I saw my mother whispering to Aunt Areida. I still could not go. I turned
around and came face to face with a boy my age. He had white gold hair, he
was thin like me, but a little taller. On his pale face was a small
sprinkle of freckles. His eyes were a brilliant, bright green that
contrasted greatly with his hair.
"Who are you?" I asked, surprised. He smiled.
"I am Este Challrem from Astemage." He replied coolly. I was still a little annoyed from his following me without a word.
"Tell me Este, is it customary behavior in Astemage to follow other around and then scare the life out of them without notice?" I questioned sarcastically.
"Isn't it customary in Kyria to curtsy when making an acquaintance? "He replied with a smile. He was funny. I smiled back and gave him a slow curtsy. He returned with a bow.
"I am Ella. "I said.
"Of course. I followed you in order to congratulate you on angering my sister. A feat I am quite fond of, but still have trouble with. After all she is perfect." He said laughing. I laughed too.
"It was my honor, I assure you." I said. Este must have been that wench's brother. They looked nothing alike. She was sandy-blonde with blue eyes. He was whitish-gold with green. I wondered what their parents looked like. He laughed at my joke.
"My sister is quite taken with your brother. She has been rehearsing for weeks." He said matter-of-factly. Then he made a gesture that looked like vomiting. I laughed at.
"I noticed. I'm just glad I was there before she made a complete fool of herself." I added.
"I think you were too late." He laughed, then pointed to a ruffle of skirts shaking by a plant.
"Good. So tell me Este, why did you come all the way from Astemage, besides your sister's swooning?" I asked seriously.
"We are moving here. My parents were never truly married so my mother took us away to Kyria." He said.
"That's wonderful!" I said happily. "You will love it in Kyria. "
"Something to look forward to!" He said happily. I smiled. He smiled back.
"Where do you plan to move to? "
"There is a wonderful manor not far from here. Almost walking distance away." He answered.
"I believe you speak of my mother's old manor. Her father had to sell it." I added. "It is where she first learned to ride down stair rails." He smiled and laughed.
"So you too are fond of the stair rail?" He asked sarcastically.
"Of course." I said. "Especially with such a grand one as this." I said, pointing to the main stair.
"Marvelous!" He exclaimed.
"I wish you could try it." I said sadly.
"Who says I cannot?" He asked with mock surprise. He grinned mischievously, and motioned for me to follow as he headed for the stairs.
"Really Este! Don't! We have to be dignified!" I said quoting my mother. I tried to stop him by grabbing his hand, but he only got hold of mine and started yanking me to the top of the staircase.
"Lemme go Este! We can't do this!" I almost yelled. He was still playful. He let go and said,
"Come on! Who will notice?" That was the statement that pushed me to go. After all, who would notice?
"Who will go first?" I asked, now roguish as well.
"I will. That way, incase we get in trouble, I'll at least have gotten to go. You can go down it anytime." He said, hopping onto the railing.
"One...two...three!" I whispered, and gave him a push. His technique was perfect, without much flailing or even chance of falling over. When he landed, everyone was still talking. They hadn't noticed. Now it was my turn. I jumped onto the railing and looked down, Este was waiting for me. I smiled and pushed myself to start sliding. I noticed this time that my arms flailed much more, and when I landed, it was with a stumble. I caught my balance and curtsied to him. While I was still facing down, I heard applause. I looked up to see that not only was Este clapping for me, but most of the ballroom. I blushed furiously, but feeling courageous as I realized it wouldn't matter tomorrow, I curtsied again. Within a few seconds it had died down and the ballroom went back to its usual chatter.
"Did you plan that?" I asked. He smiled.
"Not at all." He replied, trying to look innocent. I returned the smile and we started walking back towards the food.
"I wish it were day time." I sighed, as the conversation was ebbing away. "I could show you my centaurs."
"Your what?!" He said exasperatedly.
"My centaur colt." I replied easily. I didn't realize then that they were rare.
"May we go see him? I'm not afraid of darkness." He pleaded.
"Oh, all right. Let me go tell my mother where I have gone." I said, "Would you like to come?"
"Oh, um...maybe not. I ought to tell my mother where I will have gone as well." He explained. Clearly he was not so brave socially. I pretended not to notice.
