The Escape of Princess Madeline

by Kirstin Pulioff

  “How did you know I am from Soron?” he asked, blushing as Elias nodded to his shield and the sash hanging from his horse.

  “The real question is not where you are from, but who you are.” Elias said.

  “I’m Sir Daniel, knight champion for the Princess Madeline,” he stammered.

  “No, that’s your name and station. Who are you?” Elias looked expectantly at him, as if he could see more than what his words conveyed.

  “I don’t understand,” Daniel replied.

  “Honest and humble. That’s interesting in a knight of Soron.”

  “Look, I don’t have time for games. I am looking for Princess Madeline. She’s gone missing. Have you seen her?”

  A soft murmur breezed through the surrounding group. He turned to see the men and women whispering together with looks of excitement and confusion.

  Elias shot his hand up and gave the crowd a warning look before turning to face Daniel. The buzz quieted as the tall man looked at him seriously. “I’m sorry. The truth you seek isn’t here.”

  Daniel looked beyond Elias to the rest of the wizards. Their shadowed faces showed they knew more than they were allowed to say.

  “What aren’t you telling me?” he demanded. “You said you would help. If not, I need to return to my kingdom.”

  He turned and stormed in the direction of the cave entrance, feeling the weight of their gaze on his back.

  “You are right. Please return, Sir Daniel. We may not be able to help you directly, but we can lead you to something that can. The mirror sees all: near, far, here, there, now, and ever. You may find the answers you seek within its images.”

  Elias waved him back. “Before you go, please rest here, and in the morning we will guide you to the mirror.”

  “I don’t need sleep. I need to find the princess. If you can help me, do it now,” Daniel pleaded.

  Their gazes met in a silent battle of wills. In an instant, a familiar wave of lightheadedness rushed over him.

  “You must understand, good things come to those who wait. In this case, rest will help. Please follow me.” Elias held out his hand.

  The desire to fight fell away. Hesitant but resigned, he followed the wizard back into the depths of the cave. The crowd fell away, silently watching as he passed. He felt their gazes as they passed the first row of houses.

  The old wizard led him to a small home with a thatched roof. Spiral carvings marked the doorway and window boxes. Instead of flowers, trailing ivy overflowed from the window to the ground. Elias held open the door. Daniel shuffled in, finding a single bed against the back wall and a desk positioned beneath the window.

  “Now sleep, Sir Daniel, and we’ll see what revelations your dreams may bring.”

  His eyes fell under the full weight of the wizard’s command. Through the smallest slivers of sight, he watched the door close and darkness take over.

  Dreams hit him in full force, with vivid realism.

  Daniel felt the wind blow against him as he rode his horse. The powerful steed that led him to the Blue Mountains carried him far and fast. His chest burst with excitement. He didn’t know his mission, but he knew he was riding for his life. The sun set in the distance, a meld of bright, vibrant greens that put the sunsets of Soron to shame.

  With a quick move, the sun closed and re-opened, winking at him, teasing him to catch up. He kicked his horse to go faster, chasing the setting sun. As the bright golden ball set beneath the horizon, the scene changed.

  He stood back in the armory; soft hammering and the scraping of polish sounded in the background. It was a comforting noise that balanced the hard work of setting and fixing steel. The smooth silver armor twinkled as he polished the edges. He saw his own reflection staring back, and, behind him, bright green eyes watched from the shadows. He turned to search the darkness but saw no one. The blackness of the shadows covered him, and the scene changed again.

  On his horse again, the sun shone on him, warming his back under his thick robe. The chase burned in him. He didn’t know what he was pursuing but felt its importance. An overwhelming desire to catch it raged in his heart. He kicked his horse harder, trying to get closer. A green light surrounded him until everything shone with a green hue. In an instant, the light burst into thousands of pieces, flying off in different directions. Green butterflies danced in the wind. He fell off his horse trying to catch the scattered green beauties.

