The Princess Who Went to War

[Calysta] "Dressmakers are in a panic. There is a shortage on silk import from Vys." I hear a woman tell another woman beside her as they choose from the displayed hair accessories in a small stall in the market street. I pull the hood of my cloak further down my face as I join them in looking through the hair ornaments, looking for one that might suit Liliana. I have made it so that the sky was cloudy and there was a slight drizzle to account for my cloak. "My, a shortage on silk? These nobles are sure to be in distress without their new dresses." The other woman comments, making fun of the nobles. I stifle a laugh as I remind myself that I am, in fact, a part of the nobility they are speaking of. "I heard that the import for the week was attacked just by our borders. Goblins." The other woman comments. This catches my attention. Goblins? Just by our borders? I pick up a hair pin with jade and hold it up for the vendor to see. "How much for this?" I ask him. "45 gints." He replies. I reach for my coin purse, pay him, and immediately start to leave. I walk to the stable boy I left my horse with and hand him 5 gints for his trouble. He lights up and thanks me kindly, as 5 gints is more than what other riders would pay. I get on Maximus, my black stallion and look up at the sky and will for the drizzle to stop and for the sun to come back out. I look back down to see the stable boy looking up at me, mouth wide open, probably watching my eyes return back to normal as it faintly glowed for the little magic I used. A strand of my red hair falls out my cloak. I smile at him and wink, as Maximus starts to walk away. As we exit the busy market, I let Maximus start running towards the Palace. The wind knocks my hood back, exposing my face. People by the path who immediately recognize my distinctive red hair bow as I pass by them. The guards see me coming from afar and start to open up the palace gates for me, allowing Maximus to continue running as we go through the gates and the guards bow at my arrival. I stop Max just by the steps to the Palace's entrance and immediately jump down. I hand his harness to a squire standing by the Palace's steps. "Take Maximus to the stable for me, please." I tell him. He bows and I go running up the steps and into the huge palace doors. "Princess Calysta!" I immediately stop when I hear Gwen calling for me. She's running from the hallway that leads into the dining hall and into the kitchen. "I've been looking everywhere for you." She says as she approaches me, her black hair in its usual high ponytail. "I was at the market." I reply. She frowns at me, with a look of annoyance. It's protocol that she goes with me wherever I go, given that she is my personal guard. And once again, I broke that. "What are you in a hurry for?" She asks me, looking out the Palace doors where I had come through from. "I need to speak to my father. I've heard of the situation by our borders." I tell her as I start walking up the grand staircase and she follows close behind. "Situation?" She repeats, sounding quite confused. "It's worse than I've been told. Atticus told me that there has not been much monster activity. Turns out he was lying." I tell her, annoyed at how my brother could lie to me. "I'm sure Prince Atticus has a good reason." Gwen comments. "His only reason is so that I don't head there like I did a year ago." I reply, rolling my eyes as we turn to the hallway of the King's study. Down the hall, I see a man exit my Dad's study. I squint my eyes, trying to recognize who it is, only to realize that it's the General of Raziem's army. He bows as he sees me as well. "Princess Calysta." He says. "Why were you in father's study, General?" I ask him. "We, uh, discussed official business." He replies, clearly keeping himself from disclosing important details. "I see." I reply, not pushing for more. Why would I push for answers from the General if I could simply push for answers from the King? "I'll take my leave, Your Highness." He says as he once again bows and starts walking away. Gwen and I watch as he turns from the corner of the hallway and out of view. "He looked nervous, did he not?" I comment as we start to walk towards the King's study again. Once we arrive at the door the guards standing right outside bow to me. I take my cloak off and hand it to Gwen. She takes it and stands just next to my Father's guards. The guard on the left opens the door for me and I enter the study. My father looks up from whatever he's reading on his desk the moment I enter the room. "Caly." He says as he leans back on his chair at the sight of me. "I saw the General." I tell him as I walk towards his desk and sit on a chair just in front of it. "Ah, yes, we had to discuss a few things." He replies, immediately going back to reading, obviously pretending to be very busy. "What did you