The palace had been gutted by the dispersal of party-goers, attendants, and guard. There were many who could have been chosen to go, and Aiesha was not one of them. She did not elect to, either. The prospect of leaving what stability the Skyspear afforded her did not settle well within her heart; besides that, Aiesha knew the palace would retain a healthy troupe of guards to keep the land safe upon the return of Pharaoh and the others. This seemed a much better use of her time and skills, she thought—while simultaneously this choice would place distance between Aiesha's role of princess and any courtly intrigue.

Alas, even knowing all of this, she was bereft. Her thoughts lingered on what sorts of things she might be missing. What flavorful foods did they serve in Tianlong? How did their kingdom, which rivaled that of Satriya, find themselves a home within a jungle of all places? What kind of jungle was it—and what flowers bloomed there, and what creatures lay in wait for hunting? Aiesha pined for knowledge as she patrolled the dust-strewn and empty corridors, fighting against her own curious nature. She placed her duty above her desire, and thought more than once, 'this was the wrong choice.'

Yet the choice had been made, and there was no undoing it! Aiesha sighed dramatically to no-one, leaning against a stone plinth as if she might crumble without it. A noise from around the corner caught in her ears, bringing alertness and an upright posture—for the palace was nearly empty, yes, but not entirely, despite the isolation that consumed her. Turning on her heel she caught sight of a shape, and launched herself after it as any warrior might brandish a knife to the throat of the enemy—!

However—