Journey Never End- Ch. 3-5

ah-yes it is finally continued...seeing the wild amount people pestering me to put this on here, I decided to find time in my jam-packed schedule to add more chapters on here...yes, I know, all of writing.com is sitting on the edge of their seats. I know, I know...I am a magnificent writer...no applause please...and could someone please tell me what is sarcasm? I mean, I just don't understand it!





chapter three



We at last came to life when Keileia pulled her hand away as if she had been burned. And then we were saved by the dinner bell ringing in a melodious fashion.
“Dinner,” said Keileia quickly turning on her heel and walking like everyone else, across the room toward the massive table surrounded with chairs and loaded with amazing food. We- being Dreaden, Alaura, Meed, and myself -all followed her purposefully turning our backs on my brother and the sorcerist.
None of us spoke while we sat at our seats and I was glad for the tense air to be broken by Keileia’s father Sir Detlin standing up to make a toast. He urged for the crowd to quiet and then said:
“For the past ten years, I have known the joy of having the kindest girl in Kali stay in my home many a time.” He paused, smiled down the table at me.
“I could be speaking of none other,” he said, “Than our dear Princess Fiore.” Immediately the crowd around the table began applauding and beaming at me. I rose, blushed, and curtsied then sat back down in my seat with a look of graciousness to all those at the table. Then, Sir Detlin continued:
“After all these years of our dear Princess being my daughter’s best friend and confidante, I have found many great treasures about her highness and I simply cannot name them all. However, I will name this one, the one amazing quality of her majesty that shines if possible more brightly than all the others, and I’m sure all of you will agree with me because you have all felt her endearing way and warmness with every single person. Princess Fiore, or Fi as you insist that we all call you, Kali will seem so cold and bitter without you here, we bid you to come back to us as quickly as you can.” Everyone stood up and applauded, and I blushed as was fitting, while Meed looked at me and gave me this heart-melting appreciative grin. When the crowd finally settled down and sat back in their seats, I rose from mine clearing my throat.
“I want to thank you all, for your own great kindness you have shown to me.” I said smiling warmly at each and every person.
“I know without each and every one of you, these wonderful years in Kali would simply not be the same. I am sad to leave my beloved city, I have learned so many things from this wonderful port, but most of all I have learned so many things from all of you.” I said sincerely smiling into everyone’s face as a general “aww” uttered from the crowd. Once they quieted I continued, tears glittering in my eyes.
“I urge all of you to not shy away from coming to see me in the capital. You will all be missed every day that I am gone. Consider this a personal invitation for all of you, because I’m going to miss you all-“ My voice broke. I swallowed and continued on.
” So-so much” Everyone was smiling and clapping and I gave one more watery smile as I sat down in my seat, my eyes shining. With my sweet-unbeknownst to them also described as false- ringing in their ears, Sir Detlin urged everyone to eat and enjoy my company while they could. Thankfully, no one took Sir Detlin’s words seriously and mindless unpopular people wanting to talk did not assault me and I could settle in nicely to eat my dinner.
I, of course, couldn’t eat. Not with Meed sitting right beside me. I picked at my food, saying witty and eloquent things to my group of friends around me, while Meed simply smiled benignly as if he had a delicious secret to tell. This bothered me to some extent, especially when I deliberately teased him about the shirt he was wearing reminding me of the exact color of an autumn moon. He had only given me a slow speculating look and said:
“Surely you have better things to do dear Fi than stare at my shirt and think of some way to work the word moonlight into a sentence. “ For a moment, I was numb. Did he just insult me? How many people were listening when he had said that?
Before I could pick up my tongue to say something nimble and cutting, he had laughed and pulled one of the escaping curls brushing the back of my neck.
“Silly girl,” he smiled, “I was only teasing.” And with those words I was put to ease. Sort of. All night, I couldn’t help but stealing quick glances at him and wondering if he had really meant to insult me.
Dinner ended with much to do from the musicians, giving us our cue that it was time to socialize and dance, with loud cadencies of strings and clarinets that made you jump and at the same time your heart swell.
Meed was quick to ask for my first dance and with a dazzling smile I agreed. I was beginning to feel hopeful during the dance as he kept sending me these endearing little smiles as we swirled enthusiastically around the ballroom my skirts swirling gently around me. My skin was tingling as we touched hands for the final twirl. The music slowed, I knew my eyes were glowing and my cheeks hot, as I looked up at Meed and smiled- this time a true smile- and for one minute I knew I saw something lurking in the depths of those hazel eyes, something stirring and so different from his usually controlled look and I held my breath. Then the moment ended and he became aloof…untouchable, almost as if he had forgotten where he was, who he was, or who he was with.