"Alright. Meet me by that kitchen door." I said. Perfect. Everything was going according to plan. As soon as I had finished showing Este carrot and the others, I could grab the clothes I had hidden in the barn earlier and ride off into the night towards the forest. He didn't seem to be the type that would mind or tell. We waved goodbye and turned separate directions. I looked around for my mother and found her beside my Aunt Areida, ironically looking for me. I caught her eye and she beckoned me over. As I neared her I noticed something in her hands. When I got close enough I asked her what is was. She opened her hands to reveal a tiny sapphire blue-
"Moon Dragon." She explained.
"They're loyal little creatures, and very rare. I found this one on my doorstep a few days ago. Someone wanted to get rid of it very badly. I heard you liked animals, so I decided you should have him. Besides, they're illegal in Ayorthia, but not in Kyria." Said Aunt Areida with a wink.
"He's beautiful." I said, awestruck. A million questions popped into my head. I forced myself to ask only three. "Why are the illegal in Ayorthia? What does he eat? Where do I keep him?"
"They can be dangerous if separated from their owners, as they can blow fireballs." Areida answered.
"He will eat anything but fruits and vegetables. You keep him in your pocket, or a bag. Small enclosed spaces close to you." Mother answered.
"I hear they get along excellently with centaurs." Said Aunt Areida, and I remembered Este waiting for me.
"Oh, by the way mom, may I go show Este the centaurs?"
"Este? Oh! Madame Challrem's son, of course. Take the dragon with you." She answered.
"Thank you!" I said hastily, with a curtsy to match it. I hugged her one last time, grabbed the sleeping dragon gently and stuffed him into the pocket I had forced Mandy to sew into the dress. It was roomy inside to I didn't worry about him getting squished while I ran. I hurried over to the kitchen door where Este was waiting for me by starring at the ceiling.
"What took you so long?" He asked as soon as I was in earshot. I caught my breath and pulled out the tiny dragon that was still snoozing peacefully. His jaw dropped and I smiled proudly.
"Isn't he beautiful?" I said breathlessly.
"Gorgeous. I've never even seen one before, wow." He whispered. WE were both rapturous for a few seconds as we watched his chest rise and fall slowly.
"My Aunt gave him to me. What should I call him?" I asked.
"Sapphire?" Este suggested.
"No, too girly. I have an idea! Celest!" I decided.
"Yes, Celest." He replied. I put him back into my pocket, and grabbed a napkin and started filling it with a few foods, like carrots and bread for the centaurs, and a few assorted things that wouldn't perish quickly for myself.
"Uh...for the centaurs." I tried to explain normally to Este. He nodded and I opened the kitchen door. Mandy was making march pane.
"Hi Mandy." I said easily, moving through the kitchen.
"Hello Ella. Who is your friend?" She said.
"Oh, this is Este. And this," I pulled the Moon dragon out from my pocket, "is Celest. Aunt Areida gave him to me." I said happily.
"Isn't he a little beauty!" Mandy said surprised. I put him back in my pocket.
"Were going to go see the centaurs, Mandy." Este said politely, but eagerly. I gave Mandy a hug and opened the door. I walked over to a hedge and waited for Este. He closed the door and came up to me. In what little light there was I could see his face. It looked a little worried.
"You said you weren't afraid of the dark!" I said sarcastically. I grabbed his hand playfully, it was warm, but clammy. He pulled away defiantly.
"I'm fine. Let's go." He argued and led the way bravely. I sighed and caught up beside him.
"You don't know the way." I said defiantly.
"Well then tell me, and we'll race!" He said excitedly.
"Are you kidding? I'm wearing a dress! And these shoes aren't exactly for running." I said animatedly.
"Just take off your shoes and hold your dress up, no one will notice!" Este pleaded.
"Alright fine, but I'm keeping my shoes on and you'll probably win. You go straight ahead, then turn right, and the paddock fence is there, but the stable is farther, and more in the dark, so we'll just race to the fence." I explained, pointing.
"Okay, ready...set...go!" Este yelled. I grabbed my skirt and started running. Este was right beside me, then he was ahead of me, it was back and forward and we bumped shoulders a couple times, eventually with me reaching to touch the fence not a second before he did. I leaned against it, catching my breath, and when I had gotten most of it, turning to him and smirking,
"I won."
"And you wore a dress." He joked. I laughed as much as my breath would allow and looked back towards the castle. "So now what?" He asked normally, he had caught his breath.
"Follow me." I said. It was pitch black and the only light was the castle, which seemed far in the distance. I guess that's why I didn't see them. I took two steps and then felt something clamp around me. I tried to scream, but a black clothed hand covered my mouth as soon as I got to the H in 'HELP!' I heard Este struggling behind me; there were more than one. I kicked out in every direction and hit nothing. I felt a rush of air in front of my face and something hit me over the head. All went black and I fell.
