The Village Princess

Chapter Three

Jayla walked in the tall green grass, picking small flowers as she went. It felt good to stretch her legs. She spotted Milee walking to her.

"Hi Milee!" She said as Milee waved. It was unusual for Jayla to be talking to Milee. Milee was always so shy and wasn't found outside as much as the other kids. Milee was thirteen, and had moved to Stalifouse when she was ten. She was not as tall, or strong as the girls of the mountain, but she was still much taller and stronger than Jayla. She had long blond hair braided neatly in two braids that draped over her shoulders.

"This is all so crazy." Milee said softly as she patted down the grass and sat down.

"Yeah it is. Did it hurt?" Jayla asked, taking a seat by Milee.

"Did what hurt?" She asked.

"When you fell off of the horse!" Jayla exclaimed, tossing her hands in the air.

"Oh!" Milee laughed. "A little. I was mostly scared. But I'm used to being tossed off of horses." Jayla faced Milee.

"You what!" Jayla exclaimed.

Milee laughed again. "I grew up here. We lived on a small farm bordering the country of Heerian. Life was difficult. I was put in charge of training a new horse that had just come in. I got bucked off at least three times a day." Milee smiled at the memory.

"But how old were you!" Jayla asked, her eyes wide.

"The people of Stalifouse aren't the only strong people, you know. I was at least 9. The year younger than when we moved to Stalifouse." Recalling that memory put a frown on Milee's face. "I was sad to leave. But tensions were getting too tight between Ankary and Heerian. We had to leave. My pa decided to move to Stalifouse, where my late mother was born. But moving there did have some good things." Milee smiled at Jayla. "I met you for starters." Jayla's brows scrunched in confusion.

"I don't remember ever really talking to you," Jayla said. Milee laughed.

"Well, I only really saw you. You seemed like such a nice person. Then I met.....Peter." Just saying his name made Milee blush.

"Oh gross! You two are in love!" Jayla gagged and stood up, whipping flower petals from her dress.

"We better head back to the group." Jayla said, helping Milee to her feet.

"I guess so." Milee sighed. The two girls walked slowly back to the group.

"Did you enjoy your break?" A tall soldier growled at Jayla.

"Um, yes?" She responded. He grunted and walked to his horse.

"That's General Smith." Milee whispered to Jayla. Jayla nodded. The soldier was a tall, muscular man with a pencil thin black mustache.

"Be careful on your horse." Jayla told Milee as they parted.

"Will do." Milee said as she walked back to the soldier she had been riding with.

"Hello Miss." Sir Gideon said as Jayla walked over.

"Hello." She said, looking him in the eye. Sir Gideon smiled. Jayla never noticed how young he actually was until now.

"How old are you?" Jayla asked as he helped her mount the large white horse.

"How old are you?" he asked in return.

"I asked first. Plus it's rude to ask a lady how old she is." She stated as sir Gideon mounted the horse.

"You're a tough one aren't you? I'm 18."

Jayla thought about this. "You're three years older than the prince." Sir Gideon turned to look at Jayla.

"Indeed I am. Why do you say that?" Sir Gideon said and Jayla shrugged.