Not born to be a princess

Part 3

Lionisa is beautiful, but Shale is extraordinary. Deep rivers carrying all sorts of boats right through the middle of towns, people weaving spells on every corner and entire shops dedicated to books for learning or performing magic. The first night on that side of the border I'd found five people with multi or strange colored eyes, making me the head of a fashion trend instead of a odd person in the crowd. Master Wallow was more likely to draw attention with his robes than me, but it ended up Ignis being the one to draw the most attention in every town.

Several just watched him, but a few pulled him away from following us to have hushed conversations in a language even I couldn't translate. I'd learned through a word or two that he was shielding himself, but that was ridiculous because shielding changes your outer aperance entirely and lasts for about three hours per casting.

"Oh, this is beautiful." I laughed as we found a nice Inn for the night as opposed to last night when I slept ont he ground with Heron nervously on my chest waiting for something to go wrong. He'd come far since he had no choice but to fly or nest. I'd shifted only twice to teach him to glide and he was already flying as I rode instead of standing on my shoulder.

"This? You are about the easiest princess I've ever had the 'honor' to babysit." Ignis sneered as the master got us rooms.

"Get over yourself. I have never seen Shale before. The strangest thing i'd ever seen before a week ago was the old castle." I growled, my small habit of animalistic hints increasing the more time I spent outside the castle. I'd imagine when I am dragged back I'll be more of a wolverine than human at this rate.

"Yeah, pampered spoiled little princess. Should I request the grandest of rooms for your highness?" He snarled back, and I fought not to pop him on the nose as I did with animals who got snarky with me.

"You pompous ignorant bratty little boy. I am not spoiled and the only pampering I've ever had was forced down my throat." I snapped, wanting to outright snarl at him as he rolled his eyes and went back to the cross armed brick wall he was the entire trip through Lionisa.

"Alright kiddies, you two are in 5 and i'll be in six." Master Wallow announced handing me the key and hurrying off down the hall to find his room before either of us could start complaining about it.

We ended up not even speaking to each other until the morning when I kicked him out to let me change into a fresh dress instead of the one I wore. We ate roasted eggs and hunks of flavorless bread courtesy of the Inn before we left. Smiles given in thanks to the kind lady who sent us on our way, but the second we got outside Ignis' and the master's smiles faded.

"What?" I asked looking around for Heron who had found himself a perch for the night.

"There is another....... Forget it and walk." Ignis snapped, grippign the reigns of my horse and tugging him so I could climb on quickly.

"Fine, be cryptic. That will entirely make the trip smoother." I scoffed, holding the reigns strictly for show as Malfoy clopped through the roads after Ignis' brisk pace. I didn't ask about why we had to rush out of town when they hardly ever wanted to leave earl in the morning like today until we were making our way through the outskirts made primarily of farms and barnyards.

"Is everything alright? I get the sensation you are hiding something form me." I added, waiting patiently as Heron rounded us before disappearing into the distance for the third time.

"I'm not supposed to be walking through here and there was a..... Well someone who would make my life increasingly shorter if we stayed." Ignis sighed, slowing his walk so he fell behind Malfoy now right next to Master Wallow.