“You are a wonderful dancer, Fi,” he said warmly.
“Thank you,” I murmured as he offered his arm to escort me back to the group. I took it and for the first time since I was ten I could feel myself blushing realizing how stupid I was.
Alaura gave a delighted cry as we came back saying in a gushing tone how we had just danced marvelously and wondering how in the world did we get so good. I smiled gave a noncommittal answer and turned to speak to Keileia.
“Tell me you didn’t see that.” I said in lowered voice. She gave me a quizzical look.
“See what?” she said innocently. I gave a sigh.
“Nothing”


I almost sighed. Meed was dancing with Alaura. Again.
And Keileia was busy with Dreaden in some corner feeding each other crumpets or something. I felt unliked and unloved, as if I had already left Kali. Not that I looked like I was unliked, I was surrounded by usual number of flirts, teasing and giggling and generally enjoy myself. Well, I normally do, but at the moment it all seemed so meaningless if it wasn’t someone I really enjoyed flirting with. My eyes wandered back to Meed’s handsome figure guiding Alaura around the room and I caught myself. This won’t do, I thought, I simply can’t spend this whole party moping.
With that I energetically laughed at a darkly handsome young dragini’s weak joke and spiritedly began telling one of own. It received it’s own energetic laughter, but by the punch line I was bored again and fell into gazing around the room while my companions continued to ramble. Listening with one ear, I let my gaze sweep quickly over the dancing floor and focused on the little groups talking among themselves. They were the same old boring people gossiping away about some old boring scandalous material. They all fit into a neat little category in my mind easily classified, they were all of the typical, rich, and well-bred Kalians. People I considered appropriate to socialize with, people I enjoyed being around, the type of people I wouldn’t find in the disgusting capital.
What sort of people would I find in the capital? I wondered suddenly to myself. And as if to answer my own question, my eyes landed on the sorcerist across the room standing in a shadow.
I hadn’t really had a good look at him before, but as I studied at him now I couldn’t help but think how ordinary he looked. Not all the mysterious darkly handsome and attractive evil sorcerist I imagined in my head. If he hadn’t introduced himself, I would’ve assumed he was only a dragini or a human perhaps. It was strangely disappointing. He was dressed simply in a dark old-fashioned overcoat of a deep black with dark slacks and a startling white shirt under his coat. His hair was short, but not as short as Meed’s and it was a dark inky black. He had strong features, but nothing that caught my breath. It seemed the only extraordinary thing about him were his eyes. I couldn’t help noticing they were a bit on the beautiful side. They were a brilliant sky blue, so bright I could see the color clear across the room. His eyes really were the only thing that could make you think he was not normal. Maybe they were filled with evil power and desire to destroy, I thought to myself whimsically. Maybe he isn’t so ordinary. Aren’t sorcerists known for always disguising their true appearance? In all the tales of Sylane you always here of evil sorcerists in the form of beautiful women. Maybe he was really an old, ugly, woman sorcerist, which would explain his disappointingly normal appearance. My thoughts had taken a definite fanciful turn and the entire time I had been staring at the sorcerist.
Of course, it was at that moment the sorcerist looked my way. Our gazes met and I felt a slow shiver descend down my spine. Then slowly I could see the animosity and disgust creep in his face. I felt a severe resentment to him for looking so at me and had a severe urge to stick my tongue out at him. Instead I glared at him superiorly. What right did he have! We stared coolly to each other until finally I was called away.
“Princess?” said one my swains, I think him name was Rueben or maybe Reubert…something like that.
“Yes?” I answered automatically smiling sweetly into his face.
“Did you hear me?”
“I believe you were saying something about your horse.” I offered immediately. Thankfully, he had been and my bluff managed to work. I was equally grateful when the dance ended and Meed, Alaura, Keileia, and Dreaden came gliding back to me chatting and laughing among them.
“Oh Fi!” gushed Alaura, “You missed a marvelous dance! And Meed is such a fine dancer!” I felt her purposeful stab of insult. I smiled and said:
“He is that, but I didn’t want to leave these poor boys all to themselves you know.” I teased good-naturedly. The poor swains practically started yipping.
“Really, Fi, you need to grab yourself one of these boys and get yourself out there, it is too droll!” said Keileia her cheeks pink and rosy from dancing or whatever with Dreaden.
“I may do that.” I said cheerfully. I felt far from cheerful. Meed wasn’t’ even looking at me now, he kept gazing off behind me a distracted look on his face.
