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The Reign of Aslan
Looking up at the battlements, Brigid saw to her astonishment, a pair of children looking down at her, two boys, one thirteen the other ten. They were lions, like Lion-O… These two were members of the royal family of Thundera… at the Belfry, a place that was as much a prison as it was a castle? Wherefore? Were these two ghosts? Spirits?
Noticing her, the elder boy said: "Look, brother! One of the mercenaries has a daughter!"
"She looks scared!" exclaimed the younger boy. "Maybe she fears Uncle Asad's angry ghost!"
"Who are you?" Brigid asked. "Why are you both here at the Belfry?"
"I am Lieu." Said the older boy. "And this is Sinha. We are nephews of Aslan, King of Thundera! Wait there, we will come down to you!"
Taking a moment to make sure her dress was clean, Brigid thought wondered if she was dressed well enough to meet two princes. She had met Lion-O and Tygra before with never thinking his question, so why now and why were they here at this prison?
After that, she made sure her ponytail was not loose and did the same with her bracelets. Feeling she was looking as good as she was going to, she looked at the entrance to the Belfry as Lieu and Sinha approached. Seeing these two princes, both her elders, Brigid felt not as an equal as she was a princess in her own right, but like a subject, a member of the court… When one had been raised in a Thunderan-ized Evabon community, how was one to feel?
Was she a princess or a subject? Among her own people, being a descendant of Zuvowang the Magnificent made her a princess in her own right, but to these princes, she was just a mercenary's daughter… Perhaps, it was better that they thought that.
Giving a curtsy, Brigid said to the two princes: "It is an honour to make the acquaintance of Your Highnesses."
Scratching his right ear, Sinha asked: "What is your name?"
"Brigid." She answered. Why bother thinking up an alias? There were other Brigids among her people, she had been named after one. To think up another name when there were others with her name, why bother? Besides, no one here knew her, so why not give her real name?
"That is a weird name." commented Sinha.
Crossing her arms, Brigid looked away. She expected better of a prince.
"Our names are probably just as weird to her, Sinha." Stated Lieu.
Brigid looked at Lieu, surprised by what she had heard. It seemed the elder prince was wiser than his younger brother, though it could have just been common sense.
"Why are a brace of princes of the House of Thundera residing here at the Belfry?" Brigid asked, grimacing the moment she finished speaking. There was no way a mercenary's daughter would have spoken so eloquently.
"Why are you by yourself, Brigid?" asked Lieu, ignoring the question. "It isn't normal to see a six-year-old by herself."
With eyes glazed over, Brigid answered: "I'm eight."
"Really?"