These were the men I had to convince? Major Swift seemed like a competent man, but the rest? Could I trust them as far as I could throw them? And this Captain Finn seemed to love the sound of his own voice, and what about the girl? There was something entirely strange about her. She was wearing a soldiers uniform, but Women weren't allowed in Albion's Royal guard, so what was she doing here?
Lapis nuzzled my hand, obviously sensing something wrong. I scratched his ears in reassurance. He barked in appreciation before trotting off to inspect the girl. Yes there was definitely something off about this.
"...And once you've had a wander around, seen what our abode has to offer if you'd both join me on the wall for a romantic evening of dinner and a show. Plus, Jammy will show you how to use the Mortar, Princess." The Captain concluded and I nodded at him, making him think I'd listening to every rambling word he said.
"Thank you very much, Captain." I offered after a moment, which earned me a smirk from him.
"Not a bother your Highness. I'll leave you in the very capable hands of our newest recruit, Louise." I could see she shot him an icy look. Like he'd just dished out her dirtiest secret. "Come now." He continued. "Your in the presence of Royalty where's yer manners?"
I folded my arms, oh the irony, I could tell this guy was a regular jester. The girl looked nervous, but it wasn't by the fact I was a runaway princess. Curious. Someone called from the wall to the Captain who quickly made his apologies before leaving.
She then turned herself me, her eyes focusing everywhere but towards me. "So," she began after a while. "You both must be hungry?"
Lapis barked, the thought of food exciting him and admittedly I was really hungry too. The last Walter and I ate properly was two days ago before getting trapped underground with Hobbes in Mistpeak. "Very. Lead the way." I tried to offer her a friendly smile before she turned on heel towards the centre of the courtyard. "C'mon boy, lets eat."
After a moment of preparation I was given a crude bowl filled with a broth and a chunk of stale bread. She'd also filled a bowl for Lapis and placed on the floor by my feet. She sat at a safe distance and apologised for the food, they were getting stocks in from the nearest village today. I tore a chunk of bread and gave it to Lapis who gobbled it greedily. Louise didn't seem to be focused, her eyes were red and puffy, I could see the makings of a nasty bruise on her neck where the shirt didn't quite cover and a variety of scratches on her arms.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, no sense in beating around the bush. "This is no place for civilian."
"To be perfectly honest I'm not sure why I'm here. It's just where I woke up." That did make any sense. How could you just wake up here. She noted my perplexed look. "Oh, sorry. I'm not from here. From Albion... I was brought here." Louise paused and let out a strangled sigh, like she was trying to hold back tears.
"By whom?" I queried before taking in a mouthful of stodgy broth.
This time she looked me directly at me and narrowed her eye. Within that look I saw bitterness and rage. "A woman, named Theresa."
I choked, my stomach flipped and my eyes widened. My Mother's Seer? She brought this girl here. What on Albion for? What exactly was she up to. I didn't completely trust her myself. She was always so vague, never answered your questions and had this divine way of getting under your skin.
She sighed and divulged no more. Nothing more was said until we'd both finished. "But why? What can you possibly do."
"Apparently I'm a Hero." She gave a flat laugh. " But all I've managed to do is make things set on fire, pass out and cause a civil war inside here."
"So your a Will User?" They were rare. I had magic in my blood, but I had to use the gauntlets to access it. Unlike my Mother, and the previous Hero of Will, a man named Garth. Walter had told me retold stories of my mothers adventures and warmly regarded the Will user, along with a monk, named Hammer. Apparently she was quite partial to a drink when ever she came to see my Mother and Walter revered it. But getting back on track, Walter told me my Mother and Garth could freeze sea's, control the sky's, blow away armies all with the flick of the wrist. They were just that arcane and talented. From my Mother's Will scars it wasn't all that hard to imagine it. But this girl? She looked like she would panic lighting a fire let alone commanding Will.
She nodded, but it took some effort, Louise seemed more than unconvinced, more so than I. "All I want to do, is go home. I'm not part of this world and it's been made perfectly clear, Princess."
I didn't know what to say to that. She wasn't even part of Albion, what kind of power did Theresa have. "My name is Maria."
"Pardon?"
