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Chapter 7 The Oldest Shop in Regalia

❄ Snow ❄

The bustling square was centered by a fountain crowned by a statue of Goddess Regalia. Most buildings here were topped with blue rooftops and the clean streets were lined with diverse merchant stands holding products from different regions beyond even the lands of Lucredia. As Snow and Gravis were paying a visit to the center of the new city district. The royal guard cleared the path of any civilians. There were still a lot of people from the Lotus Celebration here and they were greeted with cheers, waves, and the complimenting calls of their names from beyond the gold clad knights.

“So, Gravis, what are you looking for out here?” Snow questioned Gravis as they traversed the line of merchant stands. They stopped at one selling necklaces and rings.

“Nothing.”

“Hm?”

“Absolutely nothing.”

The shopkeeper gave a bow to them as they continued down the road to the next stand, this one held a few small toys.

“Then... Why are we out here?”

Gravis gave her look of exhaustion.

“Because, if I have to read another dreadful document, I will throw myself from the ramparts.”

“I see, so mom really has you busy huh?” Snow laughed.

“I like fighting, I hate literally everything else; I don’t know why mom won't let me just join the damn army.”

They spoke while strolling through the remainder of the district.

“Are you crazy? You're going to be taking on her mantle when you're older, you can't join the Lotus Army and put your life at risk. Not until you’re ready to take command anyway.”

“I wish you were born first Snow.” Gravis sighed.

“You know mom doesn’t care for our order of birth, you're just the strongest one out of all of us.”

They stopped at the last stand which was empty except for a single pocket watch, presented upon a crimson pillow.

“Greetings p-p-princess,” A scrawny merchant with big glasses stuttered from behind the stall. He looked more like an academic student than a merchant.

“Hello Mr. Taeper, how has business been lately?” Snow greeted the merchant, whom she knew well.

“Y-your Highness, g-great year this is, the Lotus celebration has been a b-big boon! Stock in watches basically sold all!” Gravis looked confused upon hearing his strange dialect, but Snow understood it.

“I’m so happy to hear that.”

After a short conversation Snow and Gravis moved on, continuing their stroll away from the city center.

“You are quite familiar with these people Snow, I thought you only snuck out twice. Looks like that number is false.”

“Well, since I don’t have a queue of work lined up like you, I have a lot of free time. Say, there’s a nice candy shop a few streets from here, would you like to try some?”

“Sure, why not. We have to return soon though; it's getting late and I have to deal with those documents sooner rather than later. No matter how much I detest doing so.”

“I saw mom’s room this morning, she had like a million papers on her desk. Good luck with that.”

“Tell me about it.”

The candy shop was in the older district. Where the streets got narrower, dirtier, and tight alleyways were fitted between every building which now had older red rooftops instead of the new blue.

The guards had to shrink their formation closer to them before the lead knight sir Omeric ordered a stop.

“Princess Gravis, Princess Snow. I advise against walking through here. It’s a risk.” The lead knight advised them.

“Why is it a risk? The people of Regalia are no threat to us.” Gravis responded.

“There has been restlessness among the visitors from the Mountaineer Republic since the Queen’s speech. She is concerned that someone may do something... irrational.”

“My sister wants me to try this candy shop and I will. The threat of some disgruntled politicians, nobles or civilians does not scare me.” Gravis commanded the guard to move forward, and they did.

“Maybe you should be in the military Gravis. You sound like a commander.” Snow said.

“Haha, thank you very much.” Gravis appreciated the compliment.

“Snow?!” Someone called out from down the street. It was Randal, he was waving at them. He had a bunch of horse reins he was carrying over his shoulder. His approach was halted by the guards.

“It's okay, he’s my friend.”

The guards stepped aside, and he ran up to them.

“What are you doing in the old district Snow?”

“I wanted to let Gravis try some of that crystal candy you showed me before.”

“Oh nice! Yeah, that shop is open right now!”

“You want to get some with us?”

The promise of candy was enough to put a smile on Randal’s face.

“Oh, definitely yeah!” he reached into his pocket but then stopped as his face fell. “Oh, on second thought. I uhm, need to bring these reins back home.” He smiled nervously.

“Randal, I can just pay for it.” Snow sighed.

“You will?” he said, once again excited, just as she expected.

“Yeah, it's my treat, just subtract it from my debt.”

“Ok. I’ll remove one of the lessons you owe me from the tab.” He affirmed.

“Let's go then.”

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A little bell chimed as they entered. All the guards remained stationed outside except for two. The sweet smell of cherries filled their noses.

“This place looks old.” Gravis noted looking at all the decorations on the wall. The inside of the shop looked just as antique as the outside. There were various colorful baubles on the walls, two small tables for eating, and finally, the long wooden counter that held all the differently colored candies.

“The owner told me last time that this was the first business opened in the kingdom.” Snow explained.

“Really, a candy shop? I find that hard to believe.” Gravis said, her voice containing a hint of skepticism.

“She’s telling the truth you know.” Someone chuckled from a room behind the counter before coming out to greet them, it was the old man. He had a long white beard, squinted eyes and a red robe. “I see you brought a new friend, little miss.”

