Elements of Glory: The Princess of Nothing

’I been to the Monster Pits of Grasdula, the ugly lands of the South. I’ve faced the forces of King Carnasio. I’ve battled Trolls, Voglons, and Vampires. I’ve even faced a Dragon… but you’d never catch me crossing the Lands of Weral, let alone walking, of my own free will, into those evil forests…’

-Magnus Gunner, an old Rammol Ranger, trying to dissuade a group of young, reckless, teenagers from entering the lands of Weral. The teenagers were never seen again, after they ignored the Ranger’s warning

After Aragam had recounted his story, and Emily had let the weight of it sink in. She and Aragam worked quickly. They’d put Wilth’s body into the crypt under the castle, and then hurried upstairs to gather the supplies they’d need to go after Samantha, Wuzzul, and Togik. Emily’s head was spinning, she was still in shock that Wilth was dead, and she had no idea what to think of all the things he’d told her before he’d died. On top of all that, she, and a Wasgician she hardly knew, were about to venture into the forbidden forests of her Kingdom… in the rain… at night!

Wilth would not be happy about this.

Emily’s whole world had been turned upside down. Hurrying through the hallways of her castle, with Aragam on her heels, carrying some satchels of food, Emily fastened the gold chain of the black and silver amulet Wilth had given her, about her neck.

’What is that?’ Aragam asked behind her.

‘Nothing,’ Emily responded quickly, rounding a corner and hurrying on toward their one last stop before they headed out to try and save Samantha. Emily had no idea if they really could, but Aragam was determined, and something inside of Emily wouldn’t allow her to leave the child to a dread fate in the dark forests.

Emily reached a large, wooden, door, and threw her shoulder into it, opening up a huge armoury that was filled to the gills with armour and weapons of every kind. There were gleaming swords, round shields, rectangles shields, and full suits of gleaming armour, and full suits of brown, black, and forest green, leather, armour. There were lances, and bows, and crossbows, and many quivers bursting with arrows. There were axes and flails, and even weapons Emily didn’t know.

When Aragam entered the armoury after her, he stared at the countless weapons, let his mouth drop open, and lost his grip on the food they’d packed, dropping it to the floor.

‘Oh, my,’ he breathed in surprise.

‘Come on,’ Emily said, hurrying forward and grabbing some swords off the walls, ‘we need to get moving.’

When Emily had a sword on each of her hips, a bow over her shoulder, and a quiver of arrows, and some daggers – and Aragam had a sword along with his staff – they hurried back the way they’d come, racing toward the main doors of the castle. When they reached the doors, Aragam pulled one open and headed out into the rain.

Emily stopped dead in the doorway, and stared into the darkness, breathing in the rain. A cool chill ran over her, and she remembered what Wilth had told her about the castle being a refuge for her, and how it would be safe unless she invited evil inside. She knew, if she stayed where she was, she’d be safe, nothing could harm her.

But what about Samantha?

Aragam stopped running and turned around to face Emily. ‘What are you waiting for?’ he called out to her, beetling his thick eyebrows together, like two furry, blonde, caterpillars.

Emily looked at the Wasgician, her fear and worry rippling inside her like an agitated pond. ’Is this really our problem?’ she asked. ’Why do we have to do this?’

’You think anyone else is going to?’ Aragam shouted. ’Emily, Samantha’s not a baby anymore, but she’s in the hands of foul, foul creatures who, I’m sure, mean her only ill. We have to help her!’

‘Why are you so set on this?’ Emily demanded, and the rain seemed to pour down a little harder. ’When I first met you, it was almost as if you couldn’t be bothered with her, and would have been happy to be rid of her! Why are you risking your life now?’

Aragam was quiet for a long moment and looked like he was thinking deeply, like he was trying to understand himself, or something about himself.

Emily could understand why he’d have to think about it. This whole situation was madness! She didn’t know what Aragam’s reasons might be for not going after Emily, but she knew she had a host of her own, and one of the biggest was the fact that just a very short time ago she’d lost the closest thing she’d ever had to a parent. She’d not even buried him properly, only put him in the old royal crypt, stored him there because she couldn’t be bothered with taking care of him properly.

Please, Wilth, forgive me.

She’d lost herself in Aragam’s story and his desire to get out there and save Samantha.

But is it what I should be doing?

‘I don’t know,’ the Wasgician’s voice said, cutting through the pouring rain, sounding pensive. ‘I don’t know why I’m risking my life for her… but… it just seems like the right thing to do... despite the dangers that await me.’ His drenched face filled with determination. ’Come with me or don’t, Emily. I’ll understand if you stay behind, but I’m going, and if it is to my death, so be it, but I will not leave Samantha and Wuzzul – or Horse if I can find him – to an awful fate in those dread woods... if I can help it.’

