"Lark! Shauni! Guys, where are you?" Kallys' voice echoed down the hall.
"In here, Kally!" I shouted back. Shauni and I sat on the floor of my bedroom, playing a simple dice game.
"Guys! Great news!" Kally exploded as she burst into the chamber. "Father has found us a quest! Isn't that wonderful?"
We looked at her attentively.
"So, what's the quest?" demanded Shauni.
"Seems that instead of a damsel in distress, it's a guy in distress!" she giggled. We gaped at her. "Yep. There's this noble youth being held hostage by his uncle for his inheritance from his parents. Somewhere in the north," Kally explained.
"What fief?" Shauni asked.
"Umm, some forgotten one. It's extremely old and rich, but so far to the north and isolated that the family hasn't come to Corus for ages. One of this heir's servants managed to escape and come to my father to ask for help."
"Do you know the men's names or anything?" I asked, intrigued.
"Yes. The young man being held hostage is 17, and his name is, oh, it's on the tip of my tongue. Oh, I remember. It's Kenton of Glen Echo. His uncle is Hagen of Glen Echo. Have you ever heard of it?"
We shook our heads. It sounded like a worthwhile adventure. Just the kind of thing we'd been looking for. Mystery, scandal, heroism, and fun. Plus, the possibility of a cute guy in our debt. While we sat studying the idea, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in!" I called. Rosabel of Stone Mountain entered. We happily greeted her. She, though, did not look as gleeful as we. "What's wrong?" I asked.
"I can't be in the Princess's Elite." We stared at her, not understanding.
"What!" we appealed in unison. She nodded.
"Father says I mayn't. He says that the life of the sword isn't appropriate for a girl."
"But the Princess's Elite uses staffs, right?" Randi had just walked up from behind. We looked from Rosabel to her.
"Randi!" we reprimanded. "It means he thinks woman can't fight, with any weapons," Kally clarified.
"You know how conservative my father is." Our attentions returned to Rosabel. "I'll see you around, I guess," she finished and exited.
"Well this is just great!" exclaimed Shauni sarcastically. "Who can fill in for Rosabel now?"
"How about Allyrianne?" We returned to staring at Randi. "You know, my little sister? She's coming to Corus from Hollyrose anyway."
Allyrianne of Hollyrose was Randis little sister. A year younger, but very different from her elder sister. She resembled Shauni in personality, and in looks as well. She might well should've been a daughter of the dark hair, dark eyed King's Reach house, rather than the fair skinned and hair house of Hollyrose. I considered it for a moment. Yes, Allyrianne would be perfect, I thought before sharing this opinion with the others.
"Why is she coming to court instead of Lady Cavall's as you did, Randi?" asked Kally.
"Mum doesn't think she needs finishing school. Ri's so polite and graceful anyway. She learned manners from the steward employed at Hollyrose. I know Mum and Dad would let her. You know how proud they are of her."
Randi's obvious jealousy surprised me. On the other hand, it was true. Randi and Allyrianne were the only daughters born to Hollyrose in many generations. All their female relatives had married in. It was agreed that Allyrianne would be the next addition to the Princess's Elite.
"Where is she?" demanded Shauni of her cousin, for about the 7th time.
All four of us, Kally, Randi, Shauni and me, stood waiting for the arrival of Randis' sister, Allyrianne. Allyrianne was supposed to have arrived an hour ago, but there was still no sign of her. Shauni tapped her foot impatiently.
"That couldn't be her, could it?" asked Kally. She pointed to a dusty figure approaching us.
"Ally!" squealed Randi, skipping to embrace the girl. "What in the world happened to you?" she said, after releasing her from a tight hug.
I wondered the same thing as I took in Allyrianne's haggard outward appearance. Her dress was covered in the grime of rough travel and was ripped and frayed. The dark hair that so resembled Shaunis' hung in matted clumps. She carried nothing but a small purse. She smiled wearily.
"Mind if I clean up first? It's a rather boring story when you think about it," Allyrianne's voice was clear and sweet.