But momentarily, I was the one who became distracted.
Someone cleared his or her throat behind me. I turned to see- I had to stop myself from groaning- my brother-again to embarrass me.
“Bregen!” I exclaimed delightedly, “Where have you been all night, darling?” I said acting as if I had lost him. The truth was Bregen and the sorcerist had been shuffled to the unpopular part of the party and everyone, including myself, had ignored them, until a few minutes ago when me and that disgusting sorcerist had locked eyes.
“Why you left me all by myself.” I said. Bregen frowned at the tall and handsome men beside me.
“You hardly seem lonely.” He said looking at the men with disapproval. Everyone laughed and I smiled.
“You just aren’t used to the Kalian ways.” I said smilingly. He shook his head.
“No, I ain’t. But that’s not I came over her to discuss. Listen you need to talk to someone, Fi” Oh no, not again. I thought. But on the outside I was smiling.
“Indeed? Well, I’d be delighted to.” I bubbled. Bregen smiled at me.
“I knew you would.” He said and just as I feared he moved to the side and there was the sorcerist. This time the sorcerist moved forward on his own free will and immediately looked me straight in the eye.
“This is Jarvis,” said Bregen enthusiastically. And then turned slightly to the rest of the group smiling from ear to ear.
“Could you er- excuse my sister- um these two need to discuss something…”My poor clueless brother. I thought.
The sorcerist was watching me carefully but extended his hand.
“Nice to know you, princess.” He said politely, not breaking his eye contact with me. I was thinking about taking his hand. I knew I could never come back to Kali if I willingly took it. It would mean social ruin. I would have no friends and be the unpopular. I would never see Meed again.
I coolly stared him down, lifting my eyebrows in disdain at his hand.
For a moment, there was cold, hard, silence in our small party. I couldn’t hear the music, the other guests or anything. I was too busy watching the sorcerist absorb my insult and his body going rigid all over. It seemed like an eternity by the time he took away his hand.
When he did, he only looked at me blandly and said in voice just as chilly if not more than my expression.
“I’m sorry,” he put his hands behind his back and gave me a superior look.
“I thought you were someone else.” He said, “My mistake.” And with a coldly amused look he turned his back and walked away. For some reason, I let out a long breath.
Bregen was looking at me a look of disbelief and horror.
And then he said to me in a stricken voice:
“What’s the matter with you, Fi? Your hair is so tight to your head you don’t think what you’re doing!” my brother said his face so red I thought he’d pop and then he turned around to go in the same direction the sorcerist went in.
“Well,” said an amused voice behind me. “ I thought you handled that very nicely, Princess.” A warm hand settling gently on my shoulder, it was Meed. I turned to smile sorrowfully at him.
“I’m disappointed in my brother.” I said softly. Meed smiled gently.
“Don’t worry,” he told me, “He’ll come around.” And to my disappointment removed his hand. My shoulder suddenly felt bare without it.
“Yes,” agreed Keileia, “You only did what was worthy of that disgusting sorcerist, your brother will come to his senses and he’ll probably be grateful.” I shrugged.
“It could be worse I suppose, though it will be awfully uncomfortable on the ride to the capital.”
“Don’t fret about it.” Said Dreaden in a reassuring tone, “Just remember you’re in the right.”
“Yes,” I said slowly chewing on the word, then brightening, “I am.” Meed laughed.
“In the mean time of your contemplation, would you care to find time to dance with me?” My heart fluttered to my mouth but I managed to reply flippantly:
“I’ll try!”
And with a swirl of my skirt we were off.
The rest of the evening flashed by in a flurry of whirling skirts and sparkling glasses of sweet honey juice. Before, I knew it I had said a tearful goodbye to Keileia, a whispered and long goodbye to Meed in the moonlight with a slight undertone of promise, was whisked away into my carriage with my brother no where in sight (He left earlier in the evening, I believe), slipping underneath my soft sheets, and the next moment warm sunshine was radiating it’s way through my window.
Too soon, my maid came in gently urging me to get up and get ready for my trip. I snapped at her for being too pushy and then threw the covers off me to get dressed.



chapter four


The morning preparations went by too fast. I hardly had a chance to breathe before I found the last of my belongings packed and myself dressed in my travelling dress, standing up at my townhouse in wonderment. This was it. Good-bye to home, good-bye to my friends, good-bye to freedom, and with an aching heart I thought, And good-bye to Meed. I wanted everything to slow down into tortoise pace while I tried to absorb and savor every detail of my townhouse and most of all the memories I had gathered there.
