A Princess Apart

Chapter 1: Background

"Go ahead and put it in the back with the rest of the other sacks."

"Sure thing," another day of life and another day of work, my name is Fallon and I live in the kingdom of Caliway. Which is one of the smallest kingdoms on Bellom and has a vast of trading agreements with neighboring kingdoms. Caliway is ruled by the King Phillip and Queen Kyomi and they have five daughters. The Shane family has ruled Caliway for six generations. And now that you have a little background lets begin.

I was well known through out the kingdom and was well liked. Every day I would go to the market and help Mr. Richard with his supplies. And then roam around afterwards. As soon as I arrived at the stall on the market street a wagon filled with sacks of grain and fruit pulled up. "Morn'n Fallon" the coachmen calls as I feed the horse a sugar cube.

"Morning Mr. Finch got any thing interesting for me," I replied. Mr. Finch was a traveling merchant who often brought food and nick-nacks from other kingdoms.

"I finally found that compass ya requested."

"That's great, so how much ya want for it."

....

Thinking for a minute he then says "Get me some horseshoes for Matilda here, and we'll have a deal."

I then reached in my bag and pulled out four horseshoes. "Will these do?" And with a smile the merchant gladly made the trade.

"Um hum," Mr. Richard was behind me. "You know it wouldn't hurt to actually do the job I'm paying ya for." 

"Yeah, yeah I'm on it." So I headed to the back of the wagon as Mr. Finch handed me sacks of rice, beans, apples, pears, and so on. "Where do ya want them." I asked while trying not to drop the rice.

"Go ahead and put them in the back with the rest of the other sacks."

"Sure thing," I made it, placing the sack down before I spilled it.

After all the sacks of food and grains were unloaded and put away Mr. Richard offered me six bits. "Keep your money, just give me a loaf of bread and six apples and we'll call it even." I think I said something wrong, Mr. Richard was looking at me like I came up to him and said I killed someone. "A... Mr. Richard?"

"You gotta be the weirdest kid I've ever met but...." he looked at his stall and then at the six bits in his hand, "well... I guess it's a fair trade." And without a second thought he put the bits back in his his apron and handed me the food, then I was on my way.

As I left I was walking down the market street when I felt a pain in my head, it was quick but painful. I continued to walk when I heard a scream coming from the alley behind me, I entered the alley and saw four large men in black. "Help me!"

 What should I do, their larger but they'er not carrying any weapons. I then look past the four large man and see two girls and a man the same as the others but he's wearing a red cloth around his head. "Please, please I'm begging you let my sister go!!!" I couldn't help it.

"Stop! What makes you think you have the right to take advantage of these two girls!"

I've done it know, not only do I have the leader looking at me but the other men are staring at me as well, I pulled out a dagger hidden away in my torn shirt and baggy pants held up by some rope. The leader lets the little girl go and walks toward me as he pulls out a sword. "What did you say to me?"

"You heard me." keeping my cool I carefully watch his body movements as I study him. He is about 6'1" with a beard and has a scar going over his left eye. "Maybe someone should teach you a lesson!" he snaps at me.

In one move he closes the gap between us, I barely dodged his attack. I take the bottom of my dagger and plunged it into his back.

"Why you little runt!!!" Screaming he goes for another attack, and another, and another. Dodging multiple attacks I can't get a clear shot, side attacks won't work on him, he's to fast. Quickly trying to see a pattern I look around and see a clothes line a foot above the leaders head and a garbage can.

 I got it, I quickly return my dagger back to it's hiding place and jump for the clothes line. Just barely able to reach it I hold on and swing my self over the five men and land on the garbage can. "If you want me you gotta catch me first!"

"Don't just stand there, get that runt!" Grabbing the lid to the can I use it as a shield to block the punch from the first man and throwing it at the other three; I hit my mark.

"Good luck!" Screaming I dash out of the alley way with four man chasing me.

"You gotta be faster then that to catch me!"

I quickly ran down the street looking for away to take them out. Looking around I see a stick on the ground and pick it up as I ran by. "Come on men, this way!" The four man then split up to try and block my path.

I wait for on of the men to catch up as I start to slow down. About to feet behind me I run under a walkway placing the stick between the two walls as I run through.

 Bam!!!! the first man ran into the stick knocking the breath out of him. I bet he wishes he was watching where he was going. "One down, three ta go."

Spotted by the a second man I start to run to the town square. A couple of the palace guards were putting on a sword show to display their skills to the public.

Seeing me run to them one of the guards ask, "Is there something wrong ma'am?" out of breath be for I can answer the guard is knocked out and a sword comes flying at me.

"Come on runt lets see what ya got brat." The henchmen then picks up another sword and points it at me. My head is getting hot, my blood starts to boil. I lost it and before he even knew what hit him my fist was against his face knocking him off balance. A guard rushes over and cuffs him to the first man, while another guard is tending to the guard on the ground.

"Two down, two ta go."

"Ahhh..." the other two men in black come at me. I dodge the attacks and jab the bottom of the sword into one of the mens head. He was knocked out cold, "Three..." The fourth man comes at me, our swords are clashing(clink, bink, clank, bonk). Are swords lock and I stare at the tall man in black,

"It's time to know your place." I quickly turn and plunge my foot into his stomach.

I walk over to him as he lies on the ground in pain. I stare at him as I raise my sword in the air, then swing down with all my force.

 Clishing...

...

...

 The sword was wedged in the ground next to the mans head, I lean down next to his ear and whisper.

"I don't want to see you cause'n any more trouble for the folks in this here town. Ya got that?" As I raise up the crowd that has formed around us was cheering. A guard puts the man with the others and turns to me.

"And that makes four." I turn and walk away.