Elements of Glory: The Princess of Nothing

’Oh, I don’t care in the slightest anymore!’

-Aragam Spendal’s declaration when he grew frustrated with his Wasgician training

Emily didn’t know how long she read there in the library, but, as the sky started to darken, the rain continued to fall. As the wind beat against the glass doors and the window, Emily’s stomach protested being so empty. She’d only had an early breakfast after all. Emily marked her book, set it down, and, hearing the growl of her stomach – and making a face at it, because it was a rather rude sound – she set off through her castle, making her way, quickly, toward the kitchen.

The kitchen was a large room, with many stoves, ovens, and basins. There were cupboards with beautiful dishes in them, and a number of carts that had once been pushed around the palace by men and women, taking fabulous food to parties and balls.

At least that’s how Emily understood it.

She walked to a large, steel, box that was wider than her and taller. She threw a latch and opened it up. The inside of the box was cold, kept that way by some sort of Gemgic whisper Wilth had placed upon it. Reaching into the box, Emily pulled out some eggs, which she cooked in a large silver pan. She cut herself two pieces of bread and poured herself a cool glass of umbah milk.

Putting her dinner on a tray, Emily happily pushed it, wheels squeaking loudly, through her castle, to one of the beautiful dining rooms. She lit the candle chandeliers by speaking a Gemgic word and waving a finger that she pointed toward the huge crystal and candle creation. The wide dining room illuminated at the woman’s command. Emily pushed her dinner across the gleaming and smooth, marble, ballroom-like, floor to the head of the long shiny dark wood table. She set her food it in the spot in front of her chair, and then sat down in the tall-backed chair – of dark wood, red velvet, detailed in gold – attentively laying a napkin on her lap.

Carefully – and with the elegance of the Princess that she was – Emily began to eat. As she ate, she hummed softly to herself a tune she loved, though she was very unsure where she’d heard it. She liked to imagine it had been something her Mother had left with her before… before the world changed.

Emily scooped some eggs up onto one piece of bread, and was lifting it toward her lips when a loud bell tolled through the entire castle. The tolling startled Emily so much that she dropped her bread and eggs. With her brown eyes wide and surprised, Emily jumped again as the loud bell tolled once more.

It was the Caller’s Bell. Someone was at the castle.

A visitor!

’No one comes into these lands!’ Emily whispered, as if scolding the castle for tricking her, which she knew was silly. ’No one comes to the castle! Wilth told me so.’ Emily went right on talking, trying to reassure herself of what she thought she knew. ’Wilth told me they’re scared of everything in the Weral Kingdom… it’s haunted he says!’

Pushing her chair back and standing up, Emily slowly, cautiously, made her way out of the dining room, through the dim hallways of her castle, toward the source of the noise, which continued unabated.

It worried, but intrigued her more and more.

Finally, she stopped in a dim foyer. Ahead of her were the tall, black, imposing, wood and steel doors of the castle’s main entrance. The bell tolled again. This time it seemed louder. Emily reasoned, though it seemed impossible, that there was someone outside the front doors, in the main courtyard, ringing the announcement bell like a mad person.

Back in the old days, Emily guessed, someone would have seen to this already, and she and her parents would only just now be learning that a caller had arrived.

These days, Emily had to see to it herself.

She moved toward the door, to unlock and unlatch it, but stopped and thought, wondering what Wilth would say.

‘Wilth wouldn’t let them in,’ she told herself quickly, as if scolding. Then she added, ‘At the very least, he would simply and quickly deal with whoever it is and send them away.’

Then a new thought came to her.

‘But Wilth’s not here,’ she whispered, feeling suddenly like there was a great weight on her shoulders. ’I’m here… and it’s getting dark, and… no one wants to be outside – at least according to what Wilth has taught me – during the night.’

Biting her bottom lip, gathering her courage, Emily shot forward and unlocked the door. With a strain of her muscles, she pulled, and it started to open. Then, she was knocked over as the door was forced open in a rush. Emily had to roll out of the way as a huge, black, horse galloped into the foyer! The beast was followed shortly thereafter by a very cold-looking, very wet, Wasgician. He had a sort of good looking face, but a bit too big of a nose. He was dressed all in blue, with a tall matching hat on his head.

Emily blinked, caught up for a moment, wondering, if by some wonderful chance, this might be the Blue Mystic!

Her senses returned to her quickly, and she thought that no matter how nice looking she might think this man was – and if he was the Blue Mystic or not – she had to demand of him that he put his horse back outside!

’You can’t just let your horse into my castle… sir,’ Emily proclaimed – adding the last bit just in case he was the Mystic – as she started to sit up from being knocked over so rudely.

A horse hoof clicked down loudly – and indignantly, or so it sounded – on the gleaming marble floor in front of Emily. She looked up at the magnificent black steed, and was, without shame, a little startled.

’I am not a horse!’ the beast suddenly declared with a vicious edge. ’I am a Stryth, and I’ll tell you this, I’m not staying out there any longer than I have to!’

Emily stared, blinked, and said, ‘Oh, my.’