The Royal Flame

Warm up and get ready

The water spins me uncontrollably around, closing my eyes I give my body to the sea. Reaching my limit, my lungs are in dire need for air. Opening my eyes, moving my legs and arms through the water to orientate myself. I am guided by light to the direction of the surface of the water. Bright sun rays light up the water forming a pathway for me. Feeling my lungs on their limit, with powerful strokes I push myself through the water surface. My head breaking through the water line, gasping for air.

Pushing the water around me, keeping my head above water I can regain my breath while looking around.

No sign of the Catherine or any rubble in the water. Having caught my breath, small smokes of air come out of my mouth. The water is unbearable cold. It does not take long before I again feel stress and adrenaline pumping through me. Looking around me I can see a sign of what looks like a coast in the far distance. With no better option left, I have to keep swimming or I will freeze to death. Not wanting to splash more of the cold water on me I start to swim like a frog. My eyes stay on the horizon, hoping that it is for real land.

When the mountain range becomes clearer I switch to a back stroke. Giving more power forwards, set to reach my goal.

Cold icy water splashes on my cheeks, as all the warmth in my body leaves through my lips. My nose is dripping as my breath shivers. My whole body is cold and tired, muscles cramping up. Changing position, I give a look at the distance. I got closer, however it looks like the mountains end into the ocean. I don’t have the power to climb up the cliff, however what can I do. Maybe there will be a ridge above water or a big rock that I can rest on. Sucking deeply, freeing my nose I take a deep breath in and out, before I dunk my face in the ice cold water. Like a professional swimmer, I push through with all my last power, sprinting to land. By surprise just before the cliff there looks to be a small beach. The moment my hands feel the sandy underground when stroking, I push myself forward on my hands. Letting the waves wash me on the beach, I crawl myself forward out of the water.

It is freezing, I am freezing. Exhaustion gets the best of me. My whole body feels like a rock that is unable to move. Shivering breaths of air leave my body, forming small foggy clouds in front of my eyes. Calming my body and my breath I try to stabilize my breathing. Closing my eyes, I let my body relax. It is cold. It is freezing. But let’s try not to think about that. Taking another deep breath, I feel less cold as I free my mind.

Unable to lift my eyelids or my body I am drifting in darkness. In the distance, I can hear the sound of the waves clashing onto the beach, the sound of the wind moving small grains of sand and a sound that sounds unfamiliar. Someone mumbles close by me. My body feels like an unmovable mass as I am lifted into the air.

With a crisping sound in the background and a glowing warmth on my face I slowly open my eyes. My body feels moist and heavy, muscles cramped up. Raising myself slowly up I am almost again overtaken by blackness as I am hit by a sudden heavy headache. With a whimper, slowly my eyes open further. In front of me a small campfire is burning low on its last left over twigs and a log. A small grunt on my left draws my attention.

Close to me stands a muscular man, with what looks like a short white tunic baring his but cheeks. Holding his pants at his knees.

“The INDECENCY! Public nudity is punishable by law! How dare you in front of a woman!” Tightening the moist clothing around me as he looks at me in shock. I must have caught him red handed! What was he thinking of doing?

Hoisting his pants up again, pushing his tunic inside his pants, his eyes stay on me.

“Indecency? I have never heard a woman talk about my body in such ways.” He looks hurt, or his ego is.

“However, I will take it. After all, the state of my body might indeed be envied and cursed upon by others.” He tightens his belt, his amber colored eyes breaking contact with mine. Looking at the fire he kneels close to it, playing with small flames.

“But why would I be punished? Why would anyone be punished for showing what nature has given them. We are all from the same flesh. Or are you some high noble?”

He looks back at me, observing me closely. Who is he? Why is he observing ever single word I said?

A small wicked smile forms on his face.

“Now it is your turn to commit a punishable act.”

My eyes furrow. “What?” Sounding like a little lost deer.

“You can either try to dry your clothes with these left-over flames or we can start our journey immediately. However, I wouldn’t recommend that as you might freeze to death with those wet clothes before we even arrive. In the best-case scenario, you would lose a couple of toes.”

Lose my toes? Journey? He isn’t taking me anywhere.

“Thank you for the fire, but I will take my leave now.” Standing up, the wrapped pelts around me drop to the floor. Stepping over them I make my way to the opening of the cave.

“Where do you think you are going?” He shouts but doesn’t seem to move. This is my chance.

Reaching the opening of the cave an ice-cold breeze sweeps against me. Automatically I wrap my arms around myself. A small excluded beach, with dark stormy waves that clash on the rocky beach. It looks like there is no way out of this beach unless I swim or climb up. Up the mountain, with snow covering the horizontal parts. Snow? We were sailing in the sunniest part of the world. How far must I have been taken by the current to end up at a place with snow? That is impossible for me to have survived that. It must be thousands of miles.

A sudden heaviness surprises me, as a pelt is thrown over my shoulders.

“Sorry woman, I cannot let you go. Who finds, keeps. So what is it going to be? Less toes or?”

As he holds the pelt I am unable to move or run away. Starring right into his short-bearded face and emerald eyes.

“Dry clothes” Turning back to the fire he loosens his grip. Allowing me to move back. Dropping the pelt to the ground I unbutton my long pants. Kicking my water shoes off I place them close to the fire. Stepping out of my pants, after squeezing them out, I squeeze them in between my legs. Removing the rain jacket I throw it on the ground. My inner jumper is next, followed by my spaghetti strap shirt. Standing only in my underwear the cold floor makes me shiver. Wrapping the pelt around my shoulders again I hold my pants and strap shirt up in the air, close to the fire to dry. Looking at me, he follows my lead, grabbing my jumper and jacket he holds them up close to the fire while examining the clothes.

Raising the jumper close to his face he inspects it closely.

“How was this sewn? What did they put in it for it to be so thick?”

“Goose feathers probably?” such a weird question, it is always feathers.

“So clever of your seamstress. Or is this the new fashion from far away? Where are you from?” Again that curiosity.

“Verlos? No this looks more of an invention from Austings.”

“I have never heard of either.”

“You have not heard of Verlos?” His face portrays serious shock.

“You must be playing tricks with me. Who has not heard of the biggest and richest city in the region where our kings and queens live and summon fire?

Tell me woman! Where are you from. Why are you here.”

“Don’t call me like that, I have a name!”

“It is not like you told me…” he mumbles as his eyes drop from my face to my chest.

“I have never seen such a breast holder, so slim, no corset. Or is that a miniature one. I do not know woman stuff well but I have never seen that before.” And I have never seen a man so obsessed with my bra instead of me. However, I do feel glad. Actually, this is starting to be a bit funny. He looks like a black haired beast, but instead he is a curious little boy.

“My name is Ariel. But everyone calls me Ari.”

“A sea goddess. Ari hmmm. It rolls nicely. I am Klyn. Thus, Ari where are you from.”

“Everywhere and nowhere.” Irritation shows on his face by my obnoxious answer.

“I sail from place to place.” His face instantly brightens.

“That explains a lot. However you won’t be on the water from now on. Our fire is dying and it is our time to start moving. Your clothes are still not fully dry. Grab those pelts. Leave one for me though.”

“Where are you taking me?”

“Home to Norhill.”