Sheridan Blackthorn walked backwards out of the chamber bowed low as was appropriate for a servant to do when leaving their princes chamber. Sheridan  sighed heavily once the door closed. His body was still shaking from that particular meeting. Sher didn't enjoy being any where near the aristocracy in general and this particular prince on principle. This prince had a temper and Sher did NOT want his head put on a spike for all to see. Shuddering he quickly made his way out of the general reception area of the palace as fast as he possibly could. Sher had come to the palace to beg leniency from his prince in order to be able to have an extension on the taxes that were due from his father's estate. They were plebs, not overly moneyed, but with enough money to own land. Well at least for now. His father was a drunk who waisted all their money and it was something Sher wanted to beat him for.<br/><br/>Now that Sher was twenty years of age he was old enough to take over the estate. Only his bastard of a father wasn't so willing. So Sher worked the accounts in the background and tried desperately to salvage their livelihood. His eyes narrowing at the thoughts that ran through his head Sher raked his hand through his short spiky hair and looked down at his ragged appearance. Ugh this was such a disaster. He looked like a complete reck. Dust covered his clothing from the long ride over from the farm. His shirt was too big for him. Sher had a lot of muscle from all the hard work he'd done his whole life, but he was overly thin from having had little food on his table. Since his father was always drinking away every penny they owned Sher's mother had little to use for food. His shirt was patched and stitched from all the repairs he'd had to do and much like his pants was well worn. Though clean he didn't appear that way on first look. His eyes were hazel and his hair black. His complexion was fair and rugged, dark and tanned from endless hours spent in the sun.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Capture a princess, bring her back here, easy enough list. And yet never estimate the universe ability to screw with the simplest of plans. </span>Sher was pretty sure that this was going to go straight to hell and end up with his head on a pike. He sighed again and took a deep breath to steady his unsteady nerves as he walked out of the palace and into the courtyard. He took a few minutes to let his body ease and relax there in the shadows of the door. The shaking slowed down and eased up. He took several deep breaths and counted to ten. Satisfied that he had now regained control of his body and emotions he headed for the stable yard.<br/><br/>"I'd like my horse if you please," he asked the man that was mucking stalls. The man nodded and retrieved the old sturdy mare. Bringing her to him by her lead. Sher mounted up and kicked her into motion taking off out of the stables and hitting the road at full gallop.<br/><br/>The ride to the next kingdom took him a few days, most of which he spent camping out along the roadside. Sher loved this form of travel. Roughing it in the wilderness as he made his way between kingdoms. The doted farms along the road as points to purchase food in exchange for a service rendered or a few coins. A few cities every now and again that held no appeal to Sher.<br/><br/>Several days later he reached the edge of the main city where the palace stood just to the east of him. Tying off his mare in the forest he stalked quietly to the edge of the woods and looked out along the private riding fields.