"Father!" Xavier laughed, and raised his cup to toast with his father, who had just made a particularly rude statement about something Queen Ennis had just said.

"I am stating the truth, Xavier. Now, would you be so kind as to go get more rolls from the kitchen?"

"Of course, Father." Xavier stood, nodding toward either end of the table, and exited the Hall.

His ran his hand across the brick wall that shone bright with sunlight, heating an already cold palace environment.
On his way, he ran into a few servants here and there who had no family to visit on Itiiraea, so stayed in Viâna for the holiday.

"Morning, my Lord." Each servant that passed bowed their head in respect. Xavier, in turn, would respond with a nod and a greeting.

"Hello, Theresa." Xavier cheerfully greeted the apprentice chef when he reached the kitchen. "Do you have a batch of fresh rolls?"

"Of course, my Lord. In that basket there." Theresa pointed to the counter next to the oven. "I used the blue cloth to cover them, I know how partial you are to that one. Anything else for you, sire?"

"Could you maybe provide some of that toma-"

"Already in the basket."

"You came prepared." Xavier lifted the cloth to see a small black bowl full of creamy red soup.

"I knew you'd ask for it. It's not as good as Lian's, but..."

"Nonsense, Theresa. Thank you." Xavier cradled the basket under one arm, and left the kitchen.

On his way back, Xavier snacked on a roll, rearranging the bread to make it look like he hadn't taken anything.
"Pardon me, my Lord, but the King wishes to speak with you." The royal advisor, Amharic, stopped Xavier with his rushed announcement. "If you'll follow?"

"Of course. Whatever could he want?" Xavier hurried to keep up with Amharic.

"I don't know, sire. 'Utmost importance,' he said. Military expertise, I expect."

"In here?" Xavier pointed the doors of the Great Hall.

Amharic nodded, and Xavier burst through the doors.

"If we don't find her before they do..." King Leon ran his hand through his hair worriedly and leaned over a map.

"Whom, Father? If we don't find whom?"

"Xavier! There you are! Right one time. I need your knights."

"Whom do we need to find?" Xavier repeated.

"They've found a Dragon Singer in Ithia. We must retrieve her before the other kingdoms get word of her existence."