I tried not to move a muscle, as if it would save me from being noticed. Sorcerers were savages, at least the ones that were favored by Aduhlajh.
The food on my plate was worse for my appetite than having Soea for an escort. The eyeballs seemed to stare back at me, and needless say I didn’t even touch the lion lips. The only thing that nestled my empty stomach was the few dragon fingers I had come across, and although they weren’t even de-scaled, I managed to choke them down.
“Nice to have you join us, princess,” a grin in my face.
“Everyone just talks about your braveness, they never say anything about your beauty, princess!”
“It’s a shame you aren’t enjoying yourself. May I show you a good time later, princess?”
A million people talked to me, and it all seemed to be at once. I wanted to pull my hair out! And I knew I was near my snapping point; if anyone called me princess again, I would scream.
Aduhlajh’s tiny, beady, but intense black eyes watched my from across the extensive table. I tried to look away, but I was frightened. Then he engaged a conversation with someone else, and I was saved.
“Why don’t you touch your Ziytumppo eggshell, princess?”
Or so I thought. I stood up violently, knocking my chair down. I grabbed the small man who had just spoken to me by the arm, not even looking at his face. “If anyone calls me princess once more,” I screamed, huffing, “I… I don’t know what I’ll do!”
I looked at the man I had caught by the arm, and saw he was cowering. I let go of him.
“Forgive me.” He spoke in a quiet, shaky tone as he took my plate.
I felt horrible.
I set up my chair and ran from the room. The whole of the palace I stayed in was cold, dark stone, but there were hardly any walls, save my tower. It would be too easy to fall out of a tower without walls. The wind whipped through halls, chasing my ankles, and I was thankful it wasn’t cold. Not that it would have stopped me, I just wanted to get away.
The door to my tower room was at the top of stone spiral stairs, which were none too original. The basic ‘princess in a tower’ theme– although I was not a princess. Was I? Of course not. I was Queen. And of two countries!
The door was wooden, with a black steel bar for a lock. I threw it openand ran in. Tears began to sting my eyes. Nothing seem to make sense! Nothing! I groped the blankets to my bed and pulled them down. I buried myself in the pillows and shut my eyes tight. I couldn’t help but grind my teeth together. I wanted to be thankful, that I was still alive, because most kidnappings had to be much worse! I was invited to parties, fed until full… there was probably something they wanted from me. They were keeping me alive for a reason; I knew it. But, it was better than being a pessimist, and expecting death at any moment.
I remembered what Mem said. I was stuck in the middle. Soea was using me to get to Aduhlajh and Viloria, and Aduhlajh was using me to get to… someone. I wished I could figure it out. What would Soea want with anyone I knew?
I knew that Brye was probably searching for me at this very moment. I tried to let it comfort me, but a certain thought kept flashing through my head that I didn’t want to see. I didn’t want to think it. But I knew it was a possibility! I knew Brye would rescue me… but did Aduhlajh know that, too?
My stomach took a wild flip, and I was glad I didn’t eat any eyeballs at dinner. Oh, if anything happened to him because of me, I would gladly fall out the window.
Brye was the only person I could think of that Aduhlajh would want to get to. Why, I couldn’t quite figure, but I knew he didn’t want Conrad, or LaShebah. Brye was the only sensible answer.
So, when he came after me, they’d capture him. I would feel terribly rotten, and die feeling that way. What a horror life was. My love would die doing the right thing; rescuing me.
“Unless,” I shot up, suddenly in hand with a brilliant idea. “Unless he never came!”
They couldn’t stand me here forever. I wasn’t always the most pleasant person, and luckily, they needed to keep me as live bait in order to lure Brye. If were the most impossible, wicked child I could be, they would get very fed up. And if it was a terribly long time, months and months, and maybe a year and they saw no sign of the valiant Brye, wouldn’t they be tired of having me around? Of course!
I sunk back down, trying to get comfortable. A year was a long time to wait. And it could be longer than that. And this was a horrid place, and I only had one friend. Mem, who’d be the one to bring the news to Brye that I was fine, and not to come. And what if Brye wouldn’t believe the word of a sorceress? I could handwrite him a note, send him lock of my hair, or something convincing.
