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Iris Whisper
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"Bewitched?" you ask "And are chains really necessary for a princess?"
Allonza gives a mirthless laugh "Ha, not a proper princess, no. Give her a moment and she's loose like an arrow from a bow, leaving the poor fool that fell for her charm behind to face the consequences. The king won't have her wings clipped, so as not to mar her beauty." As she says this she rubs her arm. You notice a thin scar along the side of her wrists, almost hidden by her lacy sleeves. "The last time she tried to run she was up among the clouds for three days before a knight managed to ambush her, and I suspect only because she was weakened by hunger."
You look up. The painted sky is obscured by a mess of pulleys, gantries, and wires. Several more of those spy glass apparatuses are stowed way up by the ceiling. You could see a fleeing butterfly would have plenty of places to hide.
You look back at the duchess with a frown "What makes her so important? Is Espania a mighty place?"
"It's well... a country to the west. One of many alliances and protectorates, with the princess as insurance of course. I really can not recall." the bat says, fingers pressing against one another. "There's so much drama in the court. I couldn't possibly..."
"Of course, of course." Lisel waves her off "But do tell us more about your artist. What sort of school does he fall under? The realists, or more classical? Perhaps Baroque? I'm a dabbling painter myself you know."
"Ah-h yes, well..."
The duchess is saved from having to answer by two claps and an immediate hush. The king has risen from his throne as the last plate is cleared. "My friends" he calls "Now it is time for the day's entertainment. We will have a croquet tournament!"
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