Naiobe finds herself pleased with the way her dryad behaves. She knows to thank Naiobe for gifts the value of which might not be readily apparent. She is pleased that the dryad takes such pains to remain graceful and very pretty. The extra swagger to the dryad's crawl does not escape Naiobe's notice, either. Such a good girl. Naiobe will reward her later.<br/><br/>All thoughts of the dryad leave her head, however, when she finds herself face to face with her father and his guest. The familiar face makes Naiobe's smile freeze in place, and her hand tighten on her dryad's leash. This is the company that was arriving today? What a terrible waste of the time spent decorating her dryad and dressing herself. "Good morning, Father." Naiobe curtsies shallowly, nodding to the princeling that accompanies her father. "Corwin." She turns aside, intending to busy herself with someone else, anyone else, in the grand hall. It's a blessing she's already had breakfast, or she might be stuck eating a meal with the pompous, arrogant, willful, headstrong son of a ...