Preface
Nobody knows why it happened, but happened it did. Two rival clans fighting for dominance of the mortal world stopped fighting. They were an immortal group, and for centuries they fought over who had the right to rule. The Jazra are vampires and more brutal than the Ejalie, elves who practice magic. Why this fight even started is unknown. The price of peace is a child. It had been a long time since the last child was born, beyond their own memories. This child would be conceived by the leader of each clan and their spouses. This harmony child will be the new ruler of the conjoined force, ruling the world when it came of age.
How a child was to be born came back to the eldest shaman, Satunza. From space he called forth a seed of star, and brought it to a sacred place. Each clan leader and their spouse would give something of themselves. Lord Wrent and his wife Lady Tresa are the leaders of the Jazra. Wrent gave the star seed strength, wisdom, and a bit of his vampire nature. Tresa gave the seed beauty, accuracy, and swiftness. Lady Prenlie and her husband Lord Egnant are the leaders of the Ejalie. Prenlie gave the seed her cunning, endurance, and some of her elfish nature. Egnant was the last, and he gave the gift of his calm mind, clear view, and modest nature. With these traits and attributes the shaman began to recite words that only he knew.
It took Satunza seven days to complete this task. When he was finished a young child stood before him. She was complete with night dark hair, her eyes blue as sapphires, and lips as pale as a rose. Her face was a sculpted angel with pointed ears, and skin ghostly pale. When everyone saw Lady Aralu they cheered, for she was the hope of hundreds. Tired of bloodshed but unable to stop it, the Ejalie and the Jazra were finally going to end this bitter war.
Chapter 1- The Beginning
“Wait for me!” Elizabeth Hopewell cried, laughing as she chased her older sisters Jenna and Jessica. Elizabeth Hopewell is not her true name though; she is in fact Lady Aralu of the Newjazie clan. Soon after her birth a group of elves and vampires broke away from both clans, vowing to never rest till they see her dead. The rebels hated the idea of a child so young to take over both races and rule the world, even when she did reach of age she was still younger than anyone else. In order to keep her safe, she was whisked away to the mortal realm. Before she fled the shaman gave her a silver chain with a gold leaf etched in emerald shards to wear around her neck, and left her with this warning: Always wear this Aralu; never take it off even for a second. This hides you from the rebels, and prevents those who mean you harm from touching you.
Elizabeth stopped running and traced her finger along the edge of the golden leaf before tucking it back into her shirt. Ten years had passed since the sinister threat had been issued. Her four parents had to stay behind and rule the clans, trying to find the rogues and dispose of them. Elizabeth Hopewell was now a part of a family of five, with three brothers and twin sisters. She was content and relaxed with her family.
Though her adopted parents knew the truth behind her, her siblings did not. When she bested them in school or in sports, the siblings made excuses but soon stopped and began to work harder to beat her instead, never succeeding. This happy life went on for a time, carefree and blissful. However, the day had to come when Elizabeth’s secret life, failed.
Chapter 2- Tricks and Betrayal
When Elizabeth had graduated from High School, she was the top in her class as well as a star athlete. Life was going great; her future was bright until the day her necklace broke. Elizabeth was packing up to head back to Talina, a city where the conjoined clans would live once she came to throne. The city was of the old times, but made anew for her reign. It was not the only city for the conjoined, but it was the most important. Now, Elizabeth was still in danger from the Unmora, but her time with the mortals was up. Almost twenty years had passed, and she needed to learn more of her true life, the life as the new Princess of Newjazie. Elizabeth was scheduled to leave at the end of the week, but fate had other plans.
Elizabeth’s sister Jenna had always wanted Elizabeth’s necklace, jealous of the fact that her parents never gave her anything of the sort. Their parents told Jenna that the necklace came with Elizabeth, but Jenna’s resentment grew. After the graduating ceremony had ended and the Hopewell family had returned home, Jenna offered to help Elizabeth with her packing. Elizabeth reluctantly agreed, sensing that something was amiss.
