({[ Rianna on the Run - Three ]})
dedicated to Molly, my name-rejecter and boredom saver
The day where their daring plan started came all too quickly. According to plan, Ria had to tell her chambermaid that she had a headache, and was feeling hot and cold by turns. She had to act disoriented, shiver sporadically, and refuse to get out of bed.
However, Ria didn't even need to act. She woke up feeling groggy, with a throat that throbbed, and a stuffy nose. Feeling a great sense of irony that this was the gods' joke on her, she snuggled under her covers and tried to return to sleep.
When the maid came to call her awake, Ria managed to tell her to run for the medicant before pulling the covers over her head once more. The unfortunate maid believed that some fatal illness was with the princess, and ran to the medicant.
When the medicant came, trotting as fast as his pudgy body allowed him, he roughly shook her body, and literally screamed her name. Apparently, the story of her sickness was extremely exaggerated.
"But..I'm just a little sick!" Ria protested when he ordered the maid to close the windows and stoke the fire. It took almost ten whole minutes to tell the medicant that she just had a sore throat. Ella arrived, concerned.
"Are you feeling alright?" she asked. Her eyes were twinkling with the ruse they were playing.
"Mother," Ria said, "I feel sick. I mean, really. Truly." She tried to convey to her mother that it was real. Ella felt her forehead, and her eyes widened.
"Why, you really are! This is quite a surprise."
The medicant gave her tea, and told her to stay in bed. Hoping she would get better soon, Ria fell asleep quickly.
For the whole day, she drifted in and out of sleep. Waking up, she would feel sicker, and the throbbing headache persisted. So she fell back asleep.
On the second day of her sickness, Ria was struck with insomnia. She sat up in bed, trying to write a letter, when Ober walked in. She dived under her covers, but it was too late. He came toward her bed with a self-assured walk, with fake sympathy in his eyes.
"Princess Rianna," he said, drawing a chair toward her bedside. "It grieves me that you are sick."
"It grieves me also," she said calmly, although inside, her heart was racing. What was he here for?
"Prince Carrian has sent another letter. He seems- intrigued by the letter you sent. He wishes you to send another one," Ober said, smiling faintly. He put down a letter on her night table.
Ria smiled. "I shall," she said.
"I trust you will get well soon? How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Worse," Ria grimaced. She might as well let him know. "Now my body is feeling hot and cold by turns, and my headache is worsening."
"I'm very sorry," he said. "Now, I must leave to attend to affairs of Kyrria. Your mother helps, but most of the burden lays on me."
"How's Father? I mean, King Charmont?" she asked, concerned. She hadn't been to visit him since last week. Whenever he talked, he was so unlike the Father she knew, she had started to avoiding visiting his room.
"Not better, yet not any worse," Ober said, a queer twisted smile on his face. "I suppose it's good news."
"Yes," Ria said quietly. "As long as it's not worse."
Ober bowed, and left, leaving Ria to wonder about his visit. Why had he come? She knew he didn't care about her health- he wouldn't be concerned enough to visit. To deliver the letter? Maybe, but he could have easily sent it along with someone else. To see she was truly sick? That seemed like the most credible idea. She hoped she had acted well.
She went back to sleep, feeling she really couldn't do anything else.
~*~
Gradually, Mandy made her sickness "worsen." With the aid of "small magic", Mandy said, Ria appeared to other people as if she was pale, coughing, and wheezing away. As Mandy said, since helping people get better was small magic, making them seem worse was small magic too. Whenever she coughed, Ria didn't hurt or anything, since it was a fairy-induced illusion. But to other people, it sounded horrible. Her face was also made paler, and her forehead "burned" to touch. Ria, under the illusion, gradually got better. However, the illusion turned worse and worse. Soon, about five doctors were in her room, testing her and trying to figure out what was wrong. She had drank so many nasty-tasting potions they brewed that by the end of the week she refused to take anymore. The doctors took on grave, worried expressions, talking in hushed whispers. Ria suspected that they thought she was on her deathbed. She smiled secretively.
