Layla

by Lacie Perry Parker

  Chapter 4

  I knew we were nearing the forest, for as far as I could see beyond a line of tall trees, it was pitch black. A blob of nothingness. At first I wasn't sure if I should bring Jedni into the forest with me, but I decided I might need her to get out fast. One could never be too sure of those things.

  The horse stalled when I nudged her to enter, so I clapped my heels to her sides. She didn't start off lightning fast, of course. It wasn't her nature. She just slowly trotted into the wall of blackness. As soon as we were completely in, everything went dark? and silent.

  It was as if I had leapt into death. It almost pulled the breath from my lungs. I whimpered in terror, but my voice seemed to be broken. I heard nothing. It reminded me of drowning with my eyes closed. I could feel around, I could thrash and squeal. But I became disoriented, and my head started throbbing. It was painless, yet agonizing.

  I fumbled to find the spotters, and tried to regain myself. This was not the time to lose all sense of being. I put them on, and a flashing dot appeared in the corner of my left eye. I let out a shaky breath, realizing that the spotters really worked. I could have easily committed suicide by marching into the forest without them, expecting to be triumphant just because of who I was. I was not prepared enough, for facts kept jumping out of the sky, and landing hard in my head. They all seemed to have the same message: I was not invincible.

  What was that flashing dot? Questions flooded my mind, but no answers bothered to push them away. My whole body trembled in horror. My eyes darted randomly, trying to find aid. But nobody was there. I was on my own. Then I realized that I knew what it was.

  "Oh, please? no." I talked, even though I knew I couldn't be heard. I couldn't even hear myself. Hot breath made hairs on the back of my neck stand up. And I knew that my beliefs had been confirmed.

  It was a Colie.

  Frantically I took the sword from my scabbard. It slipped between my sweaty fingers and landed without a thud. I dropped to the ground, hysterical now, and sifted through the dirt trying to find it. My hands flung dust into my eyes. Everything seemed to go white. My eyes felt like they were being sucked into my head. My hands came across a sharp cold metal, and clumsily I retrieved it. I wasn't ready to die! Not yet. Not with this wonderful prospect ahead of me.

  When I first left Medalia, I felt as though nothing in the world could stop me. But I was wrong. I had a giant Colie breathing down my spine! And I was shaking to the bone. I could faintly make out its eyes, the only part that ever showed. And the only part I needed. Blaring green, one would almost rather perish than look upon them for too long.

  I mustered what little courage I had and sucked up my chest, taking a deep breath. I tried not to close my eyes, but to no avail. I forced myself to reopen them again, and became conscious that I was not ready enough for this. I needed advice, professional advice.

  With a noiseless scream, I turned from the beast and ran as fast as I could. Then, smack. I fell to the ground. I had hit something, something that smelled of sweet sweat. It was Jedni. I picked myself up off the soil and felt around until I found her again. Panic stricken, I almost jumped all the way over her. My thoughts were rattled as I swung my leg back into place. What if I didn't make it out? What if forty seconds wasn't time enough to escape?

  As I was sucked back into daylight, my heart felt at ease, however, my mind did not. I fell off the horse, blinded by the sudden burst of light. I cried out in anguish; my mind was on the verge of bursting open. The sun made my head throb with pain. Perhaps it had to do with the fear, also. But it hurt. Then I screamed at the top of my lungs. I had to actually hear my voice to comfort me. It startled Jedni, and she almost stepped on me, for I was still on the ground.

  "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to frighten you. It is just that?" my voice cracked as it trailed. I looked up at the sky, the wonderful sky. I did not wish to leave its presence so unprepared ever again.

  Then I started talking to myself. "I am going to need something to distract the Colie. I cannot have it completely focused on me. It won't work like that. I am going to need, well? help." It was hard to admit something like that, even though it was the truth. I couldn't do everything on my own.

  I took out the map, deciding to ask the Beatiez for help. The nearest mushroom circle was a mere two miles away!

  "How pleasant," I sighed as I tried to make myself sound pleased. I folded the map back up and stuffed it into my carpetbag. It sure was a good thing that talking out loud to yourself wasn't a crime, for I would be a repeating offender!

  I tied on my veil to keep the toxic air from my lungs. All I needed was to fall into a coma, or worse, die. As we approached the mushrooms, I began talking to Jedni.

  "Up ahead, see the mushrooms? They look like beige umbrellas. And unbelievably large." I rolled my eyes, despite the inspirational site in front of me. I just wasn't in a good mood, and that was definitely not the best way to greet the little people, especially not when I wanted their advice.

  A lass about my age was busy stringing clothes on a line strung between two mushroom stems. Slowly, she turned when she heard my horse. When she saw my sword, her expression changed. I couldn't tell if she had gotten nervous or excited.

  "Hello," my muffled greeting struggled out from beneath my veil. "I am Princess Layla of Tentaleigh. I was wondering if-" I stopped short when the girl Beatiez ran off behind the mushroom.

  "Am I not welcome?" I asked, deciding she was probably nervous.

  Then, as quickly as she had left, she returned and led Jedni and me, still atop her, behind the mushrooms. When we got to the other side, she introduced herself.

  "I am Sweenlah, bravest among the Beatiez." It was not till then did I notice the wooden sword that swung at her hip. Maybe she was brave among her people, but could she endure the Forest of Despondency? Could she endure what I had gone through?

  "She got excited when she saw your sword." Another voice seemed to emerge from the ground. When I looked down, I saw that it wasn't just the grass speaking. It was an older Beatiez, probably Sweenlah's mother.