While packing away all the clothes and belongings into boxes Jenna gave Elizabeth a hug. Jenna was never a hugging person, and so Elizabeth hugged back, shocked but pleased by this sign of affection. Before pulling away Jenna swiftly yanked hard on the necklace, and the silver chain snapped.
“H...h...hey!” Elizabeth stuttered as the chain slithered down to the floor, the gold leaf sticking into cracks between the wooden floorboards. She went to grab for it but Jenna was faster for the first time.
“It’s not fair that you get this! It should be mine, my parents should have never given it to you in the first place,” Jenna retorted angrily, snatching up the leaf before dashing towards the door. “Little Miss Perfect doesn’t deserve such splendor. Don’t you have enough without being so selfish with this?”
She almost made to the door when the room seemed to lurch suddenly and the electricity went out. Footsteps thundered down the hall and Elizabeth’s door crashed open. Jenna screamed as someone grabbed hold of her and thrust her into the closet. The necklace dropped to the floor as Elizabeth stumbled blindly for the window before two hands seized her arms forcefully and hauled her into the hall. Elizabeth screamed before a hand covered her mouth.
“Be quiet, girl! It’s me, Satunza,” the shaman whispered, letting Elizabeth go. He lit a fire in his hand, illuminating seven other elves and vampires standing nearby. One of the elves grabbed the necklace and gave it back to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth whirled around and stared at Satunza before looking at the others, “Wha..what are you doing here?” she stammered.
“I had a tracker on the leaf, for if it fell I would know. You are lucky I did. There is no time to talk though, we must flee,” Satunza informed her. He turned to the elves and vampires, instantly they formed a ring around Lady Aralu.
Lady Aralu looked back towards her closet before clutching the leaf so hard it imprinted on her hand. She shook her head before following the group out of the house. Satunza murmured quietly and a portal opened up before them, showing the city of Talina. He led them through the portal and Lady Aralu found herself in the slums of the mighty city.
“What are we doing here Satunza?” Lady Aralu questioned, looking around nervously.
“I am not Satunza, foolish girl,” the fake-Satunza suddenly transformed into Qurzi, the vampire leader of the Unmora, the rebels who want her dead. Lady Aralu tried to run but the elves blocked her path. Lady Aralu shook her head, and then her body began to tremble.
“Hah, look at her, she quakes with fear,” one of the vampires sneered.
His comment was short lived because it was not fear, but power coursing through Lady Aralu’s body. Now that she was in her true realm, the power that she had been given in the beginning opened, her time in the mortal realm suppressed it. The power she was given could now be used in mortal realm, as well as her own world. Lady Aralu began to transform, growing taller and her features hardened. Instead of the angelic face there was now a twisted hatred with eyes that had turned red with anger, and when she opened her mouth to snarl her teeth were now rows of small fangs. Her body was now wired with muscles, and her fingers were sharpened claws.
The elves and vampires went for their weapons but they were too slow. Before Qurzi knew it, his minions were laying in bloodied heaps around him. Lady Aralu turned to face Qurzi but he fled the scene, racing through the slums to escape this terror.
Chapter 3- Journey Home
Lady Aralu gradually calmed down. Her face softened and her eyes turned blue, the muscles vanished, and she shrank to her normal, willowy self. She looked around and shivered. This could not get worse, where am I anyway? She thought to herself as she began to move down the street, I haven’t been home in such a long time, how am I supposed to know where the palace is. I hope I find someone who will help.
As Lady Aralu was moving down the street, a group of grimy elves and vampires came back out into the open. Everyone who lived in the lower town knew what it meant when a portal open, the Unmora were returning and oftentimes they beat the inhabitants of the slums out of pure spite. The slum inhabitants had lived there since before Talina was named the official city of Newjazie. They were partly honored that ‘their city’ was going to be the capital, but the Unmora made them resentful. The eldest of the crew, still young for an elf, motioned for them to go back and he would talk with this noble woman. The other dispatched and went off to find food and shelter for the night. The elf, whose name was Ledunza, followed Lady Aralu silently for a while. It became clear to him that she was lost, because she was heading further and further into the more hazardous region of the slums.