Carrian-Carrion's latest letter gave her a long laugh.
My Dear Princess Rianna Eleanor of Kyrria,
My mother named me, of course. However, my father had some input. The name Carrian has long had tradition in Halona tradition; our founding king was named Carrian the Hearty. I am the ninth Carrian in our lineage.
Yes, I do agree with you about my nose. My mother says that it is my finest feature, coming from her side of the family. My father believes it comes from his side, however.
The names you chose are…interesting. I am going to override you on the boys' names. Although I am sure that Zarn is a very nice name, I would like to name our heir Carrian the Tenth. However, the boys following him may be named Narkert and Zarn. I do not care about girls' names; you may name all the girls as you please.
Sincerely,
Prince Carrian the NinthIf anything, the letter gave added strength to her already iron resolve to escape. Married to Carrian-Carrion the Ninth indeed! She would hang herself first.
Finally, the evening of her escape, the doctors left for the night. To the maids cleaning her room, Ella appeared to be sitting next to her daughter, talking gaily. However, she was giving instructions.
"Your bow and arrow are with your saddlebags and saddle in the box that's in front of Stormsong's stall. The hostler will be drunk tonight, he won't notice that the horse is gone, and he'll be sleeping so you can get by him. The West Gate is unguarded tonight, leave through that. After that…go anywhere. Make toward Ayortha, but indirectly. Find Areida's inn, go stay with her, she'll keep you safe. Meanwhile, find the Fairy Order. Mandy and I will write you letters through this," Ella set her prized fairy book on the nightstand. Ria nodded, recognizing the fabled book her mother talked so much about. "And Mandy's simulacrum is in your wardrobe. You'll have to get out of your nightgown and put it on the simulacrum. Breeches and a tunic are under your bed."
"Okay," Ria said. "I get it."
Ella smiled sadly for a fleeting moment. "Vib ol pess waddo," she murmured, repeating the Elfish phrase. She kissed Ria's forehead. "I love you, darling."
Ria watched her mother leave. She had aged so much through the years. When Ria was little, her mother was impulsive, and always so much fun to play with. She never was called Queen; she refused to take the title on. Then as Ria grew up, and Ober started gaining power, Ella became more subdued, more wise. She took on the title Queen in the chance that Char might die and there would be no ruler. When Char grew sick, her mother said less and observed more. She had learned caution.
Ria shook her head. There was no time to get sentimental. As soon as the maids extinguished the torches, she would have to move quickly. She needed to leave, quickly.
The maids curtsied and left, leaving one candle burning. It cast eerie shadows across the room as it flickered. Bracing herself, Ria got out of her bed, and found the breeches. Ripping off the now-detested nightgown, she dressed quickly.
Taking the candle, she opened her wardrobe door and stepped inside. There was a shape of a human body draped with a sheet. It was her simulacrum. Mandy had put it on a food cart, so Ria dragged it out easily. With the cart by her bedside, Ria contemplated how to get her on the bed. She looked at the shrouded figure and shuddered. She didn't feel like touching it. She had to, though.
Gritting her teeth, she grabbed the torso of the simulacrum and heaved it onto the bed. She rolled the sheet off of it and put it into the cart, and rolled it back into the wardrobe, not looking at the unsheathed simulacrum.
Coming back, she grabbed her discarded nightgown, and headed to the bed. Looking at the simulacrum, she stifled a scream. Stuffing her fingers in her mouth, she looked fearfully at the imitation of herself.
And it was a good one. Dressed in a simple shift, there lay an exact replica of Ria. Her hair was like Ria's, her closed eyes, her fingers…except she was dead. Trembling, Ria lifted the simulacrum's legs, and slipped the nightgown on. The touch of the skin made her clench her teeth. It felt normal. Mandy had done a good job. Ria thought it was like dressing a big doll, putting the nightgown on- well, herself. It was a job she wouldn't repeat ever again, not for any amount of money. Slipping the last arm into the sleeve, she dropped the forearm she was holding like wildfire. She was trembling with fear. It was so ghastly, being near a dead person, even if it was only an illusion.
