You assure your sister that you will always be there for her, and that you will protect her as best as you can. Your display of affection brings her to tears, and you comfort her as best as you can before departing.
You waste no time, signalling Barick to follow silently behind you and petition for a private audience with the king. Strangely enough it is provided within the hour, and you are soon faced with a flushed and sweaty king in his private study. He seems impatient, so you get straight to the point. "Father, i know that your time is valuable, so i will be brief. I know of the arrangements to marry Ritalia off, i would like to be part of her escort. Frankly i know nothing of this man, and think we could all benefit from a personal encounter with him, the man may become my brother in all after all, i want to measure his weight."
Your father nods, "Fine, do what you like. You will prepare for your own arrangements however. Now leave me."
That went... surprisingly well, you expected more resistance than that, a more patronizing attitude, or at least some questions. Now that you are free to do what you like you briefly entertain the notion of scrying the prospective husband, but you are well aware such an action would be nearly impossible at your current skill level, and that an attempt could harm you. A relatively far-away place you've never been to? It's a recipe for disaster.
Barick suggests you call on some of your "friends" at court to give you a small number of the troops you have been promised early, some of the lands that you will need to travel through are rife with brigands.
You have nearly two weeks to prepare, what shall be done?