“’Scuse me miss… I thinks you is headin’ wrongly,” Ledunza called out to Lady Aralu.
Lady Aralu whirled around and took a fighting stance, as she looked for the speaker of the voice. Ledunza stepped out from the shadows with his hands raised. He was tall, and his long hair was dark for an elf with bright green eyes. His face was elegant despite the filth, hinting further at the elf origin, but somehow it was not purely elf. Ledunza moved closer to her and then stopped, waiting for her.
“Who are you? Are you the one who has been following me?” Lady Aralu inquired. She shivered lightly and relaxed her stance a bit. She had felt that someone was following her, but the fear drove her onwards instead of confronting whoever it was.
“M’name is Ledunza, milady. I has been followin’ you for a bit now. You is headin’ into worse slum than where you was ‘fore,” he informed her, stepping a bit closer. “I is wonderin’ if you’d like me to take you out.”
“How do I know I can trust you? You could be one of the men who snatched me earlier, though who they were is still a mystery to me. Do you know who they were?”
“Yes milday, they was of the Unmora rebels. I is not one of them, we of the lower city are frightened of ‘em. They beat us for no reason. Who are you anyway, milady?”
“My name is Elizabeth Hopewell, but I am also called Lady Aralu.”
Ledunza gaped at her and then bowed low. He covered his face with his arm and stepped back a bit, “you is Lady Aralu? The one who we all is countin’ on to end the fighting? I thoughts you was in the mortal realm.”
“Yes, I suppose I am that person. I was kidnapped and brought to Talina. Will you still help me out of there? I need to get back to the palace,” Lady Aralu requested carefully. She was a bit afraid of this raggedy elf, but he was her only way back to the palace.
Ledunza looked at her and lowered his arm, “You wants me to help you?”
Lady Aralu nodded and raised her hands up, “Where else am I to go? You tell me I’m heading into a more violent section of the slums, and I want to head to the palace. If you know so much, surely you can take me to the palace.”
“Well, there is more of a problem. I cannot safely take you, dark is falling. Unmora are a-wanderin the streets, and beatin us. You think that they is more into the hiding than into beating us, but is not true,” Ledunza sighed and looked up at the sky, and then back at her.
“That’s alright Ledunza. I’m sure I can protect us, if we do run into problems,” Lady Aralu began.
Ledunza began to shake his head and shivered, “No, no, milady. You does not understand the ways of Unmora. They is silent men, and they will has us before we even knows it. Please, I has a place that we can hide until morn.”
Lady Aralu looked at Ledunza, and then looked up at the sky. The first star had begun to shine, and it was rapidly growing dark. Ledunza stood waiting while Lady Aralu thought, growing more and more nervous. She nodded after a time, and Ledunza sighed in relief. He wiped his hand on his dirty trouser, making it slightly less filthy, before offering his hand to her.
Lady Aralu took his hand and smiled. Ledunza led her down some twisting alleys and through grimy streets, heading away from the middle but never leaving the slums. They walked for a time, getting extra jumpy as dark finally fell. Finally, Ledunza stopped her in front of an abandoned looking warehouse of a sort.
“It’s not much milady, but is a good home for me and my boys,” Ledunza told her, glowing slightly with pride. Lady Aralu could not see what he was so excited about, to her it was just another broken down, dark, and cold building in the slums.
Ledunza crept between two wooden planks, half hidden by a scrubby bush. Lady Aralu followed, letting out a small shriek as something brushed against her foot. Ledunza shook her head at the noble’s silliness and led her into the warehouse. It was just as barren as Lady Aralu suspected, but then Ledunza shoved some planks aside and revealed a trap door. He pulled it open and motioned her into it. Lady Aralu slipped into the darkness and Ledunza soon followed after.
“Welcome milady, to our home sweet home,” Ledunza said to her, pushing aside a wall.
