Elements of Glory: The Princess of Nothing

’You always need a plan; they may not come when you want them, or need them. Finally, they may come at the last moment to save your tail, but you need a plan, always need a plan!’

-Ballory Vindorg, inept Wasgician, who became a hero after slaying the Tezzerak Dragon, though he lost an arm in the doing

Emily leaned against the door of her bedroom as she closed it and it latched. She couldn’t believe how tremendously her life had changed. It seemed that she’d thought of that again and again since Wilth had died. Now she was thinking it once more, with the added weight and knowledge that she, Grijyn, and Siri had to figure out a way to drive the Dead Man and all other evil from her Kingdom!

It was a tall order.

Emily had no idea how they’d accomplish it, even after more than two hadrohs trying to figure something out with Aragam, the Griffin, and Siri. Her head hurt, her body hurt, and she was more tired than she’d been in her entire life. She staggered over to her bed and flopped down on the soft covers and mattress.

The bed seemed to envelop her.

The next thing she knew, she was fast asleep.

When Emily woke up, it was day again. It had stopped raining, but the sky remained black and grey with stormy clouds. Emily rolled onto her side and stared toward the tall arched window of her chamber. She stared out at the forest and the grey skies, and her mind was instantly assaulted with memories of the night before and the great task ahead of her.

Emily’s heart filled with dread.

She laid back down on her bed and stared at the canopy above her. Her mind was cart-wheeling out of control. She and Aragam had barely survived the Dead Man’s lair! How were she, and her small band, supposed to drive away all the dread evil that infested the forests of her Kingdom?

I wish you were still here, Wilth… I wish you were still alive.

There was a knock on the door to Emily’s room. She turned her head and looked at the door. She hesitated a moment, wondering if she could really face anyone, or a new day. But she knew she must. She was the Princess of her Kingdom, even if she was the Princess of Nothing.

Emily walked to the door, grabbed the latch, and pulled it open. Standing in the hallway, looking like he’d not slept a wink, was Aragam. The Wasgician was in his usual robes, and his hair was messy on top of his head. Gripped in one hand was his tall, pointed, blue hat.

‘Aragam,’ Emily said, giving the Wasgician a small smile. ’You look… awful.’

‘Thanks,’ Aragam responded dryly, ‘I didn’t sleep.’

‘Why?’ Emily asked.

Aragam blinked at her, and gave her a look like she was mad. ’Erm… maybe the whole end of the world stuff…’ He looked past Emily to her bed, and then looked her over from head to toe. ’You’re telling me that you did sleep?’

Aragam made Emily feel like she should be ashamed. ‘Well…’ she hesitated, ‘not well.’

Aragam narrowed his blue eyes.

Emily sighed. ’Did you want something, Wasgician?’ she asked in exasperation.

Aragam bit the inside of his cheek, waited a moment, and then said, ‘I think I have a plan.’

’A plan?’ Emily asked.

’Yeah, a plan,’ Aragam said quickly, ‘a way of driving the evil out of your Kingdom.’

Emily smiled. ‘Okay,’ she said, ‘let’s have it.’

*

John woke up sitting in a chair, arms folded in front of him, head down. His ached all over. Samantha’s room was lit with daylight now. John rubbed his tired face and looked toward her bed. She wasn’t there, nor were the Dooys.

A sudden shock of worry shot through him, and he leapt from his chair, ready to turn the castle over, looking for his dear friend. He stopped halfway to the door, when he noticed someone standing across the room at the tall window. John turned fully, and noticed that it was Samantha. She was dressed in a brown skirt and a white shirt. Wuzzul and Whirligig were sitting on the window ledge, tails slowly wagging as they gazed with Samantha at the scenery.

‘Samantha?’ John asked.

Slowly, she turned around to face him. ‘Yes?’ she asked.

‘You’re okay?’ John wondered.

Samantha hesitated. ’I’m better now,’ she finally admitted.

John started across the room to her. Soon he was standing beside her. He looked out at the forest, down toward the lake. He stared at the dark waters for a long moment. Finally, he turned and looked at his friend. She did look a little older, and though her face seemed a bit more mature, she was still Samantha.

‘It’s mad, isn’t it?’ John asked, turning to look at the lake again.

‘What?’ Samantha asked.

‘All this,’ John responded. ’This other world, this…’ he shook his head. ’I wonder if we can ever go home.’

Samantha turned to John and stared at him.

He looked at her too.

‘What?’ he asked, confused by her bewildered expression.

’This is home,’ she said.

John narrowed his eyes. ’You’re not serious?’ he asked.

