The Hidden Princess and the Sword

Chapter 4

The briars tore at her new dress, shredding the off-white material. With a hiss of frustration, Annika ripped a foot off the bottom.

It was so tattered by now that she tossed it away. Maybe a bird would build a nest with it.

Her anger started to leak away as she trudged further into the forest.

I'm hungry, her stomach told her.

I'm cold, her arms told her as the heat of the day dissipated, leaving only the cold light of the moon.

I haven't eaten since noon, said her stomach.

You don't have a coat, said her arms.

"I know!" she shouted into the night. "I know I'm cold, and hungry, and there are wolves and bears in the forest, and I know I'll probably be dead by morning!"

Annika's body grumbled still more.

I'm hungry, her stomach said again.

This dress is so thin, her arms complained.

Was that a bear? asked her subconscious.

"I know!" she yelled again. "I know there was something there, and I know it's going to kill me! So just shut up!"

The hours of walking and lack of food had started to take its toll on her, and the ground was definitely sloping uphill.

"Who said I'm going to kill you?" said a deep voice from somewhere above her waist.

Annika screamed at the top of her lungs and looked around frantically.

"I'm right here," said a stout little man as he stepped out of the bush.

He had a thick beard and long hair, bright auburn. The little man was nearly as wide as he was tall and clad in a forest-green coat and baggy brown pants. His aura was a friendly glimmer of orange-yellow, much like a tangerine.

He stuck out a hand. "I'm Bhaer, from the Mountain of Fiery Heart."

"You're...bear?"

"Bhaer. B-H-A-E-R. Bhaer."

"What's the Mountain of Fiery Heart?"

"That's my home, of course." He looked perplexed and dropped his hand. "Where are you from?"

"Oh! I'm, uh, Annika, from...the Kingdom of Indova?" The last part came out as a question.

"I've never heard of that clan before. So, who was it?"

"Who was what?"

"You know-" he looked around and leaned in. "The human parent?"

"Uh, both my parents were human."

"Yeah, and that's soooooo likely. Really, was it your mam or pap?"

"What are you?"

"I'm a half-dwarf, of course. My mam threw me out when I was a wee lad, and now I'm living with my pap in the Mountain of Fiery Heart."

"I'm just a human," said Annika. She put out her own hand and he should it readily. Bhaer's hand was callused, with wide fingers.

"But - but - you're so short!"

"Actually, that's just my mother. She was small, too."

"Was?"

"She died."

"Aww. You should see the Mountain!" Bhaer was only sad for a moment. Annika admired his optimism.

"Actually, I was looking for a place where I could get a sword? Forged in the heart of a mountain?"