Chapter 4- Rest and Night Terrors
Lady Aralu gasped quietly at the sight before her. The room was completely underground; there were no windows in sight, but with the decoration, that fact did not matter. The room was large and furnished like the grandest of any noble places. Where they got all the furniture, Ledunza and his crew would not reveal. The walls had numerous paintings of the outside world, from wintery forests to summer beaches, from the ceiling hung chandeliers of crystal, with candles in place. The far half of the room was divided with heavy blankets and sheets hanging from the ceiling. The near half of the room was part kitchen, and part lounge area.
“Sleeping place is far side of room. Many beds, though most are not filled,” Ledunza told her solemnly, glancing down at her. There was a fleeting look of sadness in his eyes but it was gone before Lady Aralu could wonder. Two elves and a vampire got up from the couch and walked over to them. Ledunza grinned and went over to them, looking back at Lady Aralu, motioning her closer. Lady Aralu followed him and looked at the three men.
“Requia, Prenza, and Giblie, this is Lady Aralu. Remember, the one who is goin’ to be our new ruler? She is lost, but I has found her!” Ledunza informed them. “She is stayin’ the night, and then we is headin off to the palace in the mornin’.”
Requia bowed slightly, he was the tallest of the elves, and the fairest. He smiled and waved a hand at the room “Welcome, to our humble abode. I hope you find this place acceptable enough to stay a night. The others are sleeping. However, my comrades and I are the guards for the night. Even though this place is secretive and underground, there is always the possibility that we will be found out. We keep few people privy to this place, but one never knows, do they?”
“Just ‘cause you got an education, doesn’t mean you has to show it off in front of our fair lady. Or us for that matter, you knows we only understand half of what you say when you does that.” Prenza, the vampire, chided. He then hit Requia lightly, and Giblie did the same, grinning at Lady Aralu.
Lady Aralu laughed quietly and yawned, “Oh, excuse me. Today has been an awfully long day. I believe I can trust you to watch over me while I sleep. Where shall I stay?”
Ledunza took her hand again and led her to the far side of the room. “Good night,” she called to the three guards, who in turn wished her a good night as well. Ledunza pulled open a heavy sheet of red and gold cloth, revealing a small room in the corner. The bed was a single, with soft blankets, and a simple nightstand with a candle burning.
“Two walls made of stone, and two of curtain. You is safe here. I will also be watchin’, maybe catchin’ some sleep,” Ledunza told her. “No leavin’ this room, ok? Even a fight happens, don’t leave please.”
Lady Aralu nodded, but in her mind she did not agree. She was curious about her transformation and wanted to try it out again. She stepped into the room and Ledunza shut the curtain. Lady Aralu pulled back the curtains slightly and blew out the candle, climbing into bed she could see what was happening in the lounge before drifting off into sleep.
Ledunza walked over to the kitchen and grabbed some food out of the fridge. He sat down with the night guards and ate slowly. They sat quietly for a while, ever alert. Ledunza put away the dishes and sat down in the large recliner adjacent to the couch facing the door. He dozed off after a time, as Prenza and Giblie began a game of Drunzstones.
After a few games, Requia stood up abruptly and reached for his sword. His body tense as he stared at the door, “Someone is out there. I can sense it. Get ready.”
Prenza shoved the game aside and grabbed his axe from under the table. He kicked Ledunza lightly, but his eyes never left the door. Giblie formed a ball of energy in his hand as the trio formed an arrow, with Prenza at the point. The door shattered as a horde of Unmora vampires poured into the room. Prenza was a blur as he hacked at the vampires with speed and accuracy. Giblie was firing balls of energy, igniting some and incinerating others. Requia plunged into the fray as elves from the Unmora joined the battle.
Lady Aralu woke with a start when the door smashed to smithereens. She peered out and shivered at the sight of the overwhelming Unmora force. Lady Aralu closed her eyes and began to focus on the power. She transformed and let out a snarl, leaping out of the bedroom she raced over to the entrance before anyone knew what was happening. The monster Aralu took out the entire elf reinforcement, blood dripping from her claws and fangs. She panted and trembled with the blood frenzy; she leapt over a group of vampires and took out an Unmora about to kill Ledunza from behind.
