| Chapter Eleven It wasn’t even that bad. Jumping- I mean. I landed on a bush. Wish I could fly. But gosh that hurt. My bum is gonna be sore for days. But worth it I guess. I get to live to see another day. Crys and Nanny, on the other hand… Yeah I don’t know how they’re doing. But despite the immediate danger my friends are in I start running off towards the kingdom. Which, if you recall, I debated quite much. I’m gonna die anyway. Who cares if it’s at the hands of some freaky purple cloak lady? {Spoiler alert: I do.} So about five minutes into my run, I stopped. I’m sorry, but did you really think I’d run all the way there? Real funny guys. Obviously, I’m going to take a few rest stops. And by the way, I ain’t actually going to the kingdom. Like why on earth would I do that? There’s no point. Purple cloak lady© is gonna find me, so why would I waste my time going to the one place where nobody wants me? Like- just use logic guys. Would you want to trek over 1000 kilometres to get away from someone you’ll end up seeing anyway? No? Yeah. That’s what I thought. So anyways, I stopped in a birch forest. Very aesthetically pleasing. And there was a not so suspicious sign that said: | Wanted: Princess Rose of the Everheart Kingdom for Treason & Insubordinate behavior towards the Royalty.| Insubordinate behaviour. What a bunch of jerks. I continue walking through the forest along an already cut path, and I see at least 87 more of those signs. Guess I’m a celebrity now. Up ahead, I see lights flickering and hear obnoxiously loud drunks singing. Sounds pretty chill, and I head over to some totally not sketchy pub, called ‘The White Raven’. Awfully dramatic, don’t you think? As I approach the door somebody gets thrown out the door. “AND STAY OUT YOU CREEPY LITTLE FREAK!” a girl shouted, as she kicked him one more time before slamming the door and walking back inside. Well if that’s not a warm welcome, I don’t know what is. When I walk in I’m welcomed by the strong aroma of barf and mead. Smells just like home. I sit down at the end of the bar, and some girl walks over to me. “Two drinks- on me.” The bartender nods and grabs two glasses and a large pitcher of mead. The pitcher floats out of the bartender's hand and starts pouring the mead. The girl takes a glass and hands it to me. “Neat trick, huh?” I nod. “Yeah… So… What is this? A trick? A trap?” I pause and look at the glass from many different angles. “Poison?” The girl laughs. “Ha! Nah. It’s just mead. Very drinkable,” she says as she clinks her glass to mine. “Sorry, but I don’t drink,” I reply. “Oh well, more for me.” The bartender takes my glass before the girl can take it. “Nuh uh. No more for you Juni.” Juni, who is the girl next to me, groans. “Oh wait- haven’t introduced myself yet, have I?” Juni asks. I shake my head, and she extends her hand to me. I shake her hand, and she starts talking. “I’m Juniper, but just call me Juni. And that-” she says, pointing at the bartender “is our lovely friend, Matilda.” The bartender rolled her eyes. “Yeah, but if you call me that I’ll rip your pretty little throat out.” “Well isn’t that a nice picture,” I mutter. “I’d like to think so,” Ms. ‘I’ll Rip Your Throat Out’ says. “I’m Marli.” I pause. What should I say? Not my name, of course, they’re gonna report me. So… Like, what should I do?? “... I’m uh… Rosalind.” What? Nobody knows my full name! So I’m probably good… Right? “Rosalind, that’s a pretty name,” Juni says. I smile. “Thanks…” “So,” Marli says, “What brings you to our lovely town of Óltacaigh?” “Gesundheit?” I say, confused. Juni and Marli laugh. “You’re funny!” Juni says between laughs. “It’s the time of our town silly.” Oh. Well isn’t that embarrassing? I swear I’m turning red right now. “Anyways,” Marli starts, “Whatever brings you here, you best be quick to leave.” Oofa. That escalated real quick.
Tw: violence and a pub. And this story is recommended for older audiences. Anyways... that was fun Two new characters! Yay
