Beyond the Castle

The Encounter

My mouth was agape as I drank in the sights around me. The trees were full of pink blossoms, the roofs of the buildings were curved, and the people were wrapped in silks and beauty, their hair elaborately styled. I had no idea this wonderful town existed in my kingdom!

"Hey princess!" My heart skipped a beat, thinking that someone had found me, but it was just my traveling companion, Pip. "Come on, we don't need you slowing us down. Let's get to that tavern!" Her black cape flew in the wind, and I ran after them.

Right in front of the tavern stood a tall man with gray skin and two horns. He was armored. 'Great,' I thought. 'It's a knight. I really don't need this today. Maybe I can sneak by home.' I wandered to a street vendor, who was selling potatoes. I picked one up, weighed it in my hand, and dropped it onto the ground. The others were staring at me like I was an idiot. I did a trick with it and winked.

The woman had moved to a vendor, and now she was doing a trick for a group of people. My eyes scanned the group, and they noticed that she was there. It was the princess! I stomped over to them. "Princess, you're coming with me."

"How did you find me?" Princess Victoria asked.

Everyone else's mouths fell agape, and the woman who did a trick exclaimed, "Holy shit, you're actually the princess? I thought you were joking!"

"Yes, she is, and she is coming home with me. As for how I found you, your mother put out a search party immediately."

A girl with purple skin spoke up. "Wait. How do we know that you're actually a knight? You could be tricking us."

"Why, I'm offended! How dare you accuse me of such foulness?" My face distorted with disgust. "My name is Sir Tharorash of Driftwood, and I serve my kingdom with dignity and fairness."

My hand drifted to my flute, tucked away in my pocket. I needed to convince this knight to release my friend. "It's not very fair to Victoria to be stuck in a castle all day. Don't you think, Victoria?"

"Oh yes. That's why I ran away. I wanted to live out adventures, just like in my books! Plus, how am I supposed to rule a kingdom when I know nothing about the people or their troubles?"

Tharorash scratched his chin, his brows furrowed. "Huh. That does make sense, but it doesn't change the queen's orders."

"Aren't knights supposed to protect the citizens? We're going to help anyone who needs it, and you can become well known. Plus, the princess would be protected with you by our side."

"It's true. We might even go back to the castle eventually on this trip, so we can leave then."

"You've convinced me, princess and company. I will join you on your quest!"

We entered the tavern with our new friend. My feet, my ears, and my tail all bounced as we sat down at a wooden table. Jugs arrived, and the frothy mead was like music to my ears. Darissa, the purple skinned tiefling, lifted her flute to her mouth, and shrill notes rang out all throughout the tavern. All talking stopped, and they focused on her for a while. I drank the mead, and my mouth curved upwards. 'Everything was right with the world.'