So, despite the likely horrendous ordeal ahead for the princess and her chosen ones, the entire city was celebrating the princess' birthday now before she was taken away from her family and friends to sit in a lonely tower and await her knight's rescue.

Normally, although people didn't like him to be anywhere near them, Locke did enjoy watching the festivities, allowing himself the chance to pretend he was not himself.

However, today he was missing out on the celebration and stalking one of his prey.

A door opened in the narrow alleyway, drawing Locke's attention and his bright blue eyes snapped open.

When the man on the other side came through, he was taken off guard by the glowing, icy eyes cutting through the darkness. A terrible smirk curled on Locke's face and he stepped towards the man who had been frozen in his steps.

The black knight crossed his arms over his metal belly and stared down at the shivering wisp of a gambler who was now cornered.

"Where is the Vaugrenard's money today, my good man?"

The man tightened up and recoiled from Locke who towered over him. The wicked looking sword on the enforcer's wide belt shined in the half-light like a deadly flame.

It was a plain threat and it probably would have been a truly awful confrontation for the other man, if not for the sudden presence of a third party.

Footsteps alerted Locke and he turned as three royal knights wearing red capes and dressed in handsome silver armour came walking down the shady narrow alley-way.

"Disgraceful." The lead knight spat and his two comrades glared in Locke's direction.

It was a surprise to Locke, who was in no mood for legal interference, that he recognized the one in front.

"Felix?" the black knight stood straighter and stared at the man he had once known well. The man named Felix wore a brilliant silver suit of metal that only the king's personal knights could wear which contrasted greatly with Locke's.

In Beneš, black was the colour worn by people in dishonest fields of work, it was less likely they would be seen that way, and could conduct their business covertly.

The man Locke had been threatening quickly scuttled away and ran down the closest alley as the large black knight looked on after him in annoyance.

"Thank you, Felix. Now I'll have to go find him all over again, and it shall be all the worse for him when I do," Locke said with a deadly smirk and leaned over the knight.

"Assaulting a member of the king's royal guard is a felony, Vaugrenard, I shouldn't have to tell you that." Felix raised an eyebrow as if daring Locke to test him.

However, Locke was a much more practiced enforcer, exposed to all the worst insults and threats on a daily basis. He maintained his ominous smile, if only for the moment.

The two other knights who looked a little fearful at the possibility of a confrontation still held their weapons, while Felix took a step into the alley way.

"Leave us," Felix said suddenly, "go back to the castle, I can take care of this matter personally."

He waved the two subordinates off as if their presence was a bother, which it probably was for a senior knight like Felix.

The knights hesitantly re-sheathed their swords. They stared at one another then Locke who served a patronizing look, bowed to their commander, and finally left the dark, dank alley.

Once they were gone, Felix sighed. He relaxed his shoulders and removed the resplendent silver helmet that covered his gold hair.

"It's been a long time," Felix said as he looked Locke over and grimaced. "My God, you're fat now."

Locke stiffened but he couldn't exactly suck in his stomach with the suit of armour bulging out at the waist like it did. It was almost funny to think about now, seeing as how when they had both been a part of the King's circle of knights at one time when Locke had been more classically handsome.

"Is that all you came here to talk about?" Locke sneered.

"No–" Felix said. The royal guard shook his head and held his helmet under one arm. "I must ask you– have you met the princess before?"

The enforcer was taken aback and looked at Felix in confusion.

"Princess?" Locke snorted and re-crossed his arms. "No. Is that all? Or are you going to continue wasting my time?"

"The eldest daughter. Princess Fenice. The one to be in the trials soon–" Felix pressed, taking a step forward. Locke had never seen the man look so severe. Felix was normally so easy going... when he had known him as a boy. "You've never met through any event while you worked at the palace? Through a family member, perhaps?"

Locke's lip wrinkled with the interrogation and he loomed over Felix with a deadly glare.

"I know who you meant the first time you spoke, and I never have."

"I thought not." Felix pursed his lips and scratched his short beard with a troubled look on his face.

"Why?" Locke growled, becoming annoyed.

Felix's eyes flicked to him and he smirked before leaning on the wall of the alley with a tired sigh.

"You really have no idea of what's going on, do you?" Felix chuckled grimly as he combed his short blond hair back with his left hand. "Well aren't you the lucky one then, the whole castle has been in a complete state of chaos since this morning."

"Run out of party favours, did we?" Locke said with a cynical bark.

Felix returned it right back at him and pressed his fingers into his temple, "God help me. God help the princess if her only hope is you–" the knight cut himself off and a bemused look crossed his features.

"Fenice was kidnapped."