“Milady!” The high pitched voice of my servant, Taloosa, rings throughout the room as she enters, matching the volume of her clumpy footsteps. “Milady,” Taloosa says again, unable to hold back her excitement and rushing towards my throne. “I bring back great news!”

I hold up my hand, silencing her before she can say anything further and turn my attention back to the guest I had been talking to before we were interrupted. “My apologies, Lord Correia. I fear this is of great importance. Since you spoke of loving gardens, please let my gardener show you his exquisite work. I assure you, he has the greenest thumb in all of the land. Once I have this taken care of, I will join you. It is such a beautiful day, after all.”

“Certainly, Your Highness.” Lord Correia bows to me and the follows another servant out of the thrown room.

“Please clear the room.” I order, staying seated until everyone but Taloosa is gone, and then rising to meet her in a hug. “What have I said about your manners, Tally?” I say tenderly, resting my chin on her hair.

“That I must work on them. I apologize, Milady.” We stay grasped in a hug for as long as we can possibly stand before I return to my throne and she stands in front of me appropriately. “Milady,” she curtsies.

“What news have you brought today?”

“Do you remember the traitor you sent me out after?” She asks, the excitement still trying to burst out of her small body.

It’s then I notice she has a small burlap sack tied to her waist - leaking a dark black substance. Oh no. “Yes, it’s quite fresh in my mind.”

“I got him!” As I suspected, she unties the sack and holds it proudly up, beaming from head to toe. She had been trying really hard to do more things around the castle and I figured she could handle a traitor though she was supposed to be supervised.

“And where is Sir Twon?” I ask, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice.

“He let me do this on my own!” Her smile was from ear to ear and though I hated to ruin it, she needed to learn from her mistakes.

“Tally, that’s wonderful. I’m so happy you were able to kill the traitor. However, my exact words were ‘Hunt down the traitor, and bring them back to me ALIVE.’”

L.H.