When the King is Killed.

Audrey was not bored. 

Contrary to what a lot of people might say about her, Audrey loved the monotonous silence of a sunny day. 

Sitting in the waist deep water of the small pond in her backyard Audrey felt the sun beat down on her from above. 

Meditation. 

The alignment of physical and spiritual energies. 

It slowed down Magical flow, allowing one to feel the energy easier.

CAW~!

CAW~!

Audrey blinked, looking at the Raven that perched, on a trees lower branches. 

"...Hello." She said, standing up, and using her magic to dry herself. Walking over to the Raven, she held out her hand and it set it's leg into her palm, dropping a small roll of parchment into her hand.

"Huh." She examined the Raven. "You're not an eagle."

Caw?

"I have some food if you'd like." Audrey said, reaching her hand out and snapping. A cob of corn rushed into her hand and she ripped off a small amount of kernels. 

Holding them out she waited for the Raven to start eating. 

BONK!

Audrey stared at the bird that was head butting her hand, missing the corn. "You're pretty cute, in a stupid way." She mumbled. 

Dropping the kernels onto the ground

They were instantly feasted on by the Raven. 

Walking back over to her pond, she sat down. 

Unrolling the small piece of paper, as she ignored the helpless caws of the stupid Raven, she read. 

After a few seconds her lips twitched upwards. 

"Of course he would do that." Audrey said. 

Turning the paper around, she used her finger and magically inscribed her response to the letter.

"Hey." She said, turning back to the Raven. "..."

Caw.

"Get the stick out of your mouth." Audrey went to grab the stick only for the Raven to try running away. 

"H-Hey!?" She said confused at it's retreat. "Get back here."

She held out her hand as it tried, again, to fly away, and pulled the stick it was holding towards her. 

As they both flew near, Audrey snagged the Raven from the branch. 

"Dumb Raven." She muttered, tying the acceptance to its foot. "Go back to the king." 

CAW!

"Yeah yeah." Audrey said as the Raven flew off into the sky. She sighed and rubbed at her neck. 

Walking back into her house, she pulled her hat off of the coat rack and examined it. 

"So a Gala's being held in honor of the Princess huh?" She mused, picking off some small bits of lint. "Of all the asinine things, and of course Ramone has to thank me with a Royal honors." 'I could always just skip it and tell him to screw a donkey...' 

Audrey sighed. 

'No I actually like Ramone.' She groaned lightly and looked at her fireplace. 

"Guess I need to clean my 'Sacred Gear.'" She said to herself, sarcastically as she magically gathered all of her clothes and got to work. 

"So...?" 

"What is it now Chimera?" 

Two figures walked through the foliage of the great forest. 

One was cloaked and hiding his face in his hood, while the other had silver eyes and what seemed to be a mane of fur. 

"I want to know something about the job you've hired me for." Chimera said to the hooded stranger. "How exactly am I going to avoid the King? He's known throughout the world as someone who can see intent."

"I'll deal with Ramone." The hooded figure said, His voice low and angry. "You just make sure that you kill the Princess. We can not have the Sacred Mage train her into another unstoppable monster."

"You seem to have a stake in her death." Chimera said, eyes narrowed. 

"That doesn't concern you." The man said. 

"It does when it could impact my pay." Chimera growled lowly. His silver eyes nearly glowing. 

"You'll get your pay Chimera." The man said. "I'll make sure of that at the least. Just get your job done."

"Fine." Chimera sighed. "When are we doing this?"

"Our best shot at the Princess is during the Gala."

"Fine." Chimera said. "I expect you to make a big enough scene to give me the shot."

"It will be done."

Audrey frowned as she looked up at the castle. 

"Well if it isn't the Sacred Mage."

Audrey turned and looked at Reind with a slight roll of her eyes. 

"If it isn't the late oaf that dropped his rucksack in a cavern."

"That's harsh." Reind said, mocking pain. 

"Is Whitney arriving soon?" Audrey asked curious. 

"I'm afraid she's ill again." Reind said. "She's sent an eagle for the King to explain the situation."

"Well that's... disappointing."

"I'm shocked you haven't asked about Kaine." Reind said. 

"Kaine is obviously here." Audrey said, pointing towards the crowd of people at the castles gates. A silver haired man was boisterously laughing with a group of women from the village. 

"His silver tongue seems to not be dulled." Reind cackled. "Shal we join him?"

"Leave him for now." Audrey said, exasperated. "Let's slip past, I need to speak with Ramone."

"We can try." Reind said. 

The two of them approached the gates, gaining looks and whispers from the crowd gathered. 

"It's the Sacred Mage."

"I can't believe she's here..."

"Is she attending the Gala?"

"Audrey!" 

Kaine approached the two of them. 

"Reind!" He continued looking at the large man. "Hey you two!"

"Hello Kaine." Audrey said. "How is your... retirement?"

"It's so freaking boring." Kaine sighed. "I swear my wife wont let me even swing my sword without a talking to."

"She has good reason Kaine." Reind said, gesturing to his left arm. 

Or his lack there of.

Audrey glowered at the missing appendage. 

"We should head inside." She insisted. "I need to speak with Ramone."

"Yeesh." Kaine said. "Slow down Audrey. Say hi to your fans."

"Kaine I will-"

"Be polite in front of a crowd." Reind said, giving a firm glance at the two of them.

"..." Audrey sighed and massaged the bridge of her nose. "You infuriate me to no end."

"It's my reason to live." Kaine said with a playful smile. 

Somehow a smile crawled onto Audrey's face as well. 

"I figure that if you're here, you're wife isn't far behind?" Audrey asked. 

"Yeah." Kaine nodded. "She already went inside. I was waiting for the two of you."

"Shall we?" Reind asked. 

"Please?" Audrey said. "I need to speak to Ramone."

The three make their way through the splitting crowd, into the castle. 

Little did they know it would be the last time they entered a building together as allies for a long time.