Chapter Three: Thanks for Nothing

"Maria?" Uchi asked, questioningly. "Why does that sound familiar?"
"It's because she's the princess of this country, Uchi." Daniel sounded annoyed.
"Oh… well I was never really great with current events." Uchi said. "Thanks for rescuing us, though. I'm Uchi and this is Dan."

Maria Smiled
"No problem." She said happily. She took a good look at them. "Er… you guys aren't from around here, are you?"
"No, my lady," Dan started. "We've come from Radgeria to speak with the king, or… your father."
Maria looked embarrassed. She shouldered her staff. "Don't call me "my lady", please." She said. "But if you want to talk to my father, I can lead you to him."
"That would be great." said Dan, smiling.
They walked into town, people popping in and out of their hut windows to stare at the newcomers. They received some very odd looks indeed.
"What do you think they're staring at?" Dan asked, perplexed.
"Do you even have to ask?" replied Uchi, as she whipped her long hair over her shoulder.

They continued following Maria until they reached a town center. Here the roads were paved and the houses looked more official. At the center, there stood a huge, beautiful building. It shone with a deep, blue color as the sun reflected off of it. Dan stared at it, gawking.

"It's made out of blue sand glass." said Maria. The four of them admired it before heading in.

The interior was as blue as the outside. It was cool, and a wave of refreshment hit the travelers as soon as they entered. Maria led them up a flight of stairs, and they reached a stone door that was at least twenty feet long. She tapped it with her staff, and they creaked open. Inside, there was a long hallway lined with paintings of people who were probably past kings and queens. At the end of the hallway there was an archway, with two guards posted at the front. Their spears crossed in the archway, but when they saw Maria they made way for her. The guards eyed Uchi and Dan suspiciously.

The king sat on a huge, silver throne, in deep conversation with a couple of his attendants. When he saw Maria he waved them off and welcomed them.
"Well hello there!" he said cheerfully. "Ah, who are these lovely youngsters, Maria? Friends of yours?"
"Er… no, father, these are travelers from Radgeria." Maria responded.

"Oh, Radgeria!" exclaimed the king. "And to what do I owe this great pleasure?"
Dan stepped up, feeling nervous but determined to keep his voice straight.
"Sir, your highness, I have come to ask for your help." He paused for a moment, then moved on. "I was wondering if your highness would aide me and my companion in traveling to see the high king… to ask him for a conference."
The silence that followed was eerie, and long. The king's cheerful face melted away into a cold, stony glare, and he fiddled with the ornaments on his throne before he responded.
"I am sorry, but no. We cannot." The king stated firmly.

Dan looked shocked. "Oh… er… may I ask his majesty wh–"

"Because it is his majesty's wish." The king stated. "Now, please, I cannot have you in my realm any longer."
"Father!" Maria exclaimed. "Father, how can you push these people away? They are like our people, tired of living in fear, but they're also different. They actually have the courage to do something."
"We cannot aide these people because aiding them would be branding this country as a traitor. We cannot risk a war with the high king." The king stated.
"Father, if you will not help them, then I'll go!" Maria shouted.

"You will not!" The king was angry now. "You will go to your quarters and wait for me to call you down and talk to you! And these two will be going on their way."
With this, Maria stormed out of the room in tears, and Dan and Uchi were escorted out of the palace and back to the shore.

"Wow, that was a complete failure." Said Uchi.
"Of course it was." Said Dan, miserably. "I'm afraid many people are gonna react like that… But we can't give up this early. We move onto Dessara."
"The desert country? More heat?" Uchi groaned.
Dan poured the liquid boat back into the ocean and they both got on. They set sail to their next destination, feeling downhearted.