The door to the storage room swung open with the force of a battering ram. Or more like a Panzer III.
"There you are!"
Elsa stood in the doorway, chest heaving, face flushed from running through half the palace. Her eyes swept the scene before her with the weary resignation of a soldier who had long since accepted that today would be a trial.
Lady Eris, her charge, her burden, her personal catastrophe was being held in an embrace from behind by the priestess's young assistant, while the Crown Prince of the realm stood nearby looking utterly bewildered. The air smelled of rust, old leather, and impending disciplinary action.
"Your Highness!" Elsa gave a hasty curtsy, her voice cracking. "I-I apologize for the intrusion!" Then she turned to the one she was in charge of, "Lady Eris, release his highness, immediately!"
"I am not the one holding anyone," Eris replied, her voice flat. She jabbed an elbow backward into Nora's ribs.
Nora released her with a theatrical gasp, clutching her side. "Such violence, my lovely fox. And in front of the prince, no less."
Bruno looked between the two girls, his young face scrunched in confusion. "Is this... are they always like this?"
Even Elsa herself was only getting adjusted to the changes in Eris now. And her relationship with Nora was not very clear to any of them. "They only met each other for the first time, the other day your highness."
Eris remained silent. While Nora could only chuckle. Enjoying the whole thing.
Elsa marched forward and seized Eris by the wrist. "I didn't give you the permission to run around the royal palace with the prince, lady Eris. Please behave."
Eris opened her mouth to protest. Probably something about field marshals and insubordination but Elsa silenced her with a look that could have melted steel.
"Not. One. Word. From now, until we go back home, you will remain on my watch."
Nora smiled, "Your maid is right Fox. This is the royal palace not Tel el Aqqaqir. You will not get the chance to escape from his majesty's Pretorian guards."
Bruno frowned, "What is Tel el Aqqaqir?" The poor kid was still trying to understand why he is being left out of every code words.
For the first time, Nora and Eris replied together, "Nothing your highness needs to worry about." The perfect sync threw Bruno off guard while the two girls glared at each other.
Elsa sighed, "Your highness, I advise you don't listen to everything they say. It will only confuse you and nothing else."
Bruno didn't want to let it go, but looking at the face of his fiancée and her 'friend', he decided that letting go would be the best option available to him.
Elsa then turned to Nora. "Lady Nora, Mallery is looking for you. She needs you for something." She said pulling Eris with her. "Lady Mallery is not happy with you running away from important tasks."
Now it was Eris's time to chuckle. "Looks like the rat has to return back to its hole."
Elsa frowned. Eris's manners even with commoners is her duty. "Lady Eris! You cannot talk to someone like that in front of everyone. You should behave like a proper Rheinfeld."
Nora was not feeling as insulted, however. "Its alright lady Elsa. This is our regular banter. I call her fox, she calls me rat."
Nora bowed to Bruno and then in a show of professionalism, shook hands with Eris. They saluted each other even. Nora left on her way while Elsa took Eris. Bruno followed them.
"At least we can still talk for a while before you leave, right?" Bruno asked Elsa. To which she replied with a smile, "Sure, we are staying here for a couple of more hours your highness. The duke and the duchess has somethings to discuss with their majesties."
Bruno's face lit up at this news. "Excellent! Then Lady Eris can tell me more about that glider thing!"
Eris opened her mouth to respond, but Elsa's grip on her wrist tightened.
"His Highness wishes to spend time with Lady Eris," Elsa said carefully, "and Lady Eris will be on her best behavior. Won't she?"
The look she gave Eris could have curdled milk.
Eris sighed. "Yes. Best behavior."