Prologue
A little girl ran through the halls of a palace unattended, seemingly forgotten by her maids. She made sure to look around as she made her way, hoping she had escaped the ever-present eyes that detected her every move.
She ran through an archway that lead to what looked like an outside courtyard, but as the area came into view it turned out to be a vast training ground for soldiers.
Holding her breath she stood behind a bush, her large eyes scanning the endless lines of men and women going through basic drills, talking, exercising, and overseeing.
The corners of her small mouth turned down in disappointment when she had not spotted the person whom she had escaped to see. In the mist of weighing her options whether to enter the place or to find bush further in, a shadow loomed over her, and before she could turn around or make a sound, she found herself snatched up and flung over a shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"PUT ME DOOOOOOWWWWWWWWNNNNNNN!" she squealed in protest, beating her dainty fists on the brick solid back she faced, her legs meanwhile, were flailing to try and kick her captor in the face. Her small burst of feistiness however, did not deter the person, and was rewarded with a long, low, hearty chuckle.
"As Princess of Dalmasca I order you to put me down at once! Or I'll…" she tried once again, but lost her train of thought.
"Or you'll what?" The voice answered back teasingly, testing her sincerity.
The little one went limp, ending her struggle. Just when her "attacker" thought she had given up and was about to set her down, she came to life and used all the strength she had free herself from their arms, placeing her own around their neck and swung her body around so that she had her arms and legs wrapped around their neck and midriff, she also had a small dagger held to their throat.
"I win this time!" she chirped cheerfully, all seriousness and anger forgotten in her moment of cleverness and triumph. She looked at the back of the head of the blond haired man that had caught her.
"Alright, your Highness." He chuckled once again, she could feel the vibration of it in his throat. "I shall let you off this time, now you need to leave before I have to turn you in to your father," he smiled,
"Again" he added.
She frowned and started to release herself when she slipped, loosing control of her dagger hand. It made a noticeably deep gash on the upper arm of the man whom had grabbed her. He sucked in air, she gasped in shock as she fell to the ground in a heap.
"Oh, Capitan! I- I- I- I …" she stammered, her tongue fumbling over the words as she tried to form an apology as his hand shot up to his arm. She scrambled to her feet and rushed to him. His rugged face was somber until his eyes fell upon her and her expression.
Blue-grey eyes softening, he looked down at her and kneeled so that he was level with her face. He noticed she stiffened in fear of repremandation. Putting his good hand on her shoulder he looked in the eyes of the young budding warrioress who would one day be queen. She was so young but she carried herself like someone twice her age. He smiled warmly at her before speaking in a calm fatherly voice,
"You need not worry little one. Now go, before you will. I would detest your father's reaction when he discovers you running off again without super…"
"I am too clever for supervision Capitan" she quipped, cutting his sentence short.
"Indeed you are," he laughed quietly to himself.
In one instant she could go from a naïve, apologetic youngster to a wise elder in a matter of seconds.
"But I understand your concern" she replied.
"That doesn't mean I have to heed it now does it?" she smirked.
"Don't push your luck" he ginned, giving her shoulder a little shake before standing up to his full height.
They looked at each other for a matter of seconds before he nodded his head towards the palace from which she had run away.
Her overconfident attitude demolished as she slumped in defeat, adding a large sigh for effect. He turned and walked away to attend to his arm, leaving her to stand there and weigh the consequences of her actions. She sprinted back to the palace, her heart glowing…