From Far Away

The old woman smiled when she noticed that the princess's hands had gone to the back. She walked closer to Yuri and Sally got up quickly to see what the woman wanted to say or do to the princess.

"You do not have to take out your weapon, Yuri," the woman said in a low voice that was almost a whisper.

Yuri was stunned but she masked it pretty well.

How does this woman know my name? Yuri thought. However, even though the woman seemed like she had good in mind for Yuri, the princess was still cautious and defensive toward the woman. Yuri could sense that the old woman was no ordinary person -- the fact that she'd known who Yuri was was proof enough that the woman was deeper than what she showed people.

"What do you want with the princess?" Sally asked in a firm voice that was rarely heard from her. Sally didn't have a good feeling about the woman and didn't think that she should be talking to the princess at all.