The True Telling

Chapter One

Beams of sunlight reached through the branches of barren trees. The cold, mundane day was lit up with a particular warmth. The air left many chilled to the bone, but it felt wonderful to be out. Liezel Grimhilde took another sharp breath of the icy air. Something felt right as she watched children chase each other around the paved streets. Shopkeepers' wives were out yelling at the youngsters that got dangerously close to intervening with their duties, but even they had faint smiles on their lips.

Dodging a child, Liezel took a swift step to the side, basket wobbling in her hands. A few silver coins slipped from the container and clinked against the stone ground. Immediately, hopeful hands rushed for the tiny pieces of metal, scratching at her feet. One individual gripped onto her leg. Liezel looked down to find a disheveled man with a wicked grin on his face. He had rotting yellow teeth and a brown face stained with dirt.

"Help me, miss," he breathed in a strained voice. "Won't anyone spare a poor man's life?" Liezel felt inclined to help the man, but something didn't seem right. She tried to move on, but his grasp on her tightened. His eyes flashed with anger.

"You dare to ignore me!" the beggar bellowed. He pointed an accusing finger at Liezel. "You will pay," he said with rage. His body began to increase in size and his arms grew meaty with muscle. Someone in the crowd raised the alarm.

"Witch!" Chaos ensued as everyone attempted to scamper back home. Liezel desperately wanted to go with them, but second by second his grip grew stronger. Blood violently pounded in her leg. Her eyes darted around her surroundings, searching for someone who could aid her. She saw a flash of motion out of the corner of her eye.

Taking her chances, she called out to the blur. "Please!" she implored. "Help me!" The beggar gave a sinister chuckle.

"Go ahead! Try to get your help, but they're no match for me!" he howled. Liezel attempted to yank her leg away one more time. Suddenly, a new voice echoed through the square.

"Don't worry, fair lady," a man said with a prideful boast. "I will free you of this terrifying beast!" Within a few seconds, the man stepped into Liezel's line of vision and sliced off the warlock's arm.

The beggar's face twisted up in pain as he rushed to cradle the bleeding stump of his arm. Liezel looked down as the arm that was still clutching her leg slowly shriveled up. It took a lifeless gray color that held an air of disgust. The beggar snatched the unattached, discolored limb.

The other man, Liezel's savior, took a sudden strike at the beggar with an ornamented 20-inch blade. The warlock screamed in anguish for a few seconds, then stopped. His chest refused to continue rising. His whole body ceased to move at all.

The strange man with the sword let out a light-hearted laugh. Liezel looked over at the man in distaste.

"How can you slaughter one of your own with a smile on your face?" she questioned, narrowing her eyes at him.

The man withdrew. "That warlock would've done the same to you. If I didn't jump in, you'd be the one laying on the side of the street, dead."

Liezel shook her head. "What's the point of disentangling me from that fate to let another man take my place? I would have accepted it if I knew a murderer would come along."

The man's face grew dark. "How dare you accuse me of such a morbid act of violence? Do you have any idea who you are speaking to?"

"I'd prefer not to know such a sick man as yourself," she responded, half-heartedly, daring to look him in the eyes.

The man took his free hand to slap her. Liezel reached up to her throbbing face. Tears bubbled at her eyes as the man spoke again. "Watch your tongue, filthy wench! That is not how you address a member of the court." the man hollered.

Abruptly, Liezel gained expeditious insight. She stumbled back as she came to the realization that she had been demeaning the prince of Lohr am Main. Still holding onto her cheek, she ungainly knelt on the ground. She found herself stammering an apology.

"I beg for forgiveness, Your Majesty," she started. "I did not realize-"

"Silence!" he raged. Liezel bowed her head, blinking back the warm tears that burned at her eyes. Prince Baldemar towered over her, trying to contemplate what she previously said. A minute passed before anyone spoke.

"You were right," he began, taking Liezel by surprise. "My actions were unjustified. Although, if I had let him survive, he'd be executed. A fate that is much more tortuous."

Liezel stumbled up to meet his gaze. "That may be true, Your Majesty, but he had already faced a punishment worse than any other. His whole life he has been spat on for powers he never asked for. He is left with no choice, but to hide behind the shadows, wishing for a life better than his own. Going through such a torment must drive a man insane."

With that, she brushed the dirt off her woven cloak and walked away, leaving an astonished Baldemar behind.

She continued to walk until she reached a small cottage on the edge of town. Things were slow near the Stop. Houses were placed miles apart, there were no roads, and the forests behind took an eerie effect. No one wanted to come near the Stop, thus making it a perfect place for Liezel to live.

She took a step into the structure and headed to the rickety vanity. She gazed at her blurry reflection. She took a moment to study her injured cheek. She, then, concluded that it would bruise. Moving on, she walked over to a cat that was lounging on the foot of her bed.

"Oh, Benedict," Liezel exclaimed. "I did a terrible thing today. I encountered Prince Baldemar! What if he knows? I could be dead by morning." 

The cat raised it head and took form of a stout man. "Why do you insist on informing me of these things?" he remarked in a hysterical voice. "Go ahead, perish if you'd like. Just let me sleep."

Liezel stared at him. "How will you get that fancy food you insist on eating once I'm gone? I am positive you won't easily adapt to a diet of rats."

Benedict gave her a look. "At least no one will interrupt my naps," he said with a sly smile.

Liezel let out a small laugh. "You think you're so clever, don't you?"

Benedict rolled his eyes. "No. I'm just trying to get you to leave me alone."

Liezel gasped. "You could have just told me!"

"You and I both know you wouldn't listen."

"Oh, I'd listen. I just wouldn't take the hint."

"You're ridiculous, Liezel," he informed as he transformed back to a cat. She watched as Benedict laid lazily back down.