Trying not to touch the simulacrum, Ria dragged the covers over her. Shuddering, she ran out of her room, her nerves on edge. She believed if she stayed in that room a moment more she would truly scream. In the hall, she sat down, not caring if anyone would come by. She collected her wits slowly, and relaxed. When she rose, her legs still trembled slightly. She laid her palms on her thighs to stop it.
Creeping out of the castle was easy. Going through the kitchen door was the easiest way out, since no one guarded that door. Making her way out of the garden, she picked her way to Stormsong's stable.
Sure enough, the hostler on guard was snoring in the room adjacent to the stalls. Ria grinned, wondering how Ella had slipped sleeping powder into the man's drink. Or maybe she talked like the ogres. That would've worked as well.
Finding the saddle, bow, and saddlebags where Ella had said they would be, she lead Stormsong into the hall, and quickly saddled her, attaching the bags, and slinging the quiver onto her back. Stormsong stood quietly, her sweet nature not questioning what her mistress was doing. Finishing, Ria looked into her black eyes, and patted her forelock.
"I hope you've rested, Storm," she whispered. "Because you need to run like the wind tonight."
She led her out of the stable, glad that she had put stocking to muffle Stormsong's hooves. Still, the hostler did not wake. Leading her to a mounting block, she sprang onto Stormsong's back. Guiding through her through the maze of building, they came to the West Gate, a small little door leading out, which the Castle Guard had evidently not thought worthy enough to guard. Ria unlocked it, and rode away from the only home she had known.
~*~
As dawn tinged the night sky, Ria wearily led Stormsong down a forest road. They had rode at least 50 miles from Frell, she estimated, with a few rests through the night. She planned to stop soon and sleep. Stormsong was weary too. They had left through the forest, due west towards Ayortha. The forest would thin out in about 10 miles, and then it was mostly flatlands and small towns to Ayortha.
Slowing Storm, she looked around for a likely campsite. Peering over to the left, she was caught totally unprepared when five men literally dropped from the trees. Ambush! She reined in Stormsong, getting her bow out, and drawing an arrow.
"Ahh, good woman," the evident leader sneered, "We seek some things from you."
"Eat dung," Ria said tersely.
"Not to happen soon," he said, grinning. "At her, men!" The other four ran towards Storm. Stormsong, nervous already, tried to get away from the four men. They circled around, one catching her bridle. She reared, trying to get the man away. He let go quickly, but Ria, her seat already tipsy, fell off. Cursing, she notched an arrow to her bow, and aimed at one man's leg. She shot cleanly, and he limped, whimpering in pain. Storm, afraid, trampled the man that lunged for her bridle. There were three men left, including the leader. They circled around her slowly, like the lions in the menagerie around their kill.
She shot one, and he dropped quickly. She was about to shoot the leader, but she felt cold metal against her neck.
"I have you," a man sneered. Craning her neck she could see that he wasn't the leader, but the other man. He had sneaked up behind her while she was shooting the other man.
"We have you, pretty girl," the leader snarled, coming towards her. "Though you tried to put up a fight."
The man hadn't disarmed her yet, and Ria still had an arrow in her bow. She waited tensely until he was close, and then whipped the arrow to her neck.
"I still am," she said. "One move by the dagger man, and you're dead too. I'm not going down without you."
The man stood still. A look of hate stayed on his face, and he cursed.
"You…you…" he spluttered. "I'm going to kill you slowly."
"If you kill me at all," Ria retorted. "I don't feel like dying just this yet."
Ria's arms ached. A night of riding, and now this had made her tired- but she dared not show any signs of weakness. One slip, and he would have her. The dagger on her throat tickled. How long could this go on?
"You'll pay for threatening me, girly," the leader said.
"Hey, you started it," Ria said. "Who were you to think I would let you steal my things easily?"
He didn't answer, and Ria saw why. A newcomer had appeared, from where, she didn't know. He was quiet; she hadn't even heard him arrive. He wore deerskin breeches, and a rough cream-colored tunic. He held a tall staff in one hand and three daggers were stuck in his belt. Ria suspected there were more hidden.