  Morning came slowly for Daniel. Soft light filtered in through the window as a harmonic chant grew in the background. Then, all at once, he remembered. Not wasting a moment, he slicked his hair back and jumped out of bed. He opened the door, and his jaw dropped, unprepared for what met him.

  Standing in front of him, the villagers had lined up, winding a path to the center of the cave. His steps slowed as he passed each person. Their strange smiles unnerved him.

  Once he began moving, he couldn’t stop. Each person’s unwavering smile encouraged him, melting his hesitation. He followed the path of people around the village to the main fountain where Elias stood.

  The elder wizard looked pensively into the water.

  He cleared his throat. Elias turned with a smile, causing a small ripple in the fountain.

  “I trust you rested well,” Elias greeted him.

  Daniel looked down before answering, feeling the weight of the wizard’s gaze. “Not the most restful,” he stammered, “but full of interesting dreams.” Daniel jerked his head to the wizard, feeling an urge to continue. “Elias, I need your help. Please don’t force me. I’ve been honest to this point, but I don’t like being coerced to talk.”

  A gasp ran through the crowd behind him.

  Elias looked at him thoughtfully and smiled, motioning for the crowd to relax. “You are right. It’s not often we have guests, and I have forgotten my manners. I imagine our years of exile have put us on edge as well. I’m sorry. Please continue, if you will. I wish to hear about your dreams.”

  Embarrassed, but appeased, he continued. “There were three sets of dreams. In all of them, bright eyes followed me, just out of reach. I never got to them. I’m not sure what it means. Do you know?”

  “Oh yes,” Elias said, as if that had brought something to his mind. He turned back to the fountain. They stood in silence for a few minutes, listening to the water flow—a soft, caressing noise. Elias sat on the fountain’s edge, as if in deep thought. “And perhaps it will mean more to you in time. I will tell you how to get to the mirror now.”

  “I thought you were going to guide me,” he said, surprised.

  “I will guide in the only manner we can. The journey to the mirror is a personal experience; any more and the vision will be skewed. This is your journey—your truth. It is visible only to you. Life is made up of a string of events and choices. What you see is yours if you choose it to be.” He stopped and raised his eyebrows at Daniel.

  Daniel nodded to show he understood.

  “These choices can create harmony and peace, but they can also destroy,” the wizard finished, handing him an old folded map. “The mirror will find you when you are ready to see.” Elias grasped Daniel’s forearm and looked him in the eyes. “Farewell, Daniel, I hope we meet again. And I hope you find what you seek.”

  They walked to the entrance in silence. He numbly took his horse’s reins and walked out the entrance. When he looked over his shoulder to say goodbye, the door had already closed.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Madeline slipped her left foot from the ropes that tied her legs together, grateful to be free of its biting grip. A tingling sensation ran through her legs as the blood returned. After lying still for so long, her body resisted each movement. She breathed deeply and looked around, remaining as silent as she could. Her eyes scanned the camp as she got her bearings.

  All the men appeared to be asleep. She took a quick count: one, two, three, four, five—only five men. With the amount of noise they had made, she had imagined more than that. It both surprised and calmed her.<
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  Madeline tiptoed through the scattered leaves, strewn clothes, and discarded weapons as she approached the fire. Its warmth put her at ease. Despite her circumstances, she found herself studying her captors. Knocked out, either by the fighting or the ale, they appeared quite harmless.

  She had pictured grotesque monsters, but these men appeared quite normal, though big, burly, and covered in hair and dirt. She wrinkled her nose against the offensive smells rising from each as she bent closer.

  One of the men, closest to the fire, didn’t look at all like she had pictured. Small and skinny, with scars etched in his hands, he looked prematurely old. His smooth cheeks showed him to be closer to her age, perhaps only a few years older. A wave of pity hit her as she looked at him and thought about the life he had chosen. A life of freedom did not have to mean a life of thievery.

