The Accented Crown

Chapter Three

Chapter Three: Journey's Beginning

The Legend of a Journey's Beginning

They packed for a beginning

In a new land to call their beginning

A vast land of plenty for their beginning

Misgivings fall before a new beginning

Isaac, the laughter, lead the beginning

Blythe, happiness came beginning

A vast land of plenty for their beginning

Misgivings fall before a new beginning

Common, noble, all hoped for the beginning

Perhaps some for the end, but mostly the beginning

A vast land of plenty for their beginning

Misgivings fall before a new beginning

The people praised their leaders for their strength

I hugged Hymn tightly,"Say goodbye to Clef, Miss Noelle, Cook, Tempo and Miss Gloria for me."

"I will,"she answered seriously,"Can I come too?"

"No, Hymn, you don't want to come. It will be dangerous."

"Are you afraid of the monsters?,"her little voice whispered into my ear.

I tightened my hug,"Hymn, I'm afraid of a very special monster that Jessie hasn't told you about. Not a sand-monster, or a fire-witch. It has a very special, secret name. Can you keep a secret?"

She nodded solemnly, her cheek touching mine.

"It's called Consequences and that monster alone will haunt me forever with his friend, Regret. Consequences can be a friendly monster sometime, but Regret will never be."

The air was chilly for late summer. It would've been better had we started at the beginning of the summer, but alas, we had had no choice.

Legato was holding the donkey and calming it. We hadn't named him yet, but Legato looked like a kid who'd like the name Oats. Or maybe I liked the name Oats.

Legato's parents weren't wishing him goodbye the way mine were. His brother had come, who Hymn had taken an instant fancy to, but neither of his parents. But since his gaze at the moment could scorch titanium, I said nothing.

Hymn tried to make peace,"Allegra, this is Coda."

I curtsied to the little boy, about nine years old and he kissed my hand.

"Coda, this is Allegra."

"Hello, Coda. Is my sister being kind to you?"

"She is indeed,"he said gravely and that was all that he said to me.

I hugged my parents one last time,"Goodbye, Mother. Goodbye, Father."

"Goodbye, my Amanda."

"Goodbye, Allegra,"my mother whispered,"Do you have everything you need?"

"I hope so."

"Be home by before your Feria, if you can manage it. Send us a letter as soon as you get to Finalem, if you go through, or Ultier, if Song Cavern isn't hospitable."

Song Cavern was what the cavern carved by singing was called.

"Yes, Mother."

I hugged Forte as well,"Be good."