He turned and started off again. All alone, all determined. Emily watched him go, fading deeper and deeper into the darkness and the storm. She couldn’t believe it. He was like a mad man. A small part of her told her to let him go, but something deep inside cried for her to follow him.

You can’t let him go into this by himself! You can’t leave him alone!

Against her better judgement, Emily closed the castle door behind her, and stepped out into the rain.

It felt like heaven as the big droplets of cool water splashed against her body. She breathed in deeply, closed her eyes, and turned her face skyward, letting her skin and hair become fully drenched, before looking forward again. She could barely see Aragam in the gloom and rain, so she ran to catch up to him, her feet splashing in mud and puddles. When she reached him, he turned and looked at her, a bit of a surprised expression on his face.

‘I didn’t think you’d come,’ he told her.

‘What have I got to lose,’ Emily said pragmatically after a long moment. ’My guardian is dead, my castle is empty, and I’m the Princess of Nothing.’

’That’s the spirit,’ Aragam said sarcastically, picking up the pace a little.

Emily forced herself to match him. They walked in silence through the darkness, leaving the castle behind. Before long they reached the T in the road, and dark forest stood across from them.

Emily and Aragam stopped, staring into the woods.

‘You said you were some ways down the road,’ Emily pointed out, ’should we go where you lost Samantha, and then enter the woods, or do you think it matters?’

Suddenly Aragam looked uncertain.

‘Hey,’ Emily said, nudging him with her elbow.

Aragam shook his head. ‘I don’t know,’ he said. ’It’s been hadrohs… they could have taken her anywhere.’

They stood in silence as they each recognized the truth of the situation. They didn’t know where the monsters had taken Samantha, and they had no leads. To walk into the dark forest in the middle of the night, apart from being enormously stupid, could only lead to them aimlessly walking about for hadrohs and getting nowhere – except maybe killed by something truly terrible.

’Oh, I’m an idiot!’ Aragam sighed, dropping to the muddy road, and flopping onto his bum. ’What was I thinking? I have no idea where to start… I-’

There was movement across the road, and Emily quickly turned, drawing one of her swords with expert movement. Aragam scrambled to his feet, and fumbled to draw his own weapon. He and Emily watched the other side of the road carefully, and they saw some of the lower brush shifting as something hurtled, at a quick pace, towards them.

‘What is it?’ Aragam asked, his voice cracking a little.

’How should I know?’ Emily demanded.

The thing got closer and closer, and then it leapt out of the underbrush and onto the road. Aragam yelped in surprise and the little creature screamed. But then everyone recognized one another, for it had been Wuzzul who’d left the forest, his golden hair flattened to his plump body.

‘WUZZUL!’ Aragam growled.

‘You am okay, Wasgician man!’ Wuzzul exclaimed and ran to Aragam, hugging him about the knees. ‘And you am with him, Pretty Lady!’ Wuzzul cried, leaping to Emily and doing the same. Then he stepped back from her, wiped his big eyes and flopped down into the mud on the road.

‘Wuzzul, how’d you get back here?’ Aragam asked, crouching down beside the little man. ‘The last time I saw you, you were running after Samantha, surrounded by a throng of evil monsters!’

’Me so small they not bother with me,’ Wuzzul explained, as big tears ran from his large round eyes. ‘Ooo, Wasgician man,’ Wuzzul sobbed, wiping his nose and sniffling, ’they taked her, Mister Wasgician man, they taked her far away, and me runned to try and help her, but me couldn’t! They is too many and they is too mean. They wouldn’t let me do anything!’ He looked up at Emily at Aragam. ‘That’s why me came here, to get you both, so you both could help me!’

‘Hang on,’ Emily asked in surprise. ’Do you know where Samantha is?’

Wuzzul nodded. ‘Yes, Wuzzul knows, yes, yes!’

‘Can you lead us there?’ Aragam wondered.

‘Mmm-hmm,’ Wuzzul affirmed nodding, ’me can.’

Emily and Aragam exchanged looks, and then stared over Wuzzul’s head at the dark forest.

Aragam blew out a long sigh. ’You know, you can still turn back,’ he said, glancing at Emily.

’Are you going to?’ the Princess asked.

‘Not now,’ Aragam said, putting a brave look on his face.

Emily only wished he was that brave on the inside too.

’Then I’m coming too,’ she said, all determination.

Together they looked at Wuzzul.

‘Okay, little buddy,’ Aragam told the Dooy, ‘lead the way.’

Wuzzul wiped his eyes and nose, stood up, and clenched his little fists, putting on a brave look too. He waited a few moments, but then marched back toward the dark woods. Emily and Aragam crossed the road with him, and followed him into the forest.