“Come on, Fi” snapped my usually even-tempered brother from the carriage. He had seemed out of sorts all morning. It didn’t really bother me, though, I was too wrapped up by the heavy sorrow weighing me down. I sighed giving a regretful last look at my home and wondered if I’d ever see it again. Then, slowly I turned and the footman assisted me into the carriage. Inside it was dark and cool and relatively pleasanter than the hot sun outside. It seemed as if it was a delightful cave I could hide away in, if it weren’t for my brother. The hot tears that were collecting in my eyes and the large lump growing heavier and heavier had to be blinked and gulped back as I gazed steadfastly out the window, trying to think thoughts not pertaining to my departure.
“It’s about ruddy time.” Mumbled my brother. At least in the capital I’ll get to taste some new cuisine and Dein might, to console me, permit me to add to my own stock of chocolates. I thought to myself ignoring my brother.
“I don’t understand why you need a whole bloomin’ caravan just to carry a passel of clothes.” Grumbled Bregen. I continued to stare out the window thinking: That’s right, ignore him, he won’t understand why you have so many clothes and so what if you need those ten carriages behind you. You couldn’t leave your entire wardrobe at home. The thought of home prompted the lump in my throat to swell. I swallowed hastily, diverting my attention to the thought of the new clothes I would need to buy when I reached the capital.
“It’s a gross waste of exertion, in my opinion.” Said Bregen slouching in his seat and looking out the window himself. Let’s see, I’ll need a peach silk, a dark blue velvet, maybe a new green poplin satin if Dein would permit me. I considered to myself.
“Not to mention a waste of servants time. Do yeh think they have nothing better to do?”
Inwardly, I sighed. It was going to be a long trip.



Later on, I awoke from a doze, dazed and irritated. We had stopped a modest and filthy inn for lunch at midday and my brother within minutes of re-entering the carriage had drifted off into a long sleep to my irritation. But finally after what seemed like hours of trying to fall asleep, glaring at my already peacefully resting brother and wrestling with the plush but uncomfortable cushions inside the carriage, the rhythmic sound of the hooves outside had finally lulled me to sleep.
Unfortunately, moments later, I judged from the slanting sun, I was awakened by a loud and slightly eerie sound from the wooded glade beside us.
Annoyed and slightly nervous I arose my head from the cushion I had propped up against the wall of the carriage. I cocked my head to the door listening for any peculiar sounds breaking through the reverent twittering of birds in the glade. There was none, save the sound of the horse gait ahead and behind picking up slightly. I frowned, I was certain I had heard something out of place. Why were we going faster anyway?
I rose from my seat and opened the carriage door to speak to the driver in a harsh tone. I don’t know why I opened the door to speak to the driver, but for the rest of my days I knew I would be grateful I did.
I opened my mouth to speak- and then suddenly there was a wild, shrieking cry, it seemed, all around the caravan. The horses began lifting wildly to their feet, pawing their hooves to the sky. I, my weight halfway distributed, on the door and half inside the carriage was holding desperately on to the door trying to balance myself as the carriage rose vertically. There was a slight drop that was covered in green grass that marked the end of the road and a few feet of the grass marked the beginning of the forest. Behind me, I heard my brother shout:
“Get back in the carriage, you fool!” and then suddenly the horses ran off the road. There was a queer sensation of being thrown through the air and then I felt a searing pressure of pain, and finally I blacked out.

Shouting and unbearable, thunderous sounds filled the air. And fire. Orange, hot, large, fire all around me, the smoke making me cough and my eyes tear. I was on my back sitting in a furnace. I rose gingerly to my elbows, wincing as a dull throbbing pounded loudly in my head. For a moment, the world started to swirl and then it righted itself.
I was right about the fire. As far as I could see up the hill bonfires were generously scattered along the road and in the road, it gave an eerie orange look to the night. There was an especially large bonfire only about twenty feet from me. Another hacking of coughing seized me. The air was so thick with smoke, if I didn’t get away from the fire I would likely suffocate.
I carefully rose to my feet, my head reeling as the pain increased in my temples. When my vision cleared, I gradually took a step to the road straight ahead of me. I would have to pass by the large bonfire to get to the road, but it seemed the logical place to go if I was in need of help. It hadn’t occurred to me that I might not want help.
I was taking slow, easy steps up the slight incline to the road, when a large piece of ash settled on my dress. I screamed as a flame burst on my moss green travelling suit. Frantically, I dropped to the ground, patting and rolling at the fire at the same time. The flame finally died, as I burst into tears sitting on the slight hill of the road.
