As Ashalan was pulled down, the chain began to cut into the back of her neck causing pain to run into her shoulder blades. As she struggled and fought for breath, she looked down to see a contorted face snarling back at her.
Pulling back as best she could, the creature pulled tighter and started to drag her deeper beneath the water. Shocked, she struggled harder to release it's grip. She grabbed it's fingers and tried to prise them from the chain. It sneered and pulled harder. She continued to struggle against it but it's hold was too strong.
Ashalan tried to calm her screaming mind so that she could get a good look at what was attacking her. Upon glimpses of its face between the bubbles, she noted that it was an Aquatias changeling, a mermaid type being. She saw its tail flip up past her face, throwing more bubbles and sediment from the river into her eyes.
Tobalas had taught her a lot, and had been through with going into intricate detail about all the creatures throughout the five kingdoms so she knew more about this beast than it realised. The tribes of Aquatias changelings lived in the deep waterways and the large lakes throughout the kingdoms. They could change into a human-type form and walk on land but also when in water turn more into half fish half human. When angered their faces contorted into a very sinister fish like appearance, looking incredibly scary and inhuman.
Ashalan saw it's face contort again and it surprised her, causing her to take a large inhalation of water, she panicked. She couldn't breathe, so she fought harder, kicking out against the creature’s chest in a last attempt to get it to let go.
Her vision started to blur and just as she thought she couldn’t hold on any longer, she realised that they were heading towards the surface. Their heads broke the water and she gasped, taking in a large breath and coughing water up out of her lungs. With her vision clearing, she could see a village up ahead on the bank of the river, with houses on stilts protruding out onto the water. He dragged her up into a small chamber inside one of the house structures, going through a small opening in the floorboards. As soon as the creature raised itself out of the hole, it turned into it's human form. As he lifted her roughly by the neck using the amulet, she continued to cough up water and she fell to her knees, trying to inhale as much air as she could.
Ashalan looked up at the form before her, it was a young male Aquatiasian, muscular in stature with large green eyes, covered with a tunic of light canvas material that seemed to dry instantly as he left the water. The scales that had been on it’s body slowly absorbed into pale blue skin as he completed his change into his more human-type form.
He hissed at her before a female stormed into the room and slapped him across his face. He winced and raised his hand to rub the spot.
“Ouch little sister. You have some power there.” Ashalan was surprised to hear him speak.
“Nighlon! What have you done? I saw you bringing her in from the river bank. Don't you know who this is?” The young woman said aghast, she quickly turned and looked at Ashalan, bowing and bending down to one knee.
“Your highness.” She said, the male’s mouth dropped open.
“Princess?” He gasped.
The woman rose to her feet.
“She is the lost Princess of Haaden!” She said as she looked into Ashalan's eyes. She prised her brother's fingers from the amulet and it dropped heavily back to Ashalan's chest.
“Forgive my brother. Although he is older than me he doesn’t know his manners.” She said as she reached out her hand to Ashalan to help her back to her feet. Ashalan took it and the woman helped her stand.
Rubbing the back of her neck to ease the pain, Ashalan studied the two individuals before her. The young woman was also muscular and in her human form, she also wore a slightly longer tunic made of the same material as her brothers. Her silky black hair was pulled into a bun on the top of her head and loose tendrils framed her face. She also wore a beautiful crown made up of shells and gems and she looked to be the same age as Ashalan.
“My son appears to have no manners at all and for that he will be punished.” Came a gruff male voice. A older man with a long grey beard entered the room and came up behind them.
“Nighlon, this is our good friend King Herald’s daughter. The one who was thought to be lost many, many moons ago!” The older man said looking Ashalan directly in her eyes.
Nighlon looked at her in shock.
“Excuse me Princess, please forgive my stupidity. I thought you were one of King Winstead’s royal court with that necklace. I thought if I took you and it hostage we might have some bargaining power to get back some of our own people.” Nighlon explained with a concerned look on his face. “Did I hurt you?”
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Ashalan nodded, revealing the mark across her neck from where she’d been dragged.
“I’m so sorry. I will do anything I can to make it up to you.” Nighlon said, falling to his knees and taking her hand in his.
His father batted his hand away. “For now you can go and get her some food and something to drink.”
“Yes Father.” Nighlon responded and got to his feet, giving Ashalan a quick bow as he did so. He left the room and closed the door behind him.
His father walked around Ashalan, he smelt like fresh rain on a summer's day, jogging one of Ashalan’s faded memories of running with her brother, when they were young, through an open meadow as a sun shower fell from the sky.
