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whispered to her, she responded with a quick kiss on his cheek.
    “Wait here?” he asked looking at Kathryn, who nodded. He disappeared into his bakery and returned his hands clutching something. Fighting tears he knelt down and handed her a bag of berry tarts. “Here, a couple of your favorite treats for the road.”
    Kathryn took the bag and hugged him again.
    “Go on young miss,” He said softly. “They’ve tarried long enough and won’t wait forever.”
    Kathryn nodded then rejoined the Princess and her companions who were waiting patiently and followed the Princess out of the gates of Blackwood Manor and into her new life.
     

Chapter 2
     
    Throughout the whole ride to the palace Princess Jasmine tried to make conversation with the silent girl sitting before her. “How old are you Kathryn?” For a moment it seemed like the little girl wouldn’t answer, then she slowly held up ten fingers.
    “Ten years old?”
    Kathryn nodded briefly.
    “You don’t need to be afraid of me, Kathryn,” the Princess told her gently, yet the little girl refused to speak or even to look at her.
    Jasmine’s heart went out to the small child whose malnourished arms were wrapped around the little bird nestled on her skirt. Shortly into the ride the little girl had opened the bag the baker had given her and had pulled out a single tart. Jasmine found it strange how quickly the bird gobbled up the small flakes of pastry Kathryn offered it, even more surprising was the fact that Kathryn seemed to understand that pastry wasn’t a suitable meal for her charge and kept the morsels she fed it small. Turning her thoughts to the little girl, she could only imagine what Kathryn had endured at Blackwood Manor. She had seen the looks Lady Blackwood had aimed in the little girl’s direction and seen the barely visible flinches given in response.
    Earlier, when they had left Blackwood Manor, Jasmine had taken Kathryn up on her horse and the small group had ridden toward the Rawasi Mountains. They rode into the forest that covered the base of the mountains and as they were riding a large house suddenly appeared out thin air before them. Kathryn jerked at its sudden appearance, but Jasmine had spoken quietly and calmly, assuring her that everything was alright. At the large house they had changed clothes and transferred into a carriage and set off once again.
    The carriage they were riding in was equipped with messenger birds and Jasmine called for one. Quickly she penned a message and sent the small bird ahead. By the time they arrived at her estate, Jasmine knew there would be a few surprises for Kathryn.
    The ride to the palace was a long one, several times they had to stop and wait for a herd of cattle to move or an inept merchant’s dithering to replace a wheel on his disabled pushcart or wagon. “Who moves their herd at this time of night?” Jasmine muttered to herself after the third herd of cattle was safely on the other side of the road and they were on their way again. As the time of night registered, Jasmine’s eyes flew to her silent companion, hoping that she was asleep.
    But no, Kathryn was still awake and looking out the window, glancing away constantly to check on the small bird. Jasmine slept for a few radians around midday and woke to find her companion as alert as before.
    As the first rays of sunset began to dance upon the earth and bathe the sky crimson red, they arrived at Jasmine’s home. Two guards quickly advanced on the carriage and one opened the princess’s door and helped her out.  “Welcome back my lady, I trust you had a safe and pleasant journey” 
    Although she had much on her mind, she smiled and replied that the trip had been most profitable and that she had a special guest that would be staying for some time.  Turning and motioning with her eyes she said, “Regalde, this is Kathryn.”  
    Regalde, his rough and pockmarked face puzzled slightly as he gazed at the little girl, and with a raspy