The Battle for Princess Madeline

by Kirstin Pulioff

  Brammus kept low on top of the roof. His short, stocky body blended in with the village as he moved from house to house, camouflaged by his brown cape and light straw pants. Holding his breath, he squinted away from the harsh sun, trying to take in everything. He swore under his breath, not sure why he had been chosen for this chore, tracking the princess. It wasn’t as if she went anywhere, or at least she hadn’t until now. He had gotten used to sitting all day. Looking over his shoulder and taking care to remain unseen, he slid down the last thatched roof and ran through the wheat field to his horse.

  They were heading north. He wasn’t sure why, and he didn’t care; his orders were to watch and report. Grunting, he kicked his horse to follow, careful to stay far enough back to avoid detection but still close enough to provide a detailed report of their movements. She had become Prince Paulsen’s obsession, and he knew better than to upset the prince.

  They rode swiftly for the next two days, the landscape changing as they made their way north. The rolling hills of Soron gave way to dry flatlands, the trees sparse and spread out. Each day Madeline discovered new things: the leaves were smaller, the greens darker, the air drier and spicier. Each evening, Madeline slid off her horse into Daniel’s waiting arms, the warmth of his embrace erasing the pain of riding all day. The night’s ritual began, with stewards pitching tents and guards encircling the camp, making sure the location was secure.

  Sophia hobbled around rubbing the back of her legs, her forehead furrowed and a frown on her lips. Madeline walked over to her friend.

  “How are you holding up?” she asked with concern.

  “I’m fine,” Sophia sighed, slumping down on the log next to them. Her red hair was bundled up in a knot on top of her head, her riding dress smudged and dirty. “I didn’t think riding was this tough,” she admitted, picking stray leaves from her tangled tresses. “I don’t know which has been worse: sleeping on the ground or riding that thing,” she said, pointing to the wide-eyed horse in their makeshift stable.

  Smiling, Madeline sat down next to her. “I know, but at least we’re almost there,” she offered. “Can you imagine how great this is going to be for us?” Madeline’s eyes glazed over as her mind filled with adventure.

  “Us?” Sophia asked, “You mean for you and Daniel?”

  “Well, Daniel and me, of course, but you’ll be here too. I’m starting a new life up here. I’ll need my best friend at my side,” Madeline said, reaching over to hug Sophia.

  Sophia looked down at her toes and wiggled them around.

  Madeline sighed and turned to look for Daniel, who was still helping to secure camp. The stewards had camp preparation down to an exact science. Fire here, tents there, horses beyond. Madeline’s mouth watered as she smelled something cooking. Her stomach growled. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she smelled food.

  Daniel was hunched over near the fire, putting the final pieces together on the tents—a few ropes to keep them secure for the night. While the knights and stewards slept under the stars, the king and ladies needed tents for their comfort, security, and privacy. Daniel’s rough and calloused fingers worked on the knots, his fingers surprisingly nimble as he completed the intricate lacing. Her stomach fluttered.

  Daniel turned to wave at her, almost as if her thoughts and feelings were audible. Heat flew to her cheeks.

  Sophia cleared her throat to get her attention back.

  “Sorry,” Madeline said, blushing. “You know how it is,” she said with a small smile.

  “Yes, I do,” she replied, giving her a small wink of understanding. They both laughed, watching as the rest of the camp came together.

  As the sun fell beneath the horizon, they found themselves surrounding the fire pit, enjoying the atmosphere as the embers flew above the fire. The crisp air cooled them as they settled in for the evening.

  Her fingers entwined with Daniel’s. A special warmth seemed to surround them, something more than the heat of the fire. Madeline felt her cheeks turning crimson.

  At last, they had reached the place where her future was going to unfold. Snuggling her head back against the crook of Daniel’s arm, she closed her eyes. It was close to sunset, but in her mind, she could still clearly see the land. Dragon’s Gate still lay north. It would be another day of traveling until they were there, but they were close enough to learn the weather and landscape. The territory was sandwiched between the boundaries of Prince Alleg to the northeast and Prince Morgan to the northwest.

  The northern territories were a sight to see. The dirt was a deep red, rusty color, and solid as stone. Its dry surface was shot with cracks, making room for little patches of grass that had somehow found a way to grow. A rainbow of unfamiliar wildflowers bloomed, and the scent of rosemary filled the air.

  Besides the occasional crackle from the fire, all was silent. Madeline sighed, lost in her thoughts. Daniel held her protectively, his eyes closed.

  “Alright,” the king said, rubbing his hands together over the fire. “Time to make our plans and get some sleep. We’ll only have a short time before we must return for the fall festival.” He stopped and looked at Madeline, seeing her face fall at his words. “I know you’ll want to stay longer—but we have to get back. The seasons change more quickly up here, and there’s still more to do at home before the festival begins. This might be the first year we celebrate the festival with snow.”

  Princess Madeline pouted but knew he was right. Looking at the horizon, she saw the snow line was already low on Dragon’s Gate. That gave them perhaps a week until it hit their kingdom.

  “We can review the maps more though?” she asked eagerly, hopeful to hold onto anything she could.

  “Of course, my dear,” the king replied. “I trust you—” he stopped mid-sentence, hearing a twig snap and a rustling in the woods behind them. He paused, listening, and a muffled cough sounded from the woods. “Madeline—hurry, get inside,” he whispered, pointing to their tent.

  She ran, pulling Sophia with her. Huddling close together, they sat still, listening to the silence and their own heartbeats.

  “What’s going on?” Sophia whispered, her voice trembling.

  “I don’t know,” Madeline answered.

  Outside, Daniel crouched low behind a tree, sword drawn, ready to attack.

  The king’s men gathered together, a small group surrounding the princess’s tent and all the other’s lined up with Daniel.

  Daniel raised his hand up and counted down with his fingers. He dropped his arm and they charged forward, jumping over bushes to find the hiding intruder.

  Branches crashed in the distance as a man dropped down from a large tree. He bolted through the bushes and over the boulders.

  The knights ran like hounds, but by the time they reached the man’s position, he had disappeared. They panted as Daniel rested his head in his hands, his blonde hair waving in the wind.

  “Sir,” one of the knights yelled, lifting a piece of parchment from beneath the tree. Daniel ran over and looked at what the other knight had found. His eyes grew large as the color drained from his face.

  “Sir Daniel?” the other knight asked.

  “We have to go,” Daniel said, already turning to run back to camp. He clutched the parchment, his knuckles wrapped protectively around it until they reached the king.

  King Theodore read it and looked at him solemnly.

  “Men, we need to break camp. We’re being followed.”

  Camp broke in record time. Within a few minutes, they were ready to go. Madeline and Sophia waited on their horses as the final pieces were loaded. Sophia’s eyes darted around her, and she jumped at every sound, making sure no one was watching her. Madeline was fuming, her cheeks red, her teeth clenched as all evidence of their camp was torn down.

  “Why? Why do we have to go back?” she demanded, refusing Daniel’s attempts to appease her.

  “Princess,” he said patiently, “we have to go because of what we found. I am your knight champi
on, and I have sworn to protect you. We must return to the safety of the castle.” He slapped her horse on the backside, sending her off before she could argue further.

  Princess Madeline gazed longingly over her left shoulder. A full moon showed her a glimpse of the land of her future, and she breathed a sigh of resignation.

  “I’ll be back,” she vowed.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Sunrises in the Blue Mountains were a sight to behold. The reflection of light over the green trees and cerulean peaks, a reverberation of color through the morning mist, filled the world with splendor. Elias spent most mornings in a crouched position on a treacherous peak in the Blue Mountains, watching the sunrise with great anticipation. The cliff edges stretched fifty feet above the trees below, the perfect stage for the morning show.

  He rose suddenly. Wind rustled the hair out of his face and fluttered his sparkling green robe. His strong, solid face masked the emotions running through his mind.

  Without hesitation, Elias shot his arms up into the air and spun around in a circle faster and faster, until he was a blur of green. He listened to the faint words floating through the air, quieter than whispers. His arms dropped to his side and his legs slowed, trancelike. His lips parted and words started to flow as he conversed with the wind.

  The wind slowed and his robe stilled at his side. He bent down to retrieve his walking stick and bundle of goods and began the walk back to their cave, shaking his head. The wizard’s apprentices were running their daily errands as he came into view. With one look at their leader, they stopped still.

  Elias felt the blood drain from his face, and the deep lines in his forehead loosen. His staff slipped through his clammy hands, and he clutched harder to hold onto his bundle. Without warning, his eyes closed and his knees gave way.

  He vaguely felt a hand leading him through the village and into his home. His aide propped his body at his desk, placing a quill and parchment in front of him, ready to record the messages from the wind. His hands ferociously scribbled on the parchment the moment the door closed.

  Opening his eyes, Elias adjusted to the dim light in the room. The candles had burned down to the stubs, and small wax puddles spilled out along the table. His fingers tingled as he opened and closed his hands, wakening his body. He closed his eyes tightly and reopened them, anxious to see the papers in front of him. He whistled as he shuffled through them.

  Rolling up his green sleeves, he hunched over and got to work. Hours passed. Sweat rolled down his forehead and new wrinkles etched into his brow. Time stood still as his mind continued to absorb the written words.

  The cave remained eerily silent. The Exiled all seemed to hold their breath, waiting, knowing that something big was happening. The sun set on another day, and Elias had not moved from his home.

  The early morning sun sparkled off quartz as Emmett transferred water from the wells to the fountain. As an apprentice wizard, Emmett maintained the wells and cleared the paths: the mundane tasks required to keep their village functioning. Today was no different. Walking between the fountain and well, Emmett multi-tasked, practicing his charms with one hand and carrying the water with the other. His left arm traced an intricate design in the air. Light sparkled from the tips of his fingers as he muttered the incantation to himself. Blowing light brown hair out of his blue eyes, he stopped. Elias stood in his doorway, parchments in his hand, his face a mask.

  Emmett stumbled backwards, dropping his buckets of water as he ran to tell the others.

  By the time Elias reached the fountain in the middle of the cave, news had spread and half of the villagers had already arrived. Averting his eyes, Elias shifted the parchments in one hand and touched the cool water with his other, watching as the ripples expanded. The circles in the fountain collided.

  “Fellow wanderers,” Elias said, pushing the hood of his green robe back to expose blazing eyes. “By now, some of you know that I have been in contact with the other side.” A series of gasps ran through the crowd, and a few women knelt.

  Undaunted, he continued, passion resonating in his voice. “It has been almost seventeen years since our exile. According to the news I just received, it seems the time has come full circle. We have waited, watched, and wished. I have seen what is coming, and we are needed. It will take our vision, courage, and strength. We will be tried, pushed to the edge of our endurance, but it must be so. Like ripples in water, we will return to the center, back to the beginning. We will be in exile no more!” Elias smiled as the people roared in excitement.

  Elias didn’t wait for the crowd to settle. Raising his right arm and his voice, he looked into their faces. “There is not much time. I will be leaving now with a small group, and the rest of you must be patient. We will all be together soon, but we must follow the signs. As it has been foretold, the time of the dragons is near,” he said, shaking the parchments in his other hand.

  His eyes surveyed the crowd, sifting through his choices and weighing each carefully. “You five,” he said, his eyes fixating on the back corner where Emmett stood with his two older brothers and parents. “Come with me.”

  With a quick nod, they jumped into line and followed Elias. A rush of whispers ran through the crowd. The group walked to the opening, the voices of the people rising behind them. Green light erupted from the mouth of the cave.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  The sun set in the forest. No stars were visible through the green branches. The only sounds were Prince Paulsen’s careless footfalls as he stomped through the leaves. He paced back and forth, anger growing with each step as his scout bowed before him.

