The Princess Quest

Chapter 3: The Escape

Roya woke up and to her surprise, found that she was standing. Or rather, she was hanging. The pain in her arms didn't hit until she realized that she was in a straight jacket. 

"This is all a big misunderstanding," Roya thought. She heard the door open and close, but her neck was so stiff, she couldn't turn it. She heard a male voice. 

"Are you ready?"

Roya was still a bit disoriented. "R-ready for what?"

The faerie man responded. "Well your execution of course."

Right. She would die today. She was suddenly overcome with fear. She didn't want to die.

"Please don't kill me," Roya whispered. 

"You killed the queen."

Roya was angry. "I did not kill my mother."

"You are absolutely right."

A fey man stepped out of the shadows. Roya gasped. This wasn't the executioner. This was a faerie that came from the kingdom, Mirealin. 

"I did. I killed the queen, and now I will kill you too."

The man grinned an evil smile. He pulled a knife from a hidden sheath, and slowly advanced toward her. Roya screamed and struggled in her chains. 

"Damn straightjacket," she thought. Then she made a decision. She would rather be in immense temporary pain, than die permanently. She gathered up all the anger and strength she could muster, and with one burst of power, ripped off her chains.

"YOU KILLED MY MOTHER!" she screamed through her tears. She grabbed his hand, and twisted it around his back until he dropped the knife, she kicked and punched blindly letting her anger fuel her. When she finally knocked him out, she ran. She ran, and ran. She ran into her room and packed. She threw on a thick brown cloth shirt with green and gold rims, and leather pants. She put on leather boots with golden buckles. She grabbed her cloth satchel and snuck out of the castle.

She tore through the woods, wiping at her eyes, and screaming. She ran until the sun went down. That was when she became aware that she was alone. All alone, with nowhere to go. The cold wind rustled through her hair, and an owl hooted in the distance. She was suddenly aware of the cold, and fell to the ground shivering. She cried herself into a fitful sleep.

Roya woke up to a splashing sound. She bolted upright. She looked around wildly, eyes wide. 

Splash!

There it was again. She looked around but still nothing. She felt like maybe, just maybe, she was being watched. That's when it occurred to her. There was a huge river near here. The river marked the border of Lyria, and the neutral land. You see, the neutral land was a triangle, and each side had a kingdom on it. Anyone was permitted into the neutral land, and that was what made it dangerous. Not only were there rogue centaurs and pixies, but there were also Miraelin soldiers, and other Banished and forsaken fey. 

Splash!

Roya eased onto her feet, and began to slowly back away, but she tripped on a rock, and went tumbling into the river. She screamed and trashed as the strong current pulled her every which way. She looked around desperately searching for a branch or plant to hang on to. A huge wave suddenly crashed over her, and her vision blurred, and then everything went dark.