Thirteen

"We have caught a shapeshifter" Lilian responded to the Queen.

"A shapeshifter Do they shift shape?" The confused Queen asked curiously.

"Kind of but not really," Adora said.

"They are supposed to be called form shifters or body changes They can mimic the way one looks but not the way one acts," Lilian explained to the Queen.

"Just like the one you saw yesterday?" The Queen asked.

"Kind of but these can only mimic the way a person looks and not the way the person acts. They can only deceive people that are not very observant." Lilian said.

"So, why were you not able to tell if it was me you saw yesterday or not?" The Queen asked.

"Because that was mimicking. They take your form and can behave like you." Lilian explained to the Queen.

The Queen nodded in satisfaction and asked,

"So who was it?"

"It is an unknown creature. I have never seen or heard of its kind in any world before." Lilian said.

"Really?" The Queen asked with raised eyebrows.

"What's its gender?" The curious Queen asked.

"Unknown., Lilian replied.

"What does it look like?" The Queen asked.

"Very ugly," Adora whispered as loud as she could and laughed softly.

Lilian gave her a sharp look and whispered,

"Stop."

"I just asked a question." The Queen said.

"It's very...uhh….It's very..." Lilian still couldn't think of a word that would describe the shapeshifter

"Ugly and unattractive., Adora said completing the sentence.

The Queen smirked and asked,

"Really?"

"Very., Adora responded in a whisper and smiled.

"Where is it?" The Queen asked.

"In my room., Lilian responded.

"Okay." The Queen said and sighed with relief before asking,

"Lilian."

"Yes, Queen mother."

"What is the other thing you want to talk to me about?"

"It's about her," Lilian responded.

"Adorable?" The Queen asked.

"Yes," Lilian responded, nodding at the same time.

"What about her?"

"I want you to grant her permission to enter your room anytime she is with me., Lilian said.

"Yes. She is always welcome." The Queen said with a smile.

"Thank you, Queen mother."

"Thank you, Queen."

Lilian and Adora said in unison respectively.

"You are both welcome. You may take your leave." The Queen said.

The two girls bowed and began walking out of the room.

"Lilian, wait." The Queen called out.

Lilian turned and walked closer to the Queen.

"I told you to ask the fairy something. What was her answer?" The Queen asked.

"She said we should visit her," Lilian responded.

"Is that so?" The Queen asked and Lilian just nodded in response.

"How about we go give her a visit first thing tomorrow morning?" The Queen asked.

"Sounds fine by me, Queen mother." Lilian agreed, nodding at the same time.

"So shall it be. You are dismissed." The Queen said.

"Thank you, Queen mother," Lilian said, bowing at the same time before finally walking out of the room to join Adora who was patiently waiting for her in the corridor.

"What happened?" Adora asked the moment Lilian came by her side.

"Nothing much. The Queen and I agreed to go visit Ma Adele tomorrow." Lilian responded.

"Can I join you?" Adorable asked.

"You should, I would need your assistance," Lilian said.

"Thank you." Adorable said excitedly, as she began to clap.

"Haven't you been to her before?" Lilian asked.

"No. My father was afraid that she might take away my cuteness and make me ugly out of jealousy." Adora said.

"What would she be jealous of?" Lilian asked as she stopped walking.

"My beautifulness." Adorable said.

Lilian laughed mockingly and said,

"I guess your father has been lying to you."

Lilian resumed walking and Adore joined her.

"Really?" Adorable asked with a long face.

"If you don't believe me, you can come to see for yourself," Lilian said and laughed softly.

When they came out of the Royal's Quarter, Lilian stopped walking, as did Adora.

Adora sighed and asked,

"Hope we are going for a rest? I am very tired and hungry."

"You can go take a rest and eat if you like. As for me, I still have something else to do." Lilian replied.

"What is it this time?" Adora asked, looking disappointed.

"Don't you think it's odd? I haven't seen Goliath today." Lilian said, looking towards the Guard's Quarter.

"Yes, that's true," Adora said, nodding in agreement.

