Descent

Contradictions

Axl 
I take a large swig from my bottle, and I look at the group in front of me. The King, the elf Prince, the maid, the Princess and... is that...
"Hey, you're the pothead from earlier!" I exclaim, pointing to the redhead with the sword. She glares at me.
"I'm not a pothead..." 
The Princess looks at her.
"Well, you did want to turn around just to get your pipe.." 
The pothead glares, even more, this time at the princess.
"Who's side are you on?" she growls. The Prince then speaks up.
"Her incense is not a drug," he says from the dias.
I quirk my brow.
"And how do you know that?" 
He doesn't take my bait. He just says -
"I've seen the incense she buys."
The King, all the while, looks vastly uncomfortable.
He motions for the maid to leave, and with a little frown, she does. The door closed behind her. The King clears his throat and begins speaking.
"As you all know, the Sky Witch is coming here. We must stop her. Which is why I want Kalina and Axl to go hunt her down. Elian, you could go as well." 
Elian nods.
"But father!" The Princess cries. "I want to go too!" 
Her father opens his mouth to speak, but I beat him to it.
"Princess, war is a heavy thing. And you... you've lived in a castle your whole damn life!" 
I can hear the King gasp a little. Then pipe lady looks at me.
"She has more kindness and honour than you ever will," her eyes are cold and hard as she talks to me.
I scoff a bit.
"Honey, unlike you, I don't live off of honour and drugs. I live off of the money I make and the rum I buy." 
Her face comes close to mine.
"What a lovely philosophy," she growls.
The King somehow looks even more uncomfortable. He mumbles something about civility, but I don't listen.
I smirk at the redhead.
"It really is. Gets me through the day pretty good. And let me think. Who was called here specifically to hunt down the Sky Witch?" I say. 
She growls and grabs my shirt, and pulls me.
"You only want the money."
"You know it," I smirk at her.
She pushes me to the floor, and I keep smirking as I get up, and she glares at me. I notice Elf Boy is glaring at me too. The King speaks up.
"Y - you can all leave tonight. I'll give you a room, Miss Axl," he says.
"Just Axl's fine." 
A guard motions for me to follow him, and I leave the throne room, and I can feel their eyes on my back.
Piama 
"The nerve of her!" I cry.
My father runs his hand through his hair.
"They're all like that, dear," he tells me. "Mercenaries, pirates. But from what I hear she's a good fighter. Elian and Kalina could use her in their group. Now, all of you, go to your rooms. Kalina, Elian, you should rest. You will be leaving tonight." 
They nod and head out the door. I stay behind. 
"Father, I want to go and hunt the Sky Witch with them! I want to protect my Kingdom!"
"No," says my father. "You're the crown princess. I need you here, unharmed." 
I can see that he won't budge, so I decide on a different course of action.
"...fine," I say.
My father smiles at me.
"Good you've finally seen reason. Now, go to your room as well." 
I do, but what he doesn't know is that I'll be leaving with them.
I go through the halls to the guest room, a large bag of money in my hands. The coins smash together as I walk, making it hard to stay quiet. I finally find the door I'm looking for, and I knock.
"What?" Says a voice from inside. 
"I need your help," I reply.
"....no." says the voice.
"I've got money!" I bribe, and I shake the bag of coins, making it known how much money is inside. I hear a lock turn. Axl stands at the door, smirking.
"Why is your face like that?" I ask.
"That's my resting bitch face, Princess. Get used to it. Now, what did you want?" She eyes the money hungrily.
"I want you to take me with you." 
Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise, and she laughs.
"Alright! But trust me, you don't wanna go where we're going."
"Yes, I do." 
She raises her hands in mock defeat.
"Alright. Just give me the money." 
I toss her the bag.
"Ok. I'll figure something out." 
She begins to close the door.
'Wait! What does that mean?"
"Means I'll figure out a way to get you out of rich people paradise, apparently." 
She closed the door, all the while muttering something about "crazy puffed-up rich naiveites".
As I stand there in the empty hallway, I smile. I'm going to save my kingdom!
"Shut up. This isn't a kids' play." Says Axl's voice from inside. I feel my face go red when I realize I said that out loud. I head back to my room, still giddy with excitement.

Kalina
I can see Elian's smile as he and I walk to my room. He only ever smiles for me, and that makes me feel special. Wanted. Like no one's made me feel before.
"You know, if the King sees us, I'll be banished," I say to him. He looks genuinely surprised.
"Why? We are merely walking." 
"Yeah, but you're smiling. You never smile. You usually look like you want to kill everyone in the room."
"That's not true at all." 
"It is."
"Is not."
We continue like this until we come to my room. Elian looks around and sees that there are no guards or maids. He kisses me tenderly and takes my hands in his.
"After the war, my people will be safe. Then we can go somewhere together."
"Is that a promise?" 
He kisses me again.
"Yes."
He leaves me at my room, and I close my door as I watch him turn the corridor.