Esveldza: 'The Lonely Child of Fire'

Chapter XXI- Noomkiara

Chapter XXI

Noomkiara

PART THREE- THE FIRST QUEST

I sprinted down the halls, dodging servants and furniture.  Sarben was close on my heels, yelling at me to stop. I would never stop, not until I got my target. Daarken constantly turned corners, trying to lose the both of us.

It had been a month since I returned to my family; to begin with things were a little awkward but with the help of everyone I managed to settle back in. In the first week I experienced a few breakdowns where memories would come flooding towards me in large amounts and I would once again wake up in my bed hours later.

Sarben enjoyed speaking with the adults; it seemed to provide him with a new challenge where he would try to keep up with all of the adult’s gossip and political views. He talked to Lianra everyday through the castle’s magic contact system, she almost fainted herself when we told her who I was. Daarken continuously received looks of disgust from the people who knew who he was but Daarken would only go out of his way to smile at them or make a conversation. His pranks never stopped and he never once tried to change himself the slightest to be like someone he was not. Although no one openly admitted it- they each began to like Daarken. Salvator who had disliked Daarken for so long seemed to have finally given up and chose to see who he was.

I was normally busy from as soon as I woke up to when I went to bed that night, I would get only a few hours to spend with my friends. Combat training was with Salvator, Sarben and Daarken every day from 11 to 4. This consisted of physical training, then we learnt specifics of different weapons, Daarken was the best with the sword, Sarben was an obvious leader with his magic and I had the best ability in archery. On top of that I had etiquette, dancing, art, music, history and politics. They varied from day to day and I enjoyed them most of the time but the constant need to be somewhere was frustrating. I was already loaded with duties.

Klearia said that once I grew older I wouldn’t need as much lessons, just the ones I needed or wanted but instead I would have other duties. With the way I had been performing I wondered if I would ever be as perfect as she was.

We had halted our combat training for a few days while Salvator was out in Blisly, meeting with the dragons in the area.

With all the spare time, I finally got to spend it with my friends. At that moment while I chased Daarken down the many corridors of the Tivess castle, I wondered if it was a good thing.

I shouted an insult out at Daarken but that only made him laugh and increase his speed. Our combat training had made us all fit. We ran down a corridor that ended with a room at the end. Daarken kicked open the door and ran inside. I ran in after him with Sarben on my heels. Trapped, Daarken jumped behind the desk and searched for a weapon.

I seized the moment, jumping on the desk and grabbing him by the collar but before I could punch him someone caught my arm. I looked up in surprise to see Salvator glaring at me and shaking his head.

“Is this any way for a princess to act Akaiya? Running around screaming filth and jumping on furniture?” Salvator asked, his iron grip refusing to free me.

“I... Daarken started it!” I yelled pointing my free hand at Daarken who was barely holding in his laughter.

“He is your guest and you must take responsibility for him, come with me.” Salvator released my arm and turned to leave the room.

Daarken stuck his tongue out at me and I glared at him, climbing off the table. “Do not think that you can get away with your actions either, Daarken. Seeing you enjoy running so much, you and Sarben must run a full lap of Tivess.” Salvator added, without even turning to face them.