Soon the battle was over. Giblie lay on the floor with a wound that bled heavily along his side. Prenza knelt over him, placing his hand on the wound and began a healing. Ledunza stared at the monster Aralu, and Requia smiled at the sight of her.
“Nice form. So that is what happens when two vampires and two elves collectively produce another from a star seed. I can see both vampire and elfish in her, and whatever power the star gave her as well. Fascinating,” Requia said aloud, whether he was talking to himself or to them was unclear.
Giblie began to come around as Prenza stepped away. Prenza began to wipe clean his bloodied axe, keeping his eyes on the door. Requia cleaned his blade and kept it in his hand, crouching in a fighting stance before the door. Giblie sat up and finished his own healing, then worked on minor cuts on the others. Ledunza walked over to the door, gripping his sword.
Lady Aralu slowly but surely went back to her regular form, trembling as she laughed quietly to herself. She walked over to Ledunza and he shrank back a bit from fear. Aralu backed away, looking at him dejectedly. She headed back to her sleeping room and closed the curtain.
Chapter 5- Disguises and Hope
The night stayed calm, with no further attacks. Ledunza caught up with more sleep and was awake before dawn broke. Other people in the hideout began to make an appearance. Requia, Giblie, and Prenza headed to bed once enough people were awake.
Ledunza went over to Lady Aralu’s room and knocked on the wall next to it. “Milady, are you up?” he called out softly. When there was no response he pulled the curtain away and saw her sitting on the bed, hiding in the corner. She stared at him and then looked away, clutching the golden leaf tighter.
“I didn’t choose this… but how can I be a hero to the people, to lead them, to fight for them, if they just cower in fear. I don’t blame you for responding like that, I am a monster…” she whispered, resting her head against the wall, “I was so thrilled with my power. Being able to change and wield such extremes, but what good is this power if I can’t use it without people panicking?”
Ledunza stepped into the room and shut the curtain, crouching down next to the bed. He sighed quietly and just watched her for a few minutes. Ledunza offered her his hand, just holding still. Lady Aralu watched him curiously, and then took his hand. Ledunza quickly took the golden leaf and looked at her in horror
“Hey! That’s mine! Satunza gave it to me,” Lady Aralu protested, trying to get the trinket back.
“This is how they found us. Qurzi must have placed a spell to find you wherever,” he said slowly, keeping his eyes on the leaf. “This explains why we was attacked last night. I has to tell the others, stay here.”
Ledunza stood up and ran out of the room. Lady Aralu sat on the edge of the bed, trembling at the thought. She shook her head and sighed, this cannot get any worse. I don’t know what to do anymore. I’ve just created danger for those I am supposed to protect. How can I rule if I just draw danger? As she was mulling through her thoughts, Ledunza returned. He placed the leaf in her hand again, closing her fingers around it.
“I guess the Unmora just got lucky. Maybe they had a tracker on us but this trinket is still pure. About last night however… I am sorry milady, it was wrong of me to fear. Just the battle was so wild, and I was so scared. I almost died Lady Aralu, but you saved me. I owe you me life, and I wish you can forgive me,” Ledunza pleaded, taking both of her hands and kneeling at her feet. “Shockin’ to see so fair a lady, wise, carin’, and seemin’ly innocent, turns into somethin’ so horrific? However, if that be part of you, then so be it.”
Lady Aralu looked down into his eyes, taking a slow breath. She pulls him up and wraps her arms around him, hugging him close, “I forgive you, and it is new to me as well. I don’t even know what I look like really, except I know that I have so much strength, power, and speed.”
Ledunza returned her hug and helped her up off the bed, “We needs to get going milady. You needs to get back to where you belong.”
Lady Aralu walked out of the room and looked around at the damage left from the night before. A few of the elves had dragged the bodies out of the entrance but the blood stains still lingered, etched into the floor. The door was being picked up and burned along with the bodies. Ledunza went over to one of the vampires in the kitchen and after a brief conversation, Ledunza returned to Lady Aralu.
