Inside the royal palace Queen Imani paces back and forth across the solar, her burgundy silk gown swishing around her legs as she walks back and forth across the floor. She reached up to pull a loose strand of her long back hair out of her face in agitation, trying to stick it back into the twist but it wouldn't stay and she had to settle for putting it behind her ear.<br/><br/>Her small feet, in kitten heels click clacked on the marble floor as she paced, but she abruptly stopped with a huff and sat down in one of the two stuffed armchairs. The other being occupied by one of her most trusted men, Lord Salthmar.<br/><br/>Her violet eyes turned to look at him and she couldn't help but see that he was getting older, heading towards fifty, but he was still able to keep up with and even best the younger knights of the kingdom. He was about five foot seven, well muscled, with grey eyes and salt and pepper hair with a matching mustache. She relied on him for many things, he was her right hand man and she needed his advice.<br/><br/>Queen Imani says, her normaly melodious voice tight with concern, â€œI thought that putting out a recruitment bulletin would be a good idea. My army is overwhelmed trying to protect the country from the ever increasing attacks and I was hoping the new recruits would be able to ease their burden and perhaps even push the invading groups away entirely, but so far all we have are opportunists who care more for the money than for the people they are supposed to protect. Maybe this wasnâ€™t a good idea after all.â€<br/><br/>â€œYour Highness,â€ Lord Salthmar started<br/><br/>Queen Imani glares at him and he grins.<br/><br/>â€œImani," He corrects, "there really isn't any choice. We need more people to be able to cover all the areas that need it. Perhaps more stringent guidelines for those who wish to join? Or someone you trust to oversee their efforts?â€<br/><br/>â€œYes you are right and I believe we need both measures. Jacky already asked to go along with one of the groups but she is inexperienced herself. I would feel better if you went with her, but I canâ€™t spare you as the leader of the defense here in Crix.â€œ<br/><br/>â€œPerhaps Lord Tarlek or Barden?â€<br/><br/>â€œThey are both on missions and are too old to oversee new recruits. â€œ She leaned her head in her hand. After a few moments though she jumped up. â€œAh! I have it. Darien! He has no assignment right now and is young but experienced for his age. He gets along well with Jacky. I think they might even have a liking for each other,â€ she giggles lightly, her eyes shining.<br/><br/>â€œThey wonâ€™t be on a pleasure trip.â€ His bushy eyebrows arched down in concern.<br/><br/>â€œI know that. Please call Darien right away and have him meet with us and have Jacky join us as well.â€<br/><br/>Salthmar left to do as she had asked and returned with the two after about half an hour.<br/><br/>â€œI am glad you two could join us. Please be seated." Imani had stood as they entered and motioned them to come in gracefully.<br/><br/>The two young people grabbed some small chairs from around the room while Salthmar and the Queen again sat in the two upholstered chairs and all sat in a circle by the fireplace. Imani studied the two for a moment; Darien is a seventeen year old young man with striking blue eyes and shoulder length wavy black hair. He is six foot, lean and muscular and he has a glide to his walk that speaks of a panther on the prowl. He has a model face and when he smiles most females canâ€™t help but sigh. Jacky is fiveâ€™ twoâ€™â€™ with long black hair, violet eyes, leanly muscled with a good face and figure.<br/><br/>Imani spoke, her voice soft but confident. â€œJacky, you know that I have been reluctant for many reasons to let you join one of the groups going out. You may have a good grasp of the sword now but you are still inexperienced, along with other reasons of which you are aware.â€<br/><br/>Jacky nodded recognizing the warning look in the Queenâ€™s eyes. No one must know why Jacky was in Crix or connect her to the princess, at least for now. So Jacky could only accompany people unfamiliar with the Princess.<br/><br/>Imani continued,â€œWith that in mind I do not want you in attendance at all until we find the right group and then not until they are ready for their first task. Until that time I want<br/>Darien to be in charge of finding the right people and leading them, at least at first.â€