As she descended the tower with Liliana, Sophitia considered how she would eventually approach Lord Remoth. She could simply escort Mina back to her guest quarters at the castle once they returned from their short trip into the city. They would likely run into Lord Remoth and strike up a conversation. Alternatively, she could do nothing tonight and hope for Mina to put in a good word for her to her father. That would at least make it easier to talk with him during their journey through Hyrule Ridge on the way to Hebra.
Either way, it will almost certainly go better with his daughter present.
"Do you mean to conceal your identity completely, or merely to avoid drawing attention to yourself?" Liliana asked as they crossed a castle walkway. "I ask because I don't know how I'm supposed to address you during this little outing."
Sophitia thought about it. "It would not be a terrible loss if I were recognized," she decided. "However, it would be safer to remain incognito. You may address me as 'Sophie' while we are in the city tonight." That was the name her little sister often called her. While she ordinarily preferred not to have her name shortened, she would allow it for the sake of discretion.
As they approached the gate, they saw Mina Remoth standing close to one of the guards. She appeared to be pleasantly chatting with him, although his face looked considerably strained. He was no doubt terrified of upsetting a lord's daughter in some way, especially a lord such as Toren Remoth. Luckily for the guard, Mina turned her attention to Sophitia and Liliana once she spotted them, allowing the guard to exhale a breath of relief.
"Oi! Princess! Round-ears!" she called out, waving them over to her. "Come on, let's go get wasted."
Liliana opened her mouth to speak, but Sophitia held up her hand. "Now, now, my lady," she said to Mina nervously. "Perhaps you should keep your voice down."
Mina shrugged. "Not like we're doing anything indecent. Besides, he won't tell anyone," she said, pointing her thumb over her shoulder at the guard she'd been talking to.
"I-I won't say a thing," the guard promised hurriedly.
"There, see? Nothing to worry about, Princess," Mina assured her.
Sophitia pinched the bridge of her nose. "No matter. Let us be off. Oh, and just for the sake of security, while we are in the city, please address me by the name 'Sophie,' if you please."
Mina laughed as if she found the idea ridiculous. "Okay, Sophie. Whatever you say."
The princess nodded, then put her hood up. "Open the gate," she commanded the guards. The gatekeeper complied, and the three of them stepped through.
Sophitia remained vigilant as they crossed the bridge over the moat to enter into the city. However, when they reached the other side and could see crowds of citizens walking through the bustling city streets, nobody seemed to spare them a glance.
"Alright, let's get a move on," Mina said happily, walking quickly ahead of them.
"Hm? Wait for-" Sophitia hurried after her, but she was soon knocked to the ground by a rather large man she'd bumped into.
"Pssh. Sorry," the man apologized half-heartedly, not breaking his stride.
"Careful, Sophie," Liliana said, grabbing Sophitia's arm to help her stand back up. "People in the city have places to be. They don't stop for anyone."
"I know, I know. This is not my first time in my own city," the princess reminded her retainer, wiping the dirt off of her clothes. Although, upon saying so, she began to wonder if Liliana had actually spent more time in the city than she had, despite only having lived there for the last few years.
I really don't get out of the castle enough...
"Oi! You two," Mina called back to them from several yards away. "What are you waiting for? Come on!" she said, waving them over.
"Coming!" Sophitia called back. "Well, best not to keep the lady waiting," she said to Liliana. The two of them walked briskly across the square, dodging hurried townsfolk as they did. However, Liliana walked in front of her charge now, trying to clear the way and prevent anyone else from bumping into the princess.
"I know a good tavern," Mina told them as they caught up to her. "But you wanna do anything else first? Why don't we stop by that academy of yours and you can show me what you did for fun around there?"
"You wouldn't like it," Liliana told her. "It's just a bunch of dusty old books and classrooms and children with more money than sense."
Sophitia laughed haughtily at that.
"Well, alright. Let's just check out the shops for a bit, then," Mina suggested.
"Very well."
As they followed Mina, Sophitia looked Liliana up and down, examining the way she carried herself. The princess attempted to mimic her retainer's posture, the way she walked, and the way she frequently clutched the hilt of her sword. She did all this while keeping her face obscured by her hood. It made her smile to herself.
This is kind of fun.
The three of them came to an alley lined on both sides by small merchants' shops. Most of them seemed to be two stories, likely a shop on the first floor and the proprietor's home on the second floor. Each shop had a visible sign above the door, bearing a symbol rather than any writing in order to indicate what goods could be found inside. Although the kingdom had made significant improvements to public education in the last few decades, illiteracy was still somewhat common outside of the nobility, even in the capital.
"Oooh, let's check out that alchemist's shop," Mina suggested, pointing to a sign with a picture of a cauldron on it.
Sophitia winced, knowing it would be full of dead critters and body parts taken from monsters. However, she did not wish to spoil Mina's fun, especially since currying her favor was the whole point of this outing. "Certainly," she said, smiling despite herself. "That is sure to be quite interesting."
Liliana turned and raised an eyebrow at her, perhaps sensing her lack of real enthusiasm.
Oh, shut up.
Mina skipped ahead and burst through the door. Sophitia and Liliana entered after her, and the princess quickly pressed her hand to her nose. The smell inside the shop was overwhelming. As expected, the walls were lined with jars and pots containing all manner of dead things and foul substances, which Mina quickly began perusing excitedly. At the end of the room was a counter, behind which were several cauldrons. There was no shopkeeper present, but there was a door behind the counter, so they were likely in a back room or upstairs.