“Yeah, this is my sister, Gravis.”

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Gravis nodded “Princess Gravis, Firstborn of High Queen Deamonia. My sister holds your candy in high regard and wishes that I try it.”

“Oh, an ‘official’ visit from the Royal Family! I hope my shop doesn’t get overrun now,” He chuckled wholeheartedly. “And I hope my modest candy is to your liking as well.”

They approached the counter, looking at the assortment of candy stored behind a short glass. The selection included: soft cherry-shaped gummies, something that looked like hardened lemon slices, various chocolates, and toward the end, popsicles that looked like long crystals.

“I think you’ll like these, Gravis.” Snow pointed at the crystalline popsicles.

“What do they taste like?”

“It’s a sour grapelike flavor.”

“Sure then, let's have at it.”

After the careful selection they were all seated at a table and eating candy. Gravis took another bite of the crystalline popsicle.

“A little bit on the sweet side, but I like the texture. It doesn’t stick to your teeth too much either,” she said, after chewing another bite. “You said this shop has been here since the creation of the old town district Snow?”

“That’s right, the old man usually sits down and tells us stories of things that used to happen here.” Snow nodded at Randal.

“That’s right, like when the ole’ district was first being built, the candy was used for everything. Oh, get this princess Gravis, One time tha old man said his candy was used as arrowheads against bandits and then the bandits purposely tried to get shot at to eat more!” Randal said excitedly.

“Candy weapons, never would have thought.” Gravis sounded impressed.

“Okay Randal, I think that one was an exaggeration…” Snow rolled her eyes.

“Maybe a lil but you can't lie it-”

“-sure sounds cool” Gravis finished his sentence and gave a smile.

“See, even your sister knows!”

The happy conversation was cut short when A loud bell started ringing outside. They would have just ignored it if it wasn’t for the reaction of the guards stationed at the door who looked at each other with a sudden sense of urgency.

“What was that?” Gravis asked them.

“The alarm bell, princess. There's an emergency. The knight went to open the door to ask the lead knight what was happening. He had barely spoken a word when a flaming bottle hit the wall of the candy shop, shattering against it and causing the flames to sprawl down the walls and along the window.

Yelling was heard as a mob of people came rushing from all the nearby alleyways towards the knights. The knights all unsheathed their weapons and assumed a defensive position in front of the candy shop.

Gravis got up first after they had been stunned into silence by the sudden pandemonium.

“Are we under attack?”

They heard the crashing of more glass bottles.

“They are on the roof!” The knights were yelling out outside. In the next moment the lead knight sir Omeric came rushing into the shop, “Princess Gravis, Princess Snow! We are being attacked by a mob, stay here!” The sounds of swords clashing could be heard outside. “We will hold the storefront, lock the door!” Sir Omeric returned outside, the two inner knights locking the door behind him.

“Why are they attacking us?” Randal asked, trembling in his seat.

“Someone must be out to get us. An assassination plot?” Gravis mumbled questioningly as she sat back in her seat, crossing her arms.

“We just had the Lotus Celebration, who would do such a thing?” Snow couldn’t believe that this was happening. Yeah, it was the old district. Sure, it was poor and some troublemakers lived here, but it was still supposed to be safe. The people here would never attack them. As long as she had been sneaking away from lessons to hang out here, those of the old district always held her family in high regard. There was no way it could be an assassination attempt.

“Gravis, are those Reggalian citizens?” she asked, acting on a hunch.

Gravis leaned toward the window and focused on the faces and clothes of the mob outside.

“No. They look like they are from... The Mountaineer Kingdom?”

They looked at each other as they both came to the same conclusion

“This isn't good. “

“Wait, what did you two figure out?” Randal asked from behind his chair now.

“They are targeting us. They probably followed us here.” Gravis said grimly.

After a minute of waiting, Gravis’ impatience got the better of her and she stood abruptly, face set into a determined scowl.

“I need to go out there and help.” She started towards the door, but Snow grabbed her arm.

“No Gravis, it’s dangerous!”

Gravis shrugged her off. “I don’t care! I can’t just sit here while they are fighting out there.”

The knights at the door however, stood in her way. “Let me through dammit!” She said while trying to see the battle.

“Princess, we can’t allow you to go out there.” The knights blocked her from leaving. While Gravis was arguing with the knights, a creaking noise that slowly grew into a great crackling could be heard over the sounds of fighting. The smell of smoke started overriding the smell of the candy while the air inside the shop grew hotter.

“The fire has spread to more of the building, we need to get out of here!” Snow declared in a panic.

It seemed like the attackers knew of the growing danger as well and kept the knights engaged up against the shop that was now on fire.

“We will die here if we stay, so make an opening so we can leave! Get out there you idiots!” Gravis growled, pushing the two now unsure guards out the door, following behind them.

Between the attackers on the roof, the enemies on the ground and the flames devouring the shop, they were trapped. Outside, the mob had gotten weapons, and men in strange armor on the roof were lighting more bottles on fire to throw on top of them. The knights were working hard to push the mob back and gain an opening.

Snow and Randal were still nervously waiting inside.

