Dreamwalker

3- Memories in Black and White

The sun sank below the horizon as the hours passed, streaking the sky orange and pink and finally dark blue. Stars speckled the sky between the leaves of the trees. Bell had never ridden so far for so long. She and Chloe were completely exhausted by the time Nathan and Emeric decided to set up camp in a clearing off the road. Nathan built a small fire while Emeric opened packages of food to heat up. Bell had never seen this kind of food before. It was some kind of thick reddish sauce over rice that smelled like peppers. "We eat this all the time in my kingdom," Emeric explained for Bell. "It's a type of curry. Go on, try some, you'll like it." He gave a bowl of it to Bell so they could hold it over the fire until it sizzled. When Bell ate some, the spice burned her tongue, but it was alright all the same. Bell wasn't picky even though she wasn't used to spicy food.

"We should take turns telling stories," Emeric announced to the other two sitting around the fire. The horses were tied up at a nearby stream and Bijoux was curled up on a tree stump a few feet away from the fire.

"Stories about what?" Nathan asked him.

"Folklore, you know. Something so we can get to know each other better," Emeric replied brightly.

Bell folded her arms over her chest. "How about we tell each other the truth instead of stories?" she said.

Nathan and Emeric peered at her, then at each other. "The truth?" Emeric clarified.

"That's right. I'm tired of hearing bits and pieces. Who are you exactly? Why are you travelling in secrecy? Who kidnapped Princess Aysal?" Bell said.

"I suppose we should," Emeric told Nathan.

"Alright. Go ahead," Nathan said.

Emeric took a deep breath, then began his story. "I am the prince of Harenae, Bell. The Gerin-Lajoie family has ruled the east side of the mountains for centuries. Nathan here is a knight."

"Oh, that's why he's so much more responsible," Bell interrupted.

Emeric coughed. "Princess Aysal Beaugendre was taken hostage. She is the princess of a southern country, arranged to be my wife." Bell sighed rather loudly, and Emeric shushed her, cheeks red, before continuing. "Before the wedding, she was taken, before I even got a chance to know her. My mother received a ransom note for her a few weeks ago telling us to come to Neige with a thousand pieces of gold."

"In other words, we don't know who took her," Nathan added.

"Right. Local custom says that her husband has to be the one to rescue her, so here I am. I don't know anything about travelling though, and that's why I took Nathan to assist me. We grew up together in the palace. I trust him with my life." Emeric patted Nathan on the back, and it was Nathan's turn to blush. "I think that is all, Bell. Do you have any questions?"

"Why do you have to rescue her? Why couldn't you just send a representative to Niege instead of risking your own life?" Bell inquired.

"Like I said, it's a local custom. If you love someone, you're supposed to prove your love no matter the cost. I know it seems illogical since I'm the prince and I shouldn't risk my life for the good of the kingdom but that's just how it is. I have to respect the culture of my people," Emeric explained. "We have a moral code written by an all-knowing wizard about three hundred years ago that we base our lives off of."

"Oh? I've never heard of it," Bell said.

"Haven't you? I thought everyone knew it but I suppose you westerners have different values than us. Look, I brought a copy with me. Have a look." Emeric rummaged through one of his bags and pulled out a very small leather-bound book. Letters embroidered onto the cover read THE SACRED WRITINGS OF NISA. Above these words were mysterious symbols that Bell couldn't understand. She pointed at the symbols.