Ariella and the Blood Curse

by Owen Crane

  Well, Ari, you’ve a couple of hours of riding to find out what that was all about.

  After a few more minutes the Captain called his guards to order and they

  remounted ready for the final stage to Stonegard. Ariella"s eyes were on Micah,

  anxious to pick up their conversation where it was left.

  The Captain had other ideas. “Micah, take point, make sure the road is

  clear”

  “Very good sir.” He kicked his horse into a canter and was soon two

  hundred yards clear of Ariella and the other guards. Ariella pushed Crispin into

  a trot and the remaining guards closed in around her. They picked up the pace

  and the miles fell away as the road grew wider and the buildings became more

  frequent.

  The setting sun cast a warm glow on the countryside as the fields gave way

  to a rambling town leading all the way to the walls of Stonegard. Stonegard had

  been the ancient capital of Dawnhaven, long before the breaking of the kingdom.

  It was built by some distant relative of Ariella"s whose name she could never

  recall. She could remember coming here as a child and loving the tall towers

  with bright orange and red pennants fluttering in the breeze.

  It always felt like a proper castle to her, not like the palace at Lightharbour.

  This castle had battlements and arrow slits for the archers. There was a deep

  moat with a long drawbridge and portcullis. The guards here looked so different

  to their Lightharbour equivalents. Ariella"s guards wore either stiffened leather

  or chain mail under their outer clothes. The walls of Stonegard were lined with

  guards in shining platemail that reflected the last rays of sunlight into the faces

  of the riders.

  There were two thick grey stone walls that surrounded a massive central

  keep. The moat was deep and still, the water an inky blue. When she was here

  as a child, Ariella always tried to spot the golden fish that would swim lazily

  under the drawbridge.

  The road was heavy with traffic today. Micah was waiting for them in the

  midst of the passing carts and horses.

  “Looks like the preparations are in full swing” he smiled as they rode to

  meet him. The nervousness of before had disappeared.

  All around the riders were carts carrying salted beef and wild boar. There

  were huge Shire horses pulling massive trailers laden with barrels of wine from

  the southern vineyards. They passed carts stacked high with crates filled with all

  manner of fireworks bought in from Khan.

  “The innkeeper at ‘The Friendly Phoenix’ is expecting us Your Highness, all

  arrangements for your arrival have been made.” The Captain was as efficient as

  ever.

  “The Friendly Phoenix?” Came a voice from the crowd. “What a wonderful

  coincidence, that’s where I’m staying.”

  Eleazar emerged from behind a large cart filled with barrels of salted beef,

  marked with the emblem of Wolftop, capital of Erestia.

  “Really?” The Captain scowled. “A coincidence? Watch your step boy.”

  “My dear Captain, this a free city and I am free to spend my last night of

  freedom wherever I choose.”

  “And how can someone like you afford the Friendly Phoenix?”

  “Someone like me? I have no idea what you’re driving at captain. I’m a

  simple young man spending his hard earned coin on the finer things of life one

  last time.” With that, he turned, winked at Ariella and led his horse off into the crowd whistling happily.

  A sound caught Ariella’s attention. It was quiet, almost imperceptible

  amongst the clamour of the crowd. She could’ve sworn Micah let out a sigh of

  relief.

  The innkeeper at The Friendly Phoenix wonderfully matched the name of his

  Inn. His hair was bright orange and his suit was scarlet. He seemed to shine in

  the candlelight as he showed Ariella to her room.

  “It is such a pleasure to welcome royalty to my humble Inn” he enthused

  “most royal guests stay in the Keep” it was more of a question than a statement.

  Ariella was momentarily uncomfortable.

  “I’m not here as a guest of my uncle. I’m here for High Summer,” she paused

  “and The Journey.”

  The Innkeeper’s eyes went wide but he was too respectful to say anything.

  He smiled a caring smile and left her in her room. “Finest room in the Inn, and

  therefore the finest room in Stonegard,” the innkeeper had told her, “except the Royal Rooms in the Keep of course” he had added with a bow.

  The room was indeed fine, opulent even, but all it served to do was make her

  think of her home. It was the first time since she had left Lightharbour that she

  missed the palace and her family.

  It’s a bit late for all that Ari. High Summer tomorrow, The Journey and then

  anything could happen.

  She turned in early after trying to eat some supper that the Captain had

  arranged for her. She was so nervous about tomorrow that she could hardly take

  a bite. Sleep eluded her for hours as she tossed back and forth in the bed. She

  would doze for a while and then wake again. The blankets were too hot, and

  then she was too cold. There were too many pillows, then not enough.

  Will you get a grip girl?

  She was getting frustrated with herself. Her stomach started rumbling

  which made sleeping even harder.

  I wonder if there’s any supper left over? I’m sure there’ll be someone on duty

  downstairs that will let me raid the kitchen.

  She threw on her trousers and shirt and walked quietly to the door. The

  heavy door opened silently on the well oiled hinges and she stepped out on to

  the thick carpet of the hallway. And froze.