What was going on? Where were my brother and the servants?
Sniffling, I took a few more steps to the road and one of my questions was answered.
The road was layered with bodies.




chapter five



For a moment, I stood there staring, trying to comprehend what my eyes perceived. Then, suddenly as if they were of their own mind, my legs melted under me and I sank to my knees, still staring mutely at the dark bodies covering the road before me. I think I sat there for awhile, I don’t know, I try not to think too deeply of those moments. I am trying not to recall the image that has been engraved forever in my mind. I am afraid that you, reader, will have to live in silence of the description of the horror my eyes saw on that road that day. It is too much for me to write. And to remember.
I sat there for a long time, until numbly my mind started working. The fire…the carriages…the loud shrieking yell from the glade…Dein’s sudden desire to have me in the capital where I could be better protected…it all fit. Suddenly, I was seized by a strong desire to run. And I’m ashamed to admit, I did nothing to look for my own brother or servants I had known better than my brother, but was to filled with the desire to flee and not become one of those bodies on the road that I could think of nothing else and ran. I don’t remember much of this either. Just vague feelings of my skirts swishing against my legs and branches scratching my face. Deep feeling didn’t come until I stumbled on another body deep into the glade surrounding the road. The body belonged to a woman’s I could determine. This woman had been slightly plump, and slightly old. Her face was frozen in a look of faint surprise and sprinkled with dark specks of blood. She wouldn’t have looked dead if the right part of her chest hadn’t been blown away. And then in one horrible moment I realized that it was Tamsy. A hollow ringing came to my ears and distantly, I heard loud horrible babbling shrieking all around me.
It filled the whole forest and for a moment and the shouts I heard in the distance quieted. Yet the shrieking continued.
“Shut up, girl!” hissed someone into my ear.
I finally realized it was me uttering those inhuman sounds. I gulped down the shrieks and settled into whimpering. A strong, harsh, hand clamped down on my mouth, covering so forcefully, my mouth hurt. I barely struggled, my eyes still latched on to Tamsy’s body, as someone picked me up around the waist and dragged me into the thicket of bush.
Barbs and bramble scratched my face and caught my skirt but I didn’t flinch, my mind was preoccupied with Tamsy’s frozen dead face gaping in surprise. Tamsy was dead. This seemed more real to me than the possibility of my brother being dead. Or the possibility of my own death.
Distantly, I could hear someone speaking to me.
“Princess,” they were saying, “You need to stay here. I’ll-I’ll go find you some help, but you gotta stay here.” I dimly focused on the person talking. It was one my servants, a carriage man or something. I couldn’t recall his name, but his craven, craggy face I remembered.
Numbly, I nodded. He gave me a pat on my shoulder.
“Good.” He said and then hesitating asked, “Could you forgive me for talking to yeh so impertinent-like back there, highness?” I blinked and then slowly nodded. He seemed relieved.
“I’ll be back.” And he left the bush he had brought me into.
For some moments, I sat there numb, with arms wrapped around my legs and curled up in a tight ball. Slowly, feeling started to come back again, not just in my body but in my heart and mind.
What was going on? Why was this happening? Why me?
I wondered to myself.
Well, the first answer was obvious. Someone apparently wanted me or my brother or someone in my party dead. But why? I shivered as the chilly night air touched my skin. The sensation of feeling was gradually easy its way into my skin and along with the cold summer night air I could fill two branches poking into my back, but I was too afraid to move. Instead I focused on my thoughts. No one had reason to hurt me, I had never harmed anyone. Not that I knew of anyway. I frowned, who had done this?
As if to answer my unspoken question I heard voices coming closer, several voices. I hugged my knees closer and slightly prayed that I blended in nicely with the bush. Bright small lights surrounded the party as they drew closer to my hiding spot.
“Reckon it was over this way.” Said someone.
“What do you think that was?” asked someone else.
“Bet it was some old servant wailing about something.”
“Naw, probably a mountain lion, if anything.”
“Do yeh think a mountain lion would be so close to all this fire?”
“Good point, but I know we got all the biddies in the first wave, cap’n is just frettin’ like an old woman.”
“Yeh, but we still gotta look.” A saw a shining blade enter my bush with a uncommitted jab and exit back out. I held my breath, expecting any moment for a cool blade to slice through my side.
“Why’d we get stuck looking for nobody, when everyone else is seein’ the action?”
“Don’t know, just luck I guess.” To my surprise, the voices slowly moved away and then I was alone again.
I think I was so overcome by exhaustion and emotion I just couldn’t handle anymore and I fell into a long sleep. A body can be strange sometimes.
