"Jessela!" Ira's voice carried well through the morning mists. "Jessela! Where in the Nine Hells are you?" The only response Ira received was her own voice echoing back to her. She sighed and reigned in her horse. "Where did that girl get to?"
As if answering it's rider's question, the war-horse snorted and stomped it's feet. It was a particularly cold morning and the horse didn't want to stand still. It had rained last night, so the air was damp and fog still clung to the ground although it was mid-morning. Ira shivered in her cloak.
This is the last time I go searching for that little brat! Ira vowed silently and pulled her cloak around her. The cloak was the only warmth she had. Under it was her armour, the armour of a Knight to the Crown, and under that, a shift. She'd been raised at some ungodly hour of the morning and told that her charge had disappeared again. She hadn't had time to dress.
"Princess!" She yelled, spurring the horse on. "Jessela!"
"I'm here." The response was so faint, Ira almost missed it.
She looked around. The crown princess was shivering in a patch of clover on the side of the road. Ira dismounted and ran to her. She grabbed Jessela's hand and pulled her to her feet.
The girl was about 19 years old, but acted like a spoiled brat. She was very lithe with long, black hair and black eyes. Her complexion was really tanned, but her ladies-in-waiting painted it a pale white to complement her hair and eyes. The girl was close to frozen to death, wearing little more than a shift herself. As Ira roughly pulled her to her feet, she cringed. She looked up at Ira with sadness in her eyes.
Ira sighed. She removed her cloak, wrapped it around the princess and picked her up. She noticed the girl had neglected shoes as well. Ira put the shivering girl in front of her on the horse and headed at full gallop back to the castle.
"Ira?" Jessela's voice was soft.
"Who else?" The knight was in a bad mood. The princess cringed at the word's and Ira immediately regretted them. She couldn't really blame her for wanting to run away, but she could blame her for her stupidity. "The middle of the night, during a thunderstorm, in your shift?"
Jessela smiled quietly. "No one would expect it."
Ira sighed. "We all figured you had better sense."
Jessela rester her head against Ira's chest. She looked exhausted.
As soon as the horse put one hoof inside the castle courtyard, it was swarmed with people. Jessela was taken and ushered off to the healers before Ira knew where she was. When the crowd left Ira was standing alone, horseless and princessless, in the courtyard. She sighed, removed her helm and ran her fingers through her short brown hair. She headed off towards her bunk. As she passed two stable hands, she heard them talking.
"What's wrong with the princess?" The first one asked the second.
The second shrugged. "Dunno. Maybe she'd sick."
Ira smiled to herself. Yeah, she suffers from a sickness alright. She quickly stripped her armour and got into her warm bed. Princess Jessela suffers from an arranged marriage.
"Milady?" Ira jumped five feet into the air and reached for her sword. Realizing she was in her own bed, in her own bunk and the voice was outside her room, she calmed down.
"What do you want?" She demanded.
The voice answered with a self-important air and Ira guessed it was one of the king's messengers. "His Majesty wants to see you, now!"
"I'll be there." She sighed, got out of bed and dressed quickly. Glancing at her reflection in the mirror she decided she was presentable enough. Her hair hung to her chin and, although it wasn't tangled, it was in a disarray. She had hazel eyes and a wide mouth and, in her opinion, was in no way beautiful. Ira had a large and athletic build and stood close to 6'4". She was strong and fast and had always been a bit of a tom-boy. Although she often treated the 19 year old princess like a child, Ira was only 21 herself. She donned her armour and followed the messenger.
As she approached the doors to the King's Hall she saw someone waiting to be admitted. She smiled. The princess was a vision of beauty as she stood nervously waiting for her father to admit her. Ira approached her and touched her arm. "So I'm here to watch your father lecture you?"
Jessela smiled. "Yep. Sorry to wake you twice today."
Ira was baffled. "How did you know I was asleep?"
"Your hair is a mess."
Ira sighed and self-consciously ran her fingers through it. Contrary to popular belief, Jessela and Ira were best friends. It was an odd friendship that grew from the fact that if Ira wanted to stay sane while guarding her princess, she had to listen and participate in conversations. The two girls were now very close.
A short messenger popped his head through the doors. "Princess Jessela? Lady Ira? The king will see you now."
Jessela's smile faded and she shivered. Ira gave her friend a reassuring half-smile, forgetting that she was supposed to be mad at her too. She couldn't blame Jessela. If she heard that she was going to have to marry the Duke of Sarringham she'd have run too. Ira squeezed her friend's arm and they entered the King's Hall together.
"I'm the king and what I say goes!" His Majesty was fuming.
"I'm not going to marry him!" It was obvious to Ira where the crown princess got her stubborness from. She sighed and leaned against the wall. It was a horrible breach of the Code of Honour to lean in the king's presence, but his most honourable majesty and the princess had been at it for almost three hours. Ira hadn't been able to get a single word in edgewise.
"You'll do what's best for the kingdom." The king was red faced.