Now I only needed to talk to Mem. How did I send word to her? If only I were an elf, or had Unstacia here. Then I could speak to her through my head. Of course, I didn’t know how far away Mem was. If she were any more than ten miles away, it wouldn’t matter whether I were elf or elephant. Unstacia explained to me that mind speaking could only be heard under a range of ten miles. It was more for a house, to communicate with servants without trouble, or for instances such as an uncomfortable dinner party, telling your spouse you’d like to leave without being rude. So, it wasn’t as good to be true as I’d thought.
“Princess!”
I jumped and hit my head on headboard of the bed. “Mem! You scared the breath out of me! And what perfect timing, I need desperately to speak with you.”
Mem stepped in my window and sat on the sill. “What is it?”
“First off, please don’t call me princess! I’m not even a princess. And my name’s Layla. Second, I think I know who Aduhlajh wants to get to.”
Mem was petting her hair, slung over one shoulder. It was a dirty golden color, with waves like the sea. “So do I. It’s your Prince, Brydon.”
“He’s not a prince! He’s a king! And yes. That’s who I was thinking of. How did you find out?”
“I am an expert eavesdropper. It’s wicked I know, but it’s also fun.” She grinned. “Not to mention useful. You, Layla, you’re known to always have a plan. So, what have you conjured this time?”
“Me?” I grinned fiendishly. “But of course.” I explained to Mem my brilliant plan. I explained that Brye would take convincing, and we’d be taking great measures, and she’d be taking great trips.
“How brave to stay in the castle of Aduhlajh so long, Layla! It gives me the confidence I need to fly from Sorcerers City.” She smiled brightly, which was almost comical.
“Have I something to fear, staying here? They would have reason to dispose of me, right?” I asked, a little edgily.
“You never know. I wouldn’t think so, but you never know.”
“So should I be wicked, and annoying, or should I stay put?” I asked.
“I would wait and see,” Mem said. “See how they tolerate you.”
“I’ll do that. Now, let me write a letter so you can take it with you.” I searched around the room with my eyes, looking for any sort of parchment. I saw a desk in the far corner. I lifted the top, and saw plenty of parchment and ink, almost enough for a story writer, or a scribe. I took some out and began writing. But oh, what to say?
“Dearest Brye,” I read aloud for Mem to approve. “You won’t be at all surprised to hear that I am at Aduhlajh’s castle. But, no fear, I’m unharmed to this day, and suspect to stay so. If you are wondering the reason for them kidnapping me, it is to get to you. Why they want to get to you I can’t say, for I don’t know. All I know is that you must let go of all instinct and leave me here, for I know you’re searching. Return home, Brye. Who could stand me for longer than a few months? When they don’t get what they want, they’ll give up. It may sound simple on paper, but I know it will be difficult for you. Especially to believe the word of a sorceress. But she is friend, not foe, and has been my comfort today. I can take care of myself, for now. My love, Layla.” I looked up at Mem. She was smiling wistfully.
“How wonderful to have someone to send your love to. I think it’
s a marvelous letter.” Her eyes shielded me from seeing inside her, what was behind her words. But I didn’t question her, I just folded the letter and gave it to her.
“Good luck,” I bestowed. I took her hands. “I hope this works.”
“As do I,” her eyes flashes their feistiness again. “Revenge may be sweet for me, and victory may be sweet for you, but we don’t have it in our grasp yet.”
“Go,” I said, “so that we may have it sooner. God bless you!”
She jumped out the window. That gave me shivers.
I decided to stay in my room for a few days, unless I was invited out, at least for a few days. It was terribly lonely, for I was used to having a companion with me at all times, whether it be human, creature, or animal. So I turned to the yellowed parchment in the desk. I wrote prose and poetry well into the night, finding nothing else to do. I wrote of my sorrows, of my battles, and anything else that entered my mind.
I will not dry my eyes
There’s still life to live
Who knows how many cries
Or sorrows I have yet to give…
Before I knew it I was in tears, and the paper was nearly gone. I went through the stack, and found that some of the last pages were already used. The writing was incredibly tiny, and it intrigued me. I took it placidly in my hands and sat down to read it.