Turns out escaping here would be a lot harder than I thought since I had to entertain Jackson now and not let him know what I was up to, Hildegarden was with us, too, as a translator. So we walked around the perimeter of the castle. He offered me his jacket, which I politely declined multiple times. I used my air affinity to keep myself warm.

As we walked around the castle, I felt the massive walls that marked the perimeter of the castle grounds. They were ten meters tall and three meters thick and made of stone. I could easily bust through it, but I needed to scale the wall subtly so my father wouldn’t hear about it until too late.

While we walked, besides seeing the wall, I also did my best to find out what was on the other side of each wall. Which was difficult, considering how thick the walls were, but I determined the wall at the back of the castle was on a cliff. The same goes for the wall on the right side of the castle. So that left the front gate and the left wall. The left wall sounded like it had a forest on the other side, and the front gate was the front. It would be crawling with guards.

The last thing I did with Jackson was interrogate him about the outside world. I did so politely, of course. “Where you live?” I signed to Jackson.

“I’m from Braksville. My father rules the city there. It’s about two-hundred kilometers to the west,” Jackson answered.

I stopped in my tracks and turned to him with a disappointed look, putting my hands on my hips.

He chuckled nervously, “Um, yes, your majesty?”

Hildegarden stepped in and said, “She doesn’t know the cardinal directions, Master Jackson. Nore, can she figure it out for herself.”

“Ah, right,” Jackson said, chastised. He then pointed to the left wall and said, “That way is west,” then he pointed to the front gate, the back wall, and the right wall, “That way is north, that’s east, and that’s south.”

I nodded. So west is toward Braksville is to the left of the castle. Got it. I continued walking and signed, “What towns like?”

“Do you not know?” Jackson asked.

I shook my head.

“Well, most towns are farming towns. So not many people live there. The cities are much bigger, with many more people living and working together.”

“What they work in cities?”

“Well, that depends. There are lots of crafters and artists. Then some merchants sell the crafters, artist’s wares, and adventurers guilds in big cities around the world.”

“Adventure g-u-i-l-d?” I asked, “What that?”

“The adventurers guild is responsible for protecting the villages from monster attacks and completing citizens’ requests. They also act as emergency military in times of need. However, they can be rude and boarish most of the time. But there are always a few that are kind and honorable people.”

I nodded along with his explanations as I explored his knowledge of the adventurers guild. He was all too eager to tell me everything I ever wanted. And I would use all of that to my advantage. He also asked me many questions, and I answered honestly. They were mostly dull things about family and what I like.

The day dragged on like this for quite some time until it was finally night. I had decided not to go to the dining hall for dinner and made up an excuse to stay in my room for the remainder of the night. But I didn’t waste my time being idle.

I pulled out a bag that my father had gotten me at my request a few years ago from my closet. It was a practical bag that let me carry everything I could need. I also changed my clothes, escaping that pink frilly prison and wearing a simple cotton tunic and trousers. I had no other simple clothes other than silk pajamas to pack, so I put those in the bag along with a pair of fluffy bunny slippers. They were soft and warm, and I liked them.

Once that was put in my bag, I went to my jewelry box, which was far too big to pack but contained my life savings from my monthly allowance and enough jewelry to make a maid look like a noblewoman. I took the three leather bags of coins and put them in my pack, then grabbed another leather bag and began stuffing it with as many earrings and necklaces as possible before stuffing that in my pack.

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Once done, I sat and ran through my mental checklist to see if I needed anything. I wouldn’t have any water or food if I left now, but I had enough money to last a while. I did not need anything else in my room, and I couldn’t get down to the kitchen to grab some food. I would just have to survive and find food out in the wild. I’d probably have to kill a deer and eat that. But the next problem is I can’t make a fire so I wouldn’t be able to cook it either. All well. I’ll have to figure that out later.

I hefted the pack, went to my bedroom window, and pressed my hand against it. The window felt cold to the touch. That told me it was nighttime now. I pushed open the window and felt the cool night air on my skin.

“What do you think you’re doing?” an elderly woman’s voice said from the door to my room.

I cringed and turned to see Hildegarden standing in the doorway with a tray of food. I sighed and signed, “I leaving.”

Hildegarden sat the tray of food down on the table in the center of the room and asked, “Why is that?”

