The ballroom shone brighter than the thousands of stars out that night. The guests are dressed in beautiful blues and purples. People are falling over themselves, trying to impress two people at the front of the room. The man towered over everyone there. His daunting presence is heightened by the curtain of ebony hair that fell below his knees. His sharp, steely blue eyes and the light blue color of the silk clothes taut over his arms and shoulders, threatening to tear, making his tanned skin stand out. He is a man who has never backed down from a challenge and has never lost. A dark energy radiated from him only to be countered by the light shining off the small woman next to him. Everything about her was bright; her emerald doe eyes, floor-length blonde hair gracefully pleated into two identical braids, and the periwinkle silk gown draped over her slender figure. The light purple hue made her seem even paler than she already was. King Benedict and Queen Burnet Lawrence were hosting a ball for their triplets' seventeenth birthday. Three smaller figures lurked towards the stairs on the other side of the room: two girls and a boy.
"Look how they fawn over, Father," one of the girls said in disgust, "it's like we don't even exist, and it's our party."
"Calm down, Lorane," the other girl sighed. "It's not like we want to be noticed sneaking out." Lorane rolled her eyes and pushed one of the golden braids framing her face over her shoulder. The flickering lights of the candles decorating the room catch her forest green eyes and cause the peridots that adorned the collar and sleeves of the emerald silk dress she wore to shine. Everything about her is in perfect contrast; her sharp eyes, gentle face, thick golden hair that falls to her hips, and olive-colored skin.
"I know that, but I'm saying they could try and feign interest in who this party is actually for, Avangelina."
"Ah, okay. I have asked a million times to call me Ava, Lorane," Ava replied. She pulled at the front of her pale yellow silk gown so the yellow sapphire-adorned hem wouldn't cause her to trip. Her icy blue doe eyes scanned the room as she pushed a few loose strands of her shoulder-length brown hair out of her round face. The almost identical girls seem as small as mice compared to their only brother. "Leviticus!" she called out softly, "Where are we going?"
"The woods," he answered, "To meet up with Romans Liyem and Dragon," Leviticus turned to face the two girls, standing above them by almost a foot. "While outside the palace, please refer to me as Levi." He stated, fidgeting with the ties of the crimson silk shirt and the leg of the brown pants. His black leather boots looked out of place without his jacket and vest. "We'll have to change and pack first, then," Lorane spoke up, "it would be rather impractical to leave for the forest in these clothes."
"What should we pack?" Ava turned to Leviticus.
"We should all change into comfortable riding attire and pack as many cotton shirts and pants as we have. Any of the weapons you can use. Whatever food you can manage to get out of the kitchens," he replied; his grey eyes looked extra pale behind his round frames in the dim light of the candles. The trio continued down the wall. The soft clacking of the girl's heels was drowned out by the dull chatter of the noblemen and their wives. As they reached to stairs at the other end of the room, the siblings let go of the breath they didn't realize they were holding.
"Alright, now we split up and meet back up at the stables," Leviticus said, trying to calm his shaking hand by flattening his short unruly mahogany hair. They part ways to get ready to leave. The first one down to the stables is Ava. She busies herself, tacking up three horses. Her white cotton shirt, black pants, and riding boots seem too plain next to the ornate designs on the horses' saddles, bridles, and reins. Her brown wool cloak swishes around her as she hurries around the stables getting her gear tied down to her horse. Caught up in her hurry, she doesn't hear Leviticus approach the door, "We are going to need another horse, Ava," he said, making her jump. "I'll get another one ready, don't worry about it, Ava," he finished as she started tacking up another horse. "It would be unwise to give Ava a heart attack before we even reach the forest Levi," Lorane said, stepping into the bright torchlight of the stables. "Also, why do we need another horse?"
"Because Lorane, Roma, and Dragon said they found a girl a while ago that resembles Lucy Lavelle, the lost princess of Nimway," Leviticus said, paying no mind to her attire.
"And we are to travel to Nimway from the forests of Nakatae with a girl we aren't even sure is Princess Lucy?" Lorane asked indignantly.
"Yes, Lorane," Leviticus almost shouts, finally turning to face her. "Lorane," Leviticus stated slowly, "the whole point of changing our clothes was to be less noticeable. Not more noticeable." Unlike Levi and Ava, who went for more subtle clothes for ease of travel, Lorane was wearing her most ornate riding outfit.
"What's wrong with my outfit, Levi?"
"Well, first of all, it's silk, not wool or cotton, like mine and Ava's. Second, it is decorated with beads and our royal seal. Third, that velvet cloak is not going to keep you warm. Empty your bag, please." Lorane rolls her eyes and pulls out three wool shirts, three pairs of cotton pants, and a knee-length wool cloak, the only one she has.
"Okay. I know you have at least one more pair of cotton pants and another plain wool shirt. Please change into them and come back. Quickly," Levi said, exasperation dripping from his words. "Not happening," Lorane stated, "If you haven't noticed, Ava's cloak has the royal seal, as well as yours. And I'm sure that's so we can get out of the palace grounds, right? You are dressed as you usually are when we go on leisure rides, so naturally, I dressed like we are just taking a leisurely ride through the forest on the grounds."
"She has a point, Levi; we are all dressed like we do to go on rides, and that is how we will get out of here without raising suspicion," Ava said quietly, calming both tempers as she usually did. "If we are all ready to depart, I suggest we do it now. I'm sure mother and father have noticed our absence by now." Leviticus and Lorane nodded and secured their packs and weapons to their saddles. Soon the group leaves the stables and starts down the path to the forest. They encounter no opposition from the guards and knights they pass, though they do get a couple of odd stares from having four tacked-up horses. They stop just at the edge of the wood.
"Well, there's no turning back now," Leviticus sighed, turning back to face his sisters. "When we step into this forest, we won't be able to turn back until we make it to Nimway. I think Father has gotten the letter I passed on to Sir Nigel on the way here. I know he won't send anyone after us. So if either of you don't want to go with me and the assains on this journey, then you should turn back now," Leviticus explained, pulling out two identically sealed parchments and holding them out to Lorane and Ava. "These letters say you accompanied me to the border of the woods and didn't wish to continue. They should quell our father's wrath and save you from our mother's disappointment."
"Well, I'd never turn away from an adventure," Ava said, turning to Lorane. "What are you going to do?"
"I'm not turning back! Someone is going to have to keep all of you on track," Lorane decreed, an indignant look on her face. With the assurances from his sisters, Leviticus led the way into the forest.