It took three more stories, and the promise of five the next night, before the young prince drifted to sleep, clutching his blanket (Father had banished his favorite toy, a stuffed animal, deeming Amon's attachment to it unmanly) as close as he could.  Aurora bent down, kissing his golden curls and shut the door behind her, snuffing the candle, bathing the room in the Moon's silver glow.<br/><br/>Her own chambers were well lit, a fire lit despite the warmth of the evening, around which the maid Sophie sat, drinking sugared tea and waiting for her, no doubt, in her own chair.  Aurora closed the door behind her with a thud, and felt a prick of sweet pleasure seeing the girl jump up, guiltily.  "My lady!" she exclaimed, tried to set her tea cup down, tried to curtsy, tried not to trip over the footstool all at once, and mangling them all.  "You gave me a fright!"<br/><br/>"It's all right, Sophie, I just put Amon to bed and didn't want to disturb him; I was quiet in the hall.  Thank you for attending me, none of my maids returned with me and I do so wish company tonight."<br/><br/>Sophie's eyes flashed greedily at the little bit of news the princess had fed her, and she hesitated, having not her father's wit, to find a way to pry subtly.  "We were all so concerned to hear of your return, Princess.  So sudden and unexpected.  And Father says that you must have comfort after. . .well, he did not quite say what."<br/><br/>"No," Aurora said, sitting herself before the fire and poking the burning logs.  "Fetch another cup and we'll talk.  The tea smells delicious."<br/><br/>Though Sophie only had her back to her for a handful of seconds, it was more than enough time for Aurora to retrieve the flask of sleeping drought she'd stolen from the healer's wagon, and add a measure to the girl's cup.  She poured hot tea over the milky, sweet syrup, wondering if she would taste it.  Wondered if she'd taste anything over all the sugar and honey she added.<br/><br/>Drinking her own tea black, Aurora studied the flames, keeping the girl in the corner of her eye.  "Being a pure, virtuous maid, Sophie," she began, and closed her mouth, as much to keep a straight face as to keep the illusion of speaking of a difficult matter.  "It will be hard for you to imagine, but some men will do anything for a woman's favors.  Even when she does not consent to give them."<br/><br/>The maid brought a hand to her cheek, mock horror on her face.  "You were. . .assaulted, my lady?  That. . .that. . .that's horrid!"  And then yawned, abruptly, blinking in surprise.  "Pray pardon me, lady.  I do not know where that came from."<br/><br/>Aurora spoke some more, not really paying attention to her words.  She'd spent her whole life making pretty noises, like a bird in a cage, minding her manners, saying pleasant things, that she no longer even needed to think about it, and spent the next few minutes simply waiting, impatiently, for the diluted potion to take effect.  Though she had ridden hard all day, she felt no tiredness, nor sleepiness, and it seemed that there were a hundred thousand things she needed to do, and too little time to do it in.<br/><br/>So when Sophie's dull eyes finally shut, and her teacup fell to the floor, empty, Aurora could not contain her wicked grin of triumph any longer.  She lifted the chain from about her throat, and placed it around Sophie's neck, kissing the girl on the ear and whispering to her.  "I would wish you sweet dreams, my lovely little spy, but he shan't be as gentle with you as I was.  Will you even come back sane, or can he cloak even the worst torture in the fog of nightmare?  It will be interesting to see."<br/><br/>She had not sent to anyone but her grandsire before, but she closed her eyes, summoned up Darius' face, and called to him, with her heart, with her hands working the air as if plucking out notes on a harp, and sent her will across the city to where he lay, dreaming of her.<em>My knight, my knight, come to me.  Your princess wishes your service.</em>