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It all started when I decided to scale the castle walls. I hated my royal life, always stuck in stuffy rooms during boring political meetings, while I longed to be outside, riding my bay mare or climbing a tree. I had escaped my embroidery lesson, saying I needed to use the latrine. I didn’t return. I perched on top of the battlements, looking over the city of Indaer. I wore simple brown tights and a creamy tunic over a white silk shirt. My brother, Thane, looked up at me from the ground. “Shelia, you’ll get in huge trouble if Mother or Lathe finds you up there.” I sighed, looking down at him. My face wore an expression of pure torture. “Thane, you know I can’t stand my lessons.” I grimaced, “They’re murder!” Thane shrugged, “I’m just trying to save us both from a whipping.”
I stuck my tongue out at him, “Not even you could reach me, Thane, and you know it.”
My brother grinned, “Shelia, ladders.”
The smirk slipped from my face. “I did not think of that one.” I said slowly.
I regained my composure, “Even then, how many can get onto the top spire?” I said, pointing to the cone-shaped roof of the highest turret, on whose battlements I perched, once again smirking. Thane sighed, “Suit yourself.” He turned and tromped back into the castle to get his sword.
“Lucky boys.” I muttered, “They get to train with swords, and all sorts of fun things. Us girls have to learn embroidery! Out of all things, embroidery!” I climbed up to the spire I had mentioned earlier and settled myself comfortably so that most of my weight was distributed evenly. I didn’t want to wake from my daydreaming to find myself sliding down the sloped shingle roof. I laid my head back and gazed up at the clouds drifting lazily across the sheet of blue above. It would be a good day. I sighed and hooked an arm around the thin metal rod protruding out of the top of the tower. I pulled myself up to a sitting position, re-settled myself, and looked angrily in the direction of the courtyard, where raised voices called my name.
I grinned and laid myself flat against the shingles, tapping my clothing. It vibrated, only stopping when it had changed to blend into the shingle. I lay still, hardly breathing, as both Mother and Lathe passed forty feet below. “She must be here somewhere.” My mother was saying. Lathe sighed and turned to her, “Could she be using a camouflage spell?” My mother shook her head vigorously. Her reply drifted up to me, “No, Grinwald said he wouldn’t get there until next year. She must be up on a turret. Have your men check the towers, no need to be thorough.”
Lathe frowned, “Are you sure, your majesty? She is quite good at finding ways to hide herself in the most uncovered spots.”
Mother smiled and patted the young general’s arm, “I’m quite sure, Lathe.”
I frowned. That wasn’t like Mother at all. She’s been acting very oddly lately. I thought, trying to puzzle this out. Could a spell have backfired? No. Mother almost never casts that kind of spell. And when she does, it never backfires. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of one of her spells backfiring.
I heaved a mental sigh and waited. Mother left, headed for the gardens, and Lathe went to round up some men for the search. I grinned and carefully got off the roof. I swung my leg over the half wall and quickly climbed down the castle wall, on the outside. Giggling, I ran off, changing my clothing to look like a commoner’s. I entered the crowded marketplace and approached a salesman, “Hello again, Mr. Hanes.” I said, smiling.
He sighed, “When will you ever learn? You’re the princess, not some farmer’s daughter.”
“Crown princess.” I corrected him. “And I doubt I’ll ever learn.”
Bart Hanes scowled, “If one of the guards recognizes you, we’re both in for it.”
I gave him a saucy grin, “I’m a mage, Mr. Hanes.” I moved off humming a common folk song. No, Netta, you can’t come out and gather information yet. I told the impatient pink minor dragon hidden in my cloak pocket. Let me get somewhere where you’ll have a better chance. Then you can come out, my friend. I sighed. No, I won’t keep anything I hear from you… Netta, when have I done something to you to deserve that? ... When did I ground you for squeaking loudly in the middle of the marketplace? … Nonsense. I haven’t been in the market place at all since Mother took me on that outing! … You’re hopeless.
I strolled through the market, stopping every once in a while to ask questions on the goings-on around town. One merchant scowled at me and said, “Where have you been? You seem rather familiar with the marketplace. In fact, you must be here every week to know it so well. And,” He paused to give me a stern look, “You talk to all the merchants that have the most local news.”
I gave him a charming smile, “I live on a farm a few miles out of town. There’s so much work to be done right now, I haven’t gotten the chance to come for a month.”
The merchant snorted, “Off with you.” I smiled and moved on.
I stopped longer at one merchant’s stall as the man told me about a new movement. “They’re trying to get enough followers to over throw Queen Shani.”
I frowned, “But why?”
He sighed, “How am I supposed to know, missy? I’m not all-knowing.” He smiled kindly, “Off with you now, and be careful.” I smiled back and nodded, then ran off. Once I was alone, I spun on my heel and disappeared. I reappeared in my room in the palace. I quickly tapped my tunic, changing my clothing into a floor-length rose-red dress with a slash of cream running from my left knee across to my right foot. My boots changed into soft velvet slippers, and I pulled my loose red hair up into an elegant bun. I glanced at the mirror on the opposite wall and lengthened my sleeves, and just in time. The door opened and I quickly moved over to a table covered in books. I sat down and opened my history book, acting like I had been studying the entire time.
“Where have you been?” Mistress May stood in the doorway with her hands on her wide hips and a scowl on her face. I looked up and said innocently, “Right here, studying.” She gave my hastily designed dress a suspicious glance, “You’re supposed to be working on your embroidery.” I put on a surprised look, “I am? I thought I didn’t have embroidery today.”
“Nonsense!” Mistress May exploded. “You were in that room for half an hour, and you have half an hour more to do, missy.” She walked over to me and hauled me to my feet, dragging me out the door. I scrambled after her as she pulled me by the wrist to the sewing room. “I’ll leave her in your hands now, Margite.” The rather rounded housekeeper said, giving me a warning glare. Madam Margite smiled and nodded, “Come, child. You know you still have much to learn.” I sighed and reluctantly obeyed, following the young woman further into the room, where my embroidery lay on an overstuffed chair.
I picked it up and settled myself comfortably into the chair, while Madam Margite sat daintily on an identical velvet-lined chair beside mine, “Now, remember, now is not the time for slip stitches, Miss Shelia.” I sighed and took a stitch. “No, no, no! No slip stitches!” The half hour dragged by, and I joyfully dashed out of the room to the stables. I quickly willed my clothing to shift into a riding habit, and found my bay mare’s tack. I walked quickly into Silence’s stall and tacked her up, then lead her out to a stump. I climbed up onto the stump and mounted from there, then walked Silence in circles for a bit. I sped up to a trot, and finally cantered into the woods.
My daily ride was bliss for me. I walked Silence along, drawing strength from my two hours of freedom. I took out the bun, freeing my long, wavy red hair. I reached a meadow and, laughing, galloped around it. My hair streamed behind me, and Silence’s hooves glided quietly over the grass, hence her name. I let go of the reigns and threw my arms out, hooting. I collapsed onto the brown neck of my mare, laughing with the joy of freedom. I hiccupped my final laughter, blinking the water out of my eyes. “Oh, Silence, it’s so wonderful out here.” I hugged her neck as she slowed to a trot, and sighed, closing my eyes, “What will I do when I have to leave? No two hours of freedom, no escape from my studies to climb the walls. And, worst of all, no you. It’ll be unbearably boring. I really don’t see why I have to learn these things.” Silence snorted softly, changing her gait to a walk. I settled into the saddle and sighed, sitting up. “I’ll be dead from boredom in no time.” I groaned, patting her soft neck.
How very wrong I was.
