The Pirate Princess

The Unexpected Visit

When I woke up I was laying on the floor next to the door. There was a pillow underneath my head and a soft blanket that was thin yet warm. I sat up and looked outside. The sun was high in the sky which told me that it was around 1 or 2 in the afternoon. I stood up and stretched trying to remember what happened before I passed out. Then it all came rushing back to me. The talk, the news, everything. I just felt like crawling back into my bed and crying myself to sleep again, but I couldn't. I had sword practice, bow practice and horse riding practice. I had missed lunch but I wasn't very hungry.

I quickly changed into my training outfit and pulled my chestnut hair back into a ponytail. I walked over to the mirror hanging on the outside of my wardrobe door. I looked into the mirror and barely recognized myself. My outfit consisted of a semi long sleeved forest green blouse and thick dark grey leggings that went down right below my knees. I had a leather vest buckled in the front, covering my chest and stomach. I slipped on my riding boots that go up to my knees and covers the ends of my leggings.

I ran outside to the private arena at the back of the castle grounds. When I arrived I found Carter, my swords play teacher, waiting for me. I ran past him and into the barn that holds the swords. On the wall hung many swords, some with curved blades others with a two sided blade that would cut the hair off of a persons head without even cutting the person. I picked a sword with a bronze hilt. Engraved on the hilt was a crescent moon surrounded by intricately placed swirls on one side while on the other was a gypsy sun, its rays stretching out to become the swirls around the moon. The blade was balanced and weighed almost nothing in my hands. Engraved on the edge of the hilt that connects to the blade itself was my name, Alaina Williams. I had carefully swung it around a few times to correct my grip on the comfortable hilt. When I finished I ran outside to see Carter.

"You're late. You better have a good excuse other wise you're gonna be running," Carter breathed as I came running up to him. Carter was about 17, with a good 3 inches taller than me and had soft dirty blonde hair. His eyes a stormy grey were stern yet friendly at the same time. I was always comfortable around Carter and could always talk to him about my problems. Maybe it was because I was coming at him with a sword when I was angry or maybe it was just the fact that I liked having someone to talk to. Either way Carter and I became fast friends and hung out whenever I had free time.

"I do. In fact you might want some more padding cause I'm mad and need an outlet for my anger." I said my voice full of anger and hurt.

Carter chuckled and asked," What happened this time?" His voice seemed friendly and like he hasn't noticed that I wasn't just complaining about everyday life.

"My father has promised me to Prince Stephan of Sterlington. I have 3 months till I have to go to Sterlington to get married and live out my life saying 'yes Stephan' for the rest of my life." I said watching him closely. Carter's whole demeanor changed going from friendly and relaxed to rigid and on guard. "I don't even know why he did this but I was late because after he told me I cried in my room and fell asleep. Lets get started so I can get to my shooting lesson and then my riding lesson." I said trying to change the subject.

Through out the hour workout our swords clashed many times. We wore leather armor to protect us from the others blows. The final battle started with Carter striking first. He thrusted his sword towards my chest and I parried his blow. I then struck back with a side step to the left and thrust at his side. He blocked my blow and took the advantage to sweep my leg out from under me. When I hit the ground I rolled away from him and quickly got to my feet, sword poised to strike. We circled each other before he charged me. I spun around him on his right side, grabbed him by the waist and used his momentum to pin him to the ground, sword a centimeter away from his neck.

Carter chuckled,"Well done Princess. You've been practicing." I stood pulling Carter up along with me. He clapped his hand on my shoulder in approval. We walked back into the barn and hung the swords back on the wall. Carter put his arm around my shoulders talking to me about how I need to keep practicing.

".....you've gained skill you just need to watch the technical things such as footing, where to put your hands, and how much power you should put behind a blow. Besides you didn't look too graceful out there" he was saying.

"Oh and you looked very graceful when I pinned you to the ground," I laughed, grinning at the pretend grimace on his face. Soon he started laughing with me. My father walked up beside him, followed by a man that I didn't know. The man or I should teenage boy looked to be about 20 or21. His hair on the line between a dark dirty blonde and soft brown. He was dressed in fine robes his cloak the color of blood, his shirt the color of freshly fallen snow and his pants as black as night. He wore a gold medallion, and a ring on his right hand ring finger. The ring held a royal blue stone with a sword running diagonally behind a goblet cut into it. The symbols of the family crest I guessed. Carter and I were still laughing with his arm around my shoulders when they walked up.

"Mmmmhmmm I take it practice went well," my father said glaring at Carter's arm around me. Carter quickly took his arm from my shoulders and bowed from the waist. I just stood there with my arms folded, annoyed that my father interrupted my time with Carter to just hang out. My father turned his attention to me and I stiffened a bit. "Alaina you look tired. I've canceled the rest of your lessons for the day and have had Chelsea draw a warm bath for you. I want you to go to your room and get ready for dinner." I shrugged my shoulders and walked off in the direction of my room in a huff. As I walked I could feel someone's eyes following my every move. I casted a quick glance over my shoulder and saw the strange man looking at me. A a cold chill chilled my spine and I shuddered.