*POV* Kalea Rosell
The sound of the Great River filled the air as we approached the crossing bridge on the way to the white city. We had gone through border
control hours earlier.
I glanced over Kylo's sleeping face where he dozed with his head bent low to his chest. Samuel was inching away from him as his head lulled ever closer to his shoulder.
"Should we wake him?" I asked, mother sat up straighter. "It is probably a good idea." She said, Samuel knocked his knee into Kylo's as we watched as he came awake.
"Huh?. . Oh, Um sorry." He muttered as he straightened in his seat, he blinked to clear his vision. His gaze met mine for a second before
he looked out the window.
"Are we near the river?" He asked, mother and I nodded in unison. "We will be in the white city by nightfall." He nodded, yawning.
*POV* Lula Sparks Franklin
I couldn't get myself to sleep for then an hour so with heavy steps I made my way out to the training yards. During the morning the king had his squire's and page's training here, but right now they were empty except for a young woman.
"Hey Mirin." I greeted her, she was a guard in the castle and a friend of mine. She looked up as I approached and pushed back her wispy black hair to squint up at me.
She was not much older than me, so I slumped down on the bench beside her. She shifted the sword she was sharpening. "What's up Lu?" I
shrugged.
"Not much." I yawned, she chuckled. "If you want you could help me clean up." She motioned to the yard. "I slept on duty yesterday." She laughed. "This is my punishment, raking the yards."
"I was hoping I could train." She shrugged. "I could use a tune up, how about we use swords?" I nodded groaning as I stood up.
She handed me the other sword beside her and flexed her hand, before she stood. "Just swords." Mirin reminded me as we squared off. The metal of the swords clashed together, I was pushed back quicker than the last time we had spared.
"Come on Lo, focus!" Mirin hissed with a huff of breath. I tried, but after a minute I lowered the sword with a sigh. "You're giving up?"
She pressed holding her sword up higher.
I lifted my sword again with my eyes narrowing. It was difficult not using my flame to make my sword skills worth it, using a sword
was definitely not my strength.
After I finally got a lucky chance and pushed Mirin's sword from her hand she nodded in approval. "Okay, now I should definitely get to
raking." She grinned at me as she took the sword and went to pick up hers.
"Do you plan on helping?" As she spoke the words a servant appeared at the gate, we watched as he walked over to us. "Princess Lula, his majesty has prepared a gift for you in your room."
I waved him away. Mirin laughed. "There goes my help." She slumped. "I guess I will see you around." I smiled, I left the training yard
and headed towards the main courtyard.
As I passed the stables, I eyed the building and those around it working. None of them looked like the prince. The sound of a cat
meowing caught my attention, my eyes drifted up to the roof of one of the awnings on the stables.
A white kitten sat shaking atop it. I watched it for a minute before I eyed the building for a way to climb up. It continued to cry, jumping. I grabbed onto a high window seal and pulled myself up to stand on the seal of the lower window.
From there I moved one hand at a time to hold onto the roof. It was ricketier than I had thought, so as I swung my weight the awning
creaked, I pulled myself up and sat beside the Kitten.
I peeled it off the shingles and placed it on my shoulder. "Princess?" I looked down at the servants that had gathered around looking up
at me. "What?" I called, down to them.
"Do you need a ladder?" An old servant asked, I shook my head and felt the structure move also. Slowing they went back to their duties.
My eyes caught on a snag in my pants as I shifted ready to head down, all of a sudden,
the awning bucketed.
The kitten's claws dug into me as I threw my arms up as I fell, a scream caught in my throat. All of a sudden everything was dark; my
first instinct was to cough as dust filled the small enclosure.
I had never seen earth element magic used before. I calmed my beating heart with a steadying breath. The kitten's meow echoed around us; a couple seconds passed before light flooded in.
And in a second the sand crumbled to the ground, my eyes adjusted to the light, I was sitting in the pile of broken wood from the
awning. "Are you okay, Princess?"
I looked up into hazel eyes, the young man was dressed smartly with tasseled brown hair, his face was familiar in a way I couldn't
place. He was of nobility, I guessed.
"I am fine." He offered his hand and numbly I took it letting him pull me to my feet. I tried to still the shaking in my legs, I dusted off my pants and only then realized he hadn't let go of my hand.
I pulled my hand away and glanced at the working hands that were staring at us, I sheepishly rubbed my arms. Maybe I should have gotten a ladder.
I took a breath and remembered the gift waiting in my room. "Thanks for the help, but I must go." I started to take a step away, but he
caught my arm.
"Please, let me walk you to your room. You should probably go see the doctor." I pulled my arm out of his hand with a forceful yank and
pulled the kitten from my tunic, I glowered at him.
"I said I am fine, if you need something to do here!" I pushed the kitten into his arms and turned on my heel walking briskly away.
In my room I shut the door and felt like falling into bed but slowed when I saw the large paper box sitting on the bed. The door opened
and I turned to see who it was, with a frown.
The young maid curtsied. "Princess, I have been sent to inform you, King Desmond is inviting you to attend dinner with him."
"What's the occasion?"
She eyed the room. "He has guests arriving soon." She paused, I raised an eyebrow in question. "The King and Queen of Ironhaul."
I stared at her in surprise, the Ironhual fortress kingdom had been hidden for cemeteries until Aurora technicality discovered it in the
western sea.
They had the element of metal manipulation, and no one remembered why they were hidden on the island kingdom, behind judging mountains of hard rock.
"Do you wish me to help you dress?"
I prefer servants to not attend me, I was like my father in that way. If it was up to him there would be no servants, but the castle's only
work as well as their servants. At least that's what mother says.
I shook my head and undressed while the maid stood with her eyes downcast, flipping open the box I eyed the dress of a deep forest green. Pulling from the box I tried and failed to pull it over my head.
"Do you need help?" she asked, as I let out a frustrated cry. I stilled, I heard her footsteps as she came to roughly pull it down. The dress fit snuggled, I busied myself with the buttons as the maid poured water into the basin.
When I was done, I went to wash, while I did so the girl pulled and shifted my skirt. She ignored my wave of dismissal. "His Majesty would like to give his guests the best impression possible. Would you like help with your hair?"
I shook my head, no one ever touched my hair. She curtsied again and asked if there was anything else I needed before she left the room. I sighed as I flopped down in the chair brush in hand.
An hour later I opened the door surprised to see the maid standing there. "His majesty bids you hurry." She led the way, I followed begrudgingly. Dinners and parties were one of the things I found exhausting.
The dining hall was decorated in orange and yellow flowers and blue streamers. It wasn't my taste in decor, but it was neat.
The maid left me at the door, and I walked alone to the chair. A servant man held out for me a chair down from the king, on his right.
The room was empty except for the king who sat straight in his chair at the head of the table.
"Good evening." I greeted. He smiled warmly, he reminded me little of my father, but in because they were a like in someways they were similar. His hair was brown, and he was nice, but not as nice as my father.
"Yes, good evening." He seemed lost in thought though and the room fell silent. I fiddled with the skirt of my dress as the minutes ticked by.