"Who are you?" I asked, surprised. He smiled.
"I am Este Challrem from Astemage." He replied coolly. I was still a little annoyed from his following me without a word.
"Tell me Este, is it customary behavior in Astemage to follow other around and then scare the life out of them without notice?" I questioned sarcastically.
"Isn't it customary in Kyria to curtsy when making an acquaintance? "He replied with a smile. He was funny. I smiled back and gave him a slow curtsy. He returned with a bow.
"I am Ella. "I said.
"Of course. I followed you in order to congratulate you on angering my sister. A feat I am quite fond of, but still have trouble with. After all she is perfect." He said laughing. I laughed too.
"It was my honor, I assure you." I said. Este must have been that wench's brother. They looked nothing alike. She was sandy-blonde with blue eyes. He was whitish-gold with green. I wondered what their parents looked like. He laughed at my joke.
"My sister is quite taken with your brother. She has been rehearsing for weeks." He said matter-of-factly. Then he made a gesture that looked like vomiting. I laughed at.
"I noticed. I'm just glad I was there before she made a complete fool of herself." I added.
"I think you were too late." He laughed, then pointed to a ruffle of skirts shaking by a plant.
"Good. So tell me Este, why did you come all the way from Astemage, besides your sister's swooning?" I asked seriously.
"We are moving here. My parents were never truly married so my mother took us away to Kyria." He said.
"That's wonderful!" I said happily. "You will love it in Kyria. "
"Something to look forward to!" He said happily. I smiled. He smiled back.
"Where do you plan to move to? "
"There is a wonderful manor not far from here. Almost walking distance away." He answered.
"I believe you speak of my mother's old manor. Her father had to sell it." I added. "It is where she first learned to ride down stair rails." He smiled and laughed.
"So you too are fond of the stair rail?" He asked sarcastically.
"Of course." I said. "Especially with such a grand one as this." I said, pointing to the main stair.
"Marvelous!" He exclaimed.
"I wish you could try it." I said sadly.
"Who says I cannot?" He asked with mock surprise. He grinned mischievously, and motioned for me to follow as he headed for the stairs.
"Really Este! Don't! We have to be dignified!" I said quoting my mother. I tried to stop him by grabbing his hand, but he only got hold of mine and started yanking me to the top of the staircase.
"Lemme go Este! We can't do this!" I almost yelled. He was still playful. He let go and said,
"Come on! Who will notice?" That was the statement that pushed me to go. After all, who would notice?
"Who will go first?" I asked, now roguish as well.
"I will. That way, incase we get in trouble, I'll at least have gotten to go. You can go down it anytime." He said, hopping onto the railing.
"One...two...three!" I whispered, and gave him a push. His technique was perfect, without much flailing or even chance of falling over. When he landed, everyone was still talking. They hadn't noticed. Now it was my turn. I jumped onto the railing and looked down, Este was waiting for me. I smiled and pushed myself to start sliding. I noticed this time that my arms flailed much more, and when I landed, it was with a stumble. I caught my balance and curtsied to him. While I was still facing down, I heard applause. I looked up to see that not only was Este clapping for me, but most of the ballroom. I blushed furiously, but feeling courageous as I realized it wouldn't matter tomorrow, I curtsied again. Within a few seconds it had died down and the ballroom went back to its usual chatter.
"Did you plan that?" I asked. He smiled.
"Not at all." He replied, trying to look innocent. I returned the smile and we started walking back towards the food.
"I wish it were day time." I sighed, as the conversation was ebbing away. "I could show you my centaurs."
"Your what?!" He said exasperatedly.
"My centaur colt." I replied easily. I didn't realize then that they were rare.
"May we go see him? I'm not afraid of darkness." He pleaded.
"Oh, all right. Let me go tell my mother where I have gone." I said, "Would you like to come?"
"Oh, um...maybe not. I ought to tell my mother where I will have gone as well." He explained. Clearly he was not so brave socially. I pretended not to notice.
"Alright. Meet me by that kitchen door." I said. Perfect. Everything was going according to plan. As soon as I had finished showing Este carrot and the others, I could grab the clothes I had hidden in the barn earlier and ride off into the night towards the forest. He didn't seem to be the type that would mind or tell. We waved goodbye and turned separate directions. I looked around for my mother and found her beside my Aunt Areida, ironically looking for me. I caught her eye and she beckoned me over. As I neared her I noticed something in her hands. When I got close enough I asked her what is was. She opened her hands to reveal a tiny sapphire blue-
"Moon Dragon." She explained.
