Smolder

Chapter 3:

Vivi saw as Russell tripped on a tree root and fell, clearly too distracted by the Scarlet flames to mind his footing as he landed on uneven ground.

Oh, don't get her wrong . The flames were marvelous — a big red floof! — Vivi thoughts so too. Just, not so marvelous that you'd loose your footing over it.

Deciding that it's not the time for it, she discarded that thought and tried to run to Russell. And she did run! At the mind boggling pace of one and a half miles per hour!

She was awkwardly dance-walking on the ground that seemed to be solely made to inconvenience Vivi, when suddenly a kick hit her hard in the chest.

Air rushed out of her lungs in an inaudible scream. Her legs gave away and she was submitted to gravity.

She fell on her back, a  root under her spine made her fall uneven and even more painful.

Dammit, where's all this people popping out of?

Wincing in pain , she looked up.

There was a sword in her face .

It was literally hanging three inches from her eye. Azure flames ran the length of the blade, dancing like a slowed down lightning. The silver underneath showed maroon colors of dried blood.

This sword had been thrust into somebody's flesh. The boy wielding the sword could just be a murder.

The most notable quality of the boy behind the blade was perhaps the fresh cut that ran across his left cheek. It was still running. Blood trickled down his chin. Boy himself looked no older than Russell or Vivi.  He had a stern look in his face. But even in that state Vivi could see his eyebrows above his blue eyes twitching. This guy is doing a poor job at hiding his nervousness.

"Don't move!" The boy said in voice that is obviously forcefully calmed.

Vivi continued to glare at him.

The girl who had fallen down yelled with a high pitched voice,"Let her go, Arron! I don't think they are with the soldiers!"

Wait, Arron?

"He pushed you down, Elli!"

Elli?

"He didn't push me down! We just happened to run into one another."

By then , Russell was already up, running to the girl and offering her a hand. She took the hand and helped herself up. Russell took a few steps back, careful not to trip again.

Then he bowed and said, "Your majesty. I am truly sorry . I wasn't looking and made a truly grave mistake. I would take any punishment you give me without resentment."

"Oh it's fine. Actually it's my fault as well for not looking where I am going. And about the whole majesty part....."

"Kingdom or no kingdom, your fire is proof that you are the princess of Forthfire."

Till now Vivi was keenly watching Russell sucking up to the royal family, then she noticed the sword still hanging three inches from her eye. She looked at the boy, presumably the prince, and tried to smile, "Your highness, it's an honor. Could you please move the sword before you poke me in the eye?"

The prince was also keenly looking at Russell. Vivi's words brought him back. The fire in the sword went out. The sword went back in his belt.

The girl had taken her hood off her head. She had gracefully flowing long golden hair, like the boy. Her skin was white , but running around had made it a shade of red. The hair on her front-left side was significantly shorter, as if cut unplanned. Her eyes were light blue, like the boy. She looked sixteen or seventeen years old.