Fireshrine

Three: Davina

I felt sick to my stomach as we approached the capital of the Cyan Kingdom, Nerro.

"The palace is located in the southern end of the city," Dimitri said, riding up next to me. "Cyan guards are set to meet us at the entrance to ensure your safety while traveling through the city."

As we approached the tall, formidable walls of the city, I felt bile rise in my throat.

"I'm going to be sick," I said, as my vision began to swim before my eyes.

"Princess?"

I pulled my horse to an abrupt stop and swiftly dismounted. I stumbled over to a group of bushes by the side of the road just as my breakfast forced itself out of my stomach.

"Princess!" I heard Dimitri say from behind me. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," I said, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

"We can send a messenger ahead, delay entering the city to give you time to recover."

"No," I said, waving my hand. "It's just nerves, I just need some water and I'll be fine."

He didn't look convinced. "Say the word, and we'll turn around. Nothing has been set in stone yet, you can back out of this."

I walked back over to my horse and retrieved my water flask. "I said I am fine, Major General." I swirled the water around in my mouth and then spat it out.

"How royal of you," Aaden said.

I shot him a look. "We will proceed as planned," I said as I climbed back on my horse.

"If you're certain," Dimitri said.

"I am." I couldn't keep my voice from trembling. How very convincing.

The wall that surrounded Nerro was easily fifty feet high and looked like it was made out of coral. I could hear the ocean on the other side and remembered that Henry had told me the city sat closely to the sea.

Salt filled the air and a warm breeze blew. I could see two horses with riders heading our way from the entrance to the city.

"The guards," Dimitri said. I gripped the reigns on my horse as my palms began to sweat. My stomach flipped again and I swallowed hard to avoid getting sick again.

The two guards approached on horses the color of sand. Their silver armor gleamed in the morning sunlight and their helmets sported blue plumes, a color of the Cyan Kingdom.

"You must be the imperial guard," the rider on the right said. He took off his helmet and flashed a blinding smile. He had chestnut brown hair and emerald green eyes. "I am Captain Arroyo of the twelfth legion. This is Lieutenant Marilla," he gestured to the other rider.

The lieutenant took off their helmet as well, revealing a girl who couldn't have been much older than me. She had the same chestnut hair and green eyes, but her features were much more striking than the Captain. What caught my attention most was her scar, which ran from the middle of her left eye down to her lip. She had a hardened look on her face, and I had a feeling she had seen her fair amount of combat.

"I am Major General Lane, thank you for escorting us," Dimitri said, his voice level.

"I suppose the princess is in the carriage then?" Lieutenant Marilla said, her eyes scanning the procession. Her voice was much higher than I had expected, almost child like.

I scowled. "You suppose incorrectly," I said, my voice anything but friendly. "I am Davina Vermillion, First Princess of the Crimson Empire."

"My apologies, Your Highness," she said, but her tone didn't sound very apologetic.

"What the lieutenant means is that we simply didn't expect a Princess to be riding with her soldiers. However, it is very much respected here for a Royal to ride among their people." Captain Arroyo smiled again. Gods above, his smile was blinding. "However, perhaps it would be best if your highness did ride into the city in your carriage? Simply for your own safety, of course."

I looked over at Dimitri who gave me a slight nod. I despised riding in the carriage, it was stuffy and cramped in there. But if Dimitri thought it would be best if I did, I would do it. I trusted him unequivocally.

"Very well," I said. I dismounted my horse and handed the reigns to my cousin. I smiled sarcastically at him. "Take care of Poppy, Colonel," I said.

He shot me a look but didn't say anything.  At least he was smart enough to not respond with a retort in front of the Cyan soldiers. I climbed into the carriage and folded my arms in discontent.

The ride to the palace would take another hour or so, and I was exhausted from the riding. I closed my eyes and let the sound of the rolling waves and the clattering of hooves calm me. Before I knew it, I had drifted off to sleep.

I dreamt I was standing in a cave. In front of me was a pure white alter that was made of marble, with a young girl sitting cross legged in front of. She had coppery hair like my own, and looked to be no older than thirteen. She opened her eyes which were the color of flames and seemed to glow in the dim lights.

"So you've come," she said, looking directly at me. I opened my mouth to answer but no words came out. "It's alright," the girl said as she stood. Her outfit reminded me of a Terren priestess, a simple white dress with a jeweled belt. Sitting in her hair was a gold circlet. She walked towards me and studied me. "Hmm, you are not what I expected, but here you are none the less."

Here I am? I thought. I had never been in this cave before, so how could I be dreaming about it?

She laughed, the sound was light and bounced around the cavern. "Ah yes, I suppose you wouldn't remember. All in due time though," she said.

Suddenly, the ground began to shake. Rocks and stalagmites fell from the roof of the cave. The girl shook her head. "They are angry," she said. "Not in five hundred years have the relics left their sanctuaries. Someone is collecting them, which does not bode well." She frowned.

Relics? Sanctuaries? None of this made any sense. What a strange dream.

"Foolish mortal," she said. "This is no dream." She turned her back to me and walked back to the empty alter. "The Fireshrine burns low and time is running out. But you need to wake now, child. Everything will be revealed soon." With that, she clapped her hands and everything faded to black.

I woke with a start to someone knocking on the carriage door. I blinked rapidly and wondered how long I had been asleep.

"Princess?" I heard Dimitri ask from outside.

"Yes," I answered.

"We're here."

Suddenly my fingers began to spark out of sheer nervousness. I shook my hands to extinguish them and then smoothed my dress. The carriage door opened and I found myself stepping out into the blinding day light.