“Snow, what do we do? Just wait for it to be over?”

“As much as I want to, we need to leave. My sister is right, this shop is going to turn into an inferno and cook us alive. Go get the old man Randal, we are leaving now!” Snow hurried up to the entrance and peeked outside. She could see just about every knight standing side by side, holding the mob back. With Gravis barking orders behind them. She watched as more bottles of flame were thrown at the building from the sky. Snow looked up, towards the roof, a line of men in brown and grey armor were up there throwing the bottles. Soon enough a different, tall man appeared on the roof, he was bald, wearing an eyepatch and a long dark cloak. Snow had a bad feeling about him, he felt ‘different’ in a way she couldn’t explain. She made eye contact with him and he smiled. Lifting his hand, she could see him saying something. She couldn’t hear him, but she could read his lips:

“Rune...

Ignite...

Flame...”

A rune started forming in front of him, hovering in the air turning red. It was a runic spell and he was aiming it straight at Gravis.

“Gravis watch out! He’s aiming at you!” Snow yelled. Gravis looked up and saw the rune charging, they all did.

“Cover her!” All the knights quickly jumped over or in front of Gravis in an attempt to block the incoming magic. The man in the eyepatch grinned evilly as the rune tilted slightly, now aiming right at the door of the candy shop. Right at Snow.

“FIRE!” The man yelled as the rune activated and launched a ball of fire at the candy shop door.

Snow turned and tried to run from the door as the ball of flame exploded just behind her, destroying the front of the shop and collapsing the ceiling on top of her. Everything went black.

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Snow regained consciousness as someone shook her awake. She opened her eyes and saw that she was halfway under some debris. A blurry image of Randal with dirt all over his face appeared, he was the one shaking her.

“Snow, get up!” He demanded. The whole front half of the candy shop had collapsed on top of them. The only reason she wasn’t crushed was because the tables that were holding up two large support beams that had kept the second floor up, which wouldn’t be the case for much longer. Not a moment sooner after that thought, she was dragged out from under them as the tables collapsed, causing the remainder of the debris to fill in where she had just been. The whole shop inside and outside was catching fire, and it became hard to breathe.

“Snow, Randal, are you two okay!?” They could hear Gravis calling for them from the outside. Snow got up.

“Yeah!” Snow coughed. “I think we’re good!”

“There’s an opening and we need to break free from this crowd now!” The lead knight, Sir Omeric shouted as they started to drag Gravis away with them.

“No! Damn it, my sister is still in there!”

“I’m sorry Princess, but we need to leave now!” The knight captain shouted as they dragged her away against her struggle, leaving Snow, Randal and the old man in the now destroyed candy shop that was growing into an inferno.

“There has to be another way out of here!” Randal cried over the crackling fire that was burning away at the walls.

“This way children.” The old man led them to a backroom that had a single door to the back of the shop’s building. The door was being held closed by a tiled chair and being banged on by what could they only presume were attackers.

“They’re back here too?"

“Not the door, here.” The old man called them over to the other side of the room and slowly dragged a box out the way to reveal a small semicircular window that led to the alley.

“You two can fit through here.”

“What about you?!” Snow cried.

“They won’t care about an old man such as myself. Do not worry. I’ll simply open the door and leave.” He chuckled. “I miss the days where I used to play hide and seek with this much excitement. Albeit the stakes are a little higher, but you too will make do! Good luck!”

Once they were both out, the window closed and the box was shoved back in front of it.

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Snow and Randal were crouched behind the corner of the alleyway. Fire and smoke covered everything, leaving the district looking like a warzone...or hell...

“What’s the plan?” Randal asked.

“I need to find Gravis.”

“Snow, I think we should go to my house, it’s the safest place.”

“Your house is outside the wall; we would have to go through the south gate... wait... the south gate tower, that’s the nearest fortification! That has to be where the knights will have taken her!”

“Alright, so the south gate is the goal. I stand out less than you, so let me take the lead.” He suggested.

Snow nodded in agreement.

They were both hunched back down at the corner edge of the alleyway wall and Randal leaned out to take a peek.

“Alright Randal, don’t forget to look at the rooftops first, since there’s those strange men up ther-

“They’re over here!” someone yelled from the roof not a moment after Randal poked his head out.

Snow was dumbfounded. “Really Randal?”

He smiled abashedly but then put a determined look on his face and took her hand.

“Don’t worry this is my turf,” Randal exclaimed as he pulled her up and into a run. “So, keep up!”

“You sure I shouldn’t be telling you that, I know this area better than you.” Snow replied amusedly.

“What?! But I live here!”

“Yeah, and I never get caught when I sneak around here.”

They both heard the heavy and rapid steps of men running behind them as they were being chased. They kept running for close to ten minutes, taking turns through the twisted series of connected alleyways.

“Okay... south gate... we need to detour.” Snow said between panting breaths, exhausted from the constant chase.

“Two streets down...make a right... You familiar... with the cistern... in that part... of the district?” Randal asked, equally out of breath.

“Where the roads... around it are... shaped like a web? Yeah.”

“We will... lose them there!”

“Okay!”

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