Do not forget why you are here!

The distraction of finding Lady Trina in such an unexpected state, coupled with a lack of proper sleep, has almost made you lose sight of why you came up to the high meadow seeking her in the first place!

"I have news regarding the investigation, my Lady," you say to her. Trina's eyebrows raise, and you add, "It is not as good as we might hope, but it is a step in the right direction."

"With your permission, Sire?" Trina says, indicating the pile of garments behind her.

"By all means." She is your sworn protector, you remind yourself as she turns about and inevitably shows you yet another tempting view. She is not a seductive dancing girl putting on a show, she was simply practicing the sword and did not expect to see her King! She is walking to her clothes rather than scrambling for them in order to preserve her dignity, not so that your gaze may linger upon her!

With an effort, you turn away and do your best to emulate the example set by your horse, who is paying no attention.

"Sire? Forgive me, please - did you wish me to accompany you back to the castle at this time, or will we remain here?"

You look back again, and see that Trina has not bothered with her armor or even her smallclothes, but has simply donned her rough leather coat. Normally this garment would not emerge from her wardrobe until late autumn, but likely she chose to spend the night in the meadow once again and it makes for good protection against the ground. "We should first discuss the investigation, as we can do so here without fear of being overheard," you say, making your way over to her so that you can take advantage of the diminishing shade, and trying to ignore the fact that Trina somehow looks more appealing in well-worn brown leather than another woman would look in silk and jewels. You offer water from your bag, and she accepts it gratefully.

"What news then, Sire?" she asks.

"I have spoken with a witness who saw Abdul return to the camp on the night he was killed," you say.

Trina looks puzzled for a moment, and then her eyes go wide. "The Sultan allowed you to speak with his harem women?"

"How did you know who it was?" you ask, her insight taking you by surprise.

"There was no one else in his camp, save the guards, and they all claim to have seen nothing. How did you manage - Sire, did you speak to them without Subhi's knowledge?"

"I'm afraid so."

For a moment, Trina looks as though she might actually intend to yell at you! Her expression softens quickly, however. "I ask permission to speak freely, Sire."

"Always."

"King Xavier, that was incredibly stupid."

You blink twice. Trina has been blunt with you before, but never to this extent!

"The Sultan's guards have orders to kill on sight anyone who invades his harem! If you had been seen, they would likely have run you through before having the chance to discover who you are. Not only would you then be dead, but it would surely have started a war between Elyssia and Al-Mansoura, one which would inevitably have resulted with the utter destruction of this kingdom! And do not think for a moment that it would have ended there; other kings and warlords would have pounced upon the excuse to make war in retaliation upon the Arab kingdoms, as they have done so many times in the past. You could have started another crusade, Xavier, and brought about the **** and suffering of millions!"

As King, you should be able to assert your authority at a moment like this, but Trina makes you feel genuinely chastised. It's true... you didn't really think the situation through to its potential conclusion, should something have gone terribly wrong. "Be that as it may," you say, "the guards did not see me, and as a result I have new information. Do you wish to hear it?"

Trina looks down at the ground, obviously sensing that she may have overstepped her bounds. "Of course, Sire."

"I was able to speak briefly with the women of the harem. One of them saw Abdul return to the camp. He was stumbling drunk, and he was not alone; there was a woman with him."

"That does not help my situation," Trina says, her tone slightly bitter.

"But it does, as Adhara described a woman who could not have been you. She also told me of their actions that night in detail. It is not much to go on, I grant you. Adhara cannot speak of what she saw without bringing punishment upon herself, and in any event her word will be considered insufficient evidence by the Sultan or his advisors. But, with this knowledge, perhaps we can convince one or more of the guards to come forward. There is no way Abdul could have returned to the camp and not been seen by Subhi's guards, unless they are completely incompetent. They are holding their tongues, likely because they saw the state Abdul was in and did not care to make a statement which would dishonor him even in ****. Abdul has enemies, but he also has friends and family who would not take kindly to guardsmen who see fit to stain his memory by reporting that on the last evening of his life, he was drunk and possibly in the company of a whore. Now, though, I can approach those guards and describe to them exactly what they saw. They will believe that someone has broken silence, and that should encourage others to do so."

"That... that is indeed promising," Trina says, and her cheeks turn slightly crimson. "Xavier, I... I am sorry. Once again, I have spoken to you as I should not have."

"Well, you had a point; with the benefit of hindsight, it was probably too great a risk and I was luckier than I deserved to be. Indeed, there may yet be some fallout - not an all-out holy war, I hope, but my friendship with Subhi could be in jeopardy."

"I do not know what is wrong with me," Trina continues, as if she has not heard you. "It is shameful, the way I have allowed my emotions to escape my control. I have spent hours meditating, exercising, doing everything I can to focus my mind and body. But no matter what I do, I remain weak and unable to master my own feelings!" As if to drive the point home, Trina picks up a rock and hurls it some distance away, where it strikes a large yellow flower and knocks its petals off. You have a strong feeling that she was aiming for it.

"Is there anything I can do?" you ask.

"It would help if you could be a little less handsome and charming," she says, and then her hand flies to her mouth as if she tries to catch the words and stuff them back in.

"Forgive me, my Lady; a fly seems to have entered my ear, and I heard not a word of what you just said."

She turns to look at you, then... and it is your turn to feel a rush to your cheeks, as there is something about her face which sends one of Cupid's darts straight into your heart. The coat has slipped from her shoulder, and the morning Sun glows off her skin as brightly as it would off fresh snow, illuminating her hair like spun gold. Her lips, full and pink, seem to invite a deep and lingering kiss such as she has already shared with you. And her eyes... they are an impossible blue, the same blue as the summer sky when the Sun hides behind a cloud. That fact that she clearly does not intend to appear so alluring makes her all the more so.