Journey of a Girl

Ajo: Chapter Two

It was Galeia's charge to care for the squire.

For a time she lost the right to walk the woods freely. Instead of swinging through the trees she was bound to the castle, tasked with someone to care for.

She didn't refuse or argue against it, but spent her days and evenings dutifully tending to the human in his bed, feeding him every meal, cleaning and dressing his wounds, and making sure he was comfortable.

It was an odd thing for Ajo to see her in such a gentle capacity, for she was still a child, but when it came to the squire she was as careful as a mother, showing maturity Ajo had never known her to possess.

Galeia was convinced the human would hate her, and the stronger the squire grew, the more Galeia feared his vengeance would rear its head. She did not voice her concern to anyone except Ajo, and told him that she would accept whatever fate the squire deemed appropriate.

But the squire never spoke cruelly to her. In fact, his face lit up in her presence, and he looked at the girl with tender love.

Ajo watched their meetings, ever suspicious of both their intentions, and he was always surprised to find nothing but friendship growing between them.

Galeia was changed by the human's mercy.

When anyone in court snickered or gossiped about the squire within earshot of the princess, she was quick to reprimand them. She protected his reputation as fiercely as a dragon guarded its last jewel.

"Why don't you hate me?" she once asked him while spooning broth into his mouth. "After what I did...you should be angry."

"Aye, but then I'd deny myself the joy of knowin' a lovely princess."

"I'm not a real princess," Galeia admitted. "Mother found me in the woods."

"I know that. Queen told me all about ye, Galeia."

"What did she tell you?"

"That ye were a special thing, but needed a bit o' lookin' after. Like all children. But Her Majesty said ye had a spark o' powerful wildness runnin' through yer veins!"

Galeia's eyes fell to the floor. "I'm wicked."

To her surprise, the squire reached out and touched her cheek.

"Yer not wicked. Yer jus' learnin'."

"How can you be kind to me? After I—"

"Suppose I hope it'll serve as a reminder to ye, tha' some vengeance requires more hesitation and thought first."

Galeia winced.

"And I hope the little princess will try to think of me as her friend," the squire added with a smile.

"Do you think of me as your friend?" Galeia asked.

"I do. First one I have in court, too."

Galeia returned his smile.

"Ye know," the squire continued, "I had a child of me own once."

"I didn't know that."

"She was taken from me, oh, not long after she learned words."

"Why?"

"Debts must be paid, and the towns always made sure folks had plenty of 'em to spare—debts, that is. So when winter came and I had nothin' to survive on, I had to make a choice. Sent her off to some place, and was promised she'd never know hunger or cold. I thought I'd be allowed to see her, but..." He shook his head. "It was better than watching her starve."