The following morning Alyssa met the four men that were to form her guard. As she surveyed them she decided that they seemed nice enough, and the Captain swore that he would trust them with his own life. They looked a bit uneasy under her inspection, but this was not surprising. Rumors about her curse had doubtless been the subject of many a midnight conversation in the barracks.
"Good morning to you all, my name is Alyssa. I want to thank all four of you for consenting to travel with me. What are your names?" They looked a little shocked by her informal address but quickly regained their wits. The man on the far left spoke first.
"Name's Jerrold Hayes, but most call me Jay." He extended his hand out to shake her own, and she was impressed by his bravery in touching her. A moment later honest intentions and courage played at the edges of her mind, she looked into his hazel eyes and smiled again. He blushed a little, making the freckles scattered across his nose stand out more starkly against his tan face.
"Nicholas Bull, at your service Crown Princess." Said the next man in line, who had an appropriate last name as far as Alyssa was concerned. The man was so large and muscular as to be considered hulking. He also extended a well-muscled arm to meet her own. She was vaguely surprised at how sweet, but firm he seemed. Loyalty and protectiveness coursed through her with a reassuring pressure. Her smile still in place, she looked to the next man in line. A dwarf, compared to Nicholas Bull, his slight build and sandy hair lent him the appearance of a much younger man.
"Cat." He said simply.
"Have you no last name?" Alyssa asked, a little confused.
"No, lady, for I was an orphan until the Sergeant took me as his own." Cat replied, reaching out a slim hand to shake hers. She felt his reliability momentarily make itself known in the recesses of her mind before he pulled away again. She could tell she made him more uneasy than the others. Oh well, nothing to be done about that.
"And last, but never least I am the great Aaron Corly of Rechad!" stated the final man boldly. "Or just Aaron, if you prefer, milady." He amended while extending his hand. He was handsome and he knew it, so the steady beat of confidence radiating from him came as no surprise; but she also sensed clever determination and faithfulness. Not bad for a guard, I could fare worse, thought Alyssa.
"I'm glad that we got to meet," Alyssa addressed the assembled men, "I will see you all at the stables three days from now. Please be there early, as I'd like to set off before too many of the Palace residents decide to go for a morning ride. Until then!" With that she turned and left them to the rest of their day.
The four of them stood for a moment before making their way back down towards the other soldiers.
"She is not what I expected," Cat mused.
"Nor I," agreed Jay.
"Really?" asked Nicholas, "for she is exactly how I imagined her."
The morning that the little group was to leave dawned bright and sunny. Per her mother's instructions, Alyssa wore a formal gown but she drew the line at riding sidesaddle. Instead she spread her skirts so that no one would be any the wiser. Her guard accompanied her, one on each side forming a loose box around her royal highness that could be tightened into an impenetrable barrier. As they descended the main road it was lined with the people of the town, all cheering and waving at the Crown Princess. Flowers and confetti swirled in the air as she made her way past them, smiling happily back and calling out greetings to a few who were her friends come to see her off. When they finally reached the forest path her stallion Giro was snorting uncomfortably, he never appreciated all of the raucous attention, but Alyssa easily calmed him.
"Are you sure you wouldn't like to switch horses with me Princess? I promise you my gelding here would never make such a fuss in the crowds." Suggested Jay politely from her left.
"Don't be silly!" Alyssa said with a smile, "Giro's a sweetheart, he's just shy. Besides, I love his energy."
"As you wish, milady." Jay replied, blushing a little. As his tanned face returned to its usual color Alyssa frowned a little. As you wish. Ugh, she thought, please don't let the entire journey be ruled by such formalities. With a sudden resolve she decided she ought to take the first steps toward friendship or they'd never have a comfortable moment.
"So Jay, have you a family?" she asked. He looked a little surprised that they weren't merely going to travel in silence, but soon she had him talking easily of his wife and three children. As it turned out he was the only man of the four with a family.
"The Captain is thoughtful like that," commented Nick, "the only reason Jay's here is 'cause there ain't a soul in Rechad who can match his skill with a bow and arrow."
"Really?" said Alyssa with interest. Jay blushed again at the compliment.
"Oh stop being so embarrassed!" exclaimed Cat. "Embrace your skill, lord knows Aaron would." At that moment Aaron gave him a playful shove, cutting his sentence short.
"My head's not that big you dolt!" he shouted with a mock glower. "But even I admit it would be something to be able to shoot like that." His glower turned wistful, and the others laughed. Jay was still a delicate shade of pink, but the rest pretended not to notice.
They spent the two weeks of travel staying in inns but also camping along the roadside. Those were Alyssa's favorite nights. When they all sat around the fire and told stories of their past adventures, childhoods and possible futures. By the end of the first week the guard had moved from protectors to friends to family. Their easy banter filled the long days, and with Jay's shooting and Nick's cooking skill they never went without a fabulous meal. Alyssa was glad that these men would accompany her throughout her stay with the Duke. Their presence filled her with a warm confidence, and for the first time in her life there were no maids that refused to touch her. No ladies that pretended friendship or any gentlemen that hesitated to take her hand. There were just the five friends.