"They're loyal little creatures, and very rare. I found this one on my doorstep a few days ago. Someone wanted to get rid of it very badly. I heard you liked animals, so I decided you should have him. Besides, they're illegal in Ayorthia, but not in Kyria." Said Aunt Areida with a wink.
"He's beautiful." I said, awestruck. A million questions popped into my head. I forced myself to ask only three. "Why are the illegal in Ayorthia? What does he eat? Where do I keep him?"
"They can be dangerous if separated from their owners, as they can blow fireballs." Areida answered.
"He will eat anything but fruits and vegetables. You keep him in your pocket, or a bag. Small enclosed spaces close to you." Mother answered.
"I hear they get along excellently with centaurs." Said Aunt Areida, and I remembered Este waiting for me.
"Oh, by the way mom, may I go show Este the centaurs?"
"Este? Oh! Madame Challrem's son, of course. Take the dragon with you." She answered.
"Thank you!" I said hastily, with a curtsy to match it. I hugged her one last time, grabbed the sleeping dragon gently and stuffed him into the pocket I had forced Mandy to sew into the dress. It was roomy inside to I didn't worry about him getting squished while I ran. I hurried over to the kitchen door where Este was waiting for me by starring at the ceiling.
"What took you so long?" He asked as soon as I was in earshot. I caught my breath and pulled out the tiny dragon that was still snoozing peacefully. His jaw dropped and I smiled proudly.
"Isn't he beautiful?" I said breathlessly.
"Gorgeous. I've never even seen one before, wow." He whispered. WE were both rapturous for a few seconds as we watched his chest rise and fall slowly.
"My Aunt gave him to me. What should I call him?" I asked.
"Sapphire?" Este suggested.
"No, too girly. I have an idea! Celest!" I decided.
"Yes, Celest." He replied. I put him back into my pocket, and grabbed a napkin and started filling it with a few foods, like carrots and bread for the centaurs, and a few assorted things that wouldn't perish quickly for myself.
"Uh...for the centaurs." I tried to explain normally to Este. He nodded and I opened the kitchen door. Mandy was making march pane.
"Hi Mandy." I said easily, moving through the kitchen.
"Hello Ella. Who is your friend?" She said.
"Oh, this is Este. And this," I pulled the Moon dragon out from my pocket, "is Celest. Aunt Areida gave him to me." I said happily.
"Isn't he a little beauty!" Mandy said surprised. I put him back in my pocket.
"Were going to go see the centaurs, Mandy." Este said politely, but eagerly. I gave Mandy a hug and opened the door. I walked over to a hedge and waited for Este. He closed the door and came up to me. In what little light there was I could see his face. It looked a little worried.
"You said you weren't afraid of the dark!" I said sarcastically. I grabbed his hand playfully, it was warm, but clammy. He pulled away defiantly.
"I'm fine. Let's go." He argued and led the way bravely. I sighed and caught up beside him.
"You don't know the way." I said defiantly.
"Well then tell me, and we'll race!" He said excitedly.
"Are you kidding? I'm wearing a dress! And these shoes aren't exactly for running." I said animatedly.
"Just take off your shoes and hold your dress up, no one will notice!" Este pleaded.
"Alright fine, but I'm keeping my shoes on and you'll probably win. You go straight ahead, then turn right, and the paddock fence is there, but the stable is farther, and more in the dark, so we'll just race to the fence." I explained, pointing.
"Okay, ready...set...go!" Este yelled. I grabbed my skirt and started running. Este was right beside me, then he was ahead of me, it was back and forward and we bumped shoulders a couple times, eventually with me reaching to touch the fence not a second before he did. I leaned against it, catching my breath, and when I had gotten most of it, turning to him and smirking,
"I won."
"And you wore a dress." He joked. I laughed as much as my breath would allow and looked back towards the castle. "So now what?" He asked normally, he had caught his breath.
"Follow me." I said. It was pitch black and the only light was the castle, which seemed far in the distance. I guess that's why I didn't see them. I took two steps and then felt something clamp around me. I tried to scream, but a black clothed hand covered my mouth as soon as I got to the H in 'HELP!' I heard Este struggling behind me; there were more than one. I kicked out in every direction and hit nothing. I felt a rush of air in front of my face and something hit me over the head. All went black and I fell.