A Curious Mask

XXI- Father

Ri was exhausted. Spice was exhausted. Sugar was exhausted, yet they pushed on. After a full night, day, and another night, she finally let the horses rest by a stream in the middle of a grassy field. Against her better judgement, she fell asleep on the ground that seemed as soft as feathers.

She awoke to the smell of something cooking. She bolted up and looked around frantically. A man in leather armor similar to Sir Finch's and the same symbol hanging on his chest turned some bird spitted above a fire. He held his hands up innocently and reassuringly.

"Hey, hey. You're okay. I'm not going to do anything. I just wanted to make you dinner."

She looked to the sky, sure enough, she had slept a whole day away! Stupid, stupid! She jumped up and looked for her horses, but the smell of the bird was so tempting. She looked into the knight's kind brown eyes and sifted through his normal thoughts. She found herself missing Sir Finch's tornadoes, but she ignored that to process at a later date.

This man was curious about her but cautious and awkward. What he said was true, and he only suspected her to be a runaway, not a princess. True, she had rolled in mud the night before to hopefully hide her hair color, so she was sure she looked like a downright mess.

"You're a wanderer?" She asked.

He smiled and nodded, going back to cooking the fowl. "Sir Byjk Ponny at your service, miss..."

"Rianna Morden."

His eyebrows shot up and he looked her over, doubt playing across his features and mind. "That's a lofty claim for a runaway."

She huffed and sat near the fire, practically drooling at the smell of the cooking fowl.

"Care to explain how you got out here, with two nearly dead horses and not looking so grand yourself, princess."

She glared at him and snapped, "Sarcasm not appreciated! I'll explain after we eat."

"It's still got a few minutes yet, so talk."

She sighed. "I am King Reyferd's forgotten seventh daughter, and I tried to meet him last hearing day, but I ran away, so he sent his Interim, Sir Finch after me. We went to Beliz to see his family because I didn't want to face the king, and my past caught up with us and I fear Sir Finch is in danger."

Sir Byjk blinked rapidly, trying to wrap his mind around her basic synopsis. "Okay then. Whatever danger he is in, Finch should be able to handle, so don't fear too much for him."

She shook her head. "I know what he is, he told me, but he's up against nine wisters."

Sir Byjk cursed under his breath. "And where are these nine from?"

"Oh, so you believe me now?" She retorted.

"I don't see why not." Her stomach growled loudly, so he sighed. "We'll continue this conversation after we eat, eh?"

She nodded, and he cut her a good portion of the bird's breast, serving it on edible water plants from the stream. She ate ravenously, gulping her portion down within a few minutes, making Sir Byjk laugh sincerely at her enthusiasm. Real laughter from a knight! She smiled at him as he finished his portion and she washed her hands. He finished and washed his hands and face, taking a knife out and rubbing it along the sides of his face, content with the quiet. Ri fidgeted and decided she needed to explain.

"I was friends with several of the princes, my nephews, from other kingdoms growing up. They came here around the time I was seven, sent by their parents to persuade King Reyferd to make them his heir. Of the six of them, Rey and I got along the best, for we were the only two with power."