"Oi, check it out," Mina said, pointing to a jar with a pickled monster suspended in brine. The monster seemed to be some sort of snake or worm-like creature. It had a bulbous head lacking any visible eyes and a mouth filled with large, pointy teeth.
"What is that horrid thing?" Sophitia asked, squinting at it. "A Rope?"
"It's an Aneru, Sophie," Liliana replied. "They're similar to Ropes, but much less common. Some of them spit rocks, or fire."
"I think it's kinda cute," Mina said, tapping her finger against the glass. "What do you think they sell it for? Can you make a potion out of it?"
Liliana shrugged. "I wouldn't know. I'm no alchemist. Perhaps you can eat it."
Sophitia winced. "Why would anyone eat a thing like that? It seems unsanitary."
"Some monsters are delicious," Mina said. "Ever had Molduga fin soup?"
The door behind the counter opened and a middle-aged Hylian man wearing mage's robes stepped into the room. When he noticed he had customers, he quickly smoothed his clothing and cleared his throat. "Good day to you, travelers! Got some spoils to sell? Or are you in need of medicine of some kind?" he asked.
Sophitia and Liliana shared a look.
He really does think we're adventurers.
The princess clutched the hilt of her rapier and smiled proudly.
"What have you got that's tasty?" Mina asked, stepping closer to the counter.
The alchemist furrowed his brow. "Well, nothing, surely. This is an alchemy lab, not a butcher shop."
"Well then what have you got that explodes?"
"Ah, splendid. I've got Bomblings in the back," the alchemist replied, pointing over his shoulder with his thumb. "No live ones, though."
"Oh. Um, I do not believe explosives will be necessary, Mina," Sophitia said nervously, stepping up beside the other girl and putting a hand on her shoulder.
"What are you hunting?" the alchemist asked. "A Talus? A Dodongo?"
"Nothin'," Mina replied. "I just wanna blow something up." The redhead flashed an impish grin.
The alchemist eyed her questioningly, but seemed to decide he didn't care. "You got rupees?"
"Yep." The Remoth girl reached into the pocket of her coat and pulled out a small money pouch. Reaching into it, she grabbed a couple of rupees and haphazardly tossed them onto the counter.
Sophitia turned to Liliana, worried about what Mina might be getting them into. Liliana merely looked disappointed by the rich girl's careless attitude towards her own rupees.
The alchemist accepted Mina's payment and went back through the door he'd entered from, only to return a moment later. Sophitia jumped back in fear at what he was carrying. The apparently dead monster was large and insect-like. Most of its body was a round, green orb the size of a human head, while its own head was tiny and bug-eyed. From its body hung four long, spindly limbs that resembled sticks, even having leaf-like appendages at the joints as if for woodland camouflage.
Mina noticed her reaction. "Don't like bugs, eh, Sophie?" she asked, baring a fang as she chuckled.
"She's never been good with bugs," Liliana answered for her. "Once, at the academy, someone spotted a small Skulltula crawling along the ceiling. Sophie screamed and ran out of the classroom. She refused to come back until the next day."
"Liliana!" Sophitia said indignantly, but Mina laughed at the story.
"Be careful with this, now," the alchemist said as he handed the dead bug monster over to the Remoth girl. "You activate it by cracking it, so don't drop it. And don't stand near it when you use it."
"Um, perhaps Liliana should carry it," Sophitia suggested, not particularly trusting Mina to be careful with an explosive.
"Nah, I got this," Mina said, turning towards her. As she did, she tripped and lunged forward. "Oops!" she shouted. Everyone else jumped in alarm, but she was merely faking it, never letting the Bombling slip from her fingers. Mina laughed her head off once everyone realized what she'd done.
"I think our business is complete," the alchemist said nervously, clearly not enjoying Mina's little joke as much as she was. "Now, would you kindly get out of my store?"
"We're terribly sorry for the trouble," Sophitia apologized politely. The three of them swiftly exited the store, with Mina giggling the whole way.
"Damn, I got you good, huh?" the redhead proclaimed once they were outside the shop.
"Hilarious," Liliana said, completely deadpan. She placed a hand on Mina's shoulder. "You joke, but you put Sophie in danger. Do that again…" As she spoke, she drew her sword halfway out of its sheath, tilting it at an angle so it dragged against the edge and made a menacing scraping sound.
"Calm yourself, Liliana," Sophitia said urgently, stepping closer to the others and looking around nervously. The street was becoming more crowded, and passersby were beginning to stare.
However, the impish girl seemed unperturbed by Liliana's latest death threat. She easily slipped out of the bodyguard's grasp, ducking and spinning as she did. "Relax, round-ears," she said, flashing her fangs. "I know what I'm doing. I just wanted to set off some fireworks." Without warning, she held the Bombling by the legs and swung it at the ground.
"Don't!" Sophitia and Liliana shouted in unison, but it was too late. The bomb bug's exoskeleton cracked upon collision with the pavement. It instantly began emitting a hissing sound, as if the wick of a cannon had been lit. Liliana shoved Sophitia back and stood between her and Mina. Sophitia reacted quickly and erected a magic barrier around the two of them.
