Flight of the Five Swans

Fear Chapter 3

If there was one thing that Callia hated more than anything else in the world, it was packing. True, she didn't need to worry about folding her things, or fitting them in her traveling trunk; Valeria took care of those particular tasks for all of the princesses, and the woman was a genius at it—not to mention a perfectionist. On one occasion, Callia had folded and packed her belongings herself, thinking to save Valeria the trouble. The housekeeper had chucked her under the chin in thanks, only to empty and then repack the trunk when she thought Callia wasn't looking.

After that, Callia left those aspects of packing to Valeria.

Besides, it wasn't the actual packing of her things that bothered Callia, anyway, but rather the task of deciding what to pack. Clothes was one thing, but as far as she was concerned, selecting the books she wanted to bring was the most important aspect of travelling—and the most difficult. No matter how hard Callia tried, limiting herself to just a couple of volumes that would fit into her saddlebags never seemed to get any easier. If anything, she found it harder than ever.

Standing in the library, Callia had already made a small pile of 'possibilities' on the desk behind her—a pile that was slowly becoming taller and taller the longer she browsed.

"Hmmm, there's always duBois' collection of verse." She muttered to herself, taking the volume down off the shelf and leafing through it. "It's been a couple of months since I've read it all through."

Decision made, the book joined its brothers in her pile.

Callia turned her gaze back to the shelf, humming thoughtfully as her fingers caressed the beloved spines. Oh, if only there was a way she could bring them all with her! If only she had a magic book that contained all the stories in the world. It was not the first time this thought had filled Callia's mind, nor would it be the last. Though it seemed impossible, it was a favorite dream of hers to one day find such a volume.

"A priceless treasure." She said dreamily.

Running footsteps sounded from the corridor outside, breaking Callia from her page-filled daydreams. The library doors flew open, and Thaleia appeared, panting slightly.

"You're here." She stated almost accusingly. "Of course you're here, how did I know you'd be here?"

Callia stared in bemusement at her sister's flushed face. "I was just selecting my reading material for the trip."

Thaleia huffed impatiently. "Well, there won't be a trip if you don't hurry! We're all ready to leave!"

That shocking statement was enough to snap Callia out of her library-induced fog. "What?" she gasped. "But we aren't leaving until—"

"Ten o'clock!" Thaleia stated, hands on her hips. "Which was ten minutes ago!"

Callia started in horror. "But," she said weakly, "but I haven't picked my books yet!"

Thaleia sighed impatiently and stomped to the desk. "These are your options?" she asked, looking through the pile. Callia nodded dumbly. "And how many can you take?"

"Only three." Callia groaned in very real pain.

"Then you'll take this one, and this one and....this one. Now come on!"

Callia watched, dumbfounded, as Thaleia snatched three volumes at random out of the pile and stuffed them into the bag waiting on the chair. She did not even get the chance to look at the books her sister had selected for her; Thaleia shoved the bag into her arms and then grabbed her hand, pulling her at a half-run out of the library and down the stairs to the middle hall.