Chapter One
I woke up, dismissing the feeling I had about today. I put on black leggings and an autumn dress (the one above). I threw on my boots and sheathed my dagger. I went to the bathroom and did my hair in braids (above).
There was a pounding on the door. "OPEN UP!"
I opened the door cautiously.
It was thrown open, slamming me against the wall.
I was pulled up by Julia.
"Where. I—"
"Stop!" Another person shouted. "As King Jaron of Carthya, I command you, stop!"
The newcomer ran into the room, looking downright murderous.
"Ah... the boy king. What can a child do?"
I whipped out my dagger, pointing it at his throat. "As it turns out, many things."
The intruder stumbled back, hands held in the air in the universal 'I surrender' motion.
Julia, Zoë, and Eleanor joined me.
"Don't. Move." I growled.
He froze in the door frame.
"If you move you'll be skewered by one of our daggers," Zoë said.
He gulped, found an opening, and ran for it.
"COWARD!" I shouted after him.
"Uh... which one of you is Ella? I'm sorry, but this is important that you come with me." The newcomer said.
"Cough, I don't know who you are, cough," I said.
"I'm Jaron. More information will be given later. I'm assuming you're Ella?" He asked.
"No, I'm Julia. Of course, I'm Ella!" I snapped.
"Pack your stuff and meet me outside." He said hurriedly.
I ran over and pulled a workout bag out from under my bed. In it, I packed my laptop, phone, mini speaker, notebooks, pencil case, and chargers; my clothes, shoes, and jackets.
I tucked my dagger back into my boot and ran out the door.
I nearly crashed into Jaron. "OOF! Sorry!"
He waved it off. "It's fine. You have everything?"
I nodded. "Yup. Where are we, anyway?"
"Avenia. Very dangerous here. I suggest coming to Carthya with me."
I frowned. "Just out of curiosity, who are you?"
"King Jaron Eckbert of Carthya," he said, doing an exaggerated bow.
I snickered. "Well I'm Ella, and I'm quite sure I'm neither Carthyan nor Avenian."
Jaron grinned. "C'mon. Let's get you to the castle before you're kidnapped."
I rolled my eyes. "Very funny, 'King' Jaron."
"Hey, when we get to the castle, that behavior can't be tolerated," Jaron warned.
"Let's go just already."
We both jumped.
"Alright, Tobias, meet Ella, Ella, this is Tobias," Jaron said.
I offered Tobias a smile. "Nice to meet you."
"Likewise," Tobias said awkwardly.
"Um... let's go. I don't fancy getting captured, I don't know about you," I said.
Tobias nodded. "We're waiting on Roden. He should be here in a moment."
"Here!" A boy shouted.
I jumped. "What is it with you people and scaring me?!"
"Uh..." the boy muttered. "I'm Roden Harlowe, captain of the guard. Let's get you out of here."
I sighed. "Why are all the important people coming to 'collect me'?"
"You're just as important as us, if not more," Jaron said.
"Alright, as they said, let's get moving."
"Yessir," Roden joked.
I suppressed a smile. "Move it, I don't like being kidnapped. Not that it's happened before, but you get what I mean. I hope."
"Yeah, let's move. If we get captured, play or fake and pretend that we all introduced ourselves as Jaron," Tobias said.
"Sir, yes sir!" I saluted him with a grin.
"We need to go. I'd prefer not getting captured today," Roden said moodily.
"Moody idiot," I grumbled. "Let's go."
I began walking down the path, watching for any signs of danger. The second I saw something move, I flipped back and crouched, waiting for someone to come out, waiting to pull my dagger.
Just as I'd predicted, a man came out of the shadows.
I sprang up, my dagger being pulled from its sheath, me attacking the moment it was in my hand.
The man stumbled back, I knew from experience to not let him get an opening.
"Who are you?" Jaron asked.
"I've come to collect the girl."
"Why do you want her?" Tobias interrogated.
"Information."
"For what?" Roden pressed.
"War."
"Wondrous. Bring him with us. I'll question him with a couple of guards with me. Good? Good." I said.
Word count: 732
Wow. That's really long for me, as you probably know from my a/n last chapter.
This includes this author's note!!