When, I awoke I was startled once again, but this time by the calculated sound of footsteps moving carefully through the bush behind me. I didn’t bother to hold my breath, I was well content with the idea of dying now, it seemed too much work to keep on living so I put my chin on my knees and closed my eyes shut tightly
There was a pause in the steps. My ears strained to hear the sound of an arrow or a sword slicing through the air.
“Are you well?” asked the person behind me. My eyes flew open. Surely this wasn’t the enemy. I turned quickly around. In the dark, I could only see an outline of a person crouching in the thicket.
“Who’s there?” I demanded quietly trying to make my voice sound superior but unwillingly a slight tremor shook my words.
“Princess Fiore?” the voice sounded astounded. I, however, hesitated to answer but finally concluded that whoever this was knew my voice.
“Yes.” I answered, “Now answer my question.” The person shifted uncomfortably.
“My name is Jarvis.” I frowned in the dark. That didn’t do me any good.
“Jarvis, what?” I asked impatiently. Certainly, I wasn’t expected to remember every servant’s name.
“Is my last name so important?” he sounded angry, “What are you doing in this bush?” he demanded.
“You were supposed to be dead.” He told me. I scolded.
“How dare you speak to me so-so bluntly- if I-“ I was cut off.
“Forgive me, your highness, excuse me I shall be going now.” The shadow moved away.
“Wait!” I called in the dark, “Are you the one who helped me before?” I asked urgently, suddenly not wanting to be alone in the dark anymore. The Jarvis-person paused.
“If I was?”
“Why didn’t you come sooner?” I demanded.
“I’m afraid, majesty, I am not that man. Forgive me.” I could see his shadow leaving again. Hurriedly and painfully I arose and followed him.
“Wait,” I called tripping and generally making a racket as I traveled through the brush and brambles, my skirt catching on every possible thorn in the brush.
“Will you be still, idiotic girl! You’ll have the faeries swarming around here in no time.” He soundedreluctant, “Just stay still and I’ll come get you out of there.” I obediently froze in place, willing to stay still just as long as I wasn’t alone.
The Jarvis-person crept close to me and slowly began pulling my dress off every thorn. It didn’t take too long, but it seemed forever because I was certain the enemy would come and find us in this in and out position and send an arrow right through my navel. Finally I was free and Jarvis took my arm-none too gently.
“Oww!” I complained, jerking my arm from his grasp. “You’re hurting me.” He grasped my arm again, not any gentler and pulled me slowly through the brush.
“Don’t be so hasty in making your steps.” Whispered the Jarvis-fellow. “Just take your time and pretend you’re not in a rush.” I tried to jerk my arm away again, but his grasp was too strong.
“And stop walking like a lumberjack.” Jarvis commented, “Walk lighter or we’ll soon have faeries to deal with.”
“I didn’t ask for your instruction or your help.” I snapped. He let go of my arm.
“Very well.” He said and then sprinted-very silently I noticed- through the brush on ahead of me.
“Good luck, your highness.” He called behind him.
“No! Wait!” I cried desperately. I heard him continue through the brush.
“Stop!” With no sound of him stopping, I started make my way through the bush making an amazing amount of noise.
“Hey!” I called, “I said-“ Suddenly, I felt as if my scalp had been pulled off, my hair was caught on some of the thorns intertwined to make sort of a roof above and I had walked on giving my sensitive head an extremely painful experience.
“OWWW!!!” I cried out loudly, tears pricking my eyes as I tried to struggle away from the bramble. Ahead of me, I heard the Jarvis-fellow stop.
In an annoyed voice I heard Jarvis say:
“What is it?”
“My hair!” I wailed, “It’s caught in the thorns and I c-can’t get it out.” There was a long pause.
“Hold on.” I heard him say and then the sound of him moving towards me. He reached me fairly quickly and with quick fingers my hair was untangled from the thorns within a few moments.
“There,” he mumbled, “Now, if you’ll excuse me.” And he started to trudge back through the brush.
“Wait!” I called again. I heard him give an exasperated sigh.
“What?” he answered
“You aren’t going to leave me here are you?” I whined.
“You were alone before I got here.”
“But that was just because I was waiting for someone. You can’t leave me, you have to help me.” I said in a shrill sort of voice. There was another long pause.
“Why should I?” asked Jarvis finally. I scolded into the dark, this Jarvis-person certainly was difficult.
“Because as a subject of my family, you are responsible for me.” I answered, rather proud of myself.
“Oh? I thought the royal family was responsible for their subjects.”
