The Road Not Taken

Chapter 2

and then she screamed.

"DG," Azkadellia gasped, as her scream still echoed through the cave. "Oh my gosh, DG! Are you alright?" She stumbled forward, a hand still on the damp cold stone to keep her balance.

DG stood a foot in front of her sister, the small lantern casting eerie and harsh shadows over her young face. She had yet to reply to Azkadellia's question, her only response the slow blink of her eyes and an awkward tilt of her head. Worried her young sister was in shock, Azkadellia quickly inspected her sister for injuries. Finding only a bit of dust and dirt, she frowned in confusion.

"You were screaming, DG... and you sounded so scared. What happened?"

Her sister blinked in response.

"DG! What happened?" Azkadellia shouted unconsciously, her emotions tense. "Please answer me," she added in a soft plea, ready to cry.

"Nothing happened, sister," DG replied in a flat tone, unaffected by the distress in Azkadellia's voice.

"But... but you were screaming. It was awful."

"No I wasn't." Azkadellia reeled back with her shock, not knowing what to make of DG's words. Her sister was never one to lie.

"I heard you, DG," she added more firmly, "and an awful crash. What happened down there?"

"You must be mistaken, sister. I heard nothing of what you speak of."

"Stop it DG," she snapped with frustration, losing her footing she let out a hiss of pain at the pressure on her injured ankle. "I know what I heard," she gasped out, closing her eyes to the pain. "I am not crazy."

"You're injured," DG calmly answered with a glance down at Azkadellia's foot. "I'll go and get help then."

Worried her sister would leave without her, Azkadellia reached out. "Wait DG, you have to help me back to the palace. It is almost dark and we should not separate." Her sister swiftly side stepped her outstretched hand and looked at it with an almost sneer of disgust.

"I cannot support your weight, sister. You'll have to wait here for my return." She nodded her head as if the matter was settled and began walking towards the entrance of the cave.

"No, DG! You cannot leave me!" The choking terror left Azkadellia momentarily and anger at DG's disobedience clouded her emotions. She watched her sister turn back, but the expression she wore was like none other Azkadellia had seen before. DG looked wicked.

"But she already has," she replied so softly that Azkadellia swore she'd misheard her. Then with a parting cruel smirk, her sister was gone.

ooOoo

Finaqua was peaceful. The setting sun warmed its shores as a soft breeze danced through the tall grass and wild flowers. Near to the water the Queen of the O.Z. was shaded in solitude, perched on a swing in the blue gazebo built by her ancestors. It was a lovely afternoon and, after an especially trying morning, she welcomed the quiet calm as she read quietly.

Her daughter's lesson with the royal tutor had not gone especially well. DG was having trouble controlling her newly emerging ability, relying heavily on her older sister's aid. The Queen had only warm thoughts for the special bond between her daughters, but Tutor had been adamant that Azkadellia was slowing DG's progress . Her eldest was an especially kind and patient older sister, and DG's adoration of her was impossible to hide. But perhaps Tutor was right. Azkadellia had had no assistance when her lesson first began years ago, and now she was confident and skillful. DG deserved that same opportunity.

Lifting her head from the pages of her book, the Queen gazed out onto the horizon thoughtfully. Azkadellia would continue to look out for DG as long as she was not otherwise occupied, but she had already mastered most of her studies including those of the arts. Her skill at the piano was especially awe-inspiring and Ahamo had spoken of her sculpting skills just last week. What Azkadellia needed was a new tutor and an entirely new subject to learn.

A stronger breeze stirred across the landscape and the Queen was suddenly met with the humorous image of her trusted advisor chasing after a lost scroll stolen by the breeze. She smiled softly to herself and left her swing in order to catch the paper before it could complete its journey towards the water.

"Oh, thank you your highness!" Ambrose panted as he hurried to her side. "I am truly sorry to have interrupted your reading."

"It's quite alright, Ambrose," the Queen reassured, passing the scroll to her friend. "I confess that I was doing more thinking than actual reading."

"I apologize none the less."

The Queen waved off his worry with a hand in the air and a smile. "Is this a new research project?" she inquired with a gesture to the paper now tucked under his arm.

"Oh yes!" Ambrose answered with enthusiasm. "I working on a prototype for a machine that might allow the O.Z. a longer growing season, shortening the winter months in the farmland. I have been mapping weather patterns all season long and hope to have a working blueprint by the next annual."

"Very impressive, Ambrose."

"Thank you, your highness. It is certainly high praise coming from you. I am still in the research stage, but the data I've collected so far looks very promising." They began to walk as they discussed his work, enjoying the warm summer afternoon. "Princess Azkadellia has been quiet helpful as of late. She's assisted in a bit of the research in her spare time after her lessons."

"Indeed?"

"Oh yes, she is very curious and has been finding her way into my laboratory often."

The Queen was quiet for a few minutes, thinking to herself as she and her advisor toured the lake shore. "And is her time in your lab truly useful, Ambrose? You're not just humoring the princess?"

"I assure you the princess has not been an inconvenience in the slightest. Azkadellia has a head for science, your highness. Her inquiries and opinions are very sharp and pensive."

