"ALL ABOARD!" roared Alret. Victory whispered something in Thunder's ear, if a great bird like that had one. The bird took Victory to the top and then came back down again.
"Thunder take you up on Alret back. Mraya on Thunder first, Thunder take Jinxes and Salem up second. On," Thunder said. Salem realised that he hadn't even told Thunder his name.
Mraya was taken up and Thunder returned to pick up Salem and Jinxes. They flew up high onto Alret's back. The dragon smelt funny, a sweet smell, like sweets and old socks mixed together.
"You get used to Shunshun fruit smell soon enough. We have long way go, jump on Alret. Thunder need rest..." Thunder said, then curled up into a small feathery egg shaped sphere. Salem didn't say anything, he was getting used to holding back his questions for more appropriate times.
"YEE-HAW! HERE WE GO! PLEASE FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS. OH FORGOT, I DON'T HAVE ANY! HA HA HA HA HA!" Alret set off into the night, he didn't slow until the morning glow was showing on the horizon...
"This is it. Today you will be married. Are you scared?" Rachealla asked, as Miri came out of her bathroom. Miri looked pale and sick, she didn't look like a bride should on their wedding day.
"I am okay. I am-I am... I do not know what I feel..." Miri replied. Rachealla saw the way her hands shook as she picked up the glass of water, she held it to her lips but her grip wasn't strong enough and it slipped, splashing water up her night dress.
"Oh Miri, if only I could stop this... I will try and delay the wedding as long as possible. Maybe then-" Miri held up a hand to silence Rachealla, who immediatly shut up.
"I will do this now. Tonight will be the time to wonder if it was the right thing," Miri walked into the hallway. There were about ten maids outside, all came in and started bustling about and preparing things for Miri's wedding.
Rachealla made her excuses and left. She needed some fresh air to clear her thoughts.
Rachealla hadn't meant to bump into Canon and the King. They were talking in the Rose Gardens and Rachealla walked into them. For a moment she wasn't sure who it was, but then she realised and took a few steps back.
"Ah, speak of the devil! Guardian Rachealla! I thought you'd be helping my daughter," said the King light-heartedly.
"I could not stand to see her trapped spirit suffer any longