The sun rising over the Heart District made a magnificent view. Reflecting off the polished marble buildings and the bright paint, the glowing gold sun bathed the city in an ethereal light. Ranger and the princesses darted through side streets to avoid being seen by the guard or any citizens that might recognize them. The palace loomed above them, so close and yet so far from where they were now.

As they rounded a narrow alley past one of the District’s many bathhouses, they suddenly stopped face to face with a handsome young man with a basket over one arm. He looked at them quizzically, they smiled.

“Ah, princesses. You’ve returned. And in the same fine company as usual,” he said, nodding politely towards Ranger, who sighed with relief.

“I’m glad we ran into you, Calum, and not the Guard Captain,” Ranger told him. “He’d have locked me in the dungeon to rot.”

Calum smiled and nodded with understanding. “The Guard Captain isn’t known for his overwhelming kindness,” he said as he tucked a lock of brown hair behind his ear. “I think I’d sooner return to the sea than be on the receiving end of his anger.”

“Oh don’t say that, Calum!” Fairna said. “What would we do without you to help us?”

“We’d fall into ruin,” Amira added dryly, but there was a smirk on her face that said she was only teasing. “And we’d end up ordering every seal in the ocean to be caught and brought before us until we found him.”

Calum laughed. “Best of luck with that, Your Highness. Now, let’s get back to the castle before the Guard Captain misses you any longer.”

With Ranger and the Princesses in tow, Calum headed down another few side streets, till they came to a fairly innocuous door attached to a simple white stone building. Calum pulled a set of keys out of a small purse at his waist, and opened the door to the servant’s passage and waved Ranger, Amira, and Fairna inside. A short walk later, and they emerged into the kitchen, which was bustling with servants and cooks as they worked to prepare breakfast. Calum set his basket down on the table, and Ranger could see it was full of rare spices that he’d likely purchased at one of the night markets in the Gold District. Calum caught one of the passing servants and instructed her to take the spices to the head chef. She nodded, and picked up the basket, scurrying through the kitchen.

Calum glanced up at a large clock on the wall and started. “Oh dear! Is it 8 already?” He turned to the Princesses. “We need to get you two ready for the day. I’ll send for your ladies-in-waiting, and get to work organizing the court.” The princesses nodded and hurried out of the kitchen as he turned to Ranger. “And you! You need to get into uniform before the Guard Captain sees you!”

Ranger rolled his eyes a bit but smiled up at Calum. “I’ll be right on it. Don’t burn yourself out too fast, Calum.”

The selkie sighed but returned his smile. “I’ll certainly try not to. Now get going!”

Ranger chuckled and headed out of the kitchen, heading towards the barracks.