Six days had passed by quickly. As Sage lay resting under a tree, the snap of a twig pulled her back into reality. Quickly drawing her dagger and jumping to her feet, she turned, but found no one. Moving very cautiously through the trees, her eyes began to scan the surroundings.

"Good afternoon, Sage," a man's voice filled the air and Sage recognized it instantly.

It belonged to her dearest friend, Gabriel. Returning her dagger to her belt, she cupped her hands as Gabriel stepped out from behind a tree and gave her a wave, smiling happily.

"Be glad you didn't get run through," Sage told him pointedly.

"Now, that would never happen." Gabriel assured her as he approached.

"Oh? And why is that?" Sage challenged.

Gabriel smiled. "I'm not fool enough to get too close," her responded with a light chuckle.

Sage released a small grin and hugged him. "It's good to see you, my friend," she gave his back a pat. "Come," she said, motioning in the direction of the creek.

As the pair sat down Gabriel produced a pouch of berries, a bottle of mead and two small wooden cups from his bag. "So, friend," he said as he opened the bottle and began to pour. "What have you done now?"

Sage looked up, slightly caught off guard. "I have done nothing," she responded and shook her head.

Gabriel ran his fingers through his wavy blonde hair. "Nothing?"
"Nothing," Sage insisted again as she pulled her hair back over her shoulder.
Gabriel nodded. "I see," he tossed a berry into his mouth, "So then, how is it you are somehow now known by Princess Genevieve, the only daughter of our own King Robert, and that she has been sending out her own personal escorts to try and find you?"

Sage felt her jaw slip. Oh, what is this now? "You're joking," she shook her head.
Gabriel chuckled. "I am not," he assured her and gave her a quizzical look. "Sage, how does she know you?"

Sage shook her head lightly and released a small sigh. "What was that man's name – the fool with the horse?"

Gabriel smiled as he picked up the one of the cups and took a sip. "Because there is only one fool with a horse walking around?"

"No," Sage sighed, getting to her feet. "Last summer? Remember, the one who drank too much and..."

"Oh," Gabriel exclaimed, practically choking on his mead. "Peter," he cleared his throat. "Peter Cane."

Sage nodded. Right. "I thought that was it," she stated firmly.

"What about him?" Gabriel asked as he absently tossed another berry into his mouth and then added, "Not exactly the kind of man I tend to have dealings with."

"Who would?" Sage shook her head. Horrible man. "A few days back, I came across Princess Genevieve in a small hollow to the west of here."

"What in the world?" Gabriel interrupted, as confused as could be.

"I haven't the slightest idea, honestly," Sage shrugged. "But, she wasn't alone."

"Well naturally," Gabriel nodded as he pulled a pipe out of his pocket and began to pack it. "She never is, is she? One or both of her escorts are with her at all times."

"No," Sage shook her head. "It was Peter that was with her," she clarified.

"What could the Princess possibly have to do with a man like Peter?" Gabriel questioned quite astounded.

"I don't believe that they were together," Sage paced a bit. "He had been drinking – a lot, he wreaked of it."

"Usually the case," Gabriel nodded as he lit his pipe and pulled a long drag.

"My guess is that he was just wandering out in the woods and by chance, came upon her," Sage continued as she bent down, scooping up a handful of stones. "I'm sure you can imagine what he had in his mind to do," she finished quietly.

"That scoundrel!" Gabriel exploded and leapt to his feet. "What happened? Did you fight him?"

Sage nodded somberly. "I didn't want to," she shook her head, feeling the weight of Gabriel's eyes on her. "I didn't want it to come to that, but I had no choice in the end."

"Sage," Gabriel said firmly. "Sage, did you kill him?"

"No," Sage answered and began throwing stones into the creek. "As tempting as it was, I only knocked him back into his place."

"And that was all?" Gabriel pressed further.
Sage shook her head. "I told the Princess that she should go back..."
"You just let her go off on her own again?" Gabriel interrupted her quickly. "After..."

"Of course not," Sage spun around and stared at him. Honestly. "I shadowed her the whole way back to the tree line."

For the next few moments there was silence as Gabriel fumed over the thought of Peter trying to manhandle a woman, regardless of the fact that she was the Princess. Sage knew that if Peter had been there, at that moment, Gabriel surely would have struck him dead. He had an uncommonly great respect for women and an extremely short fuse for those who didn't.

"What did you tell her escorts?" Sage finally asked as she sat down near the water.

"I told them nothing, of course. Why?" Gabriel asked as he dropped down next to her. "Did you want me to tell them something?"

Sage laid back on the grass and stared into the sky, letting her thoughts go out to the Princess. What could that woman possibly want? "Tell them nothing," she finally answered. "I can't imagine what she could want."

"Perhaps to just thank you?" Gabriel suggested simply.

"She already has," Sage insisted as she sat back up.

"I can tell you're curious," Gabriel suddenly grinned at her. "Do you want me to go straight to her?"

Sage laughed at the very thought. "You really think you can?"

"You really doubt my skill?" Gabriel smiled handsomely at her as his eyebrow rose sharply. He always did like a challenge and it was fair to say that they both had their talents for pulling off things that most considered impossible.

"Oh no, never." Sage said with a smile as she clapped her hand down on his shoulder. "Alright, fine. If you are willing and actually manage it, tell her that you will bring her to see me," she explained, her curiosity getting the better of her as she got to her feet and brushed herself off. "Her alone," she added firmly.

Gabriel smiled. "Well, naturally her alone," he said as he too, climbed to his feet, "I can just see you now, dealing with her stuffy escorts."

Sage laughed again and shook her head. "Imagine that," she said and tossed a few berries into her mouth.

"Somehow," Gabriel gave her a playful, studying look, "I don't think they'd care for you too much."

This caused an instant eruption of laughter from the pair.

"Now, I must go," Gabriel said and gave her a quick hug. "But I'll keep you clued-up, yeah?"

"Yes," Sage hugged him back. "See you soon, my friend," she told him with a nod.

Sage watched quietly as he rode away and then took her horse by its halter and began to walk up stream with her thoughts going back to the Princess. What was it that she wanted? It honestly did not make sense that she would be looking for a person of Sage's standing. They had nothing in common. There was nothing to talk about – nothing to do. Sage had helped her and required nothing more than the thank you she had received. So, what purpose could meeting again even serve? Royalty did not associate themselves with penniless people, so what was the point of this?

"Strange," Sage mumbled to herself before falling asleep that night.