Mina simply laughed, spun the Bombling around a few times, then threw it into the air as hard as she could, directly upwards. There was a brief pause, but then, the bug exploded in midair, producing a much smaller explosion than the princess had been expecting. However, it was still considerably loud, and pieces of the dead bug monster went flying in all directions. Some people nearby reacted with ooh's and ah's, while others screamed and ran.
"You bloody idiot!" Liliana scolded the impish girl.
"What? I told you I-" Glancing past the other girls, Mina seemed to notice something. "Whoops. Here come the guards. Time to go." Without finishing her defense of her actions, she turned around and began running in the opposite direction.
Sophitia looked over her shoulder, and sure enough, a pair of city guards wearing armor and wielding spears were coming toward them.
Oh no.
Now more than ever, the princess wished to keep her identity concealed.
Getting caught partaking in such childish destructive revelry… Father and Sister will never let me hear the end of it!
Not only that, it would ruin her public image if word got out. "Let's go," she said to Liliana, then took off in a sprint the way Mina had gone. Together, they dodged and weaved their way through the crowds, trying their best not to ram into anybody.
After chasing Mina down several streets, Sophitia and Liliana followed her into an alley, only to see her slip in through the side door of a tavern.
"We seem to have lost the guards," Liliana pointed out, seeing nothing behind them.
"That's a relief," the princess replied. "I was not looking forward to explaining that to my elder sister."
"It would make quite the story, though," Liliana said, holding the door open for her charge. "I bet Lancel would approve."
"Shh." Sophitia did not wish for her bodyguard to say her sibling's name out loud, just in case anyone overheard. "This is probably the place Mina said she wanted to go for drinks," she said as she stepped inside. "It would be best if we were to simply oblige her request and then leave as soon as possible."
"As you say, Sophie."
Luckily, the tavern did not appear nearly as seedy as Sophitia had imagined. It was certainly lacking in cleanliness when compared to the dining hall at Hyrule Castle, but it could've been a lot worse. All around the room were people eating, drinking, and even singing. Most of the tavern patrons were Hylians, but Sophitia noticed a few with round ears. Mina was already seated at an empty table, trying to get the attention of one of the barmaids.
"Hurry it up, will ya? I need ale over here." The redhead pulled out her money pouch and tossed some rupees onto the table, which seemed to do the trick.
A round-eared girl who'd been carrying a tray of mugs to another table changed course, walking over to Mina instead. However, she hesitated when she reached her, looking her up and down. "How old are you, young lady?" the woman asked.
"What's it matter? I'm rich," she said, gesturing to the scattered rupees.
The barmaid put a hand on her waist and looked down at her sternly.
"Oh, bloody hell. I'm seventeen, okay? What is this, a temple?"
The round-eared girl made a face, but she seemed satisfied and placed a mug of ale on the table.
Sophitia made her way over to the Remoth girl and took a seat beside her. Liliana sat down on the princess's other side.
"Are your friends ladies as well?" the barmaid asked.
"We're sixteen," Liliana replied, informing her that they had only just reached what Hyrule considered to be the age of adulthood.
The woman regarded her for a moment, then turned to Sophitia. "Is that right? Then why's this one hiding her face?"
Sophitia looked up at her from under her hood. "I'm not," she lied.
"Not a lady?".
"Not hiding my face," Sophitia corrected her. For once hoping she wouldn't be recognized, the princess grabbed her hood and pulled it down, letting the waitress have a look at her. She stared at her for a little too long, which made the princess nervous. However, she eventually shrugged and placed two more mugs of ale on the table.
I guess being less famous than my siblings has its benefits...
"Will you be wanting anything to eat?" the woman asked.
"No, thank you," Sophitia responded, quickly pulling her hood back up. If they were to have a meal, it would mean staying there for longer than they needed to.
The woman nodded and left.
"One o' yours?" Mina asked Liliana, pointing to the round-eared woman as she walked away.
Liliana shook her head. "No. I'm from Ordona. Her accent's Horonian."
"Really?" Mina asked in surprise. "Think she came here all the way from Holodrum just to work in a tavern?"
"You'd be surprised," Liliana replied, taking a swig of her ale. "Might not be from across the sea, though. There's lots of Horonians and Lynnaeans in Lanayru now."
Mina laughed. "Lynnaeans in Lanayru," she repeated, apparently amused by the way that sounded. She then raised her mug and gulped down almost half of it in one go. "Ahh!" she exhaled, slamming the mug back down onto the table. "Well, what are you waiting for? Drink up!" She seemed to notice Sophitia hadn't touched hers yet.
The princess stared down into her cup, having flashbacks to when she was younger.
Liliana held up her mug. "Don't worry. It's not that strong," she assured the princess. "Now come on, why not join in?" The look she gave to Sophitia hinted at another meaning as well.
We're here to befriend Mina, aren't we? Just do it to make her happy.
Sophitia smiled. "Very well," she relented, raising her cup to meet her bodyguard's.
"Yeah!" Mina shouted, joining in by slamming her mug into theirs. Together, all three of them took a drink.
Sophitia took one gulp before putting her mug down and coughing.
"Whoa! Easy there, Sophie."
"Do not be concerned," Sophitia said in between coughs. "The taste is simply dreadful."
