Quest Seekers

Prince Sterling would one day inherit the throne, but that was a long way off for King Aquarius was healthier than any ox in the land. For now, Prince Sterling was just a gangly, moon faced sixteen-year-old boy with a tuft of wheaten curls. Today he was bored. He could feel it seeping into his bones. He pulled on his soft soled leather boots. “A little adventure would be nice,” he mumbled, tucking his tan shirt into brown trousers. “A maiden to save. Or something.” He sighed. These castle walls smothered him with boredom. He stepped out of his chambers and into the eerie corridor. Well he thought it was eerie with all the portraits of deceased ancestors lining the wall. He kept his head straight. He didn’t like looking at those dead painted eyes. We’re mocking you. See you soon. And the dim lighting didn’t help the ambiance. The prince’s footfalls were soundless on the marbled floor. But his body went ramrod straight when he heard sound of tippity tap. His sister was approaching. He turned the corner. He leaned his back against the wall. The suit of armor obscuring him.

“Brother, where are you?” Princess Trulie tippity tapped down the long hallway.

Prince Sterling started to leave when he heard voices coming from the Throne Room. The voices of his father and royally aloof stepmother.

He crept closer to the Throne Room. He dared a peek.

“It’s happening again.” King Aquarius slammed the Eastern Gazette onto the table.

“What?” Queen Thessily was busy scrutinizing her reflection in the soupspoon. Faint creases formed around her mouth. She frowned.

“They found another girl,” he said. “Shriveled and lifeless.”

The queen made no reply. She continued to gaze at her reflection. She pulled out a gray hair.

“This is a grave matter.” The king’s voice shook with thunder. “People are talking.”

“What are they saying, dear?”

“That someone in this kingdom is committing these gruesome killings.”

Queen Thessily sighed. “It’s probably just crumb on crumb crime. They are poor. They are bored. They kill each other.” She flicked imaginary lint off her gown. Then turned her attention back to the soupspoon.

King Aquarius furrowed his peppered brow. “My dear Rena was the first to die that way.” A solitary tear trickled down the bridge of his nose as his thoughts drifted toward his late wife, Queen Rena. She was the mother of Prince Sterling and Princess Trulie and one night as the moon waned over the kingdom, she was in the garden, shriveled and lifeless. “My love,” King Aquarius muttered.

Queen Thessily looked up from her spoon. Before she could speak, a scream split through the castle walls. “Aaaaaaaaaugh.”

Prince Sterling jumped back. Queen Thessily swept out of the room. She gave him a slit eyed glare that would make a cat jealous. King Aquarius smiled. “My boy, might as well see what the fuss is about.”

Inside Princess Trulie’s chambers a seamstress cowered before the pint-size terror. The princess pointed her finger in the woman’s face. “I want a lilac silk dress for my birthday ball. “Not a lavender dress that’s satin.”

“Um, what’s the diff?” Prince Sterling said but soon wished he hadn’t. His sister whirled around with fire blazing in her eyes.

“There…is…a…difference.” She stomped her foot.

“Quiet child.” Queen Thessily rushed to his sister‘s side.

Prince Sterling shoved his hands deep into his pockets and walked away. He needed to get outside quickly. He briefly caught his father’s eyes. They seem to say “run” as they past each other in the corridor. “I’m going for some fresh air,” Prince Sterling said.

Elsewhere in the kingdom of Lindor, in the village of Pleasant Hills, Xandra, rationed out chicken feed to several hens. “Don’t be greedy,” she scolded a plump brown and white hen. The hen ruffled her feathers and continued pecking at the ground. Xandra sat on the rickety fence and wiped her brow with a dusty hand. She looked at the cozy farmhouse she shared with adoptive parents, Alma and Winston; they found her abandoned in the woods sixteen summers ago. A merry whistle diverted her attention from the hens. She smiled. Coming down the dirt pathway was Chartreuse, her best friend.

Chartreuse was as different from Xandra as the sea was from the sky. She was the daughter of a whitesmith (her father was the only one who polished metal weapons in all the villages in the east). This paid handsomely so Chartreuse often wore clothes that made her appear to be a member of the middle crust (a disappearing class). Today was no exception as she floated down the pathway in a pea green ankle length brocaded dress, complete with a cinched waistline. Loose raven curls framed her ebony cheeks and fell around her shoulders. She was no doubt one of the most resplendent maidens in the village. Xandra on the other side was mostly plain. Dirt often powdered her butterscotch face. She wore her hair plaited and pinned into a bun. She was dressed in an oversized brown tunic, cowhide belt and tan leggings.

“Xan, they found another one.” Chartreuse thrust the Eastern Gazette at Xandra’s chest.

Xandra read the bold face headline: servant girl found outside the palace grounds.

“She was nothing but skin and bones and aged like a hundred times over.” Chartreuse’s chocolate eyes were wide as the sky.

Xandra shuddered. “That’s terrible. That’s like the tenth one or so,” she said dusting off her leggings. “They need to catch that mad man.”

“I’m terribly frightened.” Chartreuse hugged herself.

“Have no fear, Wilhelm the brave is here.” He stood with his chest puffed out.

The girls spun around to see their friend, Wilhelm, the baker’s son bounding down the pathway. He was easy to spot in a crowd with sun bright skin, a dusting of freckles across his nose and a tuft of sandy brown hair. A lopsided grin decorated his face. “I know what we’re going to do today,” he said merrily.

Xandra traded sidelong glances with Chartreuse. “What do you have in mind?” they asked in unison.

“We’re going on a quest,” he said, his grin growing wider.Chartreuse groaned. “Not again.”

“We have mini-quest all over this village.” Xandra made a sweeping motion with her hand toward the expanse of the farm. “There’s nothing interesting around Pleasant Hills,” she said flatly.

“It’s really boring,” Chartreuse added.

“That’s because we need to go on a maxi-quest. Somewhere beyond this village, he said.

“Maxi-quest. Now you‘re just making up words.” Chartreuse said with her hands on her hips.

“Where are we going?” Xandra asked.

“To find the onyx sword.” Wilhelm pantomimed sheathing a sword.

Xandra traded glances with Chartreuse again. “Never heard of it,” she snorted.

“Rumor has it that nobody has ever been able to hold onto the sword for very long.” he said his voice layered in a whisper.

“Why?” Chartreuse inquired, her eyes growing large again.

“I don‘t know.” Wilhelm shrugged his shoulders. “Perhaps the right person hasn’t claimed it, like me.” He poked himself in the chest.

“You can buy a sword,” Xandra said with an eye roll.

Wilhelm scoffed. “I’m so broke, I can’t even pay attention.”

“Did you know they found another girl, aged and dead,” Chartreuse said in a quiet voice.

“So, that’s an upper crust problem,” Wilhelm said.

“The victims are usually servant girls,” Chartreuse retorted.

Wilhelm softened a bit. “Well, when I get my sword, I’ll slay the killer,” he said feigning a sword fight.

Xandra shook her head. “Just yesterday you wanted to get a glimpse of the mysterious Porcelain woman.”

“I still do. We have to travel through the Hillshire forest on our way to finding the sword. We can hit two birds with one stone.”

“I hear she shuns the sun,” Chartreuse added. “And she’s misanthropic too.”

Wilhelm scrunched up his face. “Now, you’re making up words.”

“Misanthropic means she hates people,” Xandra explained.

“Whatever, we should head to the Town Square and try to win some funds for our quest,” he said. He started walking northbound toward the Town Square.

Xandra rolled her eyes. “Let’s kept him from hurting himself.” She locked arms with Chartreuse and headed toward the Town Square.

The Town Square was in the center of Pleasant Hills. Everywhere you turn someone had a tent set up, selling something. “Get your alligator on a stick. Taste like chicken,” a robust man yelled through the throng of people.

“Funny, how everything tastes like chicken,” Xandra said as she made her way past the alligator seller.

“Would you like a satin shawl?” a hump back woman asked the girls.

“They are very pretty.” Chartreuse reached out a hand to touch the fabric. It was so soft and silky. She would love to have a thousand shawls in every color.

“No, thanks,” Xandra said, pulling Chartreuse away.

“These shawls come from India,” she said, holding them toward their faces.

“I want one,” Chartreuse said.

“Sorry honey, we’re here to make some money not spend it,” Wilhelm said to the woman.

“I’ll be back.” Chartreuse mouthed to the woman as she was pulled away.

The girls started to lag behind while Wilhelm searched for a way to make some money. But all the tents were merchants trying to take your money with cheap trinkets and blunt swords.