"Come, let's put that cuteness and beautifulness of yours to good use," Lilian said as she started walking towards the Guard's Quarter.

Adora ran to her and stopped in front of her, stopping Lilian from walking.

"What?" Lilian asked.

"Don't you think he would be with the Prince?" Adorable asked.

"No," Lilian responded, shaking her head at the same time.

"Wait, why haven't you been with the Prince lately? Don't you miss him?" Adorable asked.

"No," Lilian responded, as she resumed walking.

"Not at all?" Adora asked as she started walking too.

"I just gave you an answer. If it doesn't satisfy your curiosity, you could go ask the Prince yourself." Lilian said.

"I am sorry," Adora said and pressed her lips together.

"It's fine. There's a time for everything under Heaven. Now is the time to find and save someone. Something seems fishy." Lilian said as continued walking.

They stayed silent till they got to the Guard's Quarter.

"Hello, Asante." Lilian greeted one of the guards that were talking to his colleague.

"Hello, my Lady. What brings you to the big guys today?" Asante is the second most popular guard. He is the assistant of Goliath.

"Where is Goliath?" Lilian asked as she walked inside the Quarter and sat on the wooden chair a guard presented to her.

"Who is that kid? Kids are not allowed in the Guard's Quarter." Asante protested, glaring at Adora.

Lilian sighed and said,

"She is not a kid, she is my assistant. I am just a year older than her." Lilian said with a smile.

"I am sorry, my Lady, for I judged too quickly," Asante apologized with a kneel on the ground.

"It's fine. You may rise." Lilian said.

"Thank you, my Lady," Asante said as she rose and quickly fetched a chair for Adora and said,

"Come in my Lady. You may sit here." Asante as he stretched out an arm towards Adora.

"No, thank you, I'm fine. You, rude punk." Adora said as she decided to jump on the slippery ground all by herself.

She almost didn't make it to the dry side, if it was not for the swift intervention of Asante, she would have fallen and hurt herself badly.

He held her by her tiny and tender waist firmly, drew her to himself, and said,

"I think we are even or do we owe each other an apology now?"

Adora tried to remove herself from his firm grip but she couldn't. She swallowed and said,

"I am very sorry for calling you a rude punk." She started crying.

"I am sorry. Have I done something wrong?" Asante asked as he quickly carried her and gently placed her on the chair he had brought in for her.

She was going to hit him in his face as revenge but he was swift and caught her tiny arm and held it.

"What are you doing?" She asked in a low tone.

"No civilian touches the King's Guards," Asante replied.

She started crying out loud again, making him confused.

He quickly faced Lilian and asked,

"My Lady, have I done or said anything wrong?"

Lilian slowly shrugged, pouting at the same time, and said,

"I don't know."

He quickly turned to face Adora who was still crying and asked,

"Are you hungry?"

She didn't respond.

He quickly stood up and returned with a plate of their native food which he had made for himself.

It was well garnished and properly cooked.

He placed the food on a table and drew it to the ladies and said,

"One minute."

He Left them again and returned with cutleries and water. He placed one each in front of the ladies and said,

"Silver and gold I have not but what I have is what I have brought unto thee this day."

"Thank you." Lilian and Adora said in unison.

Lilian was about to grab the spoon that was placed in front of her but Adora held her hand and shook her head,

Lilian rolled her eyes and sighed at the same time before asking,

"What is it now?"

"I thought you said we were here for Goliath," Adora responded with raised eyebrows.

"We eat first," Lilian said as she pulled her arm from Adora's light grip, grabbed the spoon and shoved a spoonful of the food into her mouth, and began to munch.

"Really?" Adora asked.

"There is a time for everything under Heaven, a time to eat and a time to search. We continue our search after eating, okay?" Lilian asked.

Adorable nodded in response, she swallowed and asked,

"Is it delicious?"

"It's very delicious," Lilian responded with a mouthful of the food.

"Are you sure?" Adorable asked as she grabbed the spoon that was placed in front of her, waiting for a response from Lilian.

"Just dig in and find out for yourself."