Part 5

The guards were curious at a rusalki emerging from the lake next to Castle Ashe, and decided to take a closer look. None of the Princesses said they were expecting anyone, and the Captain of the Guard confirmed he didn't recognize her, so they moved to stop her.

"Excuse me Miss?" One asked, approaching her and talking gently. As timid as rusalki look, they're still powerful enough to drown a grown man by themselves, so he didn't want to antagonize her for no reason.

"I need to see Princess Verka Ashe." Mira answered in rusalki. "Please, I need to see the Princess."

"Hmmm." The guard said. "Can you understand me?" He asked. She looked at him with a confused look. "Of course."

"Verka Ashe! Verka Ashe! Verka Ashe!" Mira said, repeating Verka's name over and over.

"Hey Boris, you think maybe?" The other guard asked.

"Yeah no shit. Stay with her, I'll go talk to the Crown Princess." Boris said, making a motion with his hands telling Mira to stay, before running off.

"Uhhh..." The other guard said, looking at Mira. "Nathan." He said, pointing at himself. To his relief, Mira seemed to understand.

"Mira." She replied, also pointing at herself.

---

Boris found Verka after a few minutes in the library. She was reading a book, but glanced up when she heard the soft clinks from his armour.

"Yes Guardsman, how can I help you?" Verka asked.

"Excuse me Your Highness, but there's a rusalki at the lake. She only seems to speak rusalki, but she just kept saying your name over and over." Boris said, bowing before speaking.

Verka put down her book. This was a nice change of pace, she supposed. Ever since Rebecca's death, she'd been too busy helping out Connor to really have any of her usual intrigues, and this could prove a nice diversion for a few hours.