  As she turned to walk away, her eyes stopped on the orange flames. Glittering behind the fire, something sparkled like jewels. A pang of regret hit her as she remembered that she’d given her only bag of gold to the peasant girl in return for the work smock. In her haste, she’d overpaid; a few pieces would have been sufficient. Now, as she contemplated the sparkle, she realized what that money could buy—all the pieces of her plan she hadn’t prepared for. It would mean safe passage through the forest, food, shelter, new clothes, and possibly a new life.

  She walked around the fire, cringing as the branches broke. Even with cautious steps, her movements announced her escape. As she glanced between the sleeping men and the treasure, her heart beat wildly.

  She leaned over to grab the gold, and her heart dropped. It wasn’t gold. Instead, a small dagger gleamed, its golden hilt reflecting brilliantly in the firelight. Not her first choice, but still useful. She grabbed at it. The weighted handle felt awkward in her hand. She had handled knitting needles, instruments, and books, but never a weapon. As strange as it felt, it gave her a sense of relief.

  She clutched the knife as someone spoke. Low words, jumbled together. She froze, waiting for a new blow to her head, but nothing came. Braving a glance behind her, she sighed with relief. It was time to go.

  Lifting the hem of her apron, aware of the hidden branches, she crept away from camp. The crackling of the fire faded as she moved away. She counted again and saw the sleeping men. One, two, three, four—one was missing. Her hair swept in front of her eyes as she spun around.

  She had waited too long. No longer fearing the crunch of breaking branches, she ran. Her heartbeat echoed as she whipped around, looking behind to make sure the path stayed clear. Branches struck her, scratching her arms and face as she slipped deeper into the thick forest. She followed a narrow trail as it wove between the bushes and trees.

  After a few moments, her relief changed to dread. Stepping around a tree into her path, the fifth man appeared, cutting off her route. His dark, menacing eyes glared at her.

  She scrambled back, stumbling over her own feet, feeling the rough ground underneath her palms as she fell. Whimpering, she edged her way backwards, stopping against the rough bark of a tree. It was the youngest of the bandits. Her sympathetic feelings for him disappeared as she saw the hard, hungry look in his eyes.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, grinning.

  “Stop,” she whispered, and then, louder, “Stop!”

  “Who’s going to make me?” He laughed, walking toward her. “You?”

  Madeline kicked her legs, spraying dirt and leaves behind her as she ran around the tree.

  “Come back!” was all she heard. She scrambled back through the forest and broke into a run. The trees around her all seemed the same. With no sense of direction, she bolted, hoping her path would lead her home.

  As she fled, the air came harder and harder into her chest. The cold created a thick fog in front of her. A cramp rose in her side. This was not what she had planned. Her thoughts raced, distracting her from the roots bulging up from the ground.

  She brought her hands up just in time to break her fall. Struggling, she made it back onto her hands and knees but heard laughter from behind. His chuckle filled her ears, and tears spilled out of her eyes.

  “No,” she pleaded, dragging her body forward along the ground as she saw him walking up behind her. “No,” she repeated through her tears.

  “Oh yes,” he said as he grabbed her leg. “Oh yes,” he repeated, lifting his arm to hit her.

  Pain seared through her. She had only a few moments before the darkness came flooding over her again. The dagger, she thought, remembering her new weapon. The blade bit into her skin as she pressed it between her palms. She prayed that it would stay hidden as she sank back into darkness.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Daniel hurled the map down in frustration. Throwing up his arms, he kicked the dirt around him. He had followed the directions step by step, but there was no sign of the mirror. After traveling all morning, it pained him to be at another dead end. First he couldn’t find the princess, and now he couldn’t find a simple mirror.

  His horse looked at him and whined his own frustrations.

  “All right, all right,” Daniel muttered under his breath, picking up the map. His horse pulled the reins frees and walked off toward a small grassy patch. Leaning against a tree, Daniel shook the dust off the papers.

  “This has to be it,” he said to himself.

  Daniel looked down at the map and then around him. He saw the mountains to the north, the deep forests behind him, and the lake in front of him. Everything lined up with the images on the map, just as Elias had said. This had to be the place.

