Kidnapped

Author's note: I still have an episode to write that will deal with the aftermath of Astra's disappearance, and some options as to who may have actually been behind it.

The light pink line of the Belt of Venus had formed over the pond as dawn was an hour away. Marjorie had taken the post outside Astra's window, and confirmed that Astra was resting peacefully in her bed. She motioned for Justin.

"I have never seen magic. I felt something that was out of place during one of the changes inside the castle."

"What was it?"

"That is just it. I am having trouble figuring out what was different. Things looked right. Diana, who was the nearest sentry, didn't notice anything."

"Hmm. I have not detected anything. But after dawn, I will take a look. How long ago was this?"

"Over two hours ago."

"It might be gone by now."

"Yes, it was something that did not seem like much at the time, so I did not come to you, but the more I think about it, the more it bothers me. If I just knew how to describe it, I would feel better about it."

"It is probably nothing. To be honest, Madame Lookout, most of the time people come to me about something, and it turns out to have a simple explanation - a mouse running across a floor or a gust of wind where it would not be expected."

Marjorie sighed. "It is probably no more than that, but I want to be sure. I know mice, gusts of wind, shadows - I have had a lot of sentry duty, so I have seen and heard a lot. We can wait until the key gets changed over before you take a look."

Astra's personal maid, Berea, had a room on the second floor of the Water Tower, but it was next to the flue of the great fireplace, and outside Astra's suite. Astra's room would be comfortably warm; hers would be hot. Before the sun rose, she had warmed a basin of water for Astra to wash her hands and face. Berea draped a shawl over her shoulders, and braved the colder corridor. She passed through the dimly lit Far Balcony, waved to the sentry on duty, and walked to entry to Astra's suite.

"Good morning, Olivia."

"Good morning, Madame Berea. The princess slept through the night. She was very quiet."

"I am happy to hear that. She needs her sleep, and with everything that has been going on, she has had some restless nights. Would you mind holding the door open? This tray is heavy."

The two women passed into the vestibule between the Great Hall and Astra's study. Olivia locked the door behind her, and took the opportunity to take a quick glance at the fine furniture and tapestry. She stopped at the entrance to Astra's bedroom, as was appropriate for a guard to do.

Berea placed the tray on a table, and said, "She isn't here."

Olivia whispered, "She must have awakened."

Marjorie's voice came from below. "Who goes there?"

Berea replied, "It is I, and Olivia. Did you see Astra leave?"

Marjorie replied, "I saw her until a minute ago. When you all came in, the light in the room changed, and I could not see her any more. That is why I am asking. I was hoping that she might have gone out into her study."

Berea called back, "Olivia? Check the study."

Marjorie replied, "Is there anything further on? I thought that there was a wardrobe."

Olivia said, "The door is locked, so she could not have gotten far. She has to be in here."

While Olivia and Berea were searching the suite, Marjorie turned to Justin, and said, "Could you do me a favor and ring that bell for me, until some of the guards can assist? The Fourth Watch needs to know that we have lost sight of the Princess. Berea, can you open the Water Tower's outer door from the inside?"

"You have the keys."

The plan had been for Marjorie to hand the keys off the Lookout of the First Watch, who would formally open the Tower once the sun had come over the horizon. Astra had vanished, and Marjorie improvised. Marjorie chose not to abandon the post. Instead, she threw the keys through the open window. Berea's eyes widened, as she had thought Marjorie was too far away to think about doing this, and she had put more force into launching the keys than she had thought possible. In self-defense, Berea grabbed the keys as they closed on her chest. Marjorie then asked that four of the sentries in positions away from Astra's suite come out to the balcony. She had some messages to convey.

In the intervening hour, the sentries of the Fourth Watch affected a veneer of calm that covered fear underneath. Reinforcements from the palace had come, and the Captain of the First Watch had arrived as well. When the sun broke over the horizon, the truth could not be denied - Astra had disappeared despite their vigilance with no reasonable explanation.

1. Later than morning, the Queen's councillors gathered for an emergency meeting.

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