Kendra

Prudence isn't a virtue often found among the young, and Liandra had a good feeling about Kendra. Birds chirped in the garden, and she invited "we still have some time before lunch, why don't you tell more about these drake attacks, and this treaty you would propose? Then we could have lunch together, and father will likely be there as well." Kendra had but a moment of hesitation, and that was enough time for Liandra to take her hand, and casually start the stroll down one of the garden paths.

The day was beautiful, the sky stark blue and just enough clouds to make it cool. Flowers perfumed their path, and songbirds often whistled a tune for the passing noblewomen. Kendra's hand, and now Liandra noticed it was the same one that had turned into that demoniac shadow claw, was soft and milky to touch, no more hardened than her own.

"What do you want to hear about the attacks?" Kendra asked, her tone uneasy. Liandra did make a few questions. How many they were, how bad was the damage, where could the drakes have come from, but she couldn't delve any further without revealing how ignorant she was in military matters. The situation did sound grave, and Kendra answered honestly all her questions.

"What is Nocternia like? You are actually the first Nocternian I have ever met" The princess sunbathed golden locks framed perfectly her vibrant smile. "It is my home, and a vast kingdom. We have mountain ranges, coasts, forests and plains. My own barony lies in a haunted forest, pine trees as tall as your towers, and some taller still." Kendra told a few horror stories and grew more relaxed with the expansive princess, who never let go of her hand and had an infatuating laugh.

"And is there a Baron Blackhand? besides your father, of course" Kendra's laugh was a brief occasion, but lively and beautiful. "I am not married, nor do I need to be, for it is the person who inherit my vows, and not necessarily my blood, that will be the next lord of my lands"

There was so much more that Liandra wished to ask, but lunchtime loomed closer. Of course, she could invite Kendra to have a picnic with her in the garden, and skip lunch altogether.