I grew exceedingly irritated. Who was this man to defy me? Yet I had no choice but to wile him somehow to help me.
“And because I will pay you a thousand gold pieces if you take me back home.”
“Make it two.”
“What?”
“It’s your life.”
“Okay, two. Then, you’ll do it?”
“No. I’m still not convinced you need my help. You seemed to be doing perfectly fine without me.” Oh, that arrogant man! He has no right to speak to me that way. Yet I had no choice,
“I wasn’t, I-I…”
“Yes?”
“I need your help.”
“And?”
That was too much for me.
“And what? What else do you want!” I exploded.
“Temper, temper, princess. I just wanted you to ask nicely.” He sounded almost jovial.
“I did ask nicely!” I seethed.
“I didn’t hear ‘please’” I considered forgetting the stupid man and continuing on my own or just keep on sitting here until better help comes. But then I didn’t know what I should do or when help would come.
“Please,” I mumbled.
“Please what?”
“Please I need,” I sighed, “I need help.”
“Really? Never would’ve guessed.” There was a small pause and then in a quicker and quieter voice:
“Well, I’ll help you, princess, but you must do two things.” Great, I thought, I was being hustled by a servant.
“What are they?” I asked impatiently.
“The first is for the rest of this night remain silent.” This seemed easy enough, I had barely said anything before he had come along.
“All right, “ I agreed, “What’s the other?”
“I need you to change your clothes.”
“WHAT?” I exclaimed. He repeated himself
“I need you to change from that tattered dress you’re wearing into some different ones.”
“Why?” I demanded, not even sure why I was asking.
“Because you make entirely too much noise in your dress and you would probably move easier in pants.” I frowned this strangely made sense.
“Where are you going to find these clothes?” I asked warily.
“I have my ways.” Was the light answer.
“Well?” said the Jarvis-person impatiently.
“Okay.” I said reluctantly.
“I’ll be right back then, just sit down where you are.” And before I could protest he was gone. I frowned again, certain he had left me for good, and plopped down in the dead foliage lining the forest floor.
Shortly afterwards, I heard the sound of someone moving through the bush.
“Is that you?” I called uncertainly.
“Who else?” he answered. And I thought that was a stupid answer considering he knew better than I who he could be.
“Here.” I felt a pile of cool cloth settle beside me. I turned to pick up the garments. They were made out of rough, cloth I did not recognize and what appeared to be the shirt- I couldn’t tell in the dark forest- had a cold, wet spot on it. Fortunately, it didn’t occur to me to think too deeply into this.
“I’ll wait outside the thicket while you dress. Bring your dress with you when you come out.” He said as I heard him quickly leave the brush. I rose as well as I could, hunched over from the bramble above, took off and pulled on clothes as quickly as my shaking hands could half-afraid he’d come back in the bush. When I was dressed, I hastily headed out of the thicket, my dress waded disgracefully in my hand, and finally came to fresh forest air.
“Come on,” said my benefactor as he took the dress from me and headed toward the orange glow toward our right.
“We’re headed back to the road?” I said in a fearful voice. I saw his shoulders in the dark stiffen.
“Yes,” he answered and said in cold tone, “Do you not remember your other promise or are your promises not to be taken seriously?” I stiffened my back and tightened my lips.
“Just to answer your question, I had forgotten.” I said chillingly. “And I don’t appreciate being insulted. Remember your place.”
“Come along, princess and be sure to trip on that root there.” The words seemed to be said through clenched teeth and I followed behind, tripping my way through the foliage behind my guide.
I opened my mouth to tell him I didn’t appreciate his impudence, when I remembered my promise and closed it just in time.
Jarvis seemed to be picking up the pace slightly as we went through the short distance from the forest to the road. In that short distance, I seemed to spend an incredible time in the dirt, from tripping several times on various sticks, roots, and plants lining the forest floor. Jarvis would always stop a few feet in front of me and wait for me to get back up. I almost told him several times to help me up but I caught myself. After I had fallen at least half a dozen times we came upon the edge of the forest. Jarvis had paused and pulling me after him crouched down into a bush. I knelt beside him my knees under my body and made myself look out at the road. Thankfully, the slight hill that the road was on kept the view of the bodies from my sight.
In the bush the light from the fires sent an orangey-glow to the woods and for a moment I could see Jarvis’ face but none of his appearance registered in my brain. I only saw his face as a face.
“We’re going to have to cross the road.” Whispered Jarvis in a non-detectable voice.
“What?” I hissed forgetting about my promise.
“It’s the only way, you can do it, can’t you?” he whispered.
