Jade had been fighting her royal butt off, using what little knowledge of self-defense she had in order to beat the crap out of those with years of experience. Apparently the guy hadn't been prepared for teeth and nails. She gasped when she was swiftly lifted from the ground, protesting at first before she realized it was Gail running with her body in tow, not an assassin. She huffed in a mixture of graditude and annoyance. When he pushed the princess into the crevice in the wall, she flattened her body as much as possible, sucking in a sharp breath when Gail threw himself in after her. The jagged stone dug into her skin, leaving imprints. She could practically feel the bruises forming already.

When the coast was clear, she followed after Gail as quickly as possible. Guards from the castle wall abandoned their post at the sight of the princess and her personal guard. She held up a bloody hand. "Don't speak of this to my Father." She demanded, making eye contact with every man there. "You will speak of this to no one. If word spreads, you will be tried, questioned, and possibly tortured. So speak wisely." Jade's gaze snagged on the guard emblem pinned to the jacket of many of the men, just like the guard who had helped her. Only two did not bear the pin. She took Gail's arm and started toward her room. "I know who did this." She whispered, leaning near Gail's ear as they walked. When they neared her wndow, she studied the wall beneath her before gripping two stones. "Come on, Gail. I have to avoid my Father so we can make a plan." She continued her climbing, skillfully selecting stones that jutted out just enough to bear weight but not enough to be noticiable. After she managed to unlock and open her window, she flung herself over the ledge, falling onto the bingbag under her window sill.

Jade looked over at Gail just in time to see him lift something to his lips. "No!" She leapt at him, slapping the capsule away, the object spinning across her floor to where Nima stood, flabbergasted. The servant stepped back in shock. "Nima, please don't say a word." She whispered, gaze pleading. The woman nodded slowly then took off for the bathroom. Jade turned back to Gail, placing her hand on his forehead. "Oh no..." Nima emerged with a cool, damp rag and placed it on the guard's head and put another on his neck. She skillfully removed his armor and weapons, leaving him in his ordinary clothing. Jade averted her eyes, staring at the armor now littering her floor. She stood, busying herself by locking the door, completing various tasks for Nima, tidying the space, and staring at the emblem on Gail's arm. The guard in the building had been with the group of men who wore no pin, and somehow they trusted him...

Jade turned slowly at his voice, her gaze soft and gentle. She walked over to where Nima ducked her head and backed away. Jade settled on the floor beside Gail, her head shaking. "No, Gail, I couldn't have. Because then I'd have to live with the memory of your death and the regrets of not saving you." She lowered her voice, staying soothing and gentle. "I'll never have regrets about saving your life." She straightened her back. "Besides, my Father would flip his lid if I was caught with the dead body of my personal guard in my room." She shrugged, a soft smile playing on her lips. "I don't know what they pumped you full of, but Nima says it should wear off soon. Sleep, if it comforts you. I'll be here if you need me." She stood and searched for a book on her bookshelf. Pride and Prejudice caught her eye, so she took the book and settled on her bed, fliping through the pages until she came upon her favorite scenes.

Jade read her book while Gail slept, her eyes darting to his crumpled form every now and then. She was worried for him, but she told herself that it was just the adrenaline, the fact that he was in her room, and that he was her personal guard. Nothing else. The weight of the day suddenly slammed into her shoulders like a sack of bricks and she sagged against the bed frame. Nima had checked out for the night a couple minutes earlier, so she was practically alone with her rapid thoughts. She closed her book, set it on the nightstand, then buried her face in her covers. Why were there people coming after her? She understood she was the princess, but still! Who in their right mind would attempt kidnapping or assasination? She bit her lip. She refused to cry with a man in her room, especially since she was trying to maintain the image of strength and control. Plus it would be awkward if she cried with Gail asleep on her floor.

Jade slept for a few hours. The soft click of her door woke her with a start. She blinked, her eyes wide as she sat up from her comfy blankets. She immediately looked to where Gail had been sleeping, but when she found he wasn't, she slipped from her bed with a sense of urgency. Everything of his was gone. She searched the remainder of her room for Nima, but she, too, was gone. Usually, she would be preparing things for Jade, but there was no glass of water by her bed, water running in the tub, or towels slung over the open door to her bathroom. She frowned, grabbing her robe from the foot of her bed and slinging it around her shoulders, her arms finding the soft sleeves. She slowly opened the door, finding Gail's presence at her door oddly familiar. "Oh, there you are." She sighed, a hand over her heart. "I thought they had come back..." She straightened, eyes wide. "Have you seen Nima?"