  The area he had been sent to was beautiful. Surrounded by towering pines, a secluded lake backed up to the cliffs. The gray stone walls reflected off the surface of the water. Bright stones lined the crescent-shaped shore. After enduring centuries of soft movement, the rocks were polished smooth. A grove of pines stood a few hundred feet back. Only the soft gurgling of the water upon the shore could be heard.

  Despite his peaceful surroundings, he grew anxious. The mirror could be anywhere.

  Daniel started his search on the shoreline. Taking off his boots, he felt the soft stones beneath his tired feet. The rounded rocks and cool sand felt good. He studied each foot of land, noticing strange etchings on the driftwood. Water rushed up over the sand, smoothing out the shoreline. Under the gentle waves, Daniel saw something sparkle beneath a large chunk of wood.

  The object was shiny and reflected the light, but it was just a polished shell about the size of his palm. He flipped it over, amazed at how the sun bounced off its surface and reflected in a rainbow of color. Smiling, he slipped it into his pocket.

  Daniel continued walking along the shoreline until he reached the eastern edge. The trees continued to the base of the rocky cliffs. He found nothing. He had searched every inch of the shoreline, and there was nothing.

  “Could the wizards have led me astray?” he murmured. The wizards were known for their acts of treason. They had even used their persuasion on him. Friends or foes, they were too formidable a force to ignore.

  “No,” he shook his head, clearing his mind. “Elias promised he’d lead me to her. He wouldn’t lie about that. I’m just not finding it.” He sat on the edge of the shore, feeling the water lap over his toes. “What exactly did he tell me? ‘When you are ready, the mirror will show you your way.’”

  He stood and brushed himself off. “I am ready to see,” he yelled into the woods. “Show me the way.” When nothing happened, he fell to his knees, grimacing as the small pebbles poked into him. “Please,” he whispered in desperation.

  A fish jumped in the middle of the lake. Daniel watched the images of the fish reflect off the lake’s surface as it jumped, creating a perfect double image.

  Of course.

  He leaned forward to see his reflection. How could he have missed it? The lake itself was the mirror. He had spent the entire day looking for something that was staring right back at him. Shaking his head, he laughed. />
  “Show me the princess,” he said, watching as the lake filled with colors.

  Reds, oranges, yellows—the sunsets of Soron. Daniel was silent, captivated by the transformations in front of him.

  The reflections shifted into images and moving scenes. The collage solidified, showing a clear image of the princess.

  Daniel jumped. “Princess Madeline, can you hear me? Are you all right?”

  The image of the young woman did not answer. Sitting with her back to him, rope bound her arms. Around her, shadows of trees and men towered over her. Before he could shout out again, the scene faded.

  “Wait! I wasn’t ready! I need to see her again.”

  The lake answered his request with a new vision. More colors. Her midnight blue gown stained with pools of dark blood. Daniel cried out, unwilling to believe this image. “That can’t be all!” he shouted. “I’ve traveled all this way to find my princess! There has to be more! Help me find her first!”

  A new vision appeared, blurred by the stinging tears in his eyes. He saw an older version of himself. Deep lines etched his face as he gazed off into the sunset. The picture expanded, and he saw that on one side of him stood a dragon and on the other, a castle. As quickly as it had appeared, it changed, showing a final image.

  The sun had almost set, and the lake filled with red. The vision seemed distorted. Daniel leaned in for a better view and jumped as eyes appeared. The same green eyes that had haunted his dreams in the wizard’s cave now fluttered at him in the lake. Their burning intensity captured Daniel’s heart so that he didn’t notice how far he was leaning forward.

  A familiar persuasive feeling wrapped around him, bringing him closer to the water. He needed those eyes. Caught up in the moment of anticipation, he didn’t notice the lake coming closer to his face. He closed his eyes, anticipating the touch of her lips, and yelled with surprise when he fell into the cold water.

  Daniel gasped for breath. The lake chilled him to the bone. He looked back toward the shore and saw his horse staring at him.