“Unzera will take over for me. She be good to watch ‘em while I take you to the palace,” Ledunza informed Lady Aralu. “However, havin’ the Unmora lookin’ for you, especially now in the slums means we has to change your appearance, mostly hide you. We is goin’ to travel in a small group, too.”
Lady Aralu nodded in agreement as Wenlie, a small and beautiful elf woman, took Lady Aralu’s hand and smiled, “I is most glad to help my lady. I has been waiting for you, for many, many centuries. We will hides you, we are good at disguises.”
Wenlie led Lady Aralu over to a room behind the first row of curtains. It was a dressing room, full of all sorts of clothes but most of them were holey and filthy. Even the nicest of gowns had a few tears in it. Wenlie pulled down a bulky cotton dress, deep green in color with a few patches. To go with the dress, she also pulled out a long and hooded black cloak, and sturdy leather boots.
“This should help, with your figure and all as well as makin’ you look like one of us,” Wenlie joked lightly. She rummaged through a cabinet as Lady Aralu pulled on the dress. It was a bit loose, but it changed her body dramatically. Pulling on the boots and cloak she went over to Wenlie.
Wenlie pulled out some containers and directed Aralu to a chair. Wenlie pulled back Aralu’s hair, and put it into a messy, low bun. She then began to powder Aralu’s hair with some brown and red substance, “Your hair is so beautiful my lady. However, is distinguishin’. So is your face, I is turnin’ you into one of us now. This stuff washes off easily so my lady doesn’t have to worry. Unless it rains of course,” she joked, beginning to put make up on Lady Aralu’s face.
When Lady Aralu was finally transformed, Wenlie couldn’t wait to show her off. Wenlie grabbed Lady Aralu’s hand and led her back to the main room, “Presentin’ Inzra, my long lost cousin re-found.”
Ledunza had smiled when he heard them coming back from the disguise room. His smile grew into a grin when he saw how much Lady Aralu changed. With her hood pulled up she was unrecognizable, and definitely not a noble lady.
“Now, we are ready,” he said with a bow, offering ‘Inzra’ his arm.
Lady Aralu linked her arm with his and smiled, “Let’s go to palace.”
Chapter 6- Home
Lady Aralu and Ledunza traveled with another couple, Wenlie, and Requia. At first it was to be all elves, but in the slums vampires and elves roamed together more often than not. They joked and laughed as they moved out of the slums, and into the market town. They took their time, but were always alert for Unmora. After a small breakfast of fried apple fritters, they entered the wealthiest part of the city. A group of slum rats taking a peek at what the wealthy had was not uncommon.
The group was walking down the Royal Road when the Unmora attacked with a force twice as large as the previous night. Lady Aralu and her friends were almost at the palace gates. Requia quickly pulled out his sword, swinging it with accuracy and deadly force as he stood in front of Wenlie.
Ledunza moved in front of Lady Aralu, “Don’t transform. Don’t! There are too many of ‘em, go and fetch the royal guards. You must do so Aralu, please.” Lady Aralu nodded as Ledunza pulled out his sword and began to hack a path for Lady Aralu to get through. The other couple pulled out a pair of double bladed axes, taking out Unmora with as much force as Requia.
Lady Aralu raced down the street and yelled up at the tower sentry, “Please! You must help me! I am the Lady Aralu, my friends and I are being attacked by the Unmora!”
“Oh, and I’m supposed to believe that you’re Lady Aralu? She is in the mortal realm, foolish slum rat,” the sentry leered. He turned away from her and went back to watching the growing battle.
“I demand that you open this door! Get the royal guards, protect me and my friends!”
“No, you have no way to prove that you’re Lady Aralu. I am not wasting the special force for a group of lower city inhabitants.” The sentry was suddenly yanked off the tower as another officer took his place. The new officer, Captain Brugal, peered down at Lady Aralu.
“Ah, my lady, it is you. I got word you were snatched from the mortal realm last night. I heard a ruckus out here, lucky for you I checked out what the problem was. I have been the one watching over you since you were a child. I could recognize you anywhere, even under that horrible disguise,” Captain Brugal called down to her.
