Hi everyone! So, this is a new story I'm writing. Well, actually it was written almost a year ago, and I held off on posting it. Then my laptop screen broke and I couldn't get to my files. So, I'm posting it now so I don't lose it again. I hope you guys enjoy!
Nesrin, princess of the kingdom of Pars, sat in the royal library, reading as usual. The 10 year old princess had her silver hair flowing down her back gracefully, her deep blue eyes trained on her reading as her ladies-in-waiting stood further back, keeping her within their sight. Of course, with her shocking silver hair, pale skin and deep blue royal gown, she stood out amongst the dark shelves of the library. Of course, the added dark blue mask she wore around her face made her stand out from a crowd even more. Not a single person in Pars, outside of the royal family and the higher ranking military, knew what the princess' face looked like.
The princess continued to read until the wind blew her hair and she closed the book a nanosecond after. Putting the book back, Nesrin made her way to the hallway and began to make her way to her room.
"Lady Sister!" A voice suddenly cried. Turning, Nesrin smiled an unseen smile as her older brother, Arslan, ran towards her, grinning.
"It is good to see you, brother." Nesrin smiled.
"You as well. How do your studies fare?" Arslan asked as the two siblings began to walk side by side.
"Very well, I learn something new every day." Nesrin nodded. "What of your sword training with Vahriz?"
"It is well." Arslan answered a little sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"You were outmatched again today, weren't you?" Nesrin teased slightly.
"How is it you know everything about me without me saying a word?" Arslan asked as he looked away.
"The wind whispers everything to me, remember?" She said.
"Ah, yes. I suppose I forgot." He chuckled.
"Well, I bid you well, brother. I would like to rest in my room." Nesrin said as they reached her bedroom.
"Very well. I shall see you tonight?" Arslan asked. Nesrin smiled as she bowed her head in acknowledgement.
"You shall." With that, the siblings went their separate ways. However, instead of laying down to sleep, Nesrin went into her closet and pulled out a simple white dress with a blue bodice. Quickly, she changed and threw on a cloak as well. She then made her way to the wall and silently opened a secret entrance. Turning to her ladies-in-waiting, the princess instructed, "None are to know I left, understand?"
"Yes, Your Highness." The ladies bowed. Satisfied, the princess ran down the passageway as fast as she could.
Nesrin had taken a liking to escaping the palace when she was very young. It was the only time she could safely reveal her face and act like a regular girl. Days like today, when her father, Andragoras III, returned were the days she could most easily sneak out and mingle amongst the peasants. As she walked, the princess played with the bell pendent she wore around her neck. It was simple in design, a bell with a few wind like sweeps on the handle that hung from her neck low enough that it touched her stomach.
As she made her way through Ecbatana, Nesrin eventually made her way to the wall where the slaves worked. As fast and quietly as she could, she climbed the steps and hid on the wall, watching the slaves work, as she so often did.
Suddenly, she heard yelling from the city. Looking over the wall's other end, she watched as knights ran throughout the streets, yelling something she couldn't make out.
"What the hell's going on?" She whispered, her refined tongue having slipped away with her princess guise. Just then, she heard a voice.
"So, where are we going?" That was Arslan, she knew that.
"Wherever I tell you!" Another voice answered. Turning, she watched as her brother and another boy, a Lusitantian soldier if she was correct based on his uniform, climbed up to join her.
"Brother?" She called.
"Lady Sister!" Arslan cried as he ran towards his sister and hugged her.
"What's going on? Who are you?" Nesrin asked, looking from her brother to the Lusitanian.
"No way am I gonna tell you!" The boy cried.
"He's holding me hostage." Arslan answered.
"What?!" Nesrin cried.
"Why you little-?!" The boy cried as he pulled on Arslan's ear. "If you want your brother to live, you won't say a word, got it girl?!"
"And if I refuse?" Nesrin asked, her right hand going for the dagger she had hidden at the back of her dress while her left hand splayed her fingers out as the wind began to increase.
"You won't." Arslan cut in, shooting a look that told his sister to stand down.
"…Alright. I won't say anything." Nesrin agreed. The boy seemed to relax somewhat as he released the crown prince and made his way to look at the slaves below.
"You sure have a lot of slaves here." The boy commented.
"Well, of course we do!" Arslan said. "That's further evidence of our kingdom's prosperity. Why would you want to run away?"
"Huh?" The boy asked as he looked at Arslan as if he were an idiot.
"It isn't all that much work. And you'd never want for food or shelter." Arslan continued, oblivious. "Not a bad life once you accept it. Certainly better than what you-"
"Yeah, rich boy?! And what would you know about my life?! Huh?!" The boy demanded.
"Very little. But if children like you are being sent to war." Arslan said.
"You fought in a war?" Nesrin asked, trying to keep the awe she felt out of her voice.
"Of course I did! I'm a Lusitanian soldier! And who are you calling 'child'?! I'm 11 years old!" The boy cried.