“What are you looking for?” Xandra asked as she finally caught up to him.

“I haven’t found it yet,” he replied curtly.

“Your stride is too long,” Chartreuse said breathlessly.

“Your legs are just too short.” Wilhelm scanned the various contest booths.

“Arm wrestle a troll. Beat him, win five torkets.” A man dressed in striped overalls shouted to a crowd of on-lookers. Wilhelm stopped for a moment. The girls followed him. “He’s not a real troll, you know, just a hairy little man.” Wilhelm dismissed the man with a wave.

“Knock the giant into the pool, win ten torkets,” announced a man with a polka dot hat.

Wilhelm rubbed his hands together. “Now we are talking.” He walked up to the booth attendant. “I’m here to topple the giant,” he said with a supercilious air.

“Good luck.” The man handed him a rock. Before Wilhelm could say anything else, the ground beneath his feet began to rumble. The crowd cleared a path for the giant.

“Who is next?” a gravel voice asked.

Wilhelm swallowed hard and took a reluctant step forward. “Of mice and men, I’m the latter,” he said aloud.

The giant peered down at him, her ruby lips curled into a menacing leer.

“Oh, you’re a girl,” he said, just above a whisper.

The giantess folded her arms across her mountain of a chest. She stood in front of a makeshift pool. Wilhelm’s eyes became transfixed on the translucent water. It wasn’t until the audience began chanting. “Throw the rock. Throw the rock.” That he turned his focus back to the giantess. The rock was jagged and rough in his hand. In the crowd, he sought out the faces of his best friends, Chartreuse (who was rooting for him) and Xandra (whose forehead wrinkled with worry). “I can do this,’ he said. He closed his eyes; an image of Chartreuse flitted across his mind. He smiled and threw the rock.

A thunderous roar silenced the chanting crowd. “You…broke…my…nail.”

Wilhelm opened his eyes. The giantess was glowering at him. “I’m going to stomp you like a bug,” she said with a feral look in her eyes.

“Would it help if I say I’m sorry?” He backed up.

Chartreuse hid her head in her hands. “Goodbye Wilhelm.”

Xandra scanned the crowd of retreating spectators. She saw a woman wearing a purple wide brim hat with a feather sticking out of it. “Bingo.” She ran toward the woman and grabbed the feather. “Wilhelm,” she shouted, waving the feather.

Wilhelm stood like a statue beneath the giantess’ raised foot. He heard a husky voice in his ear. “Must be what death sounds like,” he said.

“Move.” Xandra shouted. She pushed him aside. She grabbed onto the giantess’ ankles (which happen to be thicker than an oak tree).

“Get off me you vermin,” she spat. The giantess shook her mighty leg. This created a strong breeze, which cause an old lady to lose her wig. “Oh my stars cradled in the heavens.” The woman placed her hands over her bald head.

Xandra took the feather and started tickling her toes. The giantess roared with laughter, her deep bellows echoed throughout the town square. The giantess began to sway. Xandra grabbed Wilhelm’s hand as the giantess toppled backwards into the pool.

The returning crowd cheered as Xandra collected her ten torkets. She smiled but only briefly, as she saw Wilhelm stalked off. “Wilhelm. Wait.” She ran after him.

He shoved his hands deep into his pockets and kept walking.

“Wilhelm, come back.”

“Let him cool off.” Chartreuse took a hold of Xandra’s arm.

Xandra looked down at the bag of coins and then again at Wilhelm’s retreating form. She sighed.

“I guess this means the quest is off?” Xandra asked Chartreuse as they strolled through the town square.

“He can never stay mad at us,” Chartreuse said in between bites of her apple. “Besides if it weren’t for you, he’d be one with the ground.”

Wilhelm strode through the Town Square; right past Winnie Peg’s orchard and the Buns in the Oven bakery, where he helped his mother create the best cheesy pinwheels. He ignored the husky voice shouting his name. He knew it wasn’t death.

Thwack! Something knotty and hard hit him on the back of the head. He stopped and turned around. Xandra and Chartreuse were a few feet away. He marched over to them. His face on fire.

“Chartreuse, tell her to not throw apples at people.” Wilhelm clenched his fist as he spoke.

Chartreuse turned to Xandra. “He said don’t throw apples at him.”

“So we’re not speaking.” Xandra stood akimbo.

