The Runaway Princess

Chapter 1

I had not planned to run away from home. The choice had been thrown at me with only one option and I was now dealing with the aftermath.

"Your majesty!" The guards cried one last time as I threw the hood of my dark cloak over my bright yellow and lilac dress and became indistinguishable in the crowd.

My name is Ester Quarun, princess of Aregium, my home country, and where I currently was. Four days ago I ran away from the capital and my life in search of a ship to leave the country. Aregium is the only country that doesn't let its citizens travel often, and so trade is extremely limited, meaning there is only one port.

I overheard that there was a large ship docked at this port while I was at an inn, and that is where I am headed. I had not anticipated that the guards would catch up to me that fast, but it seems I've lost them for now.

As I made my way to the dock, I saw the ship. It was a magnificent creature, mahogany wood that shone, large pillars of wood on the deck, dark sails that were currently rolled up. I noticed that there is an insignia on the side, but instead of a name, it's only two letters.

"M H" I wondered aloud.

"Stands for Monster Hunters." Came an accented voice from beside me. They sound like they were from a southern part of Aregium, a place I have never been. I turn and see a plump older woman with pasty white skin and dark brown hair wearing a beige dress with a maroon scarf around her waist and beige flats. I looked back at the ship and pondered its name. It could be my way out of here.

"Are terrible humans considered monsters too?" I asked.

The lady turned her head quickly and narrowed her eyes. Then her face lit up in a wide smile.

"Odette, you ready to go?" Asked a strange voice with an accent that was most certainly not from here, and she spoke the worldwide language of Pelish very well.

I turned all the way around and saw a pretty girl with blonde and red hair, sepia skin, violet eyes, strange slits under her jaw, and what appears to be an aquamarine fin on each of her forearms. She wore a sleeveless yellow top and baggy brown pants, and she also was not wearing shoes and looked around my age, if not a little older.

"Just waiting on the last few crates," said the older lady, who I guessed is named Odette.

"Also I'm talking to this lovely lady, who seems to be in need of a ship. Am I right?" She asked, turning to me.

The new girl turned to me and looked me up and down, her eyes catching on my gold necklace at my throat.

"That true?" She asked, tilting her head to the side. "Captain won't approve." She said, still looking at me, but speaking to Odette.

"She has a soft spot for lost souls, it'll be fine," Odette said, turning to me. "So what do you say?"

---

Another day, another job. That's what I told myself as I tried to stop myself from falling asleep. As captain of the ship, I have to maintain professionalism. My family taught me how to do that at least, and it's one of their only lessons I kept.

"Ms.?" Asked the vendor. He was a slimy-like man, his mannerisms assured me I should double-check the cargo to make sure there was nothing unwanted before allowing it on my ship. I worked with this man once before, back before I was captain, instead of just a navigator. I doubt he remembered me. "Are we all settled?"

"Indeed we are. You can expect the payment to come in a few months from another ship."

Business concluded we shook hands and I left his measly inn and wove through the crowd. I spotted royal guards near the entrance of the dock and stayed out of their way. I made my way onto my ship, but not before spotting Odette and Thala talking to some poor girl they must have found. I ignored them and headed into my office to start logging the transaction as the boys picked up the cargo.