Second Chapter up!
The Skies Fill with War
The warm breeze of summer swept her bright, red hair past her ears as she slowly scaled down the hillside, carrying an empty basket and a pouch filled with silver coins. After Mother died, her father hired a live-in nanny who was a real witch, ordering Blossom and her friends around while she did nothing, but sit around and snack on truffles and cream. Blossom didn't reflect on this fact at all. Instead, she went straight to the village of L'ira. They had the best fruits in the land and they needed more apples for her famous apple pie. She got to the dusty road and walked down it, towards L'ira. "Blossom, wait up!" She turned around, her hair moving along with her motion. A small boy with long black hair, dressed in commoner clothes, ran up to her.
"Good morning, Brisk, did you sneak off the farm again?"
"No," Brisk said indignantly, "Ma and Pa said I could go with you when I saw you on the hill." She smiled warmly.
"Well, alright then, Brisk." She walked further with Brisk bouncing along with her. He chattered about everything, some of his father's cows gave birth, there were more eggs then before, and the sheep were getting their fluff earlier than before. Once they got there, the beautiful stone paved roads were lightly crowded, with people mingling, buying, and selling. Blossom walked swiftly, gracefully avoiding all the people around her while Brisk bumped into one every five minutes. "Good morning, Mr. Sulch." The old man who was selling fresh apples looked up.
"Ahh, Blossom! Here for your apples, I see?"
"Yes, for some reason, we always run out." He laughed.
"It's because of your pies, Blossom!" She shook her head slightly.
"It's not that." She said, picking the reddest apples she found.
"So, have you thought about that proposal?" He had asked her to marry his son multiple times before and every time, she said 'no'. Blossom had been proposed to by half the men in both of the villages and each time, she said 'no'. She was the last thing her father held dear to his heart, even before the inn. Blossom couldn't just abandon him and besides, he was the one who was really supposed to decide.
"My daughter will marry only the best suitor that comes to her. Even then, I may have my doubts!" Blossom sighed.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Sulch, but you know I can't abandon my father. He needs me to help him with the Inn." Mr. Sulch sighed.
"Well, the offer is always open to you, know that my family would be far better if you were part of it." She smiled.
"Thank you."
"Such frightening business with the war, isn't it?" She was looking at the oranges, nodding.
"It's very sad, killing others in the pursuit of power. Though, it's interesting that both villages are joined in arms, fighting to keep our land ours."
"We've had over 500 acres of land for 500 years; there is not a chance that we would let it go so easily." Brisk reached up for a juicy, plump peach that Blossom paid for.
"The history of our kingdom is golden." Mr. Sulch nodded in agreement when he gave her a golden apple.
"For free, Blossom. A good, healthy apple will keep your skin youthful." She smiled and bit into it, bidding him 'good bye'.
Brisk left her not too long ago to help his father when he saw him transferring the produce of his farm down into the market. Blossom went down to the Dragon Well to finish her apple in peace. Sitting on the well's side, she peered into the water. It was sparkling as if touched by an angel. This place was special to her. It was where her mother and father found Blossom, only to take her in. She always came there as many times as possible, even if the trees weren't flowering.
Her peaceful moment was interrupted by the stomping of horses. From the sound of it, a lot of horses. She looked up to see soldiers galloping towards this very place. They laughed and joked as they rode before freezing. Their captains had stopped.
"I know the Inn is south."
"No, its East."
"South!"
"East!" The two lords bickered endlessly whenever they spoke. Half of the huge armada they led belonged to one of them, the other half belonged to the other.
"Cousin, you have no sense of direction. If we followed you, we'd be back at the battlegrounds!"
"Well, we wouldn't have this problem if your soldier hadn't lost the map!"
"Well, maybe if your soldiers were more responsible…"
"What does this have to do with my soldiers?"
"Well, everything is ruined when you're around!" Lord Brick glared at his cousin with deep, burning red eyes. They were of the same height and size, and exquisitely handsome. It was as if they contrasted, Lord Brick resembled fire with his red eyes and bright red hair along with European skin. Lord Derek resembled water with blonde hair and deep grey eyes, along with a matching skin color.
"Why don't we ask a villager if they know where it is?" Count Boomer came up and suggested. He was never one to argue, though he would if provoked. His blonde hair and bright blue eyes gave him a childlike air. Count Mac rode up on his horse.
"I hate to say it, but he's got a point. Let's go to Li'ra."
"…Actually, I was thinking Sal'omn…" Boomer said. He and Mac stared at each other before glaring and arguing. This spat into an even bigger argument.
"We're near the Dragon Well." Count Blare interjected.
"So?" Lord Derek said.
"There might be someone there, if not, let's go our separate ways and ask our own villagers before heading there and resting." Count Blare was the more philosophical then most of the soldiers there.
"Blare, you make me proud to be your lord." Brick said. Lord Derek grunted and they road ahead.
Blossom no longer heard the mumbled arguing when she heard horses walking up. "Why, hello there, my lady." She looked and saw their shocked faces. They stared at this beautiful girl they ran into before Lord Brick regained his composure like his cousin.
"I'm Lord Derek; might I know your name, dear maiden?"
"My name is Blossom…"
"I'm Lord Brick, fair maiden…will you get my men and me some water? We're thirsty…" She smiled and drew the wooden bucket into well and pulled it to fill their canteens. Then she dipped it in again, to fill Lord Derek's canteen and his men's canteen.
"Thank you, my lady," Lord Derek took greedy gulps from his. "Ahh, take a look here, Brick. A true L'iran stands before you." Lord Brick scoffed as his men laughed.
"Fool, she's obviously Sal'omnian."
"L'iran."
"Sal'omnian."
"Actually," Blossom stopped them before they began, "I'm neither…I don't know whether I'm L'iran or Sal'omnian…so, I say I am Sal'omniran." They stared at her as she smiled without any corruption. "Are you from the battlegrounds? You seem to be in high spirits."
"Yes, we sent those Pok'rauns back to their mommies!" Count Butch shouted out. He had black hair with one bang covering one of his jade green eyes. His skin was pale, but he was handsome anyway. He loved to fight. All the soldiers cheered in response to that, even if he was Sal'omnian.
"Oh, Miss, do you know where the Dragon Inn is?" Blossom giggled at his question.
"Why yes…my father owns it, I can lead you there." Another cheer rang out.
"Umm…is it East or South?"
"Southeast."
