Excerpt: Princess - The Librarian Chronicles

“A week!? We should go now! Why are we waiting?!”
I calmly picked up my Pen to begin my second letter to Her Father, and casually asked, “Would you rather go now, Princess, and risk having the entire Party, including your lady-love, buried in an Avalanche, or lost Forever in a Blizzard?”
Sioned’s mouth was already half-open to deliver a Scathing retort, but it died on her lips, and she Glanced guiltily at Lady Marisa. I continued, hoping to bring her to a Sense of her Recklessness.
“Of course, if you truly cared for Lady Marisa, you would have left her Safely at Home, but instead you’ve Dragged her along to follow you Half-way around the world on a Fool’s Errand, so I suppose her Loss in a Blizzard would not mean much to You, Highness.”
Lady Marisa’s voice broke in, roughened with Distress, as she wrapped her arms protectively around the Princess. “No no! Lady Aurelia, its nothing like that! You musn’t say such things! I wanted to come, to help Sioned however I could, and keep up her Spirits! And its not a Fool’s Errand, I know you don’t truly believe that, why would you say this?! Besides, if I wasn’t here, in my proper place beside the Princess, my Father might marry me off to some stodgy old Lord, or drunken young Lordling!”
Blinking slowly, I nodded and remained Silent. I did not wish to point out to the poor Girl that this Venture was Indeed a Fool’s Errand, no matter how much I believed it was Possible. I also did not wish to Distress her by pointing out that if the Venture failed, she would likely be Married off to her Despised Lord anyway.