<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0040FF"><span style="font-size: 200%; line-height: 116%;">Earl Seaward, the Archivist Assistant</span></span></div><br/><br/>Replacing the small notepad back into his shirt pocket, Earl cast a look of nervousness at his mentor as they proceeded through the hallways, unable to think that any possible threat could come from someone that was supposed to be the king's darling wife. Sure, it was not unheard of for deception to be at this level, especially among those in powerful positions such as the mighty King Allistair, but to actually think that it may be happening now...here of all places. Why? The kingdom that has stood as a pillar of good for generations? The very king that allowed an orphaned, relatively unknown, youth to become an assistant to his archivist? Why in the world would anyone wish to attack one kingdom such as this? These questions burned in the young man's head as he thought about the situation more.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0040FF">"I will try to keep an eye on her, Harold. But if she is involved in this somehow then she will definitely be alert to any kind of observation we might try to gain on her. Surely it must be something else, though. I could not think of what would happen to the king if his wife turned out to be working against him as he loves her dearly."</span>The tension was building up inside Earl as the two of them approached the doorway to the dining hall, the hairs on the back of his neck beginning to rise as goosebumps played upon his arms. He placed a single hand on the door and hesitated a moment, letting out a deep sigh that echoed off the walls just before the doors were pushed open.<br/><br/>What he saw before him was not the company that was expected, a chill running down his spine as he looked at the figure who was sitting at the table. The queen, Cestaline, alone at the table...well not alone, to the relief of Earl. He quickly discovered that the person in question was joined by the Archmage Aurion, which eased the tension only slightly as the young apprentice bowed gracefully towards both members of the breakfast party,<span style="color: #0040FF">"Good morning, your highness. As to you as well, Archmage. I hope you two are..."</span>he paused for a second while glancing over at the plate that sat in front of the Djinn, realizing the irony of his next words,<span style="color: #0040FF">"..enjoying your meal."</span><br/><br/>He took his eyes away from the plate and placed them back upon the queen, being drawn in by the beauty that she was known for throughout the kingdom. The type of beauty that was just as captivating as it was mysterious, as Earl had seen it, as you could always see that there was something just beyond those eyes that could turn any man into mush. He was never sure what that something could be but he had always made sure never to lock eyes with this woman for too long lest he become entrapped by whatever it was that was just beyond her gaze. Whenever he felt like he had looked too long, as he felt this very morning, he adjusts his eyes slightly as to break the hold. This time, as with every other time, the break causes a slight blush to play on his cheeks as he realizes that he was looking for far too long.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0040FF">"How does the king and his queen fair this morning,"</span>he asked with humble tone. He was rather disappointed to find that the king and his general were not at the table like the two librarians had been wishing for, making the task for which the pair had come here for much more difficult than it was intended to be.<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #0040FF">At least the archmage is here,</span></span>Earl thought to himself as he waited for the queen to respond to his question, not wanting to talk business until the pleasantries were out of the way.