And Forced Alliances is back with a vengeance. With a revised plot, and hopefully some stronger writing… hope you enjoy!

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To their royal highnesses King Tiergan, Queen Elaine, and Prince Elijah, greetings. As per our agreement made eighteen years ago, the Kingdom of Maghnir is proud to fulfill its end of the bargain. The Princess Cadence Alexis Lee DeVaen will be arriving at your magnificent city within a fortnight. We trust she will be accommodated to the most generous extent your kingdom has to offer.

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A girl in men’s clothing sat perched in a tree, her arrow already set in her bow, her whole body tense. The crisp air, the excitement of the hunt, and the anticipation of a fine kill all set her heart pounding.

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Princess Alexis Lee DeVaen is a most delicate and refined young lady, fully polite and demure, with a proclivity toward the arts. Her fine sensibilities are offended at the thought of blood, dirt, or particularly dirty atmospheres.

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The princess sighed in disappointment as the buck she had her eye set on passed out of sight and further into the woods. She took a moment to press her back more firmly into the trunk of the tree she was sitting in, and to make sure that her face was still covered in the dirt that kept her from being too visible to her prey.

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She is respected in her kingdom as the loveliest woman in the realm, and her beauty stretches far beyond normalcy for ladies of her age.

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Cadence almost grinned in victory when she sighted yet another buck, this one even more magnificent than the first, come close to her perch in the tree. She smoothly pulled the arrow in her bow back. Breathing shallowly, she took aim. Waiting… waiting.

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Above all, our princess is patient, understanding, and in complete control of her emotions. We are sure you will find her an excellent guest.

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Just as Cadence released her arrow, a shrill yell pierced the silence of the forest. Her arrow went wide, and the buck darted off deep into the forest. Cadence cursed loudly in disappointment and anger at whoever had ruined her shot. The object of her frustration was clad in a frilly purple monstrosity, which the invader was carefully holding up to avoid the dirty forest floor.

“Lady Millicent,” bit out the princess. “Have you any idea what you’ve just done?”

“Oh darling,” cooed the exquisitely made-up face, “whatever did you want with such a nasty animal anyway?”

“To skin it, eat it, display the trophy,” Cadence said, enjoying the horror that spread over Millicent’s face. “Now, if you would kindly take your leave. I intend to shoot something today, and if you do not remove yourself, I fear it will be you with an arrow through your heart.”

The lady let out a nervous giggle. “Oh!” she said, “I just have a message for you, then I’ll be gone. Your father requests an audience tonight before dinner .”

“Fine,” the princess replied, then turned her face away. Lady Millicent disappeared into the trees in a flurry of purple, back to the four men she had brought to escort her through the woods. Cadence rolled her eyes.