The Princess of Herbia

Chapter 5

Running.

I did not take in my surroundings like I had always done, I did not admire the grassy hills or the cobbled ground or the hills in which surrounded me. Instead I ran, I ran down the familiar path towards the stables in which both my brothers worked. It was Maliant I spotted first, flirting with his boss's daughter. She was not beautiful, for her nose was too long, her forehead too wide but that did not matter for her kindness out shone any beauty.

As I approached, my brother's charismatic smile faltered as he took in my bloodied nose, heavy breathing and perspired state. Reaching them, I asked for a word alone with my brother and Mr Jayda's daughter vanished with a friendly wave directed at me. Guilt filled me. She would despise me after she discovered the condition of her mama.

"Maliant, I've done something unforgivable!" I cried, the wobble in my voice present but no tears sprang to my eyes. Unlike most girls I tried only to cry alone, not feeling comfortable to sob my sorrows in front of another.

Maliant took me in his arms, me only reaching his shoulders, and stoked my hair with brotherly affection. Maliant always was the one to come to in a state of need, he made one feel loved and protected. For his hug felt like a shield, no one could hurt me if I were in my brother's arms.

"What is it that you have done?" He questioned when my breathing returned to its normal state. I took in a heavy breath and repeated the events that had occurred. As I reached the end of the tale my brother's grip on me not only loosened but he had completely withdrawn from the hug in a state of shock. Not meeting his eyes I waited for him to gather his thoughts.

Risking a look upwards, I saw shock, horror and trepidation line my brother's face. With quiet mumblings that sounded like 'What have you done' my brother paced frantically back and forth. The grass in which he trod was looking worse with every step my brother made, flattening it to nothingness with the occasionally kick by the scuff of my brother's boot: it were almost as if he were punishing the ground for what I had done.

"We must go to her, check on her health" Maliant announced and with that his feet walked the ground towards the small shop in which I work-worked-, leaving the grass here in pieces. I strode after my brother having to take twice the amount of steps as him in order not to fall to far behind. Passing the 'gate of the unknown beyond' at this pace was foreign to me. For I often squandered, glancing through and dreaming of the place beyond: was it really as magical as my mama's story? Placed on the edge of Herbia the dazzling golden gate lined with unknown symbols was the only area I had not wondered. Of course like many before me have teeters fourth with the goal of passing the gate in my mind, but even I could not harbour the sorrow that fills one to the brim. The furthest I had ever gotten was unpleasing, for it were quite possible to fit a hut in the distance between.

My brother reached the small shop first at a tremendous pace. Flinging the door open we entered, me running into Maliant as he came to a sudden stop. My brother's gasp of horror was something I had never heard, and that in itself was enough to frighten me to the core. Bravely I peered over my brother's shoulder on the balls of my feet. The sight before me was something that would be etched into my head for eternity.

Mrs Jayda lay dead, covered in blood with a knife protruding from her stomach. Her hair lay in tangles around her head, almost looking like a crown of some sort. Even in death she looked stern, how that was possible was unknown.

Not fully grasping the sight in front of me the sound of a scream from behind was most alarming. Spinning on my heals, horror filled me as I saw Mrs Jayda's daughter before me clucking in her hand a parcel the size of one usually filled with material. I moved to calm her, placing a hand on her shoulder she turned to look at me. Hatred, betrayal and anger were directed at me and before I had grasped what was happening she fled. Screaming.

"Please help me! They killed my mama!"