have to discuss?" I ask. "Well, you know, about the security of the kingdom and whatnot." My father replies. "Against monsters?" I ask. He looks up and his gray eyes meet mine. "Monsters?" He repeats. I only stare back. He gives out a nervous laugh. "No. No monsters." He says. I roll my eyes. "Father, just tell me." I whine. "Tell you what?" A voice from behind us asks. Father and I look towards the door when it opens and my brother, Atticus comes in. "Monsters." I reply as I look straight into his eyes. He immediately looks away, avoiding my gaze. "Monsters, Atticus. Goblins by our borders, rendering our dressmakers scrambling for silk. Does that sound familiar?" I ask him. I hear my father clear his throat. "Wherever did you hear of such thing, Calysta?" Atticus asks as he looks like he's given up on lying to me. "The market." I reply. "Ah, that's why Gwendolyn has been all over the palace looking for you." Atticus replies, trying to change the subject. "You were at the market by yourself, Caly?" My father asks. "It's not like I couldn't take care of myself, Father." I reply. "Still, you should've let Gwendolyn come with you." Atticus comments. I roll my eyes. "We were talking about the monsters, Atticus. Not my little trip to the market." I remind him. "The problem with monsters is none of your concern, Calysta. It is for father and I, and our knights to worry about." My brother tells me as he comes closer to Father and I. "I am a Princess of this Kingdom. Surely, our problems are also my concern, especially if I have the power to help." I reply "Help with what, Caly?" My Father asks, knowing full well what I'm about to suggest. "I've been to the border to clear out monsters and it's really not as big as a deal as you make it seem." I simply reply. Atticus scoffs, "Calysta, this is different." He tells me. "Surely! Hearing how close they actually are. They are posing a real threat to our people. Clearing them out should take a month or so, I'll be back before you know it." I say. "You are a Princess, not a knight, not a soldier, you are to stay in the Capital." Atticus says sternly. "You are forgetting what I can do, Atticus. I am not just a Princess, I am a Sorceress." I say, holding out my hand, feeling tingling in my fingertips as electricity bounces off my fingers. The room becomes dark as dark clouds cover up the sky outside. "It is dangerous, Caly." My Father says, completely ignoring the change of weather outside as he's used to it already. "We cannot allow you to go this time, Calysta." Atticus tells me, holding his ground. I let my hands fall back on my lap as the skies right outside clear up and the sun starts to shine again. My intimidation never works on him. "Tell me why." I say. He sighs and looks at our father. I look back to look at him too. "The monsters are increasing in number and in strength. We do not know how or why." Our father tells me. "More reason for me to be there!" I exclaim. If the problem is that bad, what can mere soldiers do? They need me. "There has been rumor of a leader, Calysta." Atticus says. "A leader? To the monsters?" I ask, quite confused. "A sorcerer." My father says. "A sorcerer?" I ask as I try not to laugh. They do not answer. "Are you actually serious?" I ask them as I see seriousness in their faces. "Sorcerers have been extinct for hundreds of years. Only women have the power to control magic now." I remind them. Magic has been passed on to women in certain families only. There used to be men with power, but after the Great War of Magic, they went extinct. And since magic can only be passed on to a man from his father, or a woman from her mother, with there being no more sorcerers, naturally, men with magic ceased to exist. "It's only been rumors so far, but there is enough evidence for us to worry." My father says seriously as he looks back on his table. I look and see that he is reading reports from the Eastern border. "This is all the reason I need to be there." I say, almost in a whisper as everything clicks in my head. "What?" Our father asks. "Did you not hear us, Calysta?" Atticus asks. I immediately stand. "I heard you loud and clear, Atticus. But if a sorcerer with gods-know-what power is trying to build an army of monsters, a sorceress ought to be there to fight." I reply. "I shall prepare and ride for the border immediately." I say as I start walking towards the door. Atticus blocks my path. "Calysta, we cannot risk having you, a princess, an heir to the throne, by the border and exposed to such danger." Atticus tells me as he looks at me straight in the eyes. I stare right back at his green eyes. "You are the heir, Atticus, not me. You are the Crown Prince. You are the one to inherit the throne one day. My duty is not to the throne, but to our people." I tell him as I push him aside. "I, Calysta, Princess of Raziem, will head out to fight for us."