*POV* Randall Franklin 2nd
I woke to the sound of someone knocking lightly on the door. I slipped off the uncomfortable mattress and stretched before going over to open the door. A young girl in her early teens stood outside in the dim hall. A basket of white linen on her hip, she smiled up at me.
"I have a note for you." She held out a piece of white paper, I took it. She curtsied before turning to hurry off down the hall. I sighed and shut the door. Going over to the bed I stooped to shake Coral lightly, she groaned before sitting up and placing her feet on the floor.
"What is it?" She asked, smoothing down her wild hair, I passed the note to her before sitting down beside her. She fumbled it a second before opening it. It read. "Meet me by the bakery on the west side around sun up. A" I had no clue who A was but Coral didn't seem worried.
The code system they had going on seemed quite complex. "We have got to get moving!" Coral got to her feet and shed the tattered blue dress and searched her backpack for another, I turned away slightly giving her privacy.
She turned around and told me it was okay to look, she wore a green dress make of a light fabric, the air was growing chilly here but there wasn't much else, I wondered where we might get a coat from.
I changed and then we woke up Lula and Samuel, before we left the inn we thanked the man behind the counter, before going out into the chilly morning air.
The streets were already alive with movement and roaring sounds, it wasn't much different from my city, but I would have to get use to the look of the building and the people.
It was strange how many people had wild sprolling tattoos that marked their bodies in one way or another, some had them on their hands and up exposed arms or legs. They consisted of an animal of some type in many many different shapes and colors.
Coral's on her back and right shoulder, matched the thyme as did Samuel and Lula's. The smell of baked goods reached me like a wave, and I realized I was hungry. I followed Coral more closely as we made our way through the crowd.
It took a minute to locate the person we were supposed to be meeting, but Coral picked her out from the crowd and headed her way. "Arrow is that you!" She laughed, hugging the older woman tightly.
Arrow return the hug before pulling us away from the crowd, she looked Coral up and down, and Samuel in her arms.
She was tall, with black hair to her shoulders, she wore a tan dress and a leather vest over her chest. She eyed me wearily, "it a surprise, my queen… we had thought you were killed or something, you have been gone for a month." Coral brushed her off, but I was stuck on the word 'My Queen!"
"It's a long story, can I meet with my father?" Arrow nodded. "Let's get you to the castle, a lot has it happened, I will fill you in on the way. And you can do the same." With that she took Coral's arm, eyes catching on the ring her finger, her eyes jumped up to me for a second.
I listened quietly as Coral explained her plan to escape her castle and run away with some guy, and being swallowed by the earth itself. Then she accounted her experience of being in my world.
I watched in awe as we neared the castle wall that stood nearly 4 stories high. "She lived here?! No, she ruled this place!?" I thought anxiously,
Her hand found mine and I started to listen again to the words Arrow was speaking.
"Clay and Miss Cassy defeated the king. It was a surprise to us all! A mythical creature, a large white deer came and turned him into dust. He is gone." I eyed Arrow. "Really!" Coral's hand tightened on mine. "He is really gone! Forever?" Arrow confirmed it and Coral took-in a deep breath.
A saw a single tear fall down her face. I squeezed her hand and she looked my way, my heart warmed. Arrow continued to explain some things that Coral had missed as we entered the massive gates and passed 5 guards waiting to check us.
Arrow told them something and they all bowed in union before going back to their post. My eyes felt like they were bugging out of my head as I stared up at the massive castle, it had 6 towers and wings spreading out in all directions.
We made our way through the crowded courtyard before entering through a side door, the castle was made of stone, we were led down a couple halls before being told to wait in a nicely furnished sitting room.
Coral sat with a sigh, leaning back into the soft cushion of the couch. "Oh.." she breathed. "This might be harder than I thought." She smiled at me, our hands still clasped, she straightened up as the door opened to let in an older man.
His hair silvering, he held himself with confidence even though he was being helped into the room by a young man. It took me only a second to realize he was blind. He wore no fancy clothes like I was expecting, but simply had light blue pants and a white shirt with a brown vest.
"Father!" Coral pulled her hand away and rushed to embarrass him. The young man moved farther into the room and I stood needing to show that I was here too. He eyed me questioningly, but his steel blue eyes weren't full of hatred but curiosity.
He strolled over and I started to see some resemblance to Coral in his face. He had dark brown hair that was so dark it could have been black, he was a tiny bit taller than me. "And who might you be?" He questioned in a humorous tone.
I caught myself from stammering and held out my gloved hand. "I am Randall Franklin the 2nd!" I puffed out my chest just a bit in hopes he wouldn't see me as a lesser person. He stared at my hand a minute before nodding and clasping my arm pulled me towards him to pound my back twice before letting me go.
"Nice to meet you Randall, I hope you are different from the last guy she married." I gulped, and stepped back. "I have no interest in harming her." He smiled. "Good!" He replied simply, with that he turned to go hug Coral too.
I turned to exchange a surprised look with Samuel, who like his sister couldn't help but stare, from their spot on the couch.