  Standing in the shadows in the centre of the long hallway was a figure.

  Dressed entirely in tight black clothes with a black hood drawn up over their

  head, they blended seamlessly into the darkness. Ariella squinted as she made

  out the form. Their back was toward her, stooped as if listening.

  Ariella was rooted to the spot.

  Who the hell is that? And more to the point, what do they want?

  The

  silhouette was going slowly from door to door, moving away from Ariella. It

  paused at each door for a few moments and then moved to the next.

  It looks like they’re listening, but for what? Breathing? These doors are thick. How good can your ears be?

  The figure checked two more doors, and then stopped longer than usual at

  the second to last door of the hallway. Ariella watched as they adjusted their

  hood with a gloved hand exposing their ear. Silently they pressed it against the

  door and waited.

  Ariella held her breath, still watching. The hooded figure pulled away,

  readjusted their hood and stood to full height. They were shorter than Ariella

  with a slight frame.

  Their hand slipped into the pocket of the black cloak and pulled out

  something tiny, no bigger than a hairpin. They moved their hands towards the

  door.

  It’s a lock pick! That’s a thief! Not what do I do?

  She realised she had no weapons and she was pretty sure she couldn"t take

  this hooded thief in a fight.

  The hooded form withdrew the lock pick and placed it back in their pocket.

  Then, ever so slowly, put their hand on the door han
dle and turned it.

  Okay Ari…any bright ideas?

  She only had one. She took a deep breath and she screamed. A full blooded,

  top of the lungs, someone is ripping my arms off, type of scream.

  The effect was instantaneous. The hooded figure spun around to face

  Ariella. Their face was covered with a mask that only allowed their eyes and the

  bridge of their nose to be seen. But those eyes left a mark. Blue. Ice cold blue.

  Even in the half light of the hallway those eyes left a mark on Ariella.

  She gasped. It’s a woman. Ariella heard the captain’s thunderous voice and

  the sound of running feet. Doors were banging open and there was the

  unmistakable sound of swords being drawn from the sheaths. It seemed that the

  whole Inn had woken.

  The hooded figure blinked once and then…flash. It was like a blur, Ariella

  hardly saw it, but felt a burning sensation in her left shoulder.

  Micah, the Captain and the other guards came charging up the stairs as the

  hooded figure dove through the open window at the far end of the corridor.

  Micah flew after them with the other guards following as the Captain ran to

  Ariella’s side.

  “Princess Ariella! What’s happened?” His face was grave.

  “The woman” Ariella pointed feebly in the direction of the window. “She’s a thief.”

  She tried to continue but the pain in her shoulder was now almost

  unbearable. She started to slump to the floor but the captain caught her and laid

  her down gently, his brow furrowed. He reached out his hand to her shoulder;

  she felt a sharp pain, then the darkness washed over her. The last thing she

  remembered was the captain holding a small thin dart, the tip red with her blood

  and the other end shaped into a pair of delicate butterfly wings.

  Chapter 7

  Ariella woke to the sound of muffled voices from the far side of the room.

  The low light of sunrise was streaming through a gap in her curtains, tiny specks

  of dust gently floating in the air.

  She lay awake for a moment trying to piece together what had just

  happened. She remembered the hooded figure trying to break into the room

  along the hallway from her own. In her mind she could still see the cold blue

  eyes and the flash of the woman’s hand as she sent the tiny dart flying towards

  her. She remembered the captain, Micah and the other guards rushing to the

  sound of her scream. Then she remembered the butterfly dart. She remembered

  how pretty she thought it looked as the captain pulled it from her shoulder.

  She lifted her hand to the point where the dart had hit her. There was a

  small hole in her night shirt, but no pain. She pushed her finger through the hole

  onto her skin, still no pain. She jabbed her finger again, hard into her flesh.

  Nothing.

  From the far side of her room she heard a muffled conversation. She sat up

  quickly and the voices stopped. “Your Highness?” It was the Captain, a look of

  concern on his face. “How are you?”

  “I"m fine. Strangely.” Ariella"s finger was still on her shoulder trying to find

  the mark left by the dart. “What happened? There"s no mark, no pain at all.”

  “Yes. Your Highness, may I introduce Karlov Featherfall.” The Captain

  motioned to the man standing beside him. Karlov was younger than the

  Captain, around Micah"s age.

  He"s not as handsome as Micah, but not unattractive I guess.

  His blonde hair was cut short; his eyes were young but serious. He was

  frowning; it looked to Ariella like a mixture of concern and annoyance.

  “Is there any pain in your shoulder Ariella?” Karlov asked. He question was

  direct, almost blunt.

  Ariella was still a little groggy “It"s „Your Highness".” She was equally blunt.

  Karlov didn"t flinch.

  “I mean, you address me as „Your Highness."” Still Karlov said nothing.

  Ariella was stunned.