The gates of the palace opened and a company of the elite force poured forth, heading down Royal Road. Lady Aralu was pulled aside by one of the men; he stood in front of her as the battle raged on. After a few minutes of battle, what was left of the Unmora fled the fight. Lady Aralu raced into the crowd, heading for the center. The vampires and elves that made up the guard formed a square around the area and Lady Aralu. A few of the higher ranked officers were finishing off any Unmora that still lived. Lady Aralu looked for her friends and was relieved when she saw them, heavily wounded but still alive.
Ledunza was leaning against his sword, panting from the fight. He looked up and saw Lady Aralu. His sword fell as he raced over to Lady Aralu and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him. “Oh milady… I thought we was done for…” he whispered as he kissed her forehead, closing his eyes.
Lady Aralu put her arms around him tightly; she looked up at him and leaned closer. Pressing her lips against his softly, she smiled, “Never…” She slowly pulled away and took Ledunza’s hand. Lady Aralu turned and smiled at Wenlie, “Your disguise worked extremely well. Almost too much, but that’s alright.”
Wenlie nodded and began healing Requia, as well as the others. When the group was able to move, Lady Aralu and her friends were escorted into the palace. A servant bowed low, and looked at them, “Greetings my Lady Aralu. I am Puntza. Welcome home. I am to escort your…friends to a place where they can rest, clean up, and get some food. Your parents wish to see you though, right away.”
Lady Aralu gripped Ledunza’s hand tighter and bowed her head, “As they wish. Ledunza stays with me though. Without him I would not be standing here right now.”
Puntza bowed and beckoned forward a maid, “Hunzie will escort your friends, we must go right away though.”
Lady Aralu hugged Wenlie and Requia tightly, kissing their cheeks softly, “I will see you again. Don’t worry. Not just as your ruler, I want you to join me here. Think about it, I would love to have two outstanding people such as you to help me.”
“Oh, my lady, I don’t have to think about it! I would love to work for you. You’re going to be a great!” Wenlie began to cry as she put her arms around Lady Aralu, returning her hug.
Requia bowed low and smiled, “I would be most honored my lady. Like Wenlie said, no need to think about it.”
Wenlie, Requia, and the others were led away by Hunzie down a long hallway. Puntza bowed again and led Lady Aralu and Ledunza down another hall, heading deeper into the palace.
Chapter 7- A New Life
A pair of double doors was opened as they approached. Entering a large chamber, Lady Aralu gasped and let go of Ledunza as she raced down to her parents. They embraced in one large huddle, Lady Prenlie and Tresa were crying as they held their daughter close. After a few moments they all drew away, standing in a small circle.
“Oh my dearest child, I thought we had lost you when we found out from your mortal world that you had vanished. To think of what may have happened to you, just overwhelming to have you safe again,” Lady Prenlie said, hugging Lady Aralu again.
Lord Wrent and Egnant stood back a bit, the emotional reunion getting a bit awkward for them. Lord Wrent cleared his throat and looked at Ledunza, who stood silently in the doorway.
“Come here, young man,” Lord Egnant called out.
Ledunza approached slowly and bowed extremely low, looking like he might fall over yet still graceful. Lord Wrent motioned him to stand up again. He gripped Ledunza’s hand and looked at him solemnly.
“You’re the young man who helped her?” Lord Wrent asked him, when Ledunza nodded, Lord Wrent smiled. “We owe you then, she is the most precious of all things. I thank you, for keeping her safe.”
“Please, let him stay with us in the palace. Now that my time to rule is almost upon us, I need someone I can trust completely besides you.” Lady Aralu went over and took Ledunza’s hand again. Ledunza smiled softly and kissed her cheek before looking up at her parents.
Lady Tresa laughed quietly. She took Lady Aralu’s hands in her own and looked at her seriously, “Your time to rule is almost upon us? Oh no, dearest, it is not. You have yet begun to learn.”
finished