“Tell her no,” he seethed.

“He said no,” Chartreuse said.

“This is ridiculous. Here take the money.” She held the bag out.

Wilhelm gave her a disgusting look. “It’s ill-gotten.”

“I’ll take it. I can start my collection of scarves from India.” Chartreuse reached for the bag.

“I think not.” Wilhelm snatched the bag, hooking it onto his belt loop.

An old man crossed their path. He looked at them with his right eye, which was slightly larger than his left. “Don’t go into the forest,” he warned.

“Why not, old timer?” Wilhelm asked.

“The way is shot,” the old man said.

“The way is shot?” Chartreuse was perplexed.

“What does that mean?” Xandra asked.

“The way is shot.” The old man repeated once more before turning away.

“Weirdo.” Wilhelm shook his head.

“Maybe we shouldn’t go through the forest,” Chartreuse said with a tremble.

Wilhelm ignored her. He unfurled a ragged map. “According to this we have to travel on the Old Road,” he said pointing to a crude stain in the middle of the map.

“Nobody travels on the Old Road,” Xandra said, looking over the map.

“Well I am” Wilhelm put the map under his shirt. “You two chickens can stay behind if you like.” Wilhelm briskly walked away.

Xandra exchanged sidelong glances with Chartreuse. “We better make sure he stays out of trouble,” she said.

Chartreuse nodded in agreement.

Time had escaped Prince Sterling as he rode his blonde mare, Cera down a craggy road with grass burgeoning from the cracks. The sky grew pinkish-orange as the sun slid between the clouds. Prince Sterling looked to his left; there was a green mass of trees. Looking at them, he felt a shiver run the length of his spine. “I think we should be heading back old girl.” He started to turn around when three figures appeared in the distance. “Maybe we should see who they are,” he said to his horse.

The three strangers came into view; a resplendent young woman accompanied by two ragamuffins, who looked like they would steal the eyebrows right off your face. Maybe the maiden was in trouble. Prince Sterling dismounted his horse. “Good evening, my lady.” He bowed before Chartreuse.

She giggled. “Evening.” She wondered if he was a prince. She fluttered her lashes.

Xandra rolled her eyes.

“She’s no lady.” Wilhelm stepped in front of Chartreuse, his hands balled into a fist.

Prince Sterling stepped back. “My dear lady, where I come from our servants aren’t so free with their tongues,” he said making eye contact with Chartreuse.

“Servants? What the hell…?” Wilhelm gritted his teeth and his freckles turned carnelian.

Xandra grabbed him by the elbow. “We aren’t servants. We’re from the village of Pleasant Hills,” she said.

“My apologies. I am Prince Sterling of the Lindor Kingdom.”

“Chartreuse,” she said making a clumsy attempt at a curtsey. “These are my friends Xandra and Wil…”

“Laertes.” Wilhelm cut her off.

“Wilhelm.” Xandra shot him a dirty look. “Don’t be rude.”

“Hey, I don’t give my real name out all willy-nilly,” he said. “Names have power,” he added. He stared the “prince” up and down. He was just a skinny kid in fancy clothes. Odd looking too with that pencil neck. “They let anybody be princes these days,” Wilhelm mumbled.

“We’re going on a quest. Would you like to come?” Chartreuse asked.

“What?” Wilhelm gave her an indignant look. Xandra nudged him in the side.

Prince Sterling regarded the three villagers for a moment. The boy didn’t seem too friendly but the girls seem ok. It would be nice to have an adventure. After all it was the cure for boredom. He could finally have some friends. “I would love that,” he replied with a dimpled smile.

Chartreuse’s heart fluttered.

Wilhelm’s jaw clenched.

“We’re ’bout to trek through the forest,” Xandra said.

Prince Sterling glanced once more at the forest. “Oh.”

“Scared.” Wilhelm smirked.

“No, come on Cera.” He pulled on the mare’s reigns. She whinnied and kept her hooves planted firmly on the ground. “Come on. There’s nothing to be afraid of, Cera.” He stroked her mane.

“Let’s leave princely with his chicken horse.” Wilhelm laughed.

Xandra nudged him in the ribs.

“Ouch. I’m going to be so sore,” Wilhelm groaned.

After much coaxing, Cera only entered the fringe of the forest. “I’ll be back.” Prince Sterling patted her forehead before the forest swallowed him up.