"Only 11? That's my age as well! You truly are a child!" Arslan cried in sympathy. The boy pushed the crown prince, causing him to fall to the ground with his sister behind him.
"Not in my kingdom! I'm a Lusitanian soldier! A warrior! Devoted to the god of Yaldabaoth and pledged to rid this world of heathens!" The boy declared, pointing his sword at the royal siblings.
"Why is it you so despise those who don't believe?" Arslan asked.
"Why do you vow to kill all who are different?" Nesrin added.
"Our god is just." The boy said as he lowered his sword. "He treats all people as equals. The same cannot be said for your kind. Just look at your system of slavery! It's cruel and barbaric! Our god won't tolerate something so inhumane!" As the boy spoke, all three children looked at the slave yard, watching as a slave was beaten for falling. Nesrin couldn't stop the tears from forming as she felt empathy for the slaves, not for the first time. As the boy pointed at the siblings, they turned and met his eyes. "Hear me heathens, all men are equal!" The two stared up at the boy, having never heard this sentiment before. "Except for people like you who don't follow our god's teachings! You can be treated differently and killed as we see fit!" The boy proclaimed as he held his sword aloft.
"Sure, that's logical." Arslan muttered.
"Seems a little hypocritical to me." Nesrin added.
"What was that?!" The boy demanded, glaring at the siblings.
"Nothing at all!" The siblings said in unison, though Nesrin's mind was racing at a mile a minute.
All men are equal…is the same said for women?
Suddenly, the three turned to see knights running towards them.
"Here we go again!" Arslan muttered as the boy grabbed him and began to run.
"Wait!" Nesrin cried as she stood up and followed the two. She needed to speak to the boy again, she needed to talk to him!
Nesrin followed the two boys throughout Ecbatana, barely able to keep up with them but still following them. Finally, as the sun set, they reached the wall and the boy was cornered. Instantly, he held the sword at Arslan's throat as a threat.
"Back off! You want to keep him in one piece, don't you?" The boy cried. He backed up further until he was against the wall.
"Please, don't do anything rash, you don't have to die." Nesrin begged as she took a cautious step forward. Suddenly, the boy leapt over the wall, pulling Arslan with him. "No!" Nesrin cried as she ran forward, leaning over the wall and stretching out her hand.
"Your Highness!" Daryun, one of the Marzban, cried as he reached the princess' side as she began to guide the wind, slowing the two boys' descent to the water, though not by a lot. As she heard a splash, Nesrin released the wind, slumping and much paler than she was before as she panted for breath she had suddenly lost. However, she still leaned over the wall's edge, searching for her brother with Daryun.
"Daryun! Lady Sister!" Arslan yelled as he surfaced from the water. The Marzban sighed in relief before he turned to the princess.
"Your Highness, are you alright?" Daryun asked, supporting the princess with one arm.
"I'm fine, worry about Arslan." Nesrin ordered, her voice hoarse. Daryun stared at the princess for a second before he turned back to the crown prince below. That was the first time the princess had called her brother by his first name since they came to the palace.
The two watched as the Lusitanian boy stole a horse and took off. Daryun aimed his bow and arrow, aiming to kill the boy.
"Daryun!" Arslan screamed.
"No…stop…" Nesrin tried to yell but her voice felt as if it was flying away on the wind. Daryun didn't hear either of them as he aimed. Arslan ran in front of the Marzban's arrow and screamed,
"Don't shoot! Wait!" Startled, Daryun released the arrow and it flew, missing the boy completely. Breathing a sigh of relief, Nesrin slumped and fell into unconsciousness.
Nesrin opened her eyes to find herself on her bed, Arslan and Daryun staring down at her, her mask once again on her face.
"What happened?" She whispered, her voice still hoarse.
"The Lusitanian boy escaped." Arslan answered with a smile.
"And you fell unconscious from the strain of using your powers to save him and His Highness, Your Highness." Daryun added. Nesrin's brow furrowed as she remembered what happened. Slowly, she sat up.
"I'm glad…" She whispered, "And Arslan…call me Rin again, please. You as well, Daryun, at least in private."
"Of course, Rin." Arslan grinned, having missed calling his sister by her name.
"As you wish…Rin." Daryun nodded, obviously struggling with not calling her 'highness'. Nesrin giggled under her breath as she laid down and fell asleep. Daryun simply shook his head, knowing he couldn't lecture the girl until she woke up again. Instead, the Marzban watched as Arslan laid down beside his younger sister, fingering her bell pendent as he did many nights.
"Thank you for my sister." He whispered before he closed his eyes and fell asleep, exhausted after running around all day.
Years later, Arslan and I would be separated but we would both be surrounded by flames. Those flames would mark the beginning of tragedy for us both that would eventually give way to great victories, ones we would go down in history for.
Okay, first off, yes Nesrin does have wind magic. She will be called a sorceress later in this story. The reason for this will be explained later but it will be explained. I hope you guys enjoyed! Leave a review to let me know what you think! Later!