The Princess Quest

Chapter 9: Miraelin

Roya heard the crunch of the leaves and felt the cool, autumn air as she, Calypso, and Andrel trudged through the forest. The trees, she noticed, were getting darker as they progressed towards Miraelin, and there were less and less leaves. After a long while, the trees had become black, their branches twisted and horrid, and the ground was a black mess of decaying leaves, mud, and rodent skeletons. 

Roya look at the ground in disgust a she high-stepped through the grime, trying to avoid completely totaling her boots. Andrel looked at her, smiling.

"You don't get out much do you?" he asked.

Roya looked at him indignantly. "Yes, I do. I'm just not used to sticky mud. Why?"

"It's just funny how you're over here trying to preserve your pretty princess boots, while I have been walking for miles barefoot."

Roya looked down, wide-eyed. "Why don't you have shoes!?"

"You found me without shoes, you failed to give me shoes. Therefore, I have no shoes."

Roya looked around wildly. "Why didn't you have shoes when you were banished!?"

"They never gave me shoes."

"We'll just have to get you some," said Calypso, joining the conversation.

"Where?"

"Miraelian Market," said Calypso, promptly.

"No!" Andrel exclaimed.

"You are out of your mind!" said Roya. 

They walked in silence for a while after that, until suddenly Calypso said, "Beware. The Miraelian gate approaches. I say, we take out the guards, and steal some of their gear. And definitely their weapons."

They slowly approached the Miraelian gate. The wove silently in between the dark, twisted trees, as they tried to get close to the two guards at the gate. Once they were in a dangerous vicinity, Calypso opened her satchel and pulled out some purple-ish potions.

"What are those?" Andrel whispered. 

"Sleeping potions," Calypso replied, "One of the only potions whose—

"Vapors contain magic," finished Roya. Andrel looked confused.

"Let me explain," said Roya. "Most potions, you have to drink for their magic to work. This one, you could drink it, or you could let the person breathe it in. Either way, it would work just the same."

Andrel nodded.

"Alright, let's make a plan," started Roya.

Too late.

Calypso waved her hands around and blasted water into the guards' face. Then, in a flash, she smashed the glass potion bottles on the ground. The guards were gasping for breath, and soon face-planted onto the ground. Calypso bent over them, and unhooked the gate key from a guard's pocket.

Roya and Andrel looked at each other in disbelief, before scrambling to their feet, and running over to her. Roya picked up a bow that a guard had dropped, and Andrel fished a dagger out of the other's boot.

"Alright," Calypso said. "To Miraelin Market to get you shoes. And there will probably be a horse there too."

"Keep your head down, and don't do anything suspicious," said Roya.

Calypso unlocked the gate, and they headed to the Town Square. It was busy. Roya couldn't decide if that was good or bad. 

"Guards," Andrel said. They ducked behind a stall. Calypso nabbed a pair of old shoes on her way out.

"THEIF!" yelled somebody.

"Uh-oh," said Calypso.

"What did you do!?" Andrel, asked.

"I may have stolen a pair of shoes," said Calypso sheepishly.

Andrel rolled his eyes. "We gotta get out of here."

Roya looked around for a place to hide, and saw two guards talking to a stall keeper. With a jolt, she realized it was the same keeper Calypso had just stolen shoes from. The guards nodded to something, then turned to face them, and drew weapons. Roya took a step back. She looked around wildly, and saw a dark, shadowy lighthouse, on the shore of a lake. 

"Miria Lake," she thought. It was said to be haunted. She beckoned for her friends to follow her, and she ran through the crowd, up, into the lighthouse. 

Roya heard the sound of stopping feet, chasing them up the tower.

"Um, we've got company!" Andrel yelled. "Go, go, go!"

They thundered up the stairs, until there were no more. Just a huge light, and a balcony overlooking the gigantic lake. 

"WHAT DO WE DO!?" Calypso screamed.

"I-I don't know," said Roya.

"I don't want to die!" screamed Andrel. They all huddled together. Then, something from the corner of the room, moved, and jumped over to them. It was a Miraelian boy, about sixteen. 

"Whoa," Roya thought. The boy stared at her too, a bit frozen. 

"Um, hello!?" Calypso cried. The boy snapped back into the present. So did Roya. The boy grabbed them all.

"Let go of me!" Calypso and Andrel cried.

The boy dragged them to the balcony, while Roya and Calypso screamed. 

"You know you could be a little more grateful to the handsome fellow whose trying to save your life," said the boy, and leaped off the balcony, into the water. 

Roya woke up, soaking wet, on the shore. She sat up slowly.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Well, Mr. Crazy over here jumped off a balcony, and when we hit the water, I torpedoed us through it, to the other side of the lake," said Calypso.

The boy, came and sat down next to her. "Arawn Ravensky," he said with a smile. His smile was dazzling. He had grass-green eyes, and messy black hair. Roya hastily stood up, and smoothed out her dress. "Princess Roya Moonthorn of Lyria," she said.

Arawn knelt before her, and kissed her hand. "Apologies for startling my lady," he said. Roya blushed. Behind her, Calypso whistled. 

"I think you have some explaining to do sir," Roya said. "I'm not going to be as trusting with you. You're Miraelian. You could be a spy, or a thief, or a murderer."

"That's racist," said Arawn, smiling. He stood up. "I was part of a wealthy Miraelian family, who made their living from theft." Roya narrowed her eyes. "Let me finish," Arawn said. "I have quite a reputation in Miraelin. People come to me for things they need to get. I'm more of a criminal. But, I ran away.  Wanted to live for myself. At least I'm hot," he added with a wink. Roya turned around. 

"Can I talk to you guys for a minute?" she asked. Calypso and Andrel, who were both staring at Arawn, nodded absentmindedly, and refocused their attention.

"We should have him come along," said Roya. 

"Love blinds you," said Calypso.

Roya gave her a death stare. "I'm not in love with him. I like him a bit. He's quite handsome." Calypso smirked. "That's not the point," Roya said. "The point is, we need him."

"I'm on board," said Calypso.

They returned to Arawn, and explained everything to him. He stood up, and twirled his dagger in his hands. "Let's do this," he said. He scooped Roya up, and gently set her down. He brushed the hair out of her face, and said, "I have a feeling this is gonna be fun." Roya blushed shyly, and looked down. Arawn walked away.

"Okay, I may be in love with him now," said Roya.

Calypso smiled. "Heck yeah, you are. Let's go." She and Roya took off after Arawn. Andrel got up to follow them. Deep within him, he felt a pang of jealousy.