All righty now, here is the beginning of chapter two. I really didn't have any ideas for it, but I knew the destination I was trying to reach so enjoy!

Chapter two

       You should be relieved,” said Robina twisting and weaving Nala's midnight black hair.

They were both kneeling on Nala's bed while Robina played with Nala's hair.

"I am, but we've spent so little time together and I had to put up with the nobles for two months, not even guessing I could find a friend among them."

Robina shrugged "don't fret over me, there are fourteen nobles and only one of them is your friend. I think that getting rid of thirteen arrogant royals is better then keeping one friendly one."

Nala shook her head smiling "but I've never really had friends and..."

"Hold you're head still. You'll find some. Who wouldn't want to be friends with a princess?"

"Judging by the princes and princesses I know, no one."

The girls laughed happy to be in one another’s company.

"There is something I've been meaning to ask you though," said Nala wondering if she really did want to ask it.

"Why does your father treat you so badly?"

Robina didn't answer immediately. She sighed,

"It's complicated, but I think the reason is that... Well I think it's just what he wants for me that's all".

Nala wasn't convinced by this, but knew that Robina didn't want to discuss it.

"So did you ever find that missing soldier?" Asked Robina after a gap of silence.

"No. It's very strange, according to Jalen, he's not the type to just wander off on his own." "And he didn't have a sweetheart that he would elope with did he?"

"No, in fact, he didn't have any family at all. It's like he, or someone, didn't want his absence noticed."

"And there aren't any secret ways out of the castle, no passages or tunnels?"

Nala looked sharply at Robina "why do you say that?"
Robina grinned widely "every castle has them Nal. So did Jalen send anyone to search them?"

"Of course not, only the royal family, the high chamberlain, the captain of the guards, the council members and the head housekeeper know about the tunnels".

Rboina smirked behind Nala.

"That's quite a list,"

Nala shrugged, "I suppose. The tunnels are really only supposed to be used for escape." Robina stuck a few more pins in Nala's hair,

"There, now turn around."

She did, her head feeling strangely pulled but loose at the same time. Robina nodded satisfied

"You should wear your hear like that more often instead of braids or that tight bun you always wear. In Starian, noblewomen wear it like this, servants use braids, peasants do whatever they like, but rarely do they use a bun, it is considered an upper rank tradition." "And what do you do?"

Nala was smiling at the rush of information Robina had just given her.

"Whatever I want," she said shrugging "I like to leave it down mostly. But a scarf now and then is always welcome, and when my father orders me to dress the part of princess, I like to try something different every time".

Nala jumped off the bed when there was a knock at the door. She straightened her dress she said, "Come in".

It was Jalen.  He had a bemused look on his face as he looked around at Nala with her hair falling out and jumbled and Robina lying sprawled on the bed. He put his hands behind his back and bowed respectfully.

"Your highnesses, forgive me for interrupting but I must speak with princess Nala". Robina jumped off the bed and walked swiftly out of the room "of course" she said over her shoulder.

Jalen watched the door shut then ushered Nala back into her sleeping quarters.

"What's happened?" asked Nala worried by Jalen's stern look.

"Something, but I'm not yet sure what. The soldier who went missing hasn't been found, but we've searched his bunk and the entire barracks just to make sure there wasn't a clue, but we found one." Jalen paused as Nala sat.

"We found part of an encoded letter under his bunk, it had been torn out of a larger letter and it looked like instructions to a location, although we couldn't completely decipher the message."

"So you think he was a spy of some kind?"

Jalen ran his fingers through his graying hair

"I don't know. But the whole situation smells of foul play, I must have your permission to search the lower towns." "Of course you have it, does the man's friends or family have any idea..."

"He wasn't popular with the soldiers. His only living relative is his father who renounced him after he was caught leaving trespassing on foreign and royal grounds." "That seems a bit harsh," "he had been caught in Indonesia twice and snooping in my own tactical papers. But worst of all, I myself caught him in the king’s chambers. If I didn't know that the king died of natural causes I would have thought... The only reason we did not send him away was so we could keep a close eye on him. The king himself put his best men to follow him at all times."

"And yet he still got away?"

"He gave us reasons, good reasons, why he had done what he did. I relaxed the security around him but did not eliminate it. Somehow he found the two on his trail and drugged them. I didn't want to tell you all this, you certainly have enough on your plate al ready." "No no, thank you for telling me." Nala stood.

"Please, send me word if you find anything in the lower towns."

Jalen bowed "yes my lady."

 He exited and Nala's brain began spinning in earnest. Robina burst into her room

"I heard every thing" she said in answer to Nala's puzzled look.

"You have got to search the tunnels!"

 "What?" Nala wasn't really listening still rapped in her own thoughts.

"The tunnels under the palace, you have to search them."

"But captain Jalen is leaving to search the lower towns," said Nala

"then we search it ourselves" said Robina a mischievous grin spreading across her face.