The Great City of Aslauge

The grand kingdom of Westershire. It was the head of the continent of Varden, many smaller cities lined the continent but all followed one king. King Isaac William Ryegar led the kingdom well, he was cherished by those of noble status and those of the slums alike. He gave back to his people unlike the previous kings. Westershire had flourished since he took the throne nearly 30 years ago with a Queen who stood loyal to his side until the day she passed from a severe illness. The only thing he had left to remind him of his loving wife was his daughter whom he had devoted his time to.

Princess Skylar Ryegar of Westershire was a beautiful princess with a pristine complexion. She had the looks of her mother with the wit of her father. She stood a petite sized woman with long flowing chocolate brown hair that tasseled about. Her eyes were a beautiful emerald green with a hint of gold along the rim of the pupil. She sat in the council room alongside her father as the council discussed current war efforts. A long drawn out war against the elves of Aslauge stood as a challenge for their knights. It was an age old war that Isaac was trying to end, he was trying to mend the relationship, but it seemed a feat to large for a single king to defeat. The elves had strong ties with magic, much more than any of the tinkering mages of Westershire. Long ago a group of elves killed a former king, nearly 200 years ago. It was over a wager that the king fell short on and refused to follow through. Thus, the war began. A trivial thing it seemed, but the ties to the war were strong enough to keep it going. The council members seemed uneasy today their eyes looked to the princess as if she was holding a secret. She merely looked back to them with a gentle smile upon her lips as she always did.

“The princess needs to leave, this is no place for a lady.” The head councilmen stated as he looked to the king.

Isaac raised a hand, “Councilmen Gregor if she is to learn to lead her people both in battle and in victory how else will she learn?” The king wore his shined crown upon his head, his eyes were the same emerald as his daughter. Though his hair was beginning to grey, especially within his coarse facial hair of his beard.

“The matter concerns your daughter, my king.” The councilmen locked eyes with him.

Isaac took in a breath and he glanced to his daughter. He gave a nod. “Why don’t you go enjoy a tea, dear?” He asked with a soft smile, there was almost a nervousness about him.

Skylar gave a gentle smile, “Of course father. Excuse me gentlemen.” She stood and bowed her head before she left the room with her heels clicking upon the marble flooring. The princess walked to the balcony that overlooked the beautiful city her eyes looked over the river that ran throughout, the beautiful architecture, the towers and reached up into the skies like fingers. It was a glorious city, to say the least. As time ticked away Skylar glanced back to the closed door of the council room, what could the council need to speak about that she wasn’t allowed to hear? Why had she been kicked from the council room. This hadn’t happened at all in the past even when the men spoke of the war efforts and the men that had been killed in battle. Skylar gave up at nearly an hour and headed to the library where she sat at a desk to read a few scrolls on the ancient texts of magic. Since she was a child her father had worked with her and the master mage of the castle had honed in her skills. She was quite the mage, stronger than most, even the master mage was surprised by her strength at a young age.

“Skylar Ryegar you have been found guilty of holding your true self a secret from the council.” A voice spoke, the head councilmen.

Skylar turned and just as she stood shackles were slapped over her wrists. “What...is the meaning of this?” She questioned quickly. “Hiding? What am I hiding?”

“You are an elf. We do not allow elves in Westershire.” The councilmen spoke, his voice was harsh.

Skylar fought against the knights that held her arms. “There has been a mistake.” She cried out, “Please Gregor...there has to have been a mistake!” She pleaded as she was pulled from the room and thrown into the dungeon. Elves were sentenced to the worst of deaths. It was torture truly until the body gave out. No wonder the elves did not agree with Westershire. Too many of the councilmen were still aligned in the old ways of thinking. Elves were demons placed upon the soil of earth. Skylar looked to her shackled hands as tears rolled down her cheeks. She closed her eyes and her hands began to glow a gentle blue. Though the shackles lit up a fiery red and the metal let out steam as it counteracted her magic. She swallowed as she looked to the door. How could this be? She questioned to herself.

Hours later the cell door pushed open. In stepped a man dressed in a black cloak. The door was left open behind him and he moved to her side quickly. He lowered the cloak and looked into her eyes, it was her father. “Sky.” He spoke as he slipped a leather pack from his back and set it on the floor before her. “I won’t let them do this to you.” He searched her eyes. “Listen, I don’t have time to explain...but...your mother was an elf...we cut your ears when you were born to hide what you are. I need you to run. Run as far away as you can get to Aslauge. If you head east until you hit the great river basin...then go north into the mountains. It won’t be easy but the Elves will protect you. I cannot.” He bit his lower lip as he looked down and unshackled her hands. “I love you, Sky. I’m sorry for this.” He kissed her forehead before he pushed the pack into her hands. “There is a horse outside, packed and ready to go.”

“Father...” Skylar spoke as she looked to him.