He took her by the shoulders and examined her, then gave her a hug.
“Ashalan, I am your Godfather, your mother and father chose me so upon your birth. I had been watching you grow from afar until your disappearance.” He said in his deep voice.
“How did you know it was me?” She asked, her eyes brimming with tears at the thought of her parents.
“Your red hair and your blue eyes – there have been no such combinations in the kingdom before or since. You are special my child.” He said, smiling warmly.
Ashalan returned his smile. She remembered the stories of her Godfather, they seemed distant as if covered by fog, but she did have some recollection of her parents telling her stories about him. She looked at his face, it was much like her father’s, kind with crinkles at the corners of his eyes. He had mussed longish grey hair and his beard was well manicured, it’s length finishing just above his stomach. He carried more weight than his son, but still looked muscular and strong.
“I am King Caralo, ruler of the clan of Bruesalis. We are a peaceful village in the valley of the land of Norule.” He explained.
“So that’s where I am now? Norule?” Ashalan asked, surprised. The land of Norule had got it’s name because the land was considered neutral, and a pact had been made between her father and his brothers that no one should rule this land because it couldn’t be equally shared. So it was considered to be a land where other creatures could live peacefully. It lay over the mountains, between the five kingdoms and the desolate outer regions.
King Caralo nodded, affirming her question.
“We have done our fair share of fighting however, against your Uncle Winstead, even though he proclaimed his innocence, because of my friendship with your father. Many people have been lost in the battles.” He said, his smile fading.
“It must stop. It was not my Uncle who took me but my fathers old mage, the evil sorceress Seraphine. She has hidden me away for all these years and it was her plan to get father and my Uncles fighting so that they wouldn't find out what she was up to. She has amassed a great army. She wants to rule all kingdoms as one.”
The King stroked his beard in thought. “I wondered what had happened to her. I bet she seeks vengeance after being kicked out of the kingdom into the outer regions for her treachery. Your parents suffered a great loss the day you disappeared. Your father's hair turned white overnight and your mother is still said to sit in your room and weep for you.”
Ashalan's heart broke to hear what he said, but how could she return to them as a monster?! How would they love such a creature?
Nighlon returned to the room carrying a plate of bread and cheese along with a goblet of water. He set it down on a small table near the door and walked back over to stand with his sister who continued to look at Ashalan in amazement.
“Can I ask for your help please King Caralo?”
“Of course my child. We are at your service.” He responded.
“Can you please get word to both my father and my Uncle to let them know that Seraphine is behind this and to stop fighting each other? They must band together against her. I cannot put my family in danger so I must deliver this amulet before I can return to my kingdom.”
“We can help get word to your father but your Uncle Winstead will prove difficult. Our people cannot set foot on his land without being killed due to the war.”
“Then I must ride with the message myself to him and I will deliver the amulet to Sir Monterey of the Knights Guard at the same time. I have been told he will know what to do with it.”
“As you wish Princess, but your father would not be pleased that I have let you go alone. I will send a handful of my finest troops including my son with you to keep you safe along the way until you cross the border.”
“It will be my honour Princess and I would like to make up for my actions from before.” Nighlon bowed before her.
“Thank you both but it will not be necessary. I don’t want to put anyone in danger.” Ashalan said, shaking her head.
“Nonsense, consider it already done. Come Nighlon, let’s organise the team that will accompany Ashalan.” King Caralo said as he turned and motioned to his son.
Nighlon nodded in response and followed his father out of the room.
“I will help you get cleaned up and some more clothes for you.” The young woman said looking at the scant sacking Ashalan was wearing.
“Thank you, that is very kind. How close are we to day break?” Ashalan asked looking around for a window to see out of so she could gauge how much time she had.
“The sun will rise shortly.” The woman said. “By the way, my name is Naiahala.”
“Thank you Naiahala.” Ashalan smiled.
“It is my pleasure Princess. I am so pleased we have found you. Your father and mother will be so pleased to see you.”
“Yes, but I am unable to see them just yet.” Ashalan looked at Naiahala and decided she could trust her with her secret.
“Naiahala, the sorceress Seraphine has put a curse on me. I am unable to see my parents due to the fact that I may put them in danger. I must leave here before sunrise otherwise you and your family are in danger too.” She shuddered at the thought of turning into the beast in front of these kind and welcoming people. Who knew what damage she would do or lives she would take if she didn't leave quickly.
“I hear you, my Princess. What can I do to help?”