The Girl in the Woods

Chapter 6

Crowing of the wild roosters, chirping of birds, chopping of firewoods, the swift of water flowing from the nearby stream are Suranne's expergefactor in the morning, but her brows knitted as soon as she wakes up. Her winged friend, Gwyndolyn is not in her place. Her small roughed bed covered with her sewn sheets is tidied up. She is wondering why she didn't wake her up. Feeling tired and lethargic, she forced herself to get up from her bed, yawning and squeezing her eyes, she tidied their small room and walked out to look for her friend. As usual, Orlando, who was chopping the firewoods, met her eyes as soon as she came out of their main door.

“Have a nice morning, My Lady!” he greeted her instantly after he saw her. Suranne bowed her head in response, then looked around. Orlando, who seems to know who she is looking for, speaks.

“They all went to the farm except for Kitler who is doing his tasks as usual,” he said.

Suranne after hearing about Kitler is stricken with curiosity. She looked around and came closer to Orlando who continued chopping the firewoods. She remembers vividly how often Kitler is gone for a mission that Frio assigned him to do. Now, she grew up knowing that Kitler is doing the same things.

“Uhm...Orlando?” She hesitantly gets Orlando's attention.

“Yes, My Lady?” Orlando stopped his doing and stood up facing her.

She cleared her throat before asking with hopes that she won't get disappointed with Orlando's response like how Frio refused to tell her the truth that she wanted to know.

“About Kitler….where is he going every time he walks out of the woods?” She asked, looking at Orlando intensely. She knows that Kitler is going out of the woods, outside the spell barrier and that made her more curious about life outside of the woods. She knows because of the horse winning every time Kitler is gone outside the woods.

Orlando tries to divert his attention, wanting not to answer her questions, but she is so persistent to know the reason behind Kitler's frequent travel.

“My Lady, there are things that we aren't supposed to tell you this early, but I understand your curiosity,” Orlando replied, sitting on the log lying on the ground. “Kitler is out to…..

“Orlando!” Frio's voice echoed. They didn't notice that he was coming. They both startled and turned to Frio, but Frio's eyes darted fiercely towards Orlando who was just shaking his head.

“She is looking for her friend,” Orlando shortly said. Frio just nodded and continued getting inside of their small hut. Orlando then turned to her and told him to have her breakfast where it is ready on their wooden table a few steps distant from where they are standing. Frio was the one who suggested making a wooden table outside with four logs serving as the stools. Orlando did accordingly, for them to enjoy the breeze while having their meals.

Suranne shakes her head, frowning. She again got disappointed for not getting the answers to her curiosity. She made her way back to their small hut and grabbed her red cloak and went outside to grab the boiled sweet potato for her to eat while on her way to where her feet will take her.

“Where are you going, My Lady?” Orlando stops when he sees Suranne coming out in her red cloak.

“Just nearby...maybe to our usual place; Fernhill,” she replied. She refers to the place where she and Gwyndolyn often went to play.

“Come back before lunch, My Lady,” Orlando reminded her because they often forgot to come home for lunch while playing as there were fruits along their way to the hill.

“Thank you, Orlando,” she replied waving her hands and going to where her feet will take her to go.

At Lakeside Village, Prince Darvyn and the knights arrive on their horses. People cleared the way for them. They're heading to the inn where they're going to stay for a week. The village is the same as usual. People are busy selling different stuff along the streets, some are just passing by to the next villages, children are running to and fro to play, but stop when they recognize him and welcome him with delight.

“Are you going to show us some interesting magic again, My Lord?” A teen striding along with their horses asked. The teen knows they were from a noble family because of their outfits that show they are above them when in terms of family ranks. It is unknown to many of the villagers that he is a Prince of their Kingdom. All they know is that he is from a noble family who loves to mingle with the villagers and shows his magical prowess.

“I will!” Prince Darvyn replied happily and winked.

“Did you hear that folks? The gentleman will show us magic again,” the teen gladly shouted to his peers who were following them.

“But not now, maybe later,” Prince Darvyn said, looking at the teens. He doesn't have plans yet on what to do for the day. In his mind, he wanted to roam around to look for the girl and know where she stayed. He is confused yet of why he is interested in her, all he knows is that he is interested in her interesting power. Only individuals from royal families like him have the same level of magical powers. He didn't know anyone from ordinary people possesses such power. And knowing that the South Kingdom is ruled by the evil queen Vixra, he is sure that the girl is not coming from the said Kingdom because if she is, she's dead already a long time ago. Queen Vixra doesn't want anyone to be more powerful than her. She wanted everyone to look up to her as the most powerful in their Kingdom that is why no one tried to show whatever power they have to her or they will be executed. Even his father King Weston doesn't like the way she ruled their Kingdom, but the King just doesn't care only when he is thinking about the people and feels sad for them.

As soon as they reached the inn, the man who was an innkeeper met them at the entrance. He was already informed ahead that the Prince is coming, but he was warned to not reveal the truth to anyone. Let people assume he was just an ordinary nobleman because Darvyn doesn't like people to feel the distance of their statuses in life. He wanted the people to feel at ease with his presence and treat them as peers in return.

“Your Highness, this room is for you. We have prepared everything for your convenience. Let us know if you need anything,” the innkeeper said, bowing his head to Prince Darvyn when they reached the second floor of the inn where the rooms were found. The ground level is the tavern where people can enjoy the foods and drinks they serve. The inn is considered the most luxurious place for them to stay in that village.

“Thank you so much,” Nicholaus responded before the Prince.

The three knights stay in the room right next to Prince Darvyn and Nicholaus to the left side. They can't stay far from him because they have to secure his safety all the time. Prince Darvyn decided to have a rest and planned to roam around the village in the afternoon, the same time when they met the girl.

Meanwhile, in the woods, Suranne is playing by the stream, waddling her feet on the cold water of the stream. She felt bored because Gwyndolyn isn't around to play with her. She is sure that her winged friend hasn't come back yet with Helga because if she is back, she will immediately find her to play. She heaves a sigh and gets her feet out of the water and stands up. She took her cloak that she put on the top of the shrub just a few steps away from the bank of the stream. She puts it on and walks leisurely on her bare feet while her hand carries her pattens which its soles are made of wood and the straps are made of cloth. She spreads her arms and feels the breeze as she closes her eyes, twirling and hopping as free as those adorable animals that are now following her. She hums and sings as she enjoys the serenity of the place. She continued delightfully until she bumped herself and jolted.

“Huh?!” She opened her eyes and looked around to see where she reached while playing alone. She is at the place where the spell barrier is. She was overwhelmed and thinking.

“What if……” she shakes her head. “No! I'm not going. I must wait for Gwyndolyn,” she murmured to herself. But as adventurous as she is stricken with curiosity, she decided. She puts on her pattens and the hoodie of her cloak and gets ready.

“Suranne, this is a so-called adventure, so be brave for you are alone,” she mumbled to herself and started to swerve her hand and murmur some words to break the spell barrier. After a couple of seconds, she did it. She clenched her wrists as if she can get her strength from there and steps out of the barrier with a triumphant smile planted on her face.

What does awaits him outside the woods on her first adventure alone? Will the Prince be able to meet her?