"My name, it's Maria. If I'm being perfectly honest here, being called Princess is getting a tad old." Lapis barked in agreement before walking over to Louise and licked her hand as thank you for the meal. She gave a smile, a real one and petted him. He sat loyally beside her. "Lapis!" I stifled a giggle."You traitor, a free meal and your anyone's. Honestly." He pined a little and looked torn between the two of us. Louise petted him once more and urged him back to my side.
"So what's it like, where your from?" I asked her once the débâcle and laughter had subsided.
Louise didn't look comfortable talking about it. "If we live through tonight, then I might just tell you."
"Then it's a deal. In the morning you'll tell me something about your home." I sounded confident and to tell you the truth, how could I not be. We were in army fort, how could we die? She looked at little shocked by the statement, but she extended her hand. I took it and we shook. When she yelped and retracted in pain. She grasped her right hand and looked confused.
"Give me a look." I urged. Unsteadily she extended the palm of her hand, shaking in shock. The palm of her hand was actually smoking as if it had caught on fire. A waft of burning flesh hit my nose and I fought the urge wretch and keep down my stodgy meal. I hitched my breath instinctively when I saw it. The Guild seal. It was etched into the palm of her hand. The mark itself was bright pink, smooth tissue and looked exactly like the seal I carried on my person.
"What is it?" Her voice trembled her eyes on me, not on her smoking hand.
"The Guild Seal. It's the mark of the hero." I looked into her eyes and smiled. "Looks like your the Hero after all." I rummaged around and took the seal out my pocket. It was exactly the same, expect for the fact hers was a permanent fixture on her skin. I turned the blue and gold seal to face her. I could see her flitting between the two things in disbelief. Her left hand then went to touch my Mothers Guild Seal and as the tips of her fingers brushed against the metal both her right hand and the seal glowed an arcane blue before settling.
Louise jumped to her feet, clearly disturbed. She nipped the bridge of her nose and shook her head as though a great headache had suddenly plagued her. "I'll, uh, be on the wall when your ready, Princess, I mean Maria." She quickly dashed off, almost tripping as she did.
A definite strange one. I did however intend to give Theresa a piece of my mind the next time I was on the Road. Did she honestly think I was that incompetent she had to bring in frightened children to aid the revolution.
Not at all Princess. The disembodied voice told her. Theresa. I intend to inform upon your victory at Mourningwood. She continued. I tutted at the Seal before putting it back in my dweller costume and standing up. She'd better bloody inform me. I looked over to Walter, he was still catching up with the Major. I found myself strangely relaxed at the scene this is the first time I've seen Walter so, happy, in a very long while. He laughed, I smiled. He grinned, it warmed my heart.
A fully fledged Will User, I wonder if she can use the Sanctuary. Jasper, you were listening in? Unintentionally, Madam. I just happened to stumble upon your conversation. Such a way with words, Jasper. Why thank you madam, you should know that weapon you collected is especially effective against Hollow Men, according to the manual. You should come a collect it. I shall, give me a moment to talk to the Soldiers. I wish to hear what they have to say. Of course, how enterprising of you. I shall await your arrival in the Armoury.
I sighed, probably looking like a complete idiot spacing out. It still startled me when Jasper suddenly started babbling in my head. But he did have a point, it was a sanctuary for Heroes maybe she could use it after all? Pushing the thought aside I mingled among the Soldiers, picking up on their concerns. Mostly that my brother had sent them out here to die and other more colourful descriptions before I'd heard enough from them. My heart ached, it brought me back to the memory of the Palace. It had seemed a lifetime ago, but I knew it wasn't any longer than a month. He'd made me choose between Elliot and those protesters. I'd chosen them. I didn't know those people. My naïve nature and selfishness for wanting to keep Elliot had sent them to their death. I tried to reason and better reason. But I couldn't deny it any longer. My brother's madness had to be stopped and I had to repent for sending those people to their death. I quickly made my way to the Sanctuary, much to the surprise of the Soldiers to retrieve the new weapon I'd collected. I also asked Jasper if he could check on Elliot, knowing he was safe would make this night easier. Then I made my way quickly back to Mourningwood to begin my night behind the Mortar.