But alas, the day finally came when the group entered the town at the base of the Duke's estate. The little shacks to their left and right were a grayish brown from the dust off of the road. Their walls sagged sadly to one side and their makeshift roofs of boards and spare parts looked likely to slide off at any moment. The faces of the people they passed were blanketed in despair and devoid of hope. Their haggard frames lurched to the doorways and windows to watch the little procession of five walk quietly by. Children sat together on street corners and whispered about the newcomers, but they did not run or play. They too were thin, far too thin to extend energy on such frivolous pass times. Alyssa was momentarily shocked by their appearances. Then silent tears of anguish rolled down her cheeks. What kind of a man let this happen? How could she not have known about this sooner? Not have acted sooner? She was the Crown Princess, her duty was to her people and in that moment she felt a sense of complete and utter failure.
"No." she whispered, "No!" this time it came out as a shout and the towns people looked up at her in confusion. But instead of explaining herself she turned Giro in a tight circle and started back the way they had come into the town. Her guard followed in silence. When she reached the edge she quietly instructed her friends to retrieve any and all food from their bags. Deftly, she divided it into small equal piles and then dismounted to distribute what little they had amongst the families. Many she learned, were orphans. Both of their parents had been taken to fulfill their debt. Her anger grew as she walked among them, it turned hard and cold in her stomach. The Duke of Belmonte was an absolute monster. She was sure of it. Looking around her she made a split second decision. She could not fix this with the Duke. He did not seem a man likely to cave to reason. She would of course appeal to him when she got the chance, but if he said no she could not knowingly leave these innocent people to starvation. Once the peasants had happily consumed every morsel of food, she motioned to her guards to follow her back to where their horses waited. There she explained her plan.
"Jay and Aaron you must return to the Capital. These people need help, and soon. The Duke has clearly decided not to provide for them." She held up a hand as they both opened their mouths to protest. "Listen, please I have thought it through. Jay you have your family to think of and Aaron knows the area to which I am sending you well. You must journey to see Aaron's cousin Mary. She will explain everything to you both and take appropriate action. Tell her that I sent you and that it is time for the Council to spread to Belmonte. Tell her of what you have seen here, she will know what to do."
"But we wish to remain and protect you Lyssa—" protested Aaron.
"If this town is any indication, I have no intentions of leaving you in the incapable hands of the Duke." Grumbled Jay.
"Please, I need you to help me help these people. And besides the hands of Nick and Cat are plenty capable." Alyssa soothed.
"That we are!" said Cat, while Nick nodded emphatically.
"Fine we'll go," said Jay dejectedly.
"But we don't have to like it!" chimed in Aaron, "and you better believe that we'll be back by your side as soon as we can your most majestic majesty." He finished, reverting to his usual teasing tone. She smiled and bid them farewell. Then with a heavy heart and an equally heavy resolve, she turned her steps toward the gates of the Duke's ominous estate.
As the trio approached, a servant pulled the gates open for them. The man kept his eyes trained on the ground, refusing to acknowledge Alyssa's polite thanks. Their horses clattered into an immaculate courtyard and the Duke himself bustled out of the front doors to greet them. The members of his small court were already politely waiting to the left, and stood with stiff smiles while they scrutinized the new comers.
"Welcome, welcome!" boomed the Duke. "How lovely it is to see you at long last my dear Crown Princess. I do hope your journey was pleasant?"
Alyssa slid from her saddle and replied, "Yes, very pleasant. The surrounding forest is enchanting." Then she shrugged out of her travelling cloak and enjoyed the look of horror on everyone else's face. Cat and Nick were also trying to maintain straight faces and poorly hiding their mirth. But Alyssa just smiled serenely as the Duke and his court took in the vivid orange that was her gown.
A maid helped Alyssa unpack her things in the luxurious room she had been provided. The lurid pinks and ruffles seemed to suffocate every available surface, and Alyssa raised an eyebrow in distaste.
"Is everything alright, milady?" asked the little maid politely.
"Of course, of course it is." Said Alyssa, "I'm sorry I don't recall your name."
"Friday, Princess."
"As in the day of the week?" Alyssa asked, her bemusement obvious.
"Yes, for I was found on the steps of the Church on a Friday, Princess."
"Oh! Well now that you've introduced yourself, allow me. My name is Alyssa, and I beg you to use it. I imagine we'll be spending a considerable amount of time with one another. Now shall we unpack?"
"Certainly, Princess." Friday reached for a trunk while Alyssa made a little undignified noise at being referred to as 'Princess' yet again. Together they filled the armoire with the gowns. Each and every one was a different shade or pattern of orange. Alyssa silently pitied poor Friday, who had obviously never been confronted with such an obvious disregard for the law. The girl touched each gown with an air of combined reverence and fear. When at last they had emptied the trunk of her possessions, Friday moved to the smaller locked trunk and asked if they were to unpack its contents as well.
"No, no that one we'll leave at the back of my closet. I couldn't bear to leave my home without bringing along a few keepsakes. It's all useless of course, a jar of soil from our garden and the like. Devoid of value to all but myself I imagine," laughed Alyssa easily. She moved to look out the window and hoped she had not overplayed her part. The trunk was most definitely not full of palace soil. But she needn't have worried; Friday seemed to take her Princess' odd habits in stride and had already moved to finish organizing the jewelry.
"This is a gift from the Duke of Belmonte, Princess. He bid me present it to you so that you might wear it at dinner this evening." Said Friday. Alyssa turned to find a large and gaudy silver necklace nestled in the box Friday was holding.
"Lovely," said the Princess with a smile. Friday raised an eyebrow, as if to say, "Do you really think so? Crazy Princess…" At the sight of this not so innocent quizzical face, Alyssa smiled genuine grin. Perhaps her maid would become a friend to her after all.