The Runaway Princess

Chapter 15

-Storm's POV-

A few days had passed from when we left Lengeli. We had left in the morning and arrived at an island close to the capital and country where the job wanted proof of life from.

What we found was definitely proof of life. There was an entire species that had never left their island living on this small rock. The island itself was about the size of two ships from end to end, but most of that land was rock with a few straggling trees. This species, who called themselves Katul, live in natural caves underneath the land.

The Katul looked almost like humans, but with varying ranges of pink skin along with large furry ears and long ruffed tail. Thala likened them to human lions the night after we met them to which we quickly scolded her for. They didn't speak any language that the crew spoke, so Baylen was the main interpreter as they knew Nisi of some sort. They were initially suspicious of us, but after we defined that we were not from Aregium their suspicion lessened and they welcomed us.

Odette recalled a story she had heard about the island the first night we were there about the hidden war, when Aregium tried to expand but found an island of fierce warriors that attacked back until the Aregians were defeated. And they certainly were fierce, the day after we arrived myself and Thala were wandering and found a group of them practicing a form of attacking without any weapons. It was surprising that we saw so many doing it, there must only be a hundred of them on the island.

Our ship was on the farther side of the island so that any boat by the capital, if any, wouldn't see it. We had been staying in some outer caves when we found the Katul but now we'd been staying with them fully as they welcomed us. Odette and Hortensia didn't have a chance to meet them after the first night as we used a rowboat to get them to shore for our plan. Thala loved the plan, but surprisingly it was Baylen who had thought of it. It used deception and brute force, which was why only Hortensia, Odette, Thala, Baylen, Embeth, and I would be operating it.

Currently it was the day before the royal wedding. Thala was using the rowboat to pick Hortensia and Odette back up from the mainland and I was with the twins and a Katul who we think was named Noysha.

"What is she saying?" Asked Adair bitterly. She had not been liking this rural living though I told her she could stay on the boat. Noysha was pointing excitedly at my waist before pointing at her. Embeth was laughing and Baylen who just walked in almost walked out before she saw that I could see her.

"I think she is wanting your sword?" Baylen said uncertainty. I glanced and saw that is where she had been pointing and I pulled my sword out of its sheath. When she saw its shine her eyes widened and she stepped back before coming forward and talking rapidly while gesturing at it. A common gesture was her pointing at herself and the sword and an excited look at Baylen are all I can make out. "Actually I think she wants your sword or wants you to teach her, I don't know which."

I decided to teach her how to fight with a sword and on my way back to the boat to grab the wooden swords we had I spotted the rowboat coming around next to the ship.

"Welcome back!" I called out to Thala, Hortensia, and Odette. Together all four of us went back inside. Upon entering, Thala went to find the rest of the crew while I handed Noysha and the others she had gathered the wooden swords.

"Did you get them?" I asked as I dodged a hazardous swing from a young male Katul. Odette nodded and Hortensia excitedly waved a few tickets in the air.

Our plan had hung on getting those tickets. They were invitations to Ester's wedding so we had Odette and Hortensia join the servants in the kitchen of the palace to steal them. Thala, Baylen, Embeth, and I would be going into the wedding party legally before doing the illegal part of stealing the bride.

"Thank the moon," muttered Baylen. They gave a start as another Katul hopped to the ground and laid in their lap before they made scared eyes at me as I laughed.

"Then we are all set for leaving here tomorrow after the wedding." I said triumphantly.

"Actually, Storm, can I talk to you in private for a minute?" Amare asked hesitantly. I hadn't seen much of her the past few days. I said yes and took the wooden swords back from the Katul who looked sadly after me as I left the swords to Thala. Unfortunately right as we got to the cave we have been sleeping in I heard cheers and recalled who I gave them to, Thala, who would probably laugh at the damage they would do.

"Everything okay?" I asked Amare, sitting down on the cave floor as she sat too.

"I think we should bring the ship to the capital while you are getting Ester from the wedding." She said. "It would be easier to get away and would be easier with the number of people."

I could see the logic in her words but didn't understand the worry that lined her face.

"That's a good point," I started. "We can do that. Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?" She nodded before a couple of seconds of silence.

"I won't be leaving Aregium with you." She said. I felt confusion flood my mind trying to figure where these words were coming from. "I think I'm finally ready to start meeting people again. I would like to either start a magic school somewhere, or even help these Katul learn about the world. I'm hoping you can respect that. It's not like I'm never going to see you again, but I will just be setting my land legs on my own."

I nodded slowly feeling a wave of sadness coming over. Amare had been with the crew for so long it would be weird to not have her.

"Also," she continued, "This would let you have room for another person on the crew." At that she smirked at me and my face heated up.

"Thank you for telling me this," I said, straightening my back and cooling down my face. "We will all be sad when you are not here but we will visit. I know you will do amazing things on your own, but don't feel hesitant about coming to us."

"Thank you Storm. And this will help the plan, as I can sail the ship to Aregium and then leave when you get back, since I know how to sail."

I smiled at her before wrapping my arms around her in a large hug. We walked back to the group with Amare's arm around my shoulder and mine around her waist. We found the group in a statue of chaos, the Katul seemed to have gotten the swinging down but are pairing that with their flips so now there were people running and flipping around swinging swords at each other. There was no way that could go wrong, I thought sarcastically.

I rounded up all the swords and showed them all the basic movements before giving them back the swords and having them, cautiously, go against each other in pairs. We stayed up until the sky was fully dark before going to sleep. The crew were all huddled together in the cave and I thought sadly that this would be the last time we did this with Amare.

I told Thala and Baylen before we went to sleep and we discussed what we were planning on doing after rescuing Ester.

"We haven't been to Valta in a while," Baylen suggested and Thala barked a laugh.

"I don't need that," she said. "Besides I don't want to go home. I want an adventure!" We all laughed at that until they both looked at me.

"We could go to Bori?" I suggested. It was a portion of the forest of Crism where there were supposed to be dozens of creatures not seen anywhere else and where nature was the law. Many faint of heart had gone in but not returned, but none of us have been to Crism or Bori.

"That's an idea," That says appreciate. "And it would be a mystery. I'm in."

"So am I. There would be lots of new information to be found." Baylen said. In agreement we went to bed.