Samantha canted her head to the side. ‘I am,’ she responded.

‘What about the mansion, what about Thaddeus and-’

’Those memories are… like a fading dream. My memories are of this world, of what we did…’ she turned to look out the window again and sighed in a sad way, deep pain in her eyes, ’of what we were forced to do.’

John couldn’t believe what he was hearing. This was his very best friend in all the world. She was his anchor to his old life… but right now she sounded like a stranger.

’You mean you don’t remember it?’ John asked, his voice breaking.

‘I remember very little,’ Samantha responded.

The truth in her voice almost made John cry. He forced himself not to. ’What about… do you remember that we were friends?’

Samantha turned to John and smiled. ’We’ve always been friends you and I, John.’

John was confused.

‘We were friends before Ratikgurr-’

‘No,’ John growled in frustration. ’Do you remember… What about last yehv, at Drumull Lake?’

Samantha shook her head.

‘Our fourteenth birthday?’ John pressed, but Samantha didn’t seem to remember that either. ’The fort we were going to fix up?’ John demanded.

‘I’m sorry,’ Samantha said, ‘I don’t remember any of that.’

John stared at Samantha in horror. Then glanced down at Wuzzul and Whirligig who just shook their heads sadly.

Slowly, his heart breaking, John looked back at Samantha.

‘But-’

A knock on the door stopped him. He turned with Samantha and the Dooys, to see the door open and Siri step inside. The Impish woman looked at the four for a moment, and then beckoned with a hand.

‘Come,’ she said, ‘we have a plan.’

‘A plan?’ John asked. ‘A plan for what?’

‘To start saving the world,’ Siri responded, as if it was the simplest thing ever.

‘Saving the-’

Siri turned to John and fixed him with a stare. ‘Come along,’ she said more sternly, ‘I’ll fill you both in on what you missed, so you’ll be all caught up.’

‘Thank you,’ Samantha said, and she sounded like she meant it as she walked away from the window, crossing the room to Siri. Wuzzul was on her heels.

John hesitated and glanced at Whirligig, who wasn’t helpful as he just looked cute as he shrugged.

’Me follow you,’ the Dooy said.

John sighed, and looked toward Siri, Samantha, and Wuzzul, who were all looking at him expectantly.

‘Fine,’ he sighed, and followed, with Whirligig bringing up the rear. He was surrounded, but he’d never felt more alone in his entire life.

*

’That’s your plan?’ Emily asked Aragam, standing in the throne room with the Wasgician, the Griffin King, Siri, Samantha, John and the two Dooys.

‘That’s it,’ Aragam responded. ‘Why, you have a problem with it?’ He sounded defensive.

‘Griffins haven’t been seen for more than twenty cycles,’ Emily pointed out. ’Even I know that.’

‘Sure,’ Aragam agreed, ’but we’ve got the Griffin King right here. If anyone knows where their Kingdom is, it’s him.’ Aragam turned to Grijyn. ’You do know where your Kingdom is, don’t you?’

Grijyn looked thoughtful.

’You’ve got to be kidding me!’ Aragam exclaimed.

‘Keep your hat on, Wasgician!’ the Griffin scolded, looking up at Aragam and fixing him with his icy blue eyes. ’I do know where my own Kingdom is!’

‘So… what’s the hold up?’ Aragam asked.

’We will need to fly there,’ Grijyn said. ’I’m the only one here with wings.’

Everyone looked at Siri, who’s ugly withered wings twitched, and she smiled one of her perfect smiles.

’The only one with wings worth anything,’ Grijyn corrected.

‘Can’t we…’ Aragam cleared his throat, ‘I mean, can’t you just… erm… give us a ride?’

Grijyn raised an eyebrow in surprise, startled by the question, as anyone might be if they’d just been asked to carry a body over a great distance. ’You’re not serious?’

‘Well-’

’Aragam!’ Emily scolded.

’Well, he has wings!’ Aragam charged.

Emily sighed and looked at Grijyn. ‘So we need some way to transport ourselves up there…’ She looked around at the others. ‘Does anyone have any ideas?’

‘Wuzzul does,’ the golden-furred Dooy said, raising a chubby hand.

‘And Whirligig too,’ the black Dooy agreed, raising his black tail into the air and waving it, a big smile on his furry face.

Everyone turned to the Dooys.

’You guys?’ Siri asked in surprise.

Both Dooys folded their arms across their chests and pouted.

’We am both smart, you can bes sure of that!’ Wuzzul defended.

Siri chuckled.

‘Okay,’ Aragam grumbled, folding his arms across his chest and staring down at the Dooys. ‘Let’s have it.’