Royalbook

Spoiler

Sorry it's so short. xP Minor block.

Glen | Swailian Stables

Glen startled when Ferris perked up, jumping back a full half a pace. And then he was back immediately, pressing a gentle hand to the prince's shoulder, trying to encourage him to ease back again. "Don't get up so fast," he whispered. "At least let me look for a bump or something before you go back."

He didn't wait for lip-reading, letting his eyes trail to the top of Ferris's head, fingers combing through and parting his hair in the carefullest manner possible. It made his stomach start fluttering, like Cider had multiplied himself by a dozen and taken to living in his gut, but it was deal with uncomfortable emotions or risk the prince of Swails having a concussion. And it would be his fault entirely for ever bringing up that stupid spider in the first place.

"Okay, I think you're alright. But, uh, I'm not a doctor, so maybe you should get someone else to look at it, alright?" Glen frowned at Ferris's head, taking a step back to give him room to sit up again.

The poor stable-boy's stomach didn't stop fussing with the distance.

He finally dragged his eyes down to Ferris's lips, his hand going to scratch the back of his own head. "Here, I know you have to get back, but I'm gonna help you, b'cause I don't want you to end up getting hurt when I could've-" he stopped himself there, choosing to take a deep breath and offer Ferris an arm, instead of continue with his incessant rambling.

Sorry this is late...I hope my entrance isn't too awkward.

Ailene | Outskirts of Westvale

It had been a good day so far. The weather was nice and warm, the game had been plentiful, and the whole town just seemed to be in a good mood. Ailene had gotten some money from selling her surplus finds to the butcher, and because she'd been in the occasion to celebrate, she'd headed down to the baker to get her favorite delicacy; strawberry tart, something that she could very rarely afford. She'd stuck it in her pack along with a small turkey that would be her lunch.

Ailene was headed home now, taking the long, scenic route along the homes that dotted the edge of town. She walked this way often because it showed the expansive horizon, gave her perception of the world she lived in a sense of grandeur. It had been five years since she'd run away from home, and she quite enjoyed being on her own, not in the control of others or even caring what they thought. She enjoyed the ease of her day to day life; always safe but still with that sense of adventure that kept it interesting.

She was about thirty yards from her house when she heard a dog bark behind her. She tried to ignore it, but something about the dog unnerved her. Its eyes were beady, and it looked hungry and vicious.

"Hi there," Ailene said softly.

The dog approached her, bearing its teeth. She didn't know if it belonged to anyone, because it was mangy and dirty and thin. It limped, too. Ailene tried to back away, but it lunged forward and tried to bite her wrist; it had barely missed, the tips of its teeth only grazing her skin. It was a big black dog, and it had it's eyes on her pack. Maybe she acted too soon, or was too defensive of her food or too scared of what would happen to her to think otherwise, but she'd pulled her knife out of her belt and stabbed the dog; it was probably very sick, because the one stab was all it took. As Ailene backed away from its limp body, she wondered if she had made a mistake, if she'd soon be facing the dog's angry owner.

Ailene backed away, trying to ignore it. She would have to forget about it. She'd only killed the dog because it had attacked her. She went back to the tiny one room hut she called her home and tried to eat her lunch, only taking a few bites of turkey before realizing that she no longer had an appetite.

Ailene crawled onto her cot and tried to shut her eyes, but soon she heard an angry knock at her door.

*this is a lot already! This post will have to be a two-parter, which I should put up soon*

James | Haven

"Ah, good morning, girls!" the apothecary cried as they entered. "And I see you have brought our mystery man. Come along, let me have a look at him."
Coco gave him a gentle push and James found himself standing nose-to-nose with the apothecary, who peered at him over his glasses and breathed in his face.
"Very good, very good," he grunted. "Quite an interesting face you have, sir. It reminds me a little of—"
James felt a sharp jerk on his arm and Alfie interrupted. "We need some more of that tincture of garterweed, please," she babbled. "And a packet of crushed crimson strangleberries. Oh, and I need a bottle of dried newt pills."
The apothecary nodded and busied himself with packets and small stoppered bottles, which he weighed individually on a scale and placed in a small paper bag. Alfie payed the sum owing and they hurried out.

James inhaled deeply. Crisp morning air rushed into his lungs and made his eyes water. There was a feeling of clarity and wholesomeness prevalent in Haven. Everyone was busy doing their business, quietly and without asking questions. Several people greeted the them cheerfully as they walked.
"Morning Coco!"
"Morning Alfie!"
"Who's that there with you?"
"His name is James! He'll be staying at the bakery for a while."
"Well, well! Who'd have thought it!"
And they continued past more friendly, simple people. James realised that his fingers were still sticky from the remains of the caramel he had drizzled over the pastries. He had a vague feeling that it would be considered improper in society to lick them clean, but he licked them anyway.

Coco gasped and pointed. "Look! Alfie! Isn't that Gerry Geraldson?"
"What? Where? Don't make jokes like that!"
"There! Look! He's coming our way!"
Alfie flushed and pulled James in front of her. "Don't let him see me!"
James turned, startled. "What?"
"Good morning," said Gerry, stopping in front of them.
"Too late," Coco muttered from the corner of her mouth.
"Good morning!" said James.
"Alfie? Aren't you going to introduce us?" Gerry asked, peering around James.
Coco grinned as Alfie edged around James and stood beside him with an embarrassed air.
"Erm—James, this is Gerry. Gerry, this is James."
Gerry gave him a calculating look. "I have never seen you before."
"Oh, I've been living with Alfie and Coco for a while now," James answered. Alfie's cheeks deepened to crimson and she hid behind her hair. Gerry's eyebrows rose. Coco giggled nervously.
"I'm sorry," James said. "Did I say something wrong?"