A red butterfly with yellow stripes landed on the windowsill. Rays of morning sun streamed over Awlena’s face as she sat up from her mat and stretched her arms. A slight breeze pulled into the room as the butterfly landed on her head. A bright blue dragonfly buzzed past her face. The song of the birds echoed from the fields at full force. She hopped to her feet and exchanged her night robes for darker cotton robes with a decorative sash printed with a multitude of colorful dragonflies. Dainty feet slid into wooden sandals as she rushed outside. Villagers were arriving at the fields for morning work, as the sun had just risen. She could here a bit of discussion from the cabins nearby. Dew stood in the grass with Hiruku, who looked as youthful and vibrant as ever considering his position among the elders. Hiruku held his arms akimbo as he spoke with the young prince.
“So, she left without a word, only a note in those otherworldly scribbles of hers?”
“I can read it somewhat, as can Nefri, Luthial, and Delia. The portal gifted us with a basic understanding of their common language. Nadia and her friends have been granted a basic understanding of our Eastern Common as well. They’ve been speaking it as if it is their own language since they arrived and the knave has demonstrated the ability to write it. Nadia is doubtlessly traveling east, so I doubt she’ll need an interpreter. But it is foolhardy that she sought to leave us behind.”
“So, he insulted your princess and is the cause of all your hardship? Would you prefer he be kept chained in the stables or would a public execution be preferable?”
Dew winced, “That won’t be needed. I had harsh words with him. He is a guest from another world and our princess’s responsibility. We will tolerate his antics and keep him here as an honored guest. As he is an envoy from another land, we can afford no harm coming to him.”
“I see, when will you be heading out after the princess?”
“I’m not sure what path she has chosen. The tracks from her cart disappear south of the Worm Forest, where the roads branch in many directions. She could have met with trouble, but most likely she hides her trail. I’ve sent the mercenaries ahead to scout in various directions. The mistress of the worms confirmed that the princess has not entered the forest. I plan to leave today after gathering supplies and instructing the knave on proper guest behavior. I have a hunch as to what path our princess has taken.”
Dew opened the note Nadia had left on her bed. The addressed recipient had still been sound asleep when he took it. Despite it being written in tightly formed cursive of her native tongue, Dew had spent long enough in the other world with his ability enhanced by the portal to be able to read it completely.
Darrell,
I’m going on alone. Josh has to come with me because he’d die other wise. Don’t follow me. I can handle this. I don’t need help. I never really liked you anyway. I just wanted to win a fencing match. It was you who liked me then. I was just trying to honor a bet. I didn’t think I’d lose. Anything beyond me acting stupid before the match is on you not on me and I wasn’t trying to make you like me and I was trying to avoid you and I never really liked you in that sort of way because you’re anoying and kind of a show off who thinks he’s big deal because he’s popular with other girls. So stay put and don’t cause the people here trouble. I’m sure my Dad will find a way to get you back home quicker if you stay put. And try not to blab about our magic and stuff, it won’t go anywhere, trust me. I hope we can still be freinds despite all the trouble but you should’ve listened to me when I told you to stop.
Nadia
There was a doodle of a flower sticking out its tongue at the bottom of the page. Dew did his best to handle the note gingerly as tears squeezed out and his nose ran slightly. The paper slowly folded exactly as he found it and went back inside his robes.
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“To think she would spend so much time writing a note for that knave and not leave me so much as a word,” he sighed, “She even drew him a picture.”
Awlena grabbed her brother’s arm and blinked at him, “Morning brother! What is all the fuss about? You look like you are about to cry. Did something bad happen!? Is everyone well?”
“Nadia snuck off in the dark of night without telling anyone.”
“You mean the princess?” Hiruko asked.
Dew shook his head at the youngest elder.
“Princess?!” Awlena snapped, “Does Nadia know of your plans. Did you get her permission to title her as such? Were the elders consulted?”
Dew rubbed his cheek, “I consulted with the oracle on my walk last evening. She told me that in five years Nadia will become the princess of this village. Word trickled down upon the elders. I suspect a spy. Alas, the oracle also warned that I will nullify her prophecy if I attempt anything other than remaining in her service for the next three years. If I fail to keep it so, Nadia will come to hate me and spit on my name for all her life. Let’s keep this knowledge buried firmly in that fertile head of yours.”
Awlena almost pumped her fists and her hair swayed about with her sudden motion, “If you are in her service than I am as well! Why are you lingering here? Do you intend to let her undertake such a perilous journey alone?”
“She moved early and covered her tracks. She must have been as quiet as a wisp, nobody heard her and nobody awoke. I do confess exhaustion after staying up late to prepare a sacrifice and consult the oracle. But the mercenaries were baffled. It’s not often someone can slip them, all three of them, so easily. It might have been a bewitchment.”
Awlena leaned forward with a smile, “Sounds like your future princess is quite the handful. You’ll need all five of those years to tame her heart at this rate.”
Darrell couldn’t help but hear the conversation outside his window as he rubbed eyes still groggy with sleep and cracked his lips. The sun struck his face as soon as he sat up. He could hear the voices outside his window and glanced to see Dew with the beautiful young woman from last night and a rather clean looking man, all in robes. It made Darrell feel out of place to still be in jeans and a printed shirt. He looked to see that Josh’s bedroll laid empty and then went outside. Dew ignored his presence, Awlena continued to attend to her brother, and the elder became dignified and distant. Nadia had left him alone with these people! He was the only foreigner now! At least he could speak the language somehow, even read it a little.
“Umm, morning everyone. I’m still here. It wasn’t a dream. Being home and getting told to do my chores was the dream. Have you ever had that kind of weird dream where you wake up and start brushing your teeth at the sink and then you wake up again?”
They all finally looked at Darrell, “What’s a sink?” Awlena and Hiruko asked.
“It’s a basin with flowing water, they call it that,” Dew explained, “You don’t have to use buckets to fill it. It’s not that special, they have them in Lothalos.”
Awlena and Hiruko gazed at Dew awestruck, but he simply sighed and pulled the note from the folds of his robe, “I could not be considered in Nadia’s service if I didn’t deliver her note for you. She requests that you stay in our village as a guest. Despite your being a buffoon and an ignorant peasant knave I’ll see to it that you are hosted as royalty and want for nothing that we can provide.”
The letter slowly opened and Darrell winced a little upon reading it. She actually drew a flower, and it was actually pretty cute. But his face continued to sour as he finished reading.
“No, no, I’m coming along. We can catch up to her. There’s no way I’m going to sit in some village and waste away. You’re going after her, right? Then I’m coming too.”
“I’m going after her," Dew corrected, "You’re being placed in the care of the elders.”
“No, you can’t keep me as a prisoner.”
Despite being shorter than Darrell, Awlena managed to look down on him. Her soft voice registered firm and her eyes the same fierce coldness that Nadia once encountered, “Do you have a mount?”
“No.”
“Do you have a weapon?”
“I can use a sword! But have a sword, no, can’t you people give me one?”
“Do you have a map or any familiarity with this world?”
“Ummm… a map will do.”
“Maps are expensive. Very expensive. As are weapons, mounts, provisions, and armor, and a guide to protect you from thieves and brigands. Plus, you know nothing of the wild beasts that roam the grasslands. Nor do you have magic abilities to plow your way through danger.”
“But…”
Awlena smiled that polite, condescending smile reserved for village children that spoke foolishness, “But nothing. We are pleased to keep you safe and cozy here in Nenkyo village!”