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A Call to Arms - Excerpt V1 Ch1

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Chapter 1 – Stepping Out


A young woman barely a score of years leaned against the starboard railing. Her purple eyes roamed from it across the river to the shore. She watched the grasslands go by then after a minute lifted her eyes up to stare beyond. At this height she couldn’t see further to the ocean that surrounded the island. There was too much land between the two.

When she turned to look back the way she came her eyes followed the river to the waterfall. Above the waterfall on the plateau was the castle she had left. Her eyes stared at the white walls and spire rising above them.

Then she sighed, “I haven’t been here a full year yet and already I’m leaving again.” She dropped her head into her hand. Her spine bent to keep her elbow of that arm on the ship’s railing. The breeze pulled at her blonde hair, sending the shoulder length waves to brush against her cheeks.

“Princess Auraela?”

She turned at the soft voice to look at the one who spoke. Rae smiled at who she saw, Countess Iola. “Yes?”

The woman was slightly older than Rae. She was wearing a tan dress that suited her much better than the aqua and silver tunics which the Council typically wore. She had long blonde hair to the small of her back. It was parted on the right side of her face then braided down to the end of its length. She had purple eyes the same color as the princess. Her skin was a rich brown tone. The older woman was three inches shorter than the princess’ height of five and a half feet. Countess Iola smiled as she moved to lean against the railing beside her. “How are you fairing?”

“It’s nice to be outside and on the move again.”

“Yes, it’s rather stuffy in the castle.”

“Especially when you’re used to traveling all the time before.”

“Was it hard being on the run?”

“Yes. For about three years I was always on my guard wondering if Mitra Shakti’s soldiers would find me or if something from nature would be my end. I always had to wonder when I found shelter if that person would betray me and hand me over. There could still be those looking for me, but after another three years and so many changes I don’t know if there is.”

“Either way, you’re safe here with us.”

Rae nodded faintly then smiled. “Yes, I believe I am.”

“Good,” Iola replied. “I hope that you will continue to think so.”

“I will, until given a reason to doubt.” Rae said. She stood upright then glanced around the deck. “I hope I shall never have to.”

“As a whole the Leldynian people were loyal and trusting to a fault. That changed somewhat with the Shakti Takeover, but still.”

Both women turned at the sound of a male’s voice. Rae smiled while Iola chirped, “Hello brother.”

Count Yahto Vi smiled back at them. “Hello sister, princess. I couldn’t help overhearing some of your talk.”

Countess Iola smiled up at him. The two looked nothing alike, except perhaps for their eyes. The man’s were a lighter violet. His skin was a pale creamy tone. The hair on his head shot straight up then fell slightly back as the red strands reached their full length. He was dressed like his sister in a tan tunic with brown leggings.

“We were just talking about the trip,” the princess said.

“Then we went on a tangent,” the countess added.

“I see,” the count said with one eyebrow lifted. “Well you are safe on Count Indivar’s ship. When we get to Thandiel then you’ll have to be on your guard.”

“Thandiel is where I first landed with cousin Igasho.”

“Yes princess. You didn’t get much of a tour then, but now you can meet the governor.”

“Who is the governor?” asked Iola.

“Roger Olinda,” replied Rae.

“Very good princess, you remembered.”

“Well it was drilled into me all of the time I was at the castle,” the princess replied with a little laugh.

“You have to remember it all to be able to use it. As the next ruler you have to know everything about your kingdom of Leldyna.”

“I know, Count Yahto, but I don’t understand why we’re going about traveling this way. Wouldn’t it be easier to start from the castle at the center of the island then go around it?”

“Perhaps, but that isn’t the way most people enter the kingdom. We’ll go from the Addylyn River away from the castle to the cross stream then to the Reilly River which opens up to the sea. As you know Thandiel and Tobostiel border the Reilly River. Most people go by boat on the rivers or by horse on the land.”

“I see. We’ll be doing the same then?”

“Yes, we’ll be traveling as common folk. Only those who know us personally will be able to recognize us right away. The others will have to be shown tokens. The counts and countesses of the Council have silver half crowns. Royalty has gold medallions with their mark on them.”

Rae nodded and moved her hand to her bosom. Under the fabric her medallion had been tucked once she’d dressed. Her dress was a light blue color for the spring and summer seasons. Each member of their group had gray cloaks to go over their outfit.

“Don’t worry princess, if all else fails then brother will keep us safe.”

“Hey, I may not be the best, but I am the highest commanding officer in the Leldynian army.” Count Yahto Vi replied with a chuckle.

“That’s good to know,” Princess Rae replied. Then she perked up as she asked, “How much longer do you think it will be until we are there?”

“On any other vessel I’d say a week, but with the SeaSprite it will be two days after we reach the cross stream.”

“The cross stream is where all four of the rivers in Leldyna meet. If it wasn’t for the plateau in the center being the starting point and the north-south directional rivers ending inland then Leldyna would be four islands.”

Countess Iola nodded. “Yes, and we should be at the cross stream tonight.”

“Oh good,” replied Rae with a sigh. “When is it we have to be back to the castle?”

“The full trip will have us back at the castle by the beginning of winter. The tour will take us back at the end of the summer, but that only will be to check in on the state of things,” replied Count Yahto Vi.

“So you’ll see some of the most vibrant times in Leldyna,” added Countess Iola.

“That would be wonderful,” Princess Rae said with a smile.

“Excuse me, sir and madams, but the Captain is ready to sup.” A female voice spoke to the group. The First Mate stood nearby. She smiled as she looked down at the women then up at the man. “If you could join him below it would be appreciated.”

“Thank you Jeanette,” Count Yahto Vi replied. “Shall we go ladies?”

“Yes,” Countess Iola replied. She turned with her brother to head below decks.

“Good to see you again,” Princess Rae said with another smile. She turned to follow after her elders to join them.

“Thank you princess,” the woman replied. She watched them go with her silver eyes. When she turned the breeze caught her dark purple hair to ruffle the curls. Unable to join them because of work she resumed it as she called out to the sailors running the lines to the sails. The ship had to travel in the dead center of the river otherwise the current could sweep the vessel through the rivers on either side.
This book was published just the other day.
www.xlibris.com/ACallToArms.html
This is the excerpt, Volume 1 of Chapter 1
A Call to Arms follows after the conclusion of Rae & Danny's Stories

Ideas & Art by me
© 2007 - 2024 chanthar
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