Liliana shrugged. "I suppose I've had better," she said before taking another sip. Mina seemed satisfied with Sophitia's participation and continued to gulp down her own drink, while the princess continued to slowly nurse hers.
Now that we're here, I might as well try to speak with her.
"So, Mina," the princess began. "Your mother is sister to Dame Jeanne Felltom." Although the noise from the other tavern patrons was quite loud, she still kept her voice down for fear of the recognizable knight's name being overheard.
"Mhmm," Mina replied with a nod, wiping her mouth with the sleeve of her overcoat. "That she is."
"May I ask why she is not visiting with you and your father?" Sophitia knew there could be any number of reasons behind the circumstances, many of which would cause Mina to not want to talk about it, so she wanted to be delicate if at all possible.
"She's traveling. Probably doing research or something."
"Really?" The princess did not picture Mina as coming from a scholarly background.
"Research on what?" Liliana asked, joining in on the conversation.
"Monsters." The redhead grinned wide, baring her impish fangs, as if making a joke about her own monster-like appearance.
"Ah, like Grand Alchemist Naldor," Sophitia said. "Do the two of them collaborate?"
"Yeah, sometimes," Mina said with a shrug. "The Royal Lab is right by Midoro, so I've been there a couple times."
"I see." Sophitia chanced another gulp of her drink, wincing at the taste. "I must say, I was unaware Lord Remoth was married." The princess was still not sure if Mina's father truly was married, but the way the other girl responded to her statement would tell her one way or the other.
"He isn't," the Remoth girl replied. With a smirk, she leaned in closer to the princess. "What's the matter? Too polite to ask if I'm a bastard?"
Sophitia spat a mouthful of ale back into her mug. "M-My word! That was certainly not my-"
The impish girl laughed. "Relax, Sophie," she said, clapping her on the back. "I'm his only child, anyway. So all his stuff's still going to me when he dies." Sophitia opened her eyes wide at that remark. Mina laughed again, then shifted her attention to Liliana. "What about you, round-ears? We've both got an obscene inheritance waiting for us," she said, gesturing between herself and the princess. "You in line for anything back home?"
Liliana finished a few more gulps of her drink before answering. "I am not," she said plainly. "My father's a fisherman. He'll probably give the boat to my brother."
Mina paused for a moment while she processed that, then burst into laughter. "And yet here you are, sitting next to… her." She had likely planned to say 'the princess,' but instead she simply gestured to Sophitia. "That's impressive, let me tell ya."
"She is to be a knight one day," Sophitia added.
"Yes. All I need is to give years of service to my lady and to carry out a heroic deed." Liliana spoke in a monotone voice as she often did when she was being facetious. "Perhaps my lady will allow me to slay a Skulltula for her."
"Oh, hush," Sophitia said. "Mina, might you know what your aunt's heroic deed was?" she asked, curious as to how Dame Jeanne had earned her knighthood. "I know what many of the other knights of the Royal Guard were knighted for, but I have not heard her story."
"The way she tells it, someone tried to kill your mother, but Jeanne saved her," Mina replied.
"Truly?" Sophitia was surprised. Her mother had died ten years ago giving birth to Seraphina, so the assassination attempt in question had to have occurred even further in the past. Sophitia would've been at most six years old. "I suppose that is partly why she is called 'The Crimson Angel.' I am honored to have my younger sister in her care."
"Mhmm." Mina gulped down the rest of her ale and slammed the mug down onto the table once again. "Gimme another!" she shouted in the vague direction of the barmaid. "Something stronger!"
"Oh, pipe down! I'll be with you in a moment," the Horonian woman shouted back.
The Remoth girl laughed. "Speaking of heroic deeds," she said. "What about the other royal bodyguards? What did they do?"
"Ah, well, the tale of Sir Anselm of House Arcad is quite interesting," Sophitia began. "He was knighted for his role in a conflict several decades ago. A thousand or so knights and soldiers from the Woodlands had gone unpaid for an extended period of time. When they complained, their lords dismissed them from service. But rather than rebelling against their former lords, they placed the blame on the Sage of Light, as they believed it was the tithe that had stolen their wages. So, the abandoned knights and soldiers besieged the east side of this city, targeting Hyrule Cathedral. Sir Anselm is said to have single handedly defeated twenty knights in that battle. He became a knight in service to the sage for a time. That is why they call him 'Hasrah's Hand,' as Hasrah was the Sage of Light in those days."
Mina laughed, as if the story was hilarious. "So you can become a knight by killing knights?" she asked, turning to Liliana. "Well, there's an idea. Have you tried giving that a shot?"
"Believe me, I've thought about it," the round-eared girl replied.
The barmaid reappeared beside the table, placing a fresh mug in front of Mina and retrieving her empty one. "There. Don't shout next time, or you'll be getting nothing." Liliana finished the last of her drink as well and handed her the empty cup. "Will you be wanting anything else, young lady?"
"Bring me what she's got," Liliana replied, tilting her head toward Mina.
The barmaid nodded. "And you, hooded girl?" she asked Sophitia.
"Oh, no. I haven't finished this one yet."
"Bring her one, too!" Mina declared, raising her mug.
"Let her order for herself, you insolent little girl!"
The barmaid's retorts worried Sophitia.
She must not know she's talking to a highborn lady.
