The world looks dull and grey around her. The woods has lost it's life, it used to be so bright and alive with crawlimg creatures. She could no longer feel that contentment, only a gaping hole. Something was ripped out of her, but she could not remember what it was. She only feels despair for the people she left behind, mourning over the person she used to be. Before the Shadow moved onto her, plunging her into darkness never to feel anything positive or good ever again.
Camilla stared back at the sorrowful little house. Only held together by the plants growing on it's walls.
"Supper is ready ,dear!" Lucinda calls from within.
Camilla stands up and slowly walk to the door, every move resulting in a dull ache.Camilla can remember how excruciating that pain had become when she had been walking the long distance from the castle to this lonely home of Lucinda. Her drive had been the promise of learning how to keep the darkness at bay and to use her magic in a way no one else could. Wielding dark magic had proven to be extremely difficult without letting it consume you.
She has found that there was something about the unknown, the cold, the quiet, something unmistakably terrifying yet beautiful about the darkness.
And that it can't hurt you unless you let it seep into your heart and your being. It's funny how now that she can only see in shades of grey how much clearer the world had gotten, so much more simpler now that she can not see the colour of things as they appear but what they truly are.Her power has also grown it is no longer limited to moving and conjuring solid objects. She can conjure entities, she now has power over the mind and the unknown.
* * *
After they were freed, the mysterious man led them to this hidden Inn. From the outside it looked run down, worse than the Inn between borders, but the inside was better maintained. They were fed and each led to their separate room to clean up. Resa was reluctant to let the twins out of her sight. The little girl reminds her of Isabelle, despite of their phisical difference like the Cassy's light brown hair and light eyes. After some discussion they decided that Cassy would share Resa's room and Raf would go with Zack.There was a already prepared bath in the room. Resa let Cassy bathe first so that she could have the warm water and he some more sleep. When Resa slid into the lukewarm water ,she smelled strange sweet aromas from the oils in the water. She recognized one to be vanilla but the rest was foreign to her. She submerged her head under the water and lay there until her lungs were screaming for air. She scrubbed all the grime and odours off, leaving a her dark skin tinged with a light red shade.
Resa stood admiring herself infront of the long looking glass, as she braids her wet hair. She had never worn anything like the dress she was now wearing. The dark red material was soft and light on her skin. It was a simple design acompaied with a dark brown leather belt, that hum loosely around her hips. Carrying all of her knives. Resa doesn't know how they came into the mysterious man's possession, she last saw them when they were attacked by the hexes, nevertheless she is thankfull to have their reassuring presence back, as well as the fimiliar feel of her knee high boots underneath the long dress.
She brushed the two finished braids so that they hung against her back and looked over to where Cassy lay sleeping on the bed. They were told to meet in the private dining room after they had washed up. Resa didn't want to leave Cassy alone in her vulnerable sleeping state, but didn't have a choice.
Everybody seemed to be wearing new clean clothing. Zack , Drakar, Ced and Keiden wore similar white shirts ,dark brown breeches and their own old knee high boots. Each with a sword hanging in its scabbard except for Zack who had his bow and quiver slung over his shoulder and Drakar who surprisingly had no weapon. Princess Sybil wore a dress similar to Resa's excep it was pitch black and she had no belt but two long swords crossed over her back with dark brown leather sheathes.
The mysterious man stood propped up against a wall in a corner, still wearing his black cloak shielding his face except for those sleet grey eyes scrutinizing her every move. She sat down next to Zack and his eyes moved on to stare a hole into the door.
"What are we waiting for?" Resa whispers, not knowing if she wants to disturb the tension filled silence.
"Nobody knows, maybe now that you are here we might find out." Zack leans closer and whispers back.The doors busts open, revealing a old well dressed man. The mysterious man pushes himself up to stand straight and Resa see's Cell visibly stiffen.
* * *
The doors burst open, revealing an all to fimiliar old man. The only thought to register for Ced is that his past is about to enter his present. The man's eyes lock onto Ced, making him want to shrink back into his chair. He feels a hand coming to rest on his shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Shock gives way for amazement at how quickly Princess Sybil caught on and reacted ,although she can't possibly know why he reacted the way he did. Ced relaxes a bit at her reassurance.
"I'm glad to see a person that grew up with a silver spoon adjusted so well to the life of a pirate." The old man's accusing words are directed at Ced.
"May I ask who you are and why you helped us?" Princess Sybil voices and Ced feels relieve when the man's gaze shifts to scrutinize the woman behind him.
"I apologize for my rudeness. I go by the name of Adolph, as for helping you. I couldn't just sit and watch as my nephew gets auctioned off..." Adolph's gaze returns to Ced.
"Well, thank you very much. But may I ask what it is you are going to do now that we are free, I am sure Amalek will be searching for us as soon as he finds we're missing."
"Well Miss..?"
"Princess Sybil."
"Princess Sybil you will be taken to King Casimir. I understand you are still to be wed to Prince Caymen." Adolph says mockingly eyeing Princess Sybil's hand on my shoulder. She does not take away her hand or shift away from him under Adolph's calculating gaze.
"You understand correctly. When will we be departing?"
"The captain will inform you of any further information," Adolph nods in the direction of the hooded man in the corner,"it was nice seeing you again, nephew." Adolph emphasizes and turns to walk out again."We will leave just before dawn ,get some rest. We will need to commandeer Captain Amalek's ship." The hooded man curtly instructs.
"Will do. Captain..."Princess Sybil trails off so he can insert his name.
"Just Captain." He dismisses and walks away.They all departed to their seperate rooms, but before Princess Sybil can dissapear into her own room Ced catches her by the elbow. She turns towards him with a questioning gaze. Ced feels tungtied not knowing why he wants to say or why he didn't want her to leave.
"Thanks." Cad finally mutters not exactly sure what he is thanking her for and releases her elbow.
"Don't mention it. We all need a bit of asurense." Princess Sybil acknowledges ,giving him a soft smile and turns to step inside her room.
Ced stands there a few more seconds confused about the feeling that smile ignited inside him.* * *
Princess Sybil closes her door and leans back against it letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She was not quite sure what Ced was thanking her for, she doesn't even think he knows exactly what he was thanking her for.
After what felt like ages Princess Sybil pushes herself up form the door and opens it just a crack to see if Ced is still standing in the hallway. The hallway is void of any movement and she quietly slips out, making a mad dash for Resa's room. She doesn't know why she feels like a naughty child for slipping out of her room. She knocks softly. Resa has to braid her hair back. Tomorrow will be another trying day.
She doesn't want to completely trust the hooded Captain. Those steel grey eyes seem so unnatural, like they belong to an animal rather than a human. She wants to get off of this island as soon as possible, but she also wishes that time would freeze.
When she departed from Aevan she was content with marrying Prince Caymen to save the kingdom, now she dredded it. Princess Sybil isn't quite sure what caused the shift in her attitude towards the marriage, neither does she know when it happened. She remembers the wish she made, but this is merely a delay not a prevention of the marriage.Her thoughts were interrupted by the door swinging open and she entered without hesitation.
YOU ARE READING
Voyage of War
FantasyPrince Deimos died during Drakar's escape and Balthazar now rules the Deis realm. Drakar, Resa and Zack amongst others flee into the forest and find sanctuary in Aevan. Queen Adira sends her daughter, escorted by Drakar, Resa and Zack, to unite the...