  Who is this guy? What’s he doing in my room? And why hasn’t the Captain slapped

  him? The Captain coughed. Then she saw it. A round metal disc pinned on the

  left side of Karlov"s chest, right over his heart. A small golden circle with five

  rays of light. The dawning sun rising over a field of green.

  “You"re a Guardian!”

  “And you’re a Sojourner.” He moved towards her bed. “I asked „Is there any

  pain in your shoulder?"”

  “No, none at all. I don"t understand”

  Karlov raised his hand and closed his eyes. Ariella didn"t notice it at first,

  but ever so slowly, a pale green light began to radiate from Karlov"s hand. It

  formed an aura that seemed to silently pulse. He placed his hand on Ariella"s

  shoulder, right over where the dart had entered. She felt a gentle warmth and

  then it was gone.

  Karlov closed his hand and turned to the Captain. “The High Summer

  festival begins in an hour, she needs to be ready.”

  The Captain nodded and Karlov left the room without looking at Ariella.

  “Captain, will you please tell me what happened?”

  “Forgive me Your Highness but there is no time. You heard Karlov, in an

  hour you have to be in the city square. You need to get dressed.”

  And with that he too was gone, leaving Ariella alone in her room.

  That’s just great, what the hell happened last night? Who was the woman in the

  hood and what did she stick me with? How did Karlov end up in my room with the

  Captain? And he’s a Guardian. I hope I don’t see him today, I don’t think he likes me.

  Absent-mindedly she put her finger back through the hole the dart had made

  in her night dress.

  Okay Ari, you’re not going to get any answers sitting here. Get up, get out of bed and get dressed. The questions can wait.

  She gave her head a shake and jumped from the bed, dressing quickly.

  Looking around the room she found her backpack and the old hunting jacket.

  She checked the Echo Orbs were still deep in her pockets, and then stepped out

  in the hallway. Micah and another guard were waiting for her. Their faces were

  alert and they both had their hands resting on the hilts of their swords.

  “Are you ready to go Your Highness?” Micah asked her

  “Yes.” but she paused, her hand on her shoulder again, eyes towards the

  window at the end of hallway. Through it she could see the rooftops of

  Stonegard and the blue summer sky.

  “Did you get her?”

  “Her, Your Highness?”

  “Yes, the person in the hood was a woman.”

  Micah shook his head. “Unfortunately not. He,” he corrected himself,

  “sorry, she, was gone by the time I got to the window.”

  Ariella wasn"t surprised. There was something about the way the hooded

  woman moved, the way she so easily attacked Ariella.

  She wasn’t a novice; she had done that many, many times before. She had an escape

  route planned. There was no chance Micah could’ve got to her.

  The other guard shifted and looked up at Micah who nodded in response.

  “Your Highness, it"s time. We have to go.”

  She led them down the stairs and found the Captain and the other guards

  waiting for them. They left the Friendly Phoenix in a tight group, the Captain

  taking no chances. Ariella was enclosed within the guards as they moved

  throug
h the crowd.

  It seemed everyone in the city was on the way to the main square. The start

  of The Journey was the highlight of the High Summer festival and no one

  wanted to miss it. The city square was awash with colour. Bright red and

  orange pennants of Trevena mixed with the gold and green of the Guardians. At

  the far end of the square was a stage erected against the inside of the inner wall.

  It was empty at the moment but Ariella knew that in a short while she would be

  up there with the forty nine other Sojourners ready to begin their five year

  Journey.

  The captain led the small group through the crowded square over to the far

  side near the stage. There was a small roped off area in front of a large oak door

  set in the inner wall. Outside the door were two guards, a man and a woman;

  they wore the same gold disc that Karlov wore.

  They watched the small group as they approached, their faces

  expressionless. As the group got to the rope the woman stepped forward.

  “This area is sealed. Sojourners only.” Her tone was official. She looked past the Captain, her eyes on Ariella.

  The Captain pulled a scroll from inside his jacket and handed it to the

  woman. She turned it over in her hand, examining the wax seal. She nodded,

  broke the seal and unrolled the scroll.

  She looked up, her eyes again on Ariella. “Ariella Lightharbour?”

  Ariella nodded, her mouth too dry to speak. She suddenly felt weak with

  nerves, the pit of her stomach churning.

  “We’ve never trained a Princess before.” Ariella dropped her gaze and stared

  at her toes “When you step past this rope you are no longer a Princess. Are you

  ready for that?” There was an almost disbelieving tone in the woman’s voice.

  She doesn’t think I can do it!

  The nervousness she had felt moments before turned to stubborn anger.

  Ariella met the woman’s gaze and stepped past the Captain. “I’m ready”

  The woman nodded and half smiled. “Well let"s get on with it then. My

  name is Lalea Onderskat, welcome to the Guardians”. She removed the rope

  barrier and stepped aside allowing Ariella to approach the door in the wall.

  She hesitated, and turned to look at the Guards. Micah was watching her, a

  smile on his face.

  What is that for? Is he happy to be rid of me? No, it’s more like, pride! He’s

  proud of me!