Rachel. I think were safe enough,” Quinn said, more relaxed now that they didnt have an audience.

“If Kurt isnt afraid, neither am I,” Rachel stated. “Lets get ready and go down to breakfast.”

Prince Kurt walked down the stairs, Puck a few steps behind. As they reached the first floor, Rachel caught up with her half-brother and he took her arm to walk into the dining hall together.

“Did you hear the wolf howling last night?” Kurt asked, knowing his sister wasnt over-fond of wild animals.

“Yes...it sounded like it was right outside the walls. I think this place is not going to be like the palace we grew up in,” she whispered loudly.

Puck glanced over at Quinn and smirked. Quinn crossed her arms in front of her breasts and tried not to look at him. Puck scared her.

“Children!” King Burtram exclaimed, seeing his son and daughter enter the hall. He came over and hugged them both. “Sit down, were about to be served breakfast,” he told them. Holding a chair out for Rachel.

“Is the Queen going to join us?” Rachel asked, seeing the vacant seat beside the king.

“No, she isnt feeling well this morning. I had a bowl of boiled milk and porridge with honey sent up to her room. Maybe she will feel up to walking in the garden later,” Burtram said with concern. He couldnt recall if his other wives had so much trouble with their first pregnancies.

“What are you planning for your first day at the castle, Kurt?” his father asked.

“I was going to acquaint myself with the grounds, sir. I understand there is a pack of hunting dogs and I wanted to look them over before we went on the first stag hunt,” Kurt answered. The kind smiled at him, then turned to Rachel.

“I need to oversee the care of my horse, father. He came up a bit lame at the end of the parade yesterday and I dont want anything to go badly with his hoof. I dont know about the grooms here and I want to be sure he is cared for properly.”

“But of course, my dear. Feel free to consult with me later if you feel the need. Im sorry your groom didnt make the trip with us, but I understand your concern and letting him stay with his old mother. Is he going to join us later?” Burtram asked.

“I hope so, but Im sure I can find another competent groom. I assume they have such men here in the barren north,” Rachel said with acid on her tongue. While she wouldnt say anything outright about her fathers decision to move to the edge of the known world, she was far to angry to keep it all to herself forever.