I closed the window and signed, “I want free. I want happiness. I can’t have that here.”

Nodding, Hildegarden said, “So, the walk around the castle grounds with your fiance was you finding a way out of the castle.”

I nodded sheepishly.

“Come sit,” Hildegarden commanded as she pulled out a chair for me. Hesitantly I did as I was told, and Hildegarden tied a bib around my neck as she’s done hundreds of thousands of times before. “As long as I’ve known you, miss Amilia, you have wanted nothing more than to see the world with your own eyes,” she began and handed me a fork and knife so I could eat the steak dinner in front of me, “and for as long as I’ve known King Alfried, he has done everything in his power to keep you safe from that very world.”

I took the fork and knife, not knowing why she handed me the utensils. Then I quickly signed, “I can explain.”

Hildegarden took my hand in hers and stopped me from signing anymore. “You have nothing to explain, young lady,” She said, which startled me, “What your father has given you has never been things you wanted. They have always been what he wanted from you. I will not stop you from exploring the world and having the adventures Jasmin has told you about for years.” Hildegarden tapped my hand gently, and I could feel her body shaking as she sniffed and held back her tears, “You’ve grown up so much. And it has been an honor raising you.”

Damn it, Hildegarden! Why did you have to say that?! I felt tears form in my eyes, and I pulled Hildegarden into a hug, making her laugh a little. She pulled away from me, and before I could sign anything, she gently held my hands and said, “I know. Before you leave, you should eat. You will have a long adventure ahead of you and probably won’t find anything out in the wild worth eating easily. Just know that I must tell the king that you ran away and that you will always be welcome back anytime you want. So, sit and eat. I’ll be back with some food for your journey.”

I nodded, took off my pack, and began eating. The steak was juicy and warm, perfectly cooked and seasoned. I would miss Mary’s cooking, Jazmin’s stories, and Hildegarden’s constant care and attention. I savored every last bite and even ate the smelly vegetables on the side of the plate before downing the cold water in the glass. Hildegarden came back twenty minutes later once I finished eating. She carried a wrapped cloth that smelled of bread and smoked meats.

She handed the parcel to me and said, “This should last you a couple of weeks at least. Now, I suggest you head north to Cribal, a large city and center of trade in the kingdom. You’ll be able to learn much about the world there.”

I nodded and hugged Hildegarden one last time before packing away the food. I then took the steak knife in one hand and my long braided hair in the other and cut my hair off. Leaving my hair short and uneven. I let my hair and knife fall and signed to Hildegarden, “How I look?”

Hildegarden chuckled, “Like a woman of adventure.”

Smiling at that, I went to the window and opened it. Looking back one last time at Hildegarden, I smiled and jumped into the cold night air. I fell from the castle window high above and channeled my air affinity through my body, and just before I hit the ground, I blasted air from my hands and stopped my fall a meter off the ground.

I landed gently on the soft grass and listened for anyone approaching. I heard nothing and saw nothing within my radius. I sprinted down the pathway before me to the back of the castle, planning to circle around and scale the wall on the left side of the castle before going north. Luckily I made it to the west wall without any incidents. I channeled my air affinity again and jumped to the top of the castle walls. That’s when I heard the stomping of metal boots and shouting from the front gate. Hildegarden must have told my father I was missing. Now I’m on the clock.

Jumping down from the castle wall, I landed softly in the forest. Sharp pieces of dirt and rock stabbed into my feet, but that didn’t bother me. I kept moving quickly and quietly, weaving through the forest and stopping for nothing. I soon left the sounds of the castle and the alarms in the capital below far behind. But even then, I did not stop. I kept moving west until I heard the morning birds twittering in the forest above.

Then I stopped and admired where I was. The trees towered high above me, housing hundreds of insects and dozens of small critters of which I don’t know the names. The roots of the trees stretched deep underground and were interconnected with a confusing system of roots. Other small animals hid in holes nearby, and slightly larger animals hunted for them, sniffing the air and swiving their ears to hear them.

I was finally free. I blew out a huff of air as I laughed my silent laugh, and I could see the hunting animals turn to me in curiosity as I laughed. Once I composed myself, I turned to my right, which should be north, and began walking. If I was going to have my adventure, I would start in the best place to start. I was going to be an adventurer.