“There isn’t any time.” He glanced over his shoulder as he heard footsteps coming down the hall. “I’m sorry.” He pulled the cloak back up and slipped from the cell quickly.

Skylar hugged the pack for a moment before she got to her feet and she ran. Her dress flowed behind her as she heard guards begin to yell after her. But she didn’t look back but once. Skylar climbed onto the horse that was placed outside of the dungeons for her and she gave him a kick in the sides. The horse reared before it took off at a thunderous pace. The horse was packed down with food and water, a sword was even strapped along the rump of the black beauty. Skylar ducked forward as arrows flew through the air after her. She was a fugitive. An elf...she reached up to her ear and felt along the edge of the imperfect curve that a blade had created. She couldn’t remember much of her mother, she remembered her sweet voice during bedtime stories...and she remembered her last days spent in bed with blood leaking from her nose as she slowly died no matter what the good apothecary did.

The princess rode through the city and managed to escape the drawbridge before it was pulled up. She glanced back to the people...her people as she left them in her wake. She knew only what she’d read of Aslauge. The books that she read were written by those that believed Elves were demons. The words upon the pages depicted an evil species that was only thirsty for blood and hate. Skylar had never truly believed in this concept, her and her father had stayed up into the late hours of the night several times discussing the Elves. How to end the war. It was a common topic and she truly believed her father wanted the war to end but his people...more importantly the council would not allow it. She rode through the night and into the dim hours of the morning before she finally stopped, her horse protested against galloping any further. “Good boy.” She pat his shoulder as she climbed from his back. She pulled her pack from her back and opened it. Her father had packed her clothing to change into, which was something she was incredibly thankful for. Running in heels and a dress was not the best. Skylar pulled her horse down near the river and he drank from the gentle rapids. Skylar tugged at the ties of her corset and slipped from her dress before she climbed into the river as well. She washed herself clean and soon enough she had dried herself off and pulled on her new clothing. She looked much like a barkeep from the city, a red blouse with a black vest accent that only covered her shoulder blades and wrapped around to the front. She wore brown pants with leather straps hung about her waist to hold a canteen of water and a dagger. She wore knee high boots with buckles that strapped up the sides. Last the princess pulled her hair up so that it was in a messy bun, her bangs hung forward into her eyes. She held her tiara in her hands and ran her thumb over it as she let out a sigh. “We can’t stop now friend.” She looked to her horse that was munching on grass happily.

Skylar tossed her dress into the river before she placed her tiara into her pack. She hoped that her dress floating down the river would divert anyone that may be following her from her trail. She stood and watched the beautiful blue gown as it floated away atop the gentle currant. She then turned and climbed onto the horse, “Alright.” She looked up to the gentle breeze that pushed through the leaves. It was a crisp morning, the birds chirped. It was relaxing. Skylar gave a gentle kick to the horse to get him going once again. She kept her eyes on the road ahead of her, but she’d glance about to ensure no one was on her trail. She made good distance through the day and found herself in a small farm village by the time the sun was setting once again. Skylar dismounted her horse and paid a man handsomely to feed and place the horse in the stables for the evening. She walked into a tavern and inn and glanced around to the patrons that sat about the tables. A few looked to her but most paid her no attention. It felts nice to not be the center of attention, in fact Skylar preferred it that way. She took in a breath as she walked to the counter. “Could I have a room for the night please?” She looked to the barkeep.

He turned to her and a smirk came across his lips. “Well, well, what’s such a beautiful young lady doing in my little town? Where’s your knight escort?” He chuckled jokingly as he pulled a key from beneath the counter. “Room 6, upstairs and to the right, love. 3 pieces for it should do.” He winked to her. “Would you like a drink or two?”

Skylar pulled three coins from her pouch and set them upon the counter. “Thank you.” She smiled to him, “No need for drinks tonight.” She reached forward for her key.

The barkeep placed his hand over hers and smiled. “If you change your mind I’m here all night.”

Skylar frowned slightly, “Just the room.” She spoke as she withdrew her hand with the key in her palm.

“Why don’t you leave the poor girl alone, I’m sure she has a husband. Don’t ye?” An old man at the bar lifted a beer stein to his lips and drank deeply from it. “She’s not interested in ye.” He chuckled as he slid the empty stein forward. “Now fill ‘er up.”

Skylar looked to the man and gave a gentle smile before she slipped up the stairs. She found room 6 and unlocked it before she headed inside and locked the bolt into place. It was a small room, 1 single bed and a dresser. Nothing special, just a place to sleep for the evening. She sat down on the edge of the bed and kicked off her boots before she lay back and gazed up to the ceiling. Her life was completely flipped upside down. She could only hope that the elves of Aslauge would welcome her as her father said they would. How would they know who she was? Did they know? She had so many questions. Who was her mother really? She let out a long sigh as she slipped into a slumber. Tomorrow she would begin to press north into the mountains that would lead to the Elven city of Aslauge.