Luckily, Mina took it in stride, laughing it off as she held up her hands in surrender.
How this girl is the daughter of the Lord of Spikes, I'll never know.
"How's about I just top this one off for you, then?" the barmaid suggested, taking Sophitia's mug as well.
"Alright," the princess acquiesced, even though she really did not want anymore. The other girls were handling it well, but she could feel her face flushing.
"So, what about that guy who looks like a Darknut? The one they call 'The Wall,'" Mina asked.
Sophitia winced. She knew the story of Sir Onnick Omada's heroic deed as well, but it was not exactly a pleasant tale.
Liliana seemed to notice, so she took it upon herself to tell it for her. "'The Wall' is a nickname from his pit fighting days. He used to be a gladiator at the Coliseum," she said. "The way I heard it, he walked in on some of his fellow pit fighters assaulting a noble's daughter. He was outnumbered three to one, but he managed to beat them all to death with his bare hands."
"By Din," Mina exclaimed, appearing somewhat shocked for once. "Wish I could've seen him fight. I've been to the Coliseum a few times. They've got some choice specimens these days, but none like him."
The waitress returned with fresh mugs for Liliana and Sophitia. "Here you are. Take it easy on this stuff, now."
"We'll be careful," Liliana assured her before she left.
"So how about the Sheikah lady who guards the Crown Princess?" Mina asked, continuing on to the last of the royal siblings' retainers.
"Impa Ayako is not actually a knight," Sophitia replied. "She is a samurai. I suppose it is something like a Sheikah knight, but I do not believe the title has the same prerequisites. Her family has always been in service to the Royal Family, dating back to before the Kingdom of Hyrule was established."
As she spoke, the princess had a thought. Perhaps it was because they were discussing bodyguards, but she began to wonder which of the tavern patrons were agents of the Grand Watcher in disguise. She hadn't thought to check if she was being tailed before, but she doubted wearing a hood had prevented them from noticing her when she left through the castle gate. So, she scanned the room, trying to determine who her watchers might be.
Is it him? No, too drunk… Her? No, she's drawing too much attention to herself… What about them? No, they seem a bit young…
She knew they would be Sheikah, but they often used illusory magic to appear Hylian in order to more easily blend in with crowds.
"Anyone caught your eye?" Mina asked.
"Hmm?" The princess turned her attention to the Remoth girl, who had a very smug look on her face. "I beg your pardon?"
"I saw you checking those guys out," she said, nodding her head towards a table full of young men who seemed to be novice adventurers. "There's enough for each of us. Which one d'you fancy? I'll let you get first dibs."
Sophitia was shocked. "By Nayru! I would never-" The princess blushed, suddenly very flustered. She lowered her voice and leaned in closer. "Are you mad? We're highborn, for Hylia's sake. Have you no decency?"
Mina chuckled. "What's wrong? Worried about making a little bastard of your own?"
Sophitia furrowed her brow. "Well, yes, actually. Among a million other things."
"I'm going to have to object as well," Liliana joined in. "Part of being her bodyguard means guarding her from boneheaded decisions. You don't need to be highborn to know not to lay with random strangers in a tavern."
Mina scoffed. "And here I thought you were the fun one, Lili." Raising her mug to her mouth once more, she tilted her head back and chugged the remainder of her drink. "Ahh," she said, sounding refreshed. "Alright, then. If we're not having any of that, let's head someplace else. The game houses should be opening up right about now."
"You want to gamble?" The princess was once again in awe of the other highborn girl's audacity.
Is she just going down a checklist of vices?
However, Liliana seemed to like that idea. "That's more like it," she said. As she stood up, she put her hand on her charge's shoulder and whispered into her ear. "It's better than staying here."
The princess tilted her head.
Good point.
"Very well." Sophitia stood up, stumbling a bit. "Oh dear."
Liliana caught her. "Easy, now, Sophie."
"I'm fine, I assure you," she lied. Mina laughed at her, but she ignored it.
Before they left, Sophitia placed a handful of rupees onto the table, unclear whether she was paying for her share or leaving a tip, but figuring it was the right thing to do either way.
The three of them left the way they'd come in, exiting the tavern back into the alley. It was somewhat dark out, perhaps just past sundown, but it was not so bad that they could not see. Sophitia's sense of balance had not been too greatly affected by the relatively small amount of ale she'd had, but she noticed Mina and even Liliana seemed a bit off as well.
At least I'm not the only one.
"Follow me," Mina declared. "I know a good place."
As she and Liliana followed the Remoth girl, Sophitia tried to reflect on whether or not this was going well. She hadn't managed to discuss Mina's father with her at all, but she'd learned a bit more about Mina herself. Even if gaining her father's trust was the end goal, befriending Mina was the current objective. Seeing as though the impish girl continued to invite them along with her, that seemed to be a sign that things were going well enough.
"Are you sure this is the best route?" Liliana questioned as Mina led them down some more alleyways.
"Why not? It's quicker than the main streets," she replied, kicking a wooden bucket and some fallen boards out of her way.
"I'm only saying, this seems a little…" The word she was looking for was probably dangerous, but she did not need to finish her sentence. As they rounded the corner, they stopped in their tracks, finding themselves in the presence of a very sketchy looking group of people.
