Princess Amelia von Heiden trudged up the dry riverbed. Strands of red-orange hair fell into her face, which she blew away with a huff. Her plate armor weighed her down, and her long, padded skirt caught on every thorny plant in her path. She sighed. This was not how she had planned on traveling.
"Princess," Harper called from yards behind Amelia, out of breath. "Slow down."
A rock dared to bar Amelia's progress. She stopped and kicked it aside before peering over her shoulder. "Someone has to keep us on track since some idiot decided to lose our wagon and horses."
"Don't blame me," Jonas snapped. A pack large enough for two sagged off his broad shoulders, yet his pace remained crisp. "You're the one who wanted to take a shortcut."
"You agreed with me, mister grand survivalist." Amelia smirked and stared into Jonas' icy blue eyes, waiting.
"Only because you wouldn't give it a rest." Jonas shook his head, and his disheveled golden locks flipped this way and that. "I'm not the one with the willpower of a gnat."
Tiny Harper stormed up beside Jonas, brown eyes ablaze, and smacked his maroon brigandine armor. "Jonas, do not speak to the princess in that manner."
"Harper," Jonas stopped and turned his frustrated attention from Amelia, "I know you're just doing your job and trying to keep the peace, but I've known Amelia for decades. She needs someone to call her out sometimes."
Amelia snorted. "Call me out? We wouldn't have needed a shortcut if you didn't try to chase after that elf girl." She planted her left hand on her hip and raised the right, palm up. "Who, might I add, was clearly uninterested."
Sighing, Jonas rolled his gaze back to Amelia. "And what were you doing during that time again?"
"Nothing that delayed us." Pleasant memories filled Amelia's head. She shuddered but drew herself up and stood tall. "I may have my vices, but I try not to let them get in the way of duty."
"Bullshit." Rage flared in Jonas' voice, and he brushed past Harper toward Amelia. "Every time we stop in any kind of city, we lose you for days."
Amelia lifted her chin and turned her head to the side, eyeing Jonas down her nose. "Maybe you should put more effort into protecting your princess."
"You—"
"Quit it," Harper said, stepping between the two. "Both of you. We are all tired." She straightened her wrinkled and dirty indigo travel clothes over chainmail. "Let's focus on moving forward."
Amelia smiled at Jonas before spinning around and continuing their trek. "So, how long until we reach that town?"
"We should reach it before nightfall." Brush several yards behind Amelia rustled as Jonas followed her. "Would be easier if we didn't lose my maps."
"We'll get there. As long as you can keep up." Not content to give Jonas a break, Amelia picked up her pace, reclaiming her commanding lead.
The rest of the afternoon's journey went on without incident. However, it grew rather dull and tiring. Each hill they crested, Amelia hoped to see signs of civilization in the distance, and each time she was disappointed. Thirst and hunger took to the forefront of her thoughts.
Amelia struggled to the top of a larger than average rise and rested a hand against the trunk of a massive oak tree. The sun hung low, forcing her to squint. Through the pervasive lighting, she spotted the walls of a settlement. Relief washed over her. Soon, they could rest in comfort.
Leaves crunched behind Amelia, and she straightened her back and shoulders. "That town is about another half-mile out."
"Good." Jonas' breaths came shallow and quick, much to Amelia's amusement. "Only problem is we don't have any gold to rent a room at an inn or get anything we need to continue this little venture."
"I'm sure they won't refuse a princess," Amelia said, grinning.
Harper came up behind, chains jingling at her waist. "Maybe if we were in our own lands, princess," she sucked in a sharp breath and flipped her shoulder-length brown hair to one side, "but I doubt the people here would care much for your lineage."
"That's not exactly what she means, Harper." Jonas glared at Amelia, which only broadened her grin.
"Oh." Realization came over Harper's face, and her eyes widened, and jaw dropped. "Oh. I would advise against that, princess."
Amelia waved away Harper's advice and distaste. "We'll see. Maybe we'll get lucky and someone will help us out of the kindness of their heart."
"Someone's getting lucky," Jonas said, contempt clear in his words and on his scowling face.
Raising her arms over her head, Amelia stretched and twisted until several of her vertebrae cracked. "Shall we go, then?"
As they approached the town, they encountered more life. Bands of tattooed, twig-like elves marched out of town, heading east. Amelia had seen the Sereti before, they were a sect of normal wood elves, yet their stilted appearance threw her off. She increased her pace.
The shouts and hollers of busy streets filled Amelia's ears as she and her entourage entered the walls. People hawked their wares, carried cargo, or lounged around. Mostly humans ran the town, but a small assortment of squat dwarves, broad orcs, and wispy theenes were sprinkled throughout the crowds.
Amelia was impressed. Small towns, especially those so deep inside the Veninian borders, were all too often occupied by a single race. While she herself also came from a majority human kingdom, sights like this stood out. In a good way.
A quaint wooden sign with a large ale mug carved into it caught Amelia's eye. She banked left toward the tavern. Several men exited the business, and she stepped aside and smiled. One of them gave her a passing glance, but the others ignored her. She cursed her messy attire.
Jonas approached, a smirk curling the corner of his mouth. "Something wrong?"
Amelia unfastened her gauntlets and spaulders before tossing them at Jonas. He fumbled with the pieces of armor but none fell. A quick twirl, and she bound her wild hair into a sloppy ponytail. She rolled her shoulders, happy to be free of the excess weight.
"How do I look?" Amelia placed her hands on her hips and posed.
A blank stare from Jonas met her inquiry. "Crazy."
"A bit worse for wear," Harper managed, eyes avoiding Amelia's, "but beautiful as always, princess."