"What's happening here? Revean, is it you I see about to be killed?" he asked, his lilting voice touched with humor.
He walked up to the standstill. His greenish-teal eyes took in the dagger and the bow quickly. He had dark brown curly hair held back from his face with a red bandana. His expressive eyebrows were delicately lifted, and a full mouth curled in a sneer towards the leader.
"Aden, do something!" Revean exclaimed. Aden's eyebrows only lifted higher.
"But why?" Aden asked oh-so-innocently.
Ria was startled. She had found an unexpected ally.
"Aden! I'll give you the money!" Revean pleaded in a strangled voice.
"Mmm-hmm," Aden murmured. He moved over to the dagger man. "You can put that down now."
The dagger man complied. Aden turned to Ria. "First, I must congratulate you, lass."
"Aden!"
Aden smiled at Revean. "A bit more courtesy to the man who holds your life in his hands, please." Revean subsided.
"How'd you get into this mess, lass?" he asked.
"I didn't," Ria said bitingly. She never liked being called lass.
"Hmm. I see," he said. "Now, put your bow down." She complied, too.
"Now, Revean," he said. "Let's go back to your camp."
"Fine," the man muttered sullenly. "What about the girly?"
"She'll come with us," Aden said gaily. "She could sightsee a little. Wouldn't hurt."
It made a strange sight when they walked into camp; a bandit, a girl leading a horse, and two other men. Ria looked around curiously. There was a campfire, and at least twenty other men sitting or doing tasks. They looked up, surprised, when they walked into the campsite.
"Now, Revean," Aden said. "Sit down."
They all sat by the fire, Ria tethering Stormsong to a post near to her. She didn't trust this group of thieves.
"Give me the money," Aden ordered. Revean sulkily got out some coins from a purse, and handed over to Aden. Aden tucked it away in a pocket. "Thank you kindly."
"Fine," Revean muttered. "Now, be on your way."
"Of course," Aden said, the smile still on your face. "If you don't mind, I'll
take the girl too."
"What?" Revean exclaimed, red-faced. "She's mine! I've half a mind to kill her!"
"Ahh. Precisely why I'm taking her," Aden said, still smiling. "Pack up, lass. We'll leave soon."
Ria stood and walked to Storm, but watched, fascinated.
"You can't do that!" Revean said furiously. Ria could practically see his temper rising and rising with Aden, who sat there politely.
"Of course I can," Aden said. He stood up and walked toward Ria and Storm.
"I call a Challenge!" Revean yelled, livid. Aden slowly turned around, grinning wider. So he wanted a Challenge in the first place, Ria thought. Well, he got it.
"I'm sorry," Aden said. "I misheard. What did you say?"
"A Challenge," Revean said pompously. "It's within my rights."
"Oh, but of course," Aden said, grinning recklessly. "But as the challenged, I name what weapon."
"Yes," Revean faltered.
The bandits had gathered around the fire, anticipating a fight. Ria looked around nervously.
"As a man with good morals," Aden swept a mocking bow. "I choose daggers."
"Whoever draws first blood gets the girl," Revean declared.
"I agree. Fight in five minutes," Aden declared. He turned to Ria, eyebrows raised. "Such an honor, lass- you're worth a Challenge."
"Drop dead," Ria muttered.
"Ah, but I might, primrose," Aden took on a sorrowful look. "As your champion, don't I deserve a kiss before going off to battle with the dark knight?" He gestured to Revean, who was preparing for the battle.
"No," Ria said flatly.
Aden sighed hugely, then took off his knapsack and layed
his staff next to it. He drew a dagger out of his belt.
"So cold, my Lady. Now I must go fight to the death for your cause. Farewell!"
With a flair for the dramatic, he kissed her hand and went to face the ready Revean. Ria turned to the fight, tense. As much as Aden annoyed her, she needed him to win over the despicable Revean. If he won, she could probably give him the slip and continue on to Ayortha. If Revean won…she shuddered. She would be killed.
-Alqualyne