Seven or eight men turned to look at them. All of them had been standing or sitting around in an open square behind a group of buildings. Judging by their leather armor and the weapons they carried, they were probably mercenaries or adventurers, but they made Sophitia think of bandits. A couple of them were passing a pipe around and exhaling smoke.
"Who the fuck are you?" one of them asked, a bald man with a small scar on his cheek.
"No one," Liliana answered quickly. "Our mistake."
"You got weapons," another man pointed out, climbing to his feet while picking up his own weapon, a heavy-looking claymore. "You lot on a job?"
"No, just out lookin' for some fun," Mina said, stepping forward with a fiendish grin on her face.
Bloody fool!
"No, no, no," Sophitia interrupted, grabbing Mina by the shoulders to prevent her from approaching them. "No fun. Just… leaving."
The three of them walked backwards, attempting to leave. Sophitia looked over her shoulder and noticed one of the men had somehow gotten behind them, either by slipping past them or having appeared from around the corner. Liliana gripped the hilt of her sword, so Sophitia did the same.
"Those rupee purses look awfully heavy," a man with an axe said, nodding to the bags Sophitia and Mina had on them. "Looks like you've already gotten paid, eh?"
The situation was getting worse. With her mind slightly muddled, Sophitia tried to think.
They have the advantages of numbers, size, and sobriety. All we have is my magic and Liliana's skill, and perhaps some ability of Mina's.
Fighting was not an option. They had to run. Holding out her hand toward the man blocking their retreat, Sophitia called upon her magic. Rather than forming a crystalline barrier around herself, this time she made a rectangular prismatic wall, then shoved it forward, knocking the man onto the ground. "Go!" she shouted. Her wall disappeared, and the three of them leapt over the fallen man, running past him back down the alley.
"You bitch!" someone shouted from behind them.
"After them!"
Turning around for a moment, Sophitia quickly erected another wall, blocking their pursuers. "Keep going!" she said to Liliana and Mina. "It won't hold for long!" As they ran, she could hear shouting and cursing as the men hammered against the barrier.
"Why are we running?" Mina asked, suddenly holding a dagger in each hand. "We can take 'em."
"Spoken like someone who's never been in a fight," Liliana replied. She had not yet drawn her sword, but her hand was never far from it.
"I've been in plenty of fights," Mina bragged, but Liliana did not continue the argument.
As they rounded the corner down another alleyway, Sophitia had a troubling thought.
Where the hell are my watchers?!
No one was stepping in to help her yet, and she hadn't been able to spot any incognito guards following her all day. Was it possible that they truly had not noticed her stepping outside the castle simply because she was wearing a hood?
"Fuck," Liliana cursed as they came to a dead end. "Back this way." The three of them doubled back the way they came. Down one alley, they saw the bandits running towards them, having broken through Sophitia's barrier already. The princess raised her hand in their direction and constructed a new barrier, but she could tell by its transparency that it wouldn't have much structural integrity. The fear was getting to her, and she was unable to focus on her spellcraft.
"Keep going!" Sophitia shouted, running between more buildings. A moment later, she heard her barrier shatter.
"They're faster than us," Mina reasoned. "If we can take out two each, we should be able to-"
"No!" Liliana cut her off. "It's too dangerous."
"You're her bodyguard! Guard her body!" the other girl insisted.
After arriving at another dead end, Liliana groaned in frustration. They then had to retrace their steps, and caught a glimpse of their pursuers again before slipping down another path. Sophitia was beginning to feel fatigued. She was by no means out of shape, but this was much more running than she was used to. However, hope returned to her when they could see an open street at the end of the alley. "Come on!" she shouted.
Her optimism was deflated when four men appeared around the corner, blocking off their escape.
Dammit! They must've split up.
Sophitia, Liliana, and Mina stopped in their tracks. They tried to turn around, but four more of the men who had been pursuing them were now caught up, blocking them from the other direction.
We're trapped.
The princess slammed her hands together, conjuring a crystalline barrier around her and her friends. The bandits began slowly closing in on them, weapons drawn.
"It's no use, mage," one of the bandits called out to her. "We broke through your barriers before, and we can do it again."
"We want your rupees, not your lives. We'll let you go if you toss us your money pouches," another said.
"And how 'bout your clothes while we're at it, eh?" a third added. "The redhead's look expensive."
"Don't lower the barrier, Princess," Liliana urged her quietly, drawing her sword.
"Yeah. You saw how they were looking at us. They're not planning on letting us go." Mina raised her daggers. "If you put up another barrier to block the ones behind us, we can fight our way through these four and get out onto the street."
Sophitia realized the Remoth girl was right. They were cornered now, and there was nothing left to do but fight. She took a moment to breathe deeply, calming herself enough to focus properly. Then, she raised another barrier behind them, making it as strong as she could. "Ready?" she asked, drawing her glittering gold rapier.
"Ready," her retainer confirmed.
Sophitia nodded and dispelled the crystal around them. But, before either party could charge, they heard the sound of heavy, clanking footsteps. The princess and her companions took a step back in fear. A giant of a man appeared behind the bandits, blocking the way to the street. The man was clad from head to toe in heavy armor, including a great horned helmet.
Sir Onnick?!
The princess never thought she'd be so glad to see him. The knight stopped and looked down at the bandits through the slits in his helmet. Three of the bandits turned around. Upon noticing his intimidating presence, they immediately backed away in fear. The fourth one looked confused, but before he had a chance to turn around, Sir Onnick placed an armored hand on the side of his head and slammed him into the wall. He did it almost as casually as one might swat a fly, but the force of it was enough to smash the bandit's skull. His body fell to the ground, leaving a bloody spattering on the wall.
"Fucking hell!" one of the bandits cried.
Mina took advantage of everyone's stunned surprise to run up and stab one of the bandits in the back with one of her daggers, then reach around and slit his throat with the second one. His friend noticed and moved to swing his axe at her, but Liliana stepped in to block the blow with her sword. The force of the blow was strong enough to overpower her, but she managed to deflect the axe enough for it to miss. The bandit then raised his axe once more, but Liliana was quicker. She stepped to the side and thrust her blade through his neck.
During the fighting, Sophitia stayed back at a safe distance, opting instead to focus on maintaining her barrier. The bandits on the other side had begun trying to break through it.
The last remaining bandit on their side of the wall went for Sir Onnick. He lifted his claymore and swung it downwards. The blade collided against the knight's armor, but did not seem to cause him any harm. Sir Onnick reached behind his back and unsheathed his greatsword.
"No! No, wait! Mercy!" the man cried, dropping his weapon and taking a step back before falling to his knees.
It was unclear whether or not Sir Onnick intended to spare the man, but before he could swing his weapon, several more guards streamed in from either side of him. Two of the guards grabbed the bandit and shoved him to the ground.
"Secure the princess and Lord Remoth's daughter," their captain ordered.
"Oh, thank Hylia!" Sophitia said, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Run!" one of the bandits behind her shouted. The four of them turned to escape, but before they could make it very far, a second barrier appeared to block their way, this one a different color than Sophitia's.
"What?" the princess said aloud in confusion.
As the guards came to collect her, she saw her brother, Percival, step out from behind his bodyguard. He was holding his garish War and Peace sword in one hand while raising the other hand to cast his spell. He curled his raised hand into a fist and pulled his arm inwards, causing his barrier to move as well. The bandits screamed as they were forced back into Sophitia's wall, becoming trapped between the two, unable to move.
"Percival!" Sophitia shouted, a bright smile spreading across her face. "Thank you, Brother!"
He glanced at her and nodded, then surveyed the scene, noting the three dead bodies and the man in the guards' custody. "Take the rest of them alive," he ordered his guards. "I'll have three of them hanged tomorrow, as a warning of what happens to men who try to touch my sister."
"Yes, my prince," the captain said, gesturing to his guards to remove the bandit on the ground.
"I'll let Lord Remoth do as he pleases with the other two," Percival went on. "I'm sure he'll want to set a similar example regarding his daughter."
Mina turned to the terrified men trapped between the barriers. She bared her fangs and glared at them up close, smiling the most sadistic grin Sophitia had ever seen. "Enjoy what time you have left with all five of your extremities," she taunted.
The princess was somewhat disturbed.
Perhaps she truly is her father's daughter.
"Please, my lord," the bandit called as he was dragged past him. "We didn't know she was the princess."
"I fail to see why I should care," the prince said calmly. Then he turned to the girls. "Come with me."
Escorted by her brother's guards, Sophitia and her companions were led out of the alleyway. Further down the street, more guards were waiting with horses and a carriage.
"Get these two on horses," Percival ordered, gesturing to Mina and Liliana. "Sister, I would speak with you in private."
Sophitia made eye contact with Liliana. Ordinarily, the princess would prefer to have her bodyguard with her in the carriage, so she considered protesting. However, since she was expecting her brother to scold her, she decided it would be less humiliating without her friend present. So, she pulled down her hood and gave Liliana a nod to let her know it was alright, then followed her brother into the back of the carriage.
"I would once again like to express my deepest gratitude, Brother," the princess said once the doors were shut and the carriage began to move. "I feared the worst until you and Sir Onnick arrived."
"It was stupid of you to leave the castle without a proper escort," Percival stated plainly. He had not sheathed his double-enchanted sword, and he was letting it rest with the tip planted in the floor of the carriage, its blade pulsing with a gold and red glow that matched his armor.
She'd known it was coming, but Sophitia's cheeks still burned with shame as he said it. "Yes. I realize that."
"What were you doing?" her brother asked, but he did not sound angry. "Were you attempting something that required secrecy?"
"Well, yes. In a way, I suppose," the princess admitted.
Her brother nodded understandingly. "That is not unwise, by itself," he said. "Lancel's spies are likely everywhere, including in your own guard."
Sophitia furrowed her brow, suddenly confused. "Lancel?" she asked. "What does he have to do with this?"
Percival narrowed his eyes. "Was he not who you sought to evade?"
Sophitia shook her head.
"You really are the stupid one," her brother went on.
The princess glared at him. "I was attempting a delicate political maneuver," she said, feeling the need to defend herself against her elder brother's insults. "I wish to befriend Lord Remoth. In order to do that, I thought to befriend his daughter first. Doing so necessitated discretion."
"And now you're telling me all your plans," Percival replied. "As I said - stupid."
"What do you want, Percival?" Sophitia asked. "How did you even know where I was? Perhaps it is you I should be evading." The princess almost never spoke this way, but she was less worried about her image when only her brother was around to see her lose her composure. Percival always knew just how to get under her skin, anyway.