  Red wrinkles marked his forehead, and he wore a fearsome scowl. Waving his staff, Prince Paulsen faced his scout.

  “You what?!” he yelled, wanting to make sure he had heard correctly.

  “I followed the princess like you requested,” Brammus said, his voice and hands shaking violently. “You told me to follow and keep you informed of her position.”

  “I did not ask you to get caught! I did not ask you to give them reason to keep guard, and I most definitely did not ask you to take your time getting back to me! I heard the news from other channels before you made it back. Incompetence!” Prince Paulsen snapped. Brammus fell as the staff collided with his cheek, then his stomach.

  Paulsen turned his back to his men and continued pacing, counting his steps as he concentrated on his next move.

  Behind him, some of his other men ran to Brammus and carried him off to have his injuries treated.

  Prince Paulsen stood oblivious to it all, his hands moving a mile a minute, marking the air with the ideas running through his mind. Every once in a while, his men heard a yell or hiss, usually followed by a wild cackle.

  His followers were split. The younger knights seemed entranced with the spectacle he was making of himself. His peers and elders shook their heads, unnerved by his new obsession with the princess. But they said nothing. The last time someone suggested that he was going mad was the last time that man had spoken.

  Prince Paulsen paced for hours; brief moments of exclamation and excitement passed without notice. The camp remained quiet. They stoked the fire and waited for their leader to come back to his senses.

  It was late into the night when his excited outbursts stopped.

  “Men,” he said, snapping his fingers. “Gather around! I have a plan.” No one moved. “Men!” he screamed. “Gather round!” He waited as everyone scampered into position close to him.

  His manic pacing began again. His eyes gleamed as he gazed into the fire, entranced by the dancing light.

  “Listen,” he started, a strange enthusiasm in his voice. “Last year, we performed a great service and were promised a great reward that would raise our kingdom’s status and ensure our future. That reward was withheld from us. It’s up to us now. Our territory must receive what is rightfully ours. We must retrieve it.”

  His men sat still, considering the tantalizing promises of wealth.

  “We r
id this forest of bandits, but now we need the riffraff’s help. We need a mass of men to secure this reward. I task each of you with our goal. Bring me all the fighting men you can find. Offer gold, homes, a stake in our future. Our success depends on your success.” He paused. The younger men cheered; the elders feigned joy.

  “One week. Return to me in one week’s time. By the first snowfall—we attack!” Prince Paulsen commanded, and his men roared in agreement. “The time is ours! The reward is ours!”

  The forest seemed alive with action. With no time to waste, the men focused on their new goal. Camp broke as each man headed out to find the bandits again.

  Prince Paulsen stood next to the flames, his eyes gleaming in the flickering light as thoughts of gaining Princess Madeline danced through his mind.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Elias’s group hurried from the mountains toward King Theodore’s castle. Clothed in their traditional green robes, they looked like little trees on horseback. Elias led them forward, his head held high, almost challenging the wind. They made good time, traveling with only the clothes on their backs and emergency supplies.

  This was Emmett’s first time away from the mountains. A strange exhilaration ran through him as he took in the new sights and sounds of the journey. His knuckles were white from clutching the horse’s mane. They had horses at home, but he had never ridden one so fast or far. His heart pounded in rhythm with the horse’s hooves. That excitement faded at the sight of the castle, and his apprehension grew.

  They were on a mission to reach King Theodore. Emmett did not know much history—the older wizards didn’t like to talk about it—but he knew enough to understand that whatever was going on had to be important to break the covenant of their banishment. When he was a small child, they had left, vowing to never return. Now they were rushing toward the kingdom, into danger. He tried to push his nerves aside. Whatever lay ahead, he planned to enjoy these moments of wonder, in case they were his last.