The Lost Witches

Chapter 3- Princess Guinevere

We hit a rock and me and Lilly were tossed across the carriage into Susan, Celia, and Julie. Their eyes went wide as I landed longways across them and Lily atop me. Lilly jumped up and tried to help me down, all of my ladies apologizing loudly.

"It is fine, girls, could you help me off your laps and into my seat? They scrambled to help me and Lilly reached across the cabin and helped me back into my seat. They all looked like scared puppies, except for Lilly, she is my best friend and has never been scared of me. Even when we were little and I would threaten to have her whipped in the square. She has always been fierce and never fears for the future. Even when she should.

We've grown up together since her mom was one of my mothers ladies. When she was old enough I forced her into being my Lady-in-waiting so we could "always be together" not that it took much convincing.

"I'm not going to punish you for something you couldn't control." I said, trying my best not to laugh. Susan's lips quivered and she ducked her head. Her long hazel hair fell onto her face.

Lilly groaned "If you start crying I swear I am going to push you out of the carriage." The girls' eyes widened. They nodded, shocked at the threat and then their faces went back to the impassive blank mask. They've been taught to keep their faces neutral while in royalty's presence.

Frowning I turn and look at Lilly disappointment heavy on my face. I hate it when they do that. They look like ghosts. They just float around in the background, never really there.

I smack Lilly in the shoulder "look what you've done. You've upset them." She shrugged shooting a gate over at the emotionless girls sitting across from us.

"Girls, you know I hate being the daughter of the King and Queen more than I hate this arranged marriage. I would rather be the daughter of a servant. Then I would finally be able to cut my hair. I'd get to go outside without six guards and a servant following me at all times." That put a smile on Julies face.

I grinned as I plucked my heeled shoes off my feet and stuck them in the compartment under the seat. "You know I'm not strict with rules or anything, I don't even know the proper way to hold my fork."

I picked up the bag that's sitting between Lilly and I. Pulling out a book that's about as thick as my head. I read the title out loud: "Madame Celeste's guide on etiquette. Mother instructed me to read this on the way to Destry." Celia almost laughed at that, her thin lips pursing together.

I looked out the window, at the distant mountain ranges of Khrysoar. We only have a couple more days before we get to "The Grand White Palace of Destry'' what a mouthful. Where I will meet the prince and fall helplessly in love with him, or something like that.

We pulled off the road and into a little clearing they'd made as they had scouted the roads yesterday, and jerked to a stop. "This is where we will camp tonight," my coachmen's booming voice rang out. Then the door to the carriage opened and one of my military escorts held out his hand helping me down, then the rest of my help.

"We are on Dasan road and will reach the palace in two days" I thanked him and moved off to the side of the road so the guards could water their horses. He will be leading me towards the river they'd found. That's where me and my help will wash. We need it, covered in dirt, grime, and sweat.

My dress is long almost floor-length, with a light yellow corset-like top and a faded peach skirt, and the long black cloak that I wear everywhere I go. The skirt is covered in dirt and my pits are stained.

My girls are all in the same dress as me just in light grey, which is their uniform. Chosen by me. It's the same style as mine with a shorter more practical skirt and they all have thick grey cloaks. It is very cold with the wintertime drawing so near so I had them made before we departed.

I love my girls because they are the only real friends I have. I always make sure they are comfortable. One of the soldiers motions for us to follow him while he leads us to the river. "Would you like me to stand over here in the trees, Princess?" The soldier asks, he asks every time we stop because it is the protocol, and every time I say: "no thank you, you're dismissed." He turns and leaves just as my girls come trudging through the trees lugging a pail, some rags, and a change of clothes for each of us.

"Thank you, girls, could you just set that over there on the rock. They laid a blanket on the yellowing grass near the river bank. That's where we can stand and bathe without hurting our feet on the sharp rocks around the river. I was about to strip down to give myself a bath. Suddenly there was a loud whooshing sound that startled us all. We looked around but no one could tell where it was coming from. The wind picked up and was blowing the leaves on the ground into piles on both sides of the clearing in perfect lines. "Do I need to get the guards?" Julia asked warily. Her short black hair bobbing as she swallowed deeply, her olive skin paling considerably.

"No I'm sure there's an explanation." I grasped for any reason to calm them down. "I know! I bet there is a storm blowing in." They looked around again and then nodded their faces relaxing.

I turned to Susan "could you please take my cloak and hang it from a branch on that tree?" She unbuckled it for me and scurried off trying to find a suitable branch for it to hang on. It was still a little damp from the moisture in the air and needed to dry off.

The girls were readying the water for me when a battle cry cut through the air followed by more voices, distinctively female voices. Ten people flooded out of the woods on the other bank of the river. They are all wearing pitch-black cloaks that covers their faces.

When they reach the river two of them stop at the bank and reached their hands up above their heads. The water rushed up in two pillars and then stretched across the river to form a bridge the rest ran over it like it was a solid! They grabbed me and my girls. Taking hold of our arms and restrained us. Then they forced us to the ground.

I tried to scream for help but they gagged me and tied my hands behind my back. I looked around. They were dragging my girls over to me, tied up and gagged too. I looked back at my hands and there was nothing visible holding my hands. Yet I still couldn't move them. It took me a second to realize what they are, Witches.