"You may not have been alive to say that had I not intervened here tonight," Percival pointed out. "But, to answer your question, I was hoping to speak with you somewhere Lancel's ears could not reach. As it happened, you were already outside the castle, so I sent a scout to find you. Last he saw you, you were entering a tavern. Then, I felt your magic nearby, and here we are. Is that where you do your 'political maneuvers' these days, Sister? Peasant watering holes?"
Sophitia wanted to scream, but instead merely let out a frustrated sigh. "And what, pray tell, requires so much secrecy from our dear brother Lancel?"
"I wished to give you a friendly warning," Percival said. "Do not trust him."
Sophitia scoffed. "Forgive me saying, but that is quite rich coming from you, Brother."
"You know as well as I do that this is all a mere game to him," the prince went on. "He wants to win. That is all he ever wants. You will be closest to him, so he will seek to undermine you first."
The princess considered her brother's words. She knew there was some truth to them, and he did not appear to be lying. "How?" she asked.
"Ask yourself, why were there no watchers protecting you tonight?" Percival suggested. "I assume you did not request them to leave you alone, correct?"
Sophitia's eyes opened wide when she realized what he was implying. "No." She shook her head firmly. "He should have no sway over the Grand Watcher or his agents. Besides, he would never endanger me in such a way."
Would he?
Percival shrugged. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. It is also possible that he has faith enough in that round-eared girl to protect you, or in your own defensive magic skills. He would not need you dead to be out of his game, after all. Merely wounded, or perhaps too scared to leave the castle, would suffice for his purposes."
"I realize you think me stupid, Brother," the princess said. "But if I am to suspect someone is to blame for the watchers' negligence, I see no more reason to suspect Lancel than I have to suspect you."
The corner of the prince's mouth curled up as he let out a single chuckle. "Very good, Sister. Perhaps you're not completely lacking for wits after all." The carriage shook as it rode over a bump, causing Percival to grab his seat for balance. He looked over his shoulder angrily, as if he could glare at the driver through the wooden wall of his carriage. "Mongrels," he muttered under his breath. Then he sighed and returned his attention to his sister. "As I've said, it is wise of you to mistrust me. All I ask is that you exercise the same caution with our brother."
Sophitia studied Percival's face. Like her elder sister, Percival could be difficult to read at times. However, despite his insults, he appeared to be attempting to offer genuine advice. "Very well, Brother," she said, nodding courteously. "I shall try."
"Good," he said plainly. He glanced to the side for a moment, like he was thinking about someone outside the carriage. "Did any of them harm you?" he asked after a moment.
"What?" Sophitia asked, before realizing he was talking about the men who'd attacked them in the alley. "No," she said quickly. "We ran, and then you arrived before the violence started."
The prince nodded. "Good," he said again. "Nevertheless, I will still have those three hanged for trying."
If not for the morbidity of the situation, the princess could have laughed.
Is this how he chooses to show kindness?
The rest of the ride back to the castle was mostly silent. When the carriage eventually came to a stop, it was Liliana who opened the door for them.
"Remember what I told you," Percival reminded his sister as she moved to get out.
"I will, Brother," the princess replied, taking her bodyguard's hand as she climbed down the step attached below the carriage door. Once she was outside, she was greeted by the sudden appearance of Mina laying an arm across her shoulders.
"Whoo! That was fun, huh?" she said, evidently unphased by the fact that she had just slit a man's throat not too long ago. "Let's do it again sometime, eh, Sophie?"
"...Yes, I would like that," Sophitia said, unsure how to react.
At least the mission was an apparent success.
After the prince climbed out of the carriage, Sir Onnick came over and stood by his side. "My guards will take the prisoners to the dungeon," Percival said to the three of them, then he directed his attention to the Remoth girl. "I'll have someone inform your father of what has transpired."
"Sure, sure," Mina said, looking him up and down appraisingly. "Thanks again for saving us, my prince," she said with a grin. Sophitia gave an unamused look to Liliana, while the round-eared girl rolled her eyes. Percival did not seem to notice anything. He simply nodded, then turned to walk away, gesturing for his giant bodyguard to follow him.
Sophitia exhaled. "Well, this has all been very… eventful. But, I would like to change out of these clothes now." As she spoke, she glanced down at the bits of blood splattered across her outfit. Liliana's and Mina's clothes were even worse, having been up close to the men they'd killed. "Liliana and I will be returning to my quarters now. So, I bid you goodnight, my lady," she said to Mina, speaking as courteously as she could given her mood.
"Alright, then. See you later, Princess." Mina headed off the same way Percival had gone, and the princess hoped she did not plan to follow her brother anywhere.
Sophitia and Liliana walked together mostly in silence until they arrived at the princess's tower. Her retainer was the first to speak. "Are you alright, Princess?"
"Fear not," she said. "I was not harmed. It was a frightening encounter, to say the least, but I do not plan to dwell on it."
For a moment, the only sound was their footsteps as they ascended the tower up to her room.
"...I'm sorry you had to kill for me," Sophitia said quietly, fearing the incident may have been weighing on her bodyguard's conscience.
"That is my job, Princess," Liliana assured her. "I would kill a thousand if it meant protecting you."
Sophitia nodded, feeling a swell of pride at her friend's expression of loyalty. "I know you would."
