Watty's Shortlist 2023
"I have been waiting a long time to meet you."
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When two warring kingdoms hear of a magical object that will end the conflict once and for all, two rival heirs embark on a quest to retrieve it and bring their...
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It was not the first time Aila had escaped through her window. She certainly hoped it wouldn't be the last.
As Aila peered out of her window, the looming descent brought a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins. She grabbed the rope, strapped on her backpack, and stood on the ledge, turning back to throw Castor a mischievous grin and a salute.
"See you on the other side," she murmured ominously, before she jumped backwards from the ledge.
Her heart caught in her throat for the second before her feet made contact with the wall. Aila began to descend, absailing the palace walls like a trained agent. The shadows she was clinging to concealed her, embracing her like she was their friend.
Despite the late October chill hanging in the air, within minutes her hands were slick with sweat and Aila tightened her grip to avoid the impending rope burn. A familiar fire blazed in her forearms as she held her bodyweight, but she honed her focus on the rope she was clutching and the red wall before her. Her breath became ragged, coming to a sudden halt on one occasion as her hands temporarily slipped and she plummeted a few metres towards the ground.
When her feet finally met the grass, a relieved breath escaped her. She sent a quick thumbs up to Castor, watching as he squeezed out of the window and followed her lead, much less gracefully.
He landed beside her with sweat glistening on his brow, breathing heavily.
"Shhh," Aila whispered. "You're being loud."
Castor rolled his eyes, indicating for her to lead the way.
Aila crept through the palace grounds, weaving her way through the shadows to a well-known spot behind the gardens. She grinned at the red palace wall, at the small, almost unnoticeable gap at the bottom that had been created by two audacious children that loved to defy the rules. She turned to see Castor's expression, unsurprised to find him mirroring her own.
"Do you think you'll still fit?" She teased, patting his stomach which was now taut with muscle.
Castor scoffed and strode ahead, first pushing his rucksack through the gap before squeezing through the hole with some difficulty. Aila muffled a laugh and joined him on the other side, mentally relieved that she had managed to escape.
A grain of guilt settled in her stomach at the thought of hurting her mother, but her kingdom needed her and this quest was for the greater good.
She had to succeed.
"What now, my queen?" Castor nudged Aila's shoulder with his to break her out of her thought-filled trance.
Aila inhaled a deep breath.
Fourteen days lay ahead of them. Seven to The Dragon Temple, and another seven back. It wouldn't be an easy journey, but it was one that was necessary to make. Hope shone within Aila, encouraging her to create the future that not only she dreamed of, but everyone in Merelia wished would come to pass.
"Now," she began, before she hefted her rucksack higher on her back and put one foot in front of the other. "We walk."
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Hello! Apologies for the short chapter. I have been editing and the chapter numbers have thrown me off. This is an anomaly and the rest will be of a normal length.
Thank you all for reading, please vote and comment if you're enjoying the story! See you in the nextchapter!
Fun fact: the title refers to a book by Brigid Kemmerer that I absolutely loved. Thoroughlyrecommendif you haven't read it already! I thought the name was fitting for the events in this chapter. 😁