  "She wants to be the first female warrior. Her dream!" The lady affirmed emphatically. I nodded as they hurried off into the crowd.

  "What is your name? Announce it to everybody." Yet another voice arose. This time it appeared to be a lady ruler. She spoke gently, but with great authority.

  She shook me from my wandering thoughts. "Oh! I am Layla of Tentaleigh, daughter of King Duryea the third." I felt stupid for forgetting my manners, and completely ignoring everything. But weren't those some of the things I was looking to escape from? I began hoping I could give a speech to make up for it.

  "I hope I am welcome among you, for I am seeking your advice." It was not very impressive so far. But that is usually how it went. "Madam, please, your advice if I may."

  "Please, go on." She encouraged me to continue.

  "I am to slay a Colie, for a very important, very personal incentive. As I entered the forest on my first attempt, I found the beasts to be much larger than I expected." I took a deep breath. "So I fled the forest as fast as I could," I said it so fast that I was hoping they hadn't understood. They were all bound to think me foolish, anyway.

  "Yes, my child, they are rather large, so caution you must take," She replied. I sighed at her comment.

  "Do you have any further advice?"

  "I am sorely afraid that any further advice I have to give would be utterly useless to a brave lass such as yourself," her smiled beamed at me. "All I have to say is to be careful."

  As she smiled at me, I looked into the crowd and saw Sweenlah and her mother discussing something. Her mother had a grave look about her, but the girl glowed with anticipation. Then she stepped forward.

  "Lady," she bobbed in respect. "I was wondering, if I may say so, Your Highness? could I accompany you on your quest? I mean, I could be of some use. I could help you, really I could. And I am brave," She stated plainly. "I am aware of the danger we would encounter, but I a
m no coward, Majesty." She curtsied again.

  She did seem prepared, but looks don't tell all. If they did, however, her mild smile lingering on her excitement-flushed cheeks, her loved sword at her side, and her fearless, glassy green eyes would surely state that she was a good companion to be had. And besides her lack of height, she looked as fierce and almost as determined as I was.

  "Well," I sighed again. When she saw my air, her smiled drooped. It made me want to trust her. "Since you understand that you may not even make it home alive," I continued a little livelier. "Then I would be honored if you would accompany me."

  When my speech was done, I was surprised to hear everybody cheer. But hey, wouldn't any village be happy if the crowned princess chose one of them to accompany her? It was obvious.

  Then the exultant young Sweenlah stepped forward. She made her routine curtsy, and then opened her mouth ready for her grateful words to pour out.

  "As you can probably already tell, I am absolutely filled with joy, and I thank you. But I have some advice." So, a Beatiez had stepped forward to advise the princess?

  "Shoot," I offered.

  "There are two ways to enter the forest. The way you do not want to enter is the east side, closest to the village of Medalia."

  I rolled my eyes at my lack of knowledge.

  "That is where the largest, most stubborn Colies live. After so many years of life, they migrate there. It is nearly impossible to get anything accomplished by going in that way. In fact, out of those who were unwise enough to go that way, many have never returned."

  I gazed at her in warm disbelief. I felt nauseous, and my head started to swim. I had almost killed myself! But how did she know all of that?

  "I studied on this matter for two years, milady." As if she had read my mind.

  "Maybe that is what I should have done," I thought out loud.

  "Pardon?" A couple voices arose to me. I just shook my head.

  "I should enter the west side? Across the mountains?" I asked Sweenlah.

  She nodded, so I continued.

  "I should have thought a little more, but-" While I was trying to make myself look less stupid, Jedni fell over onto her side.

  Her left rib cage was carelessly smashing my leg. It was crushing it, making my mind race. What was wrong? What had happened? Trillions of questions boggled my thoughts, and it hurt like a million tons of horse had rested itself on my leg. Her side was so unusually still, until it started to heave up and down. Heaving hard. Heaving in a life threatening way.

  Then I gasped.

  I was aware of what I had done, or more like what I hadn't done. I hadn't covered her nose or her mouth! She had been breathing the toxic air the whole time. It was a blessing she stayed up as long as she did. What a fool I had been! Not even thinking of her. Now she was gone, and I knew what had happened. But I didn't realize it yet. I was still trying to make myself realize she was dying.

  "Milady, your horse!" Sweenlah said sickly. She pointed to Jedni's muzzle. It had thick white liquid gushing out, the result of the poison gasses.

  I had killed my own horse. The realization hit me like a blow to the chest. I became aware of the fact she wasn't going to make it. My greatest companion was leaving me on the greatest adventure of my life. I wished I had never come on this trip! But no, I couldn't think like that. It was true that she would still be alive, but what else was I to do? It wasn't as if I could have stayed, even though it would have saved Jedni's life.

  Some tiny Beatiez men started pulling on me, trying to free me. But I was the one who ended up freeing my self from her wheezing side; I threw myself upon her course hair and wept.

  "I'm sorry," I said as I stood up. I tried to keep strong, but looking at my poor, dying horse made me break down into a million tiny pieces of despair. "Oh, Jedni! I'm sorry. You must know how I feel!" So much emotion was put into those words, I couldn't go on. I once again threw myself up against her side, but this time I matted her dark, course hair with my salty tears.

  "I am sorry, really," I explained to the people after I had let my grief flow freely.

  "No need to apologize, dear," she said as she wiped a dirty tear from my face. "If you love something, it is good to mourn over its death."

  She put her hand on my back as far as she could reach, and rubbed it soothingly.

  "We all make mistakes," she smiled again.