"Of course! Let me show you to the baths!" Kally bustled forward to play the hostess.
An hour or so later, the entirety of the Princess's Elite sat in Kally's parlor, casually sipping juice and nibbling on cookies.
"Ally, tell us what happened on your journey," Randi told her sister.
"Well, Father hired some men he declared decent to accompany me to Corus as my footmen and driver. As soon as we were out Hollyrose, they robbed me of everything of value and took of with the carriage. What was a girl to do? I asked myself. So, I did the only thing I could do, begged and walked my way here."
"How brave of you!" breathed Randi.
"Certainly not! It was not in the tiniest bit brave! I was scared and wary the whole time. It's the same as what anyone would do, when left no other option," corrected Allyrianne.
"Allyrianne, we here have a favor to ask of you," interrupted Kally. "Seeing as how you have already proven yourself worthy, we would ask that you join the Princess's Elite."
Allyrianne looked around, bewildered. The other girls smiled. "The Princess's Elite? What's that?" she asked.
"Yes. The Princess's Elite." Kally looked at me. "Lark, explain. I have to go see my parents."
"Anyway," I continued, "The Princess's Elite is a guard formed of noble young ladies who know how to defend themselves. It's like a cross between the royal ladies and the Riders."
I preceded to inform them of our newly assigned mission to Glen Echo. We agreed to leave in one week. After we disbanded, I hurried home. The Genliths were coming for supper once again.
As usual, my mother was waiting to greet me. She sat lazily fanning herself in the warm parlor. She smiled as I entered.
"Good, your home," she drawled, "We have some news. Sit down." I sat. "the Genliths are coming to dinner."
"I know."
"Yes, well, we have agreed that a marriage between you and young Vinson would be most profitable. Negotiations begin tonight," she announced.
I gasped. "Mother! Vinson? He's he's, ewww!" I groaned.
"Daughter! Give him a chance at least, he'll be your husband whether you like him or not!" Mother admonished. "Now, go change for supper." Grudgingly, I obeyed.
"Kyleah, why don't you show Vinson the garden?" Mother ordered after dinner. I mumbled a sarcastic reply which won me a sharp, threatening look. Vinson followed me into the empty garden, lit only by the fading sun and rising moon.
"The violets are in bloom." I told him.
"The beautiful green leaves remind me of your eyes," he said softly.
GAG! EWWWW! GROSS! I WOULD RATHER MARRY A SPIDREN, EVEN A CENTAUR WOULD BE BETTER! Ran through my head.
"No need to be shy, my dear. We are betrothed." He moved extremely close to put his hands on my shoulders. I stepped away, only to be pursued. He stood in front of me.
"We should go inside." I said forcefully.
"On such a beautiful evening? No, lets stay out here."
Obviously, I was not forceful enough. "I want to go inside!" I nearly shouted.
"No more arguing, love," he whispered and pressed his awful thin lips to mine.
It took me one second to react. I shoved him away with a shriek and punched him in the stomach, knocking the wind from him. Did this discourage him? NO! He smiled and moved in again. Before he could try again, he was attacked by a flock of birds, sparrows I think, and a dog.
"Jump! Birds!" I heard a girls' voice call, then a whistle. "Oh! I'm sorry!" she whistled again as she came toward me. The birds and dog went to her. Her eyes widened. "Vinson!" she exclaimed.
"Who are you?" I asked. She looked from Vinson to me and bowed.
"Keladry. Keladry of Mindelan. Who are you and what are you doing with this slime?" she replied. Before I could answer, Vinson spoke.
"You stay out of this, wench!" he yelled. "This girl is my betrothed, thank you very much!"
"Fine." Keladry said calmly. "But even as your betrothed, she can answer for herself," she looked at me, waiting for an answer.
"I'm Kyleah of Queenscove. And we AREN'T betrothed." I said.
"Queenscove? Are you related to Nealan of Queenscove?"
I nodded. "He's my brother. Wait, did you say Keladry of Mindelan? As in, Kel? As in Squire Keladry?"