7- Farran wants to Explore

                                        

                                              
Although it was April, and the whimsy of romance and spring filled the air Farran ignored it all to sit on the swing and read the papers left behind by the 'adults'. Alaric perused the business section, Blair featured in some of the scandals, Calvin knew all and said nothing, and Derbie was all twitterpated with Lady Ban. None of them were a real adult, at least not that Farran would admit. In two short years she'd be Debuting as an adult, and then finally be able to set off on the adventures she knew were out there waiting. Her magic may be domestic, but her heart craved the same thrill of the unknown that had made the Briggs Family famous. Her parents wee on an Exploration of the Northern Island, and Farran often dreamt about joining them.
If only she didn't get so disastrously sea sick. 
The grass was wet underfoot, and Farran kicked off her shoes and stockings to enjoy the cold slick of it against her toes as she lightly swung back and forth. Alaric would have scandalized if he saw it, but her eldest brother was still helping his friend, Lord Wignell, after the previous Earl's funeral. Blair wouldn't care that Farran was flashing ankles and bare feet at the world, and Calvin would let her do what she wanted without hesitation. Before his Debut, Derbie would likely be out here with her, swinging in companionable silence, and Gavin was the child who's always slipped off his clothes, so he'd be barefoot right along with her. 
Instead of any of them though, Farran spotted Hida outside, training in the rain while Farran was under a protected gazebo. "Are you still dreaming of becoming a Knight, Pinky?" she called out teasingly, eyes skimming over the gossip columns and business pages until something caught her attention. 
"You could call it that," Hida answered after finishing her movements. Without a weapon in hand, it almost looked like her baby sister was dancing, but Farran recognised the combat forms. "Are you still searching for adventure that comes in any form but boat rides?" 
Farran laughed, her seasickness all too well known. The Briggs Countship had a bustling merchant's port and they'd all taken tours of it, hers had ended before departure. Even just standing on the ship at anchor made her queasy, though Farran was by far the best swimmer out of the lot. "Anything can be an adventure if you try hard enough," she actually believed that, but it didn't stop her from still longing to go see what was beyond the next hill.
Hida splattered cold water as she flopped down onto the swing next to Farran's, and her strawberry blonde hair looked like Edwina's dripping paints for a beautiful moment. "What adventures do you have for us then?" her chin jerked to the gossip column displayed on Farran's lap.
"For those interested in knowledge," Farran read the article out loud, "and know knowledge is Power, it would behoove them to realize that a Princess is hidden amongst the Debuts this Season. More than just the lovely Colena Sikali, or recently adopted Banika Hatsune of the Duchies, the Archival Branch of the Information Bureau has a sealed birth record for Queen Akiyama's only half-sister. Long rumoured, almost forgotten, name and appearance deliberately hidden away; the Princess of Taroton is still the Heir apparent until Queen Akiyama is wed, and it might be impolitely said; bred. Given the rumours, it can be determined that this Princess is amongst the Debutantes, but we shall see who she really is. A Princess hiding as a Dukedom's princess? Or is she more securely obscured in a distant March or Viscounty? The young Ladies of this year's Debut are known, and now it is time to keep eyes peeled for there is a secret identity begging to be revealed."
"The author clearly thinks its Banika Hatsune," Hida frowned and looked so much like their father that Farran felt a twist of homesickness. "Why did she not just come right out and say it?" 
Farran smiled at Hida's direct nature, "what if its not Banika though? Would the real Princess be amused or insulted? And why did you assume the author is a woman?"