“Of course I cannot!” I said loudly “You can’t expect me to walk all over those disgusting bodies-it’s-it’s not decent!” my voice rose an octave with the final word.
“Lower your voice, stupid princess.” Jarvis said in an exasperated whisper.
“I should’ve known though,” he added.
“Known what?” I hissed.
“You aren’t tough enough.”
“What do you mean?” I asked sharply.
“Well, I mean you are of nobility.”
“So? I could go across the road if I wanted to but it’s not…right.” I told him in a shrill whisper.
“I suppose not…and you are only a girl after all.” Something hot flashed through me at his words.
“What did you say?” I demanded.
“I only mean that you, of course, can’t handle any thing too hard, it’d too difficult for you to take, you know emotionally.” He added pompously:
“It’s all right, I understand.” Fire seared my insides and I stood up in the middle of the bush and said in a loud voice:
“I can take hard things quite fine!” I said hotly and started to stride out of the bush, but Jarvis pulled me back by the end of my shirt. My bottom hit the ground so hard I had to blink away tears.
“Okay, that’s good, but don’t go now. A patrol is coming.” Sure enough two men were walking the edge of the road. They might have been far enough away not to have heard me…maybe. I sent the stupid Jarvis servant who was crouched low and peering carefully out of the bushes, a glare. Idiotic servant! I thought, he should’ve stopped me earlier. If we were to be caught it would be his fault. Jarvis didn’t seem to notice my glare, he was watching the two short men who were dressed like soldiers shouting undistinguishable words and poking at what I assumed were the bodies along the road. I sighed huffily. By the orange light of the fires shedding its way through the bush, I could see Jarvis send me a quick silencing look. I sent him one of my one. I mean, really! It’s not like they could hear us or for that matter notice us. Certainly, this whole affair was some sort of mistake, these faerie people that Jarvis seemed to be afraid would hear me must have mistaken me for an ambassador or something. Even though I am the Princess of Keadura, I really don’t have any political power nor to I want any, so they have no reason to capture me. I did I would have been assassinated or captured and held for ransom years ago when I had no magical ability. Not that I have much now, it was never considered a popular hobby to be extremely magically inclined in Kalian society, only enough to create amusing illusions and clear up any inopportune break-outs in your have-to-be-perfect complexion. I was certain this whole ordeal couldn’t be real, that idea that any insane nation would want to harm my ridiculous family or myself was ludicrous. It must be a mistake. I told myself firmly as I watched the two patrolmen walk into the smoke in the distance.
“Now, can we go?” I asked impatiently. Jarvis made a quick sign to silence me. I sighed again. There was another pair of patrol walking not to far from us along the forest edge. As I sighed, I heard their murmuring voices speed up growing excited and coming closer. Jarvis motioned for me to crouch down on to the forest floor. I sent him a withering glance and did so- unwillingly I was already filthy from the soot from the fires, running through the forest, and wearing some smelly clothes- now it would be even worse. I crouched close to the ground, closing my eyes shut tight trying not to think of the crawling bugs and creeping creatures that were most likely layered on the ground.
Suddenly I heard a frighteningly close faerie tongue say:
“It came from here,” a pause and then an answering voice saying:
“I think your ri-“ I felt a rush of air as Jarvis jumped up and then the voice was stopped from continuing with a subdued crack. My eyes flew open as I heard a muffled shout and then an identical crack from the one previous.
“Come on,” said Jarvis, I looked up at him, the firelight played across his face revealing the long-healed skin of what looked like a terrible burn, and sky-blue glittering eyes and then all at once I recognized his face. I let out a long breath, the sorcerist at Keileia’s party. I felt the color drain from my face and my stomach drop somewhere on the forest ground.
“You.” I whispered. Jarvis didn’t appear to hear me.
“Come on!” he urged impatiently, offering his hand. My eyes fell to the two patrolmen at his feet.
“Who are you?” I asked my voice shaking trying at the same time to put authority in my gaze. His eyes glanced down at the two men on the ground. He frowned, but said in a quiet voice.
“Look, it’s okay. You just have to move right now or more faeries will come and believe me you’d rather be with me than them.” I swallowed, there was no way to know if I could trust him. Still, he had just killed two people who weren’t hurting anyone. I made myself meet his gaze in the firelight.
“You won’t hurt me?” I asked making my voice steady. Even so, my question sounded childish and vulnerable.
“No.” answered Jarvis firmly. “Just come on.” Finally, I nodded and rose, my knees watery grabbed his hand and stumbled out of the bush and followed him as he ran stealthily up to the road.