Sisters in Arms

3

Annabelle POV

I awoke to the sun streaming through my crystal windows. The grandfather clock in the corner of my room told me it was just past ten. I attempted to rise from my ornate double bed, but flopped back down to stare at the tapestry above me. It depicted a curious string of events. A mysterious caller gives out a message to 3 different girls, including a princess not unlike myself. They are sent on a quest to retreive an object, the only thing that can save their kingdom. Surely, there is more to it, but the tapestry ends there. No motive. No resolution. No real ending.

Finally, I got up and called for my maid to help me dress. I was helped into a blue silk dress with a sheer blue and gold sari. Just an average Tuesday dress for the daughter and sole heir to the King. I sat down in front of my big glass mirror for my maid Cressida to do my hair. I stared at my reflection. Long blonde hair in perfect waves, big blue eyes, honey skin and clean complexion. I am tall and slim, with perfect nails painted gold. They say I am the double of my mother, but she died shortly after my birth, so I will never know.

I entered the kitchen to see what I could find for breakfast. James the kitchen boy found me a chocolate croissant and toasted it for me. It was quite large, so I gave half to him. We giggled as the gooey chocolate oozed its way everywhere. I have many servants in the palace, but James is by far my favourite.

I meandered out onto the patio, where my father sat in the shade. I ran to hug him, and he hugged me back. 'Hey sweetheart' he said

'Hey papa' I replied. We sat on big, shaded sun loungers. I picked up a book and he did the same. We usually spend mornings reading. This particular day I was reading 'Death at Scarlet Leaf' by some author with a very strange name. I love murder mysteries. I like to try to solve the puzzles, but my success rate is only 50/50. I solved a few bits of this one, but I did not quite draw the whole conclusion.

In the afternoon, I decided I was tired of silently reading with my father. I resolved to go hunting. This is routine to me, even though it is unnecessary. I am somewhat fidgety if confined too long, so I like to hunt. It means I can defend myself and feed my people, for I am not too naive to know that my servants are poor. I snuck out the back door, armed with my bow and arrow. I do not compete in the contests my father sets to find the fastest/strongest etc. but I watch, and in my humble opinion, there is not a girl in the land to touch me. So don't even bother pitting me against a man. Though one urchin caught my eye. She is average with a bow, but uses a dagger and sword with ease, and looks to have been feeding her family for years.

Once outside the city, I began to hunt. I moved stealthily and aimed easily, and soon had a rabbit, 2 geese and a fat squirrel to show for it. Suddenly, I saw something move through the trees. In an instant, I had it pinned to a nearby tree. A paper aeroplane? I had not used them since infancy! I looked round for the thrower, and saw a cloak hem disappear. I opened up the note. It read:

Please, I need your help. For the sake of the Kingdom, meet me below the eastern watchtower of Castle Iscarion on the stroke of midnight three days from now. Come alone.

I knew I would never forgive myself for chickening out. I had always been kept so safe, so guarded. I wanted adventure, or at least excitement. I was going.