The Red Cloak Society

Chapter 11

Ciella

BANG

The sound of another thick glass hitting the aged wooden table, filled the tavern.

"Another one!"

"Your Highness," her lady-in-waiting whispered, "don't you think that's enough, the King must surely know you're gone by now"

The princess ignored her maiden's pleas, waving over a servant boy for another refill of her glass. The young knight with them stared at the scene silently, too afraid of offending the princess to speak.

I can't believe he went off with my father to leave me with this incompetent, she thought to herself. Fine, not like you guys were friends or anything, he's just one ally. You can make more by yourself.

"Aye Isa, hic, Isabellaaaa" the princess drawled. The maiden leaned closer to her, concern clouding her face.

"Yes, your Highness"

"Haveee a, hic, have aaaaa drink wiff meee." she threw her arm around her maid pulling her close enough that their eyes were level. With another hiccup and a giggle she stretched her arms in the air proclaiming,

"Evrryyyzbody drinks on meee"

The bar patrons hooted in kind, all calling over the servant boy for refills. Isabella looked painfully at the silent knight.

"Princess," Isabella whispered, "we must get going, it won't be long before night is upon us."

"Noooo let me stayyy, i don't wanna goooo" she protested. Isabella sighed and shot another glance at the knight, standing there watching the scene, his face a mix of fear and worry.

Who does he think he is, reneging on our meeting. I'm paying 20 Sol for this bastard she continued huffing as she took down another glass.

"Can you help me at least." she snapped at the boy as she tried, unsuccessfully, to lift her lady up by herself. He obliged, stumbling over his own feet with his nervousness as he grabbed the princess under her other arm, hoisting her up. Ciella just giggled in response.

"Weeeee I'm flyingggg" she exclaimed, flailing her arms and lurching forward. They barely caught her as they tried to lead her to the door. Just as they were about to make their exit, they were abruptly stopped by a tall man, with a skull burned into his exposed right bicep.

"You didn't pay for your tab miladies" He grunted at them, giving them a wicked smile full of yellowed decaying teeth.

"Yes sir, we will certainly pay our tab but we must get our lady to the carriage fir..."

"See that's the problem with ye nobles, yer think you can come down to our parts of town and do whatevers you want." The man leaned down, face to face with Isabella. "But not here ye don't."

Isabella opened her mouth to respond but was stopped by a wad of spit flying into the air and landing square on the man's face. She looked in shocked awe at the princess beside her.

"Hey, do ya, do ya know who you're talking to" the princess slurred, swaying slightly as she lifted her chin high to look in his face. The man's eyes went red as he wiped the glob off of his face slowly. The knight grabbed the hilt of his sword, his hands shaky.

"Now why would a pretty thing like you, do that?" he asked menacingly, taking a step closer to the princess. She didn't flinch as he bore down on her, she welcomed the violence, it was the only thing she was familiar with. He raised his fist and just as he was about to let it rain upon her a hand came, clenching him from behind.