"Would you consider then, taking her on as an apprentices or assistant of sorts?" Ambrose paused in his steps, attention fully on the words between them now. "Tutor believes Azkadellia's assistance is a hinder to her sister's progress. I've been pondering all afternoon for a solution. She is still far too young to attend the university, but has almost completed her lessons."

"You wish me to teach your daughter?" Ambrose clarified, and with the Queen's nod of affirmation a smile grew appeared on his face. "I am very honored with your faith in my abilities, your highness, and would be delighted to instruct the princess. I think she'll be very enthusiastic as well."

The Queen smiled in return, "So do I, Ambrose. She enjoys your company, as does DG. Speaking of my youngest..." She smiled past his shoulder as DG emerged on the path, her red dress standing out amongst the green foliage. A cold chill suddenly crept up the Queen's spine, but she shook it off and pulled her youngest into a gentle embrace.

"Hello sweetheart," the Queen greeted DG as her daughter stepped out of her arms. "Have you been exploring again with your sister?"

"I haven't seen Azkadellia is some time, mother." Her tone was stale, eyes cold and distant.

Ambrose frowned slightly, finding DG's behavior peculiar. When the princesses were not attending their lessons, they were usually inseparable. His train of thought was interrupted by the Queen's voice of worry. "Your sister is not with you?"

"She is not. I do not know where she is."

"But you two set out to spend the day together, DG. At what time did you part?"

"I don't know where my sister is, mother," DG replied with a hint of annoyance. "Now if you'll excuse me, I wish to return to the palace."

"DG, wait. This is important..." The queen's words died on her lips after she reached forward to touch her daughter's arm to prevent her departure. DG snapped her body away with a growl, shocking the two adults who stood beside her.

"Don't touch me." They were words never once spoken to the queen by her youngest and her tone of voice was just as foreign. "I just wish to return to the palace. I am... I'm not feeling well, mother." The words were less harsh and her features had softened.

"Alright..." the Queen let her go, still stunned to silence with her daughter's previous response. She watched DG disappear down the path towards their summer home and hoped DG's strange behavior was due to her feeling unwell. Not something more serious.

ooOoo

It took Azkadellia some time to hobble to the mouth of the cave. Her ankle and firm grasp on the glowing lantern was an effort that slowed her progress. The ground was also uncooperative. It grew very uneven at times, and muddy or slippery in others. These conditions caused her to lose her footing every few steps and pulled a hiss from her lips when her injured foot stumbled.

When Azkadellia finally neared the entrance, the wall of the cave she'd braced herself against on her slow journey, started to slant and lower. Bent too awkwardly to continue with the aid of the wall for support, she had to hop on one foot the last few feet.

The opening of the cave was much darker now. The late afternoon sun was hidden by dark clouds and the umbrella of dark leaves above. The shadow over the forest was intimidating, and the small lantern she held created little comfort. Azkadellia wished to call out for her sister, but knew by now that DG was too far to even hear the echo of her words. The thought of attracting wild and dangerous animals with loud shouts also hindered her and stilled her movement forward.

Though, Azkadellia was hesitant to leave the cave, she feared DG would be unable to find it again when she returned with aid of guards or their parents. The darker skies and cold wind was what finally urged her forward. While it was still daylight she should start back towards Finaqua, and hopefully meet the search party half way.

A large enough branch was pulled from the cool ground and used as a makeshift crutch. It dug into her underarm painfully and proved awkward to grasp it and the lantern. Azkadellia was determined though, and her thoughts of leaving the forest clouded any bruises or splinters that marred her arm and hands.

It grew dark much too soon, and Azkadellia worried she'd gone the wrong way or had traveled in slow circles. The woods were unfamiliar and each direction looked a clone of the opposite.

"My days of exploring are over I think," she mumbled to herself sarcastically, pausing to rest against a cluster of boulders. The lantern's light died for the second time since her departure from the cave, and she raised a tired hand to ignite it once more. She was still young and her magic much weaker than her mother's, sometimes drained by her exhaustion.

The crunch of twigs and earth pulled her from her rest. She suddenly stood straighter against the high stone and peered around for the source of the sound. An eager bubble of hope rose within and Azkadellia held a breath as a shadow rounded the boulder.

"DG?"

The low grunt and puff of breath that returned her voice belong not to her sister, but of a large brown bear. It emerged around the rock on all four paws and growled hungrily as it saw her. Azkadellia feared it was the same bear she and DG had stumbled upon last week and frightened off with their combined magic.

The creature's sniff and added growl suggested that it was indeed that same animal.

She choked a gasp and staggered backward as the bear lurched closer. The cluster of high stone and her injury left Azkadellia trapped and devoid of an escape. Instinctively she pushed the handle of the lantern through her wrist and raised the branch with both hands towards the bear.

"Get away!" she hollered and hoped to frighten it. She swung the branch wildly, her back pressed against the stone for support. Angered, the bear raised a heavy paw towards her in retaliation. Claws missed her by a short distance and Azkadellia whipped the branch in desperation. The tip of the wood crashed against the animal's noise and it blinked rapidly in pain before it shook its massive head in fury.

A snarl echoed in the small area of forest, before the animal lurched forward towards its prey.