The Chronicles of Colteran: The Warrior Queen

Chapter 3

“What?” Elizaria's heart skipped a beat. The High King's DEAD? No, it's not true, she told herself. There must be some sort of mistake. Or the enemy's just playing with them. There's no way her father's dead. Before she left Lichenston, her father's lively as an old man could be.

Flashback

“The hour has come. Set forth with my blessing, Princess Elizaria,” High King Garrett said as he shifted on his seat, the mighty throne of Lichenston. Princess Elizaria bowed at his statement.

“Thank you, your Majesty,” she replied. Denzell Quillon, her bodyguard and Malin Parma, her mentor, followed her gesture of respect. They bowed to the High King.

“Take your leave and go in the grace of the Kings and Queens of Yore,” the High King commanded. Elizaria nodded and turned to walk towards the door. Denzell and Malin bowed down before they caught up with the Princess who is already half way towards the door, her footsteps echoing through the halls of the throne room.

“Princesses will be princesses,” Denzell said, sighing.

“So much for royal protocols,” Malin mumbled. He wondered if Princess Elizaria ever listened to him when he discussed to her the importance of etiquette and protocols when she's young. The three of them chatted as they walked on their way down the stairs outside the castle.
“Your Highness!” A soldier called out to Elizaria.

Elizaria turned around to see her father, walking briskly to catch up with them. The Lichenston general, Gabriel Valerio, is with him.

“What now, father?” Elizaria asked as she approached him.

“I fear I have left too much unsaid,”  High King Garrett replied. “Walk with me till we reach the bottom.” Elizaria nodded and slowed her pace. So did Malin and Denzell.

“Promise me you'll be careful out there, my daughter. You place a great burden to those who are with you,” he told her.

“You're the one to talk, father,” Elizaria replied, smirking. The High King chuckled. Then he turned his attention towards Denzell and Malin.

“Look out for my wayward daughter, Denzell and Malin. This time, I do not command you as High King. I ask you of this as a father.” The High King looked at them with his magnificent blue eyes.

“Indeed, your Grace,” Malin nodded.

“Sure, High King,” Denzell replied.

Elizaria's about to chime in when she noticed Ruth Calclaire waving at them from below, her father Reinald Calclaire behind her. 

“Hey! Elizaria!” Ruth called out. She went to them, her father following behind.

“Hey, Ruth. Why you here?”

“Father and I are accompanying you on your journey,” Ruth replied, smiling.

“What?” Elizaria asked, surprised.

“I forgot to mention the Crown Guard and his daughter will be coming with you, Elizaria,” the High King mentioned. Elizaria sighed in defeat.

“Just like they say. The more, the merrier. Hate to break this up, but we have to go if we need to be in Stratenwit as soon as possible,” Elizaria said. She was about to walk away when her father held her by the hand.

“Another thing, Elizaria,” the High King called out.

Elizaria grumbled and turned around once again. The others went down first to give both father and daughter the space they deserve.

“Do mind your manners around the Queen of Stratenwit. She might be your childhood friend, but it's no excuse for you to act so indifferently,” he reminded her.

“Your Majesty, as well,” she replied as she bowed in a sarcastic way. “Try to mind yours around our esteemed guests from Carnificina.”

“You have no cause for concern,” High King Garrett said.

“Nor do you,” Elizaria fired back.

“Just trying to make sure you are aware of what's to happen,” he told her.

“You think I wouldn't father?”

“I need only to know if you are ready to leave home behind.”

“I don't know about you, but I'm ready as I'll ever be,” she replied confidently. Then, the High King pulled her for a hug.

“Take care on the long road,” he whispered on her ear. “Wherever you go, the grace of our ancestors goes with you.” He patted her back and hugged her tighter. Then, he pulled away to face Elizaria and tapped her shoulder,“Walk tall, my daughter.”

Elizaria smiled. She turned to walk away. She tried to fight back the urge of leaving her father behind, but this is it. She'll be meeting Braelynn again. She has to take this chance. Before she lost the courage, she ran back to her father and kissed him on the cheek.

“I love you, father,” Elizaria told him, smiling.

“I love you too, Elizaria,” he replied. Both of them chuckled for a short while then Elizaria bidded him good bye and caught up with the others.

“Have the courage to face whatever lies ahead of you, my daughter,” High King Garrett whispered, watching his daughter start out her journey to Stratenwit.

End of the flashback

Tears slowly trickled down Elizaria's face as she played the moments she's been with her father. She wiped her tears, trying to accept the fact that their last conversation has become a memory. Her father's gone and his kingdom taken by some bastard.

“No, that can't be... The High King...” Reinald's voice trailed off.

“It's true, sire. The High King's dead.”

Reinald looked at Elizaria, concerned.

“Elizaria...”

She remained silent, not knowing how to respond. Her father, who's also the mighty High King she looked up for guidance, was gone.

“Elizaria, if what they're saying is true, then we must leave now,” Reinald called Elizaria to her senses. His voice seemed to be coming from a distance as it did no good to calling Elizaria back to reality.

“ELIZARIA!”

Elizaria flinched. She looked to Reinald and the others, who are all looking concerned about her.

“Hold yourself together. You are the future queen of Lichenston. You're going to take back our home, right? Only from the Royal Family of Lichenston can wield the Ring of the Chosen, that is why you must live,” Reinald encouraged her.

“I don't know what to do. I convinced him that I'm ready but deep down, I don't know if I really am,” Elizaria replied, regretting she lied to her father of being ready. She didn't want to disappoint him.

“No time to think about that, Liz! We gotta get out of here!” Denzell shouted to her from the trees.

“Let's pull back! We should leave for Prussengard. There we could ask for help. Queen Braelynn might be able to help Princess Elizaria,” one of the soldiers told Reinald.

“We will,” all of them answered to the soldiers except for the Crown Princess. Reinald pulled Elizaria along with him as they made their way through the raining arrows, led by the four Stratenwit soldiers to get away from the Carnificina soldiers and archers, their minds focused on getting the heiress of Lichenston to safety.