Instead of replying, Jessels turned on her heel and stormed out of the castle. Ira, who'd been dozing, jumped to attention. "Your Majesty!" She bowed quickly. "I'll get her." Ira hurried out of the hall before anyone could stop her.
She ran into the courtyard just in time to see Jessela, on a beautiful white stallion, galloping our the gates.
Ira swore, saddled her own mount and followed. She quickly caught Jessela as the princess wasn't muck of a rider. She grabbed the stallion's reins and stopped both horses. Jessela quickly dismounted and headed off into the forest. Ira swore fluently and dismounted. "Jessela!"
The princess kept a fast pace towards the tree line.
"Jessela!" Ira broke into a run to catch up with her escaping friend. She grabbed her arm and spun her around. Whatever she'd been about to say died on her lips when she saw her friend's face. Jessela's eyes were swollen and red and tears flowed freely down her face. Jessela's collapsed into Ira's arms and sobbed onto her breastplate. Ira sighed. "Aw...Jess." She wrapped her arms around her friend and let her cry. Ira started to say something comforting, but for the second time in as many minutes the words died on her lips.
"Jess." She whispered urgently. The princess got the message and stopped sobbing. Unfortunately, she started hiccupping. "Jess. When I say run, take my horse and go, alright?"
"Why?" The princess was scared.
"There's a werewolf in the forest. He's watching us." Ira swore silently realizing she'd left her sword behind. Jessela realized this as well and looked up at her friend worried.
"You run too."
"I can't. I'm supposed to protect you."
"Without a sword?" Ira sighed. Sometimes it seemed like Jessela read her mind.
"Okay." She whispered back, realizing there was no winning this argument. "On three. One....Run!"
Jessela was startled but took off. Close behind was Ira. They reached the horses at the same time and spurred them on. Jessela was on Ira's powerful war-horse and Ira was on Jessela's stallion. The war-horse quickly outdistanced the white horse. Ira swore and urged the horse on, to no avail. The werewolf was close on their heels. He nipped at the stallions legs sending the poor creature into a panic. Ira tried to control it, but he was past reason. The werewolf grabbed the stallion's back legs and broke them. Ira went down....hard.
"Ira!" Jessela turned the war-horse around and went to rescue her friend. Ira leapt to the war-horse's back and took the reins. They galloped towards the castle, but were stopped by another werewolf.
"Damn. It's a bloody pack!" Ira quickly turned the horse and headed back to the forest. Another werewolf headed them off. We're being corralled! Ira realized and attempted to avoid the monsters. They charged into the forest. The werewolves were right on their heels when, in a flash of white light, they disappeared. The horse was standing in the middle of a field of mushrooms.
"A fairy ring!" Jessela exclaimed, realizing what saved them. "We've been teleported across the Creator's Divide!"
Ira watched the sparks of light she now identified as fairies. "Really?" She felt like she was dreaming. Jessela's punch quickly brought her back to reality. She looked confused at the princess.
"What the hell happened to ‘two' and ‘three'?"
Ira smiled. "Werewolves can't count."
"Well." Ira looked around at the unfamiliar place. They'd stopped here to take a drink from a spring and discuss their plans. "I suppose we should find a way home."
Jessela's smile faded. "I guess."
Ira gave her friend a half-smile. "Your father's probably worried about you."
Jessela glared at no one in particular. "No. He's worried about his property. His security for the future."
"Jess." Ira squeezed her arm. "I'm sure your father loves you."
Jessela rolled her eyes sarcastically. "Sure. That's why he's marrying me off to the Duke of Sarringham."
"He wants what's best for you."
"Who's side are you on?" Jessela mounted the horse.
"Jess." Ira pleaded.
"He's like 50 years old!" Jessela stated exasperated.
Ira smiled. "I know. He just wants someone old enough to protect you."
Jessela turned and smiled at Ira. "You're only two years older than me and you protect me."
Ira grinned. She mounted behind her friend. "I know. But I think you'll have trouble getting you father to consent to our marriage."
Jessela laughed. "Yeah. But I'd like to see the look on his face when I ask."
Ira smiled and opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off. The horse reared and almost threw them off. Ira began to think that someone had something against her finishing a conversation as she searched for what would scare a war horse. Jessela pointed and stared. Ira quickly turned her head and froze. A huge golden dragon was landing in a clearing not twenty feet in front of them.
Ira grabbed for her sword, remembered she didn't have it and swore. The dragoness hadn't noticed them yet. She was busy. Most of a deer was in her claws and her snout was covered with blood.
Ira tried backing the war-horse up, but Jessela took one look at the deer and fainted. Ira tried to grab her, lost her balance and they both ended up on the ground. The war horse neighed and bolted. Without a rider, it was terrified. The dragoness lifted her head from her meal and went to investigate. Ira gently laid Jessela down and picked up a branch. Not much defence against a dragon, but...
A rider dismounted from the dragon and stretched. "Geez Hyth, you make quite a mess." The rider realized the dragon saw something. "What?" The rider was quiet then looked directly at Ira. "Hey?" She called. "You okay?"
Ira didn't move. She prayed the rider couldn't see her yet.
The rider suddenly started laughing and looked right at her dragon. "You're joking." She snickered some more. "Hell, I knew the Crown Knights were low on funds, but arming them with sticks?!?" She continued to laugh until the dragon gave a low growl. She pet the dragon on the flank. "Calm down Hyth. You're probably giving the nice knight a heart attack." The rider, still snickering, approached Ira.
"Hey!" She said again. "I'm Weyrwoman Magika of Adanuk Weyr and would rather not get hit in the head with a branch." She smirked.
Ira couldn't help but smile. She chuckled quietly and approached the older woman. "I'm Ira, a Knight to the Crown." She smiled at the rider. "And, believe it or not, I do own a sword."
Magika smiled and the two clasped hands. "Good to hear. Are you okay? Hyth heard a crash."
"I'm fine. My....companion saw your mount's meal and fainted."
"Hyth's a messy eater. So, how's life on the other side of the ol' Divide?"
Ira stared in wonderment at the dragon, who promptly ignored her. "Fine. I'm still a little disoriented I guess. I'll admit, I thought it was a myth."
"What?"
"Y'know. The whole theory that magic existed on the other side of the canyon. It seemed like a child's story."
Magika laughed. "I know how you feel. Although I wasn't greeted by a beauty like Hyth, my first encounter here was with a dragon."
Ira raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You're from the other side?"
"Originally." Both women looked up as Jessela stumbled into the clearing, white as a ghost.
Ira ran to her side and took her arm. "Jessela this is Magika. Magika, the princess Jessela."
Magika nodded her head respectfully, but didn't bow. She mounted Hyth. "Well, look's like your horse is gone and it's a long walk to anywhere from here, so how about I take you guys home?"
Ira nodded. "We would appreciate it."
Jessela immediately regained her composure and planted her feet. "I'm not going."
Magika gave them both an odd look. "Okay."
Ira glared at Jessela, who glared right back. "You're going."
"No I'm not..."
"I took an oath..."
"You're supposed to be my friend...'
"I am your friend."
"Then don't make me go."
"Jessela!"
"Ira!"
"Hyth!" Both girls looked at Magika who shrugged, smiled and kicked Hyth. "Nothing."
Ira sighed and Magika continued before the argument could pick up. "How about I take you to the Warren with me and you can argue there, so I'm not late? I'll take you home later."
Ira looked at Jessela who nodded. "Okay." They both climbed up behind Magika.
Hyth leapt into the air and Magika turned around to look at the two girls. "I should warn you. It's going to get cold."
"Magika!"
"Mystic!" Magika quickly dismounted and embraced her friend. "Long time no see."
Mystic nodded and looked over Magika's shoulder to the two girls frozen on Hyth's back. She raised an eyebrow questioningly at Magika.
Magika grinned. "First time flyers."
Mystic sighed. "I'll get two more rooms ready."
Magika clapped her friend on the back. "The more, the merrier."
Mystic glared at her friend. "You're here two minutes and I'm already tired of you."
Magika grinned. "And I'm here until the Hathians hatch. Aren't ya glad?"
Mystic left and Magika went to pry Ira and Jessela off Hyth, who was complaining loudly.
Later that night, over a cup of coffee for Mystic, Jessela and Ira and something a little stronger for Magika, Ira and Jessela told their story. Mystic and Magika both nodded in all the appropriate places and Mystic smiled at the part where Ira almost hit Magika with a branch.
"Maybe it would have knocked some sense into you." Magika glared at her friend. After the story, Helena burst in and ushered both Ira and Jessela off to bed.
When they were gone Magika smiled at Mystic. "Remind you of anyone?"
Mystic glared. "No." Although she tried to act insulted at the comparison, she smiled into her mug.
"So?" Magika finally asked, growing impatient.
"So what?"
Magika sighed. "Name anyone I've ever brought here without a purpose."
Mystic smiled and raised her fingers, counting off name in her head. "Well, there was..."
Magika punched her friend in the arm. "I meant recently."
Mystic smiled. "Ira would most definitely make a good Hathian rider, but Jessela? I don't know."
"Hey," Magika smiled. "Myrah'care took you and you're a stuck up snob."
Mystic glared at Magika. "Fine. I'll take them both. Jessela will jump at the chance, but Ira?"
"Leave her to me. I'll just tell her about the honour of being chosen and all that. Besides, I don't think she really has it in her to let her friend be hauled off and married away."
Mystic nodded. "I'll send a flit to the king telling him where his daughter is. He wouldn't dare come here and force her out. He's terrified of magic."
Magika grinned remembering. "With good reason." The two old friends shared a laugh.
Mystic sighed and stood up. "I just hope he doesn't kill the flit." The Caretaker headed off to bed, but not before hearing Magika's final remark.
"Send Hope." Mystic shook her head. Luckily, some things never change.
Ira and Jessela are candidates at Mystic Dragon's Forest.
Background from Jolie Joyau's Web Grabphics.
