Spoiler
Alright, so, I have been convinced to start this novel completely over again! I can't believe I'm actually going to do this, but I am! This first chapter is a little...uneventful. The end might seem a tad info-dumpy, but if I were Dellan, I'd be running over the plan, too...so...
Anyways! I hope that this is at least better than before. xD
Anyways! I hope that this is at least better than before. xD
Empress Shanazel nodded, her pace slowing from a normally brisk walk to a slow, thoughtful step. In a moment she had stopped completely, tilting her head up to gaze at the deep blue sky.
“You'll need the girl to get back, Dellan. Idoneus already made that much clear,” she said finally, shifting her gaze to the young man and trusted knight beside her.
Dellan met his empress's gaze, dark brow furrowed uncertainly. “And if she doesn't come?” he asked evenly, trying to hide his lack of confidence in his young ruler. He had always trusted her to make the right choices, but sometimes he wondered if age affected her way of thinking.
Shanazel offered a small, though reassuring smile that lit up her brown eyes. “You're my most trusted knight Dellan, don't you return that trust?” her voice was calm, soothing, enchanting even. A voice that could tame a Bragone. As Dellan's adoptive father always said. And it was true, Shanazel's voice had certain... qualities about it that seemed to be able to calm anyone.
And yet, Dellan found himself hesitating before he answered. He was trying to choose his words carefully, though he was afraid Shanazel would doubt his trust in her if he took too long to answer her question. “I trust you,” he said at last, “it's this girl I'm supposed to find that I don't trust.” A sigh. “How am I to know she won't take a sword to me?”
Shanazel laughed, perhaps a tad too loudly. She noticed Dellan's hurt expression and cleared her throat, resting an hand on the boy's arm. “Forgive me if that was insulting. She won't be taking a sword to you, that much I know.” Her eyes were flickering with amusement.
“Oh? And how do you know this?”
Shanazel chuckled and shook her head, shoulder-length brown hair swishing as she did so. “They don't really use swords in her little realm... world, whatever you prefer to call it.”
Dellan let out a relieved breath. Perhaps this wouldn't be nearly as bad as he had assumed. No swords equalled no blade running through his chest, which, as far as Dellan could tell, was a very good thing.
Shanazel srmiked and took her hand off of Dellan's shoulder before she turned and continued walking. Dellan followed, almost having to jog to keep up.
“No, not usually swords,” she continued, “weapons that shoot small bits of metal at speeds high enough to shatter your skull and come out the other end. They use guns.”
Dellan stopped walking, staring at the back of Shanazel's gown. “And you're sending me there?!” came his startled reply. He did not, by any means, want to come into contact with a contraption of the sort.
“You don't think I'd send you anywhere unsafe, do you?” she asked, pausing to turn and face the cotton-clad boy in front of her.
Dellan snorted and patted the hilt of his sword, which was tucked safely inside of its ornate sheath. “You send me to horrible battles on a regular basis.”
Shanazel's arms folded neatly across her chest and arched an eyebrow. “Touche.” She sighed and uncrossed her arms slowly, eyes drifting to the palace garden.
In all honesty, Shanazel assumed that her garden was the most amazing in the world, Aquariazzi or otherwise. She may have been biased, but she couldn't recall ever seeing a more colourful, vibrant garden in her life. It was literally a beautiful mess. Each bed held not one or a few specific types of flowers, but whatever flowers would grow together had meshed and tangled, often creating stunning hybrids. The trees grew at random, such as the one Shanazel was now standing under. An Amethyst tree. The purple of the bark and leaves matched that of her dress almost perfectly.
Dellan smiled to himself, slightly taken aback by the look in Shanazel's eyes. It was the same look she stared upon most of Aquariazzi with. A look of awe and peace. This whole scene was almost too perfect for him. His empress under a tree that matched her gown, mid-length hair blowing around her face, her gown billowing around her ankles. The sword dangling in its sheath at her hip.
“Alright your majesty,” Dellan said finally, voice quiet, afraid that if he spoke too loudly he would break the spell hanging over them.
Shanazel turned, eyebrow arched once more. “I thought I told you that my friends should call me by my name and not my position,” she murmured. Her lips pursed and her eyebrow lowered. “What? Don't look at me like that! Honestly Dellan!”
Dellan shot her a cocky grin and walked across the path to one of many marble benches, sitting slowly. “Okay,” he started, “tell me if I have this right.”
“If you do, I'll be honestly surprised.”
Dellan ignored the comment, or perhaps he hadn't even heard. “The plan is that you give me two rings, one purple and one blue, along with a vial of water from the fountain out front. I put on the blue ring and end up in some underground room-”
“A basement,” Shanazel cut in, nodding.
Dellan returned the nod. “Of course. I'm not to leave the room for some reason I'm not aware of...” he trailed off, hoping for an explanation.
All he received was a shrug and a simple, “Idoneus's request. I wouldn't cross him I was you.”
He sighed and continued. “Since I'm not supposed to leave this basement, I have to trust that the girl will come down on her own.”
“Which she will.”
Dellan cleared his throat, rushing through the last bits to keep from being interrupted again. “Of course she will. Anyways, I have to persuade her not to start screaming bloody murder, get the purple ring onto her finger, make sure I'm touching her, and dump the fountain water on the ring, which will somehow bring us back here.”
Shanazel beamed, producing the rings and a vial of water from the pouch on the thin leather band resting on her hips. “Precisely!” She handed him the purple ring and the vial of water, which Dellan promptly pocketed before reaching out a hand to receive the blue ring.
“Just remember that as soon as this ring is on your finger, you're gone.” She placed the ring in his outstretched palm. “Good luck Dellan.” Shanazel leaned over and kissed his forehead gently, an old habit of hers that Dellan couldn't say he didn't like.
Dellan only nodded slowly and slipped the ring onto his forefinger without further question. He was afraid that if he didn't get it over with, he would lose all of his will-power.
The garden seemed to zoom past, becoming a blur of countless colours and irregular shapes. A strong wind had Dellan raising his arms to his face and closing his eyes tightly, though they could be lowered within seconds. He sucked a few deep breaths before lowering his arms and slowly opening his eyes.
He couldn't see a thing for the darkness. Dellan swallowed hard, trying to down the panic rising in his chest. Idoneus help him.
I apologise for the wannabe comments I made on some parts... I think I might have ADHD or something. Ah well, that's life. This was a really interesting read! This kind of thing isn't on the top of my 
I can't get to the second chapter right now, even though I'd like to! It's almost eleven o' clock, so I need to be sleeping... I have school tomorrow. Pfft, homeschoolers...*Looks pervingly at Pisha* Lucky. I promise I'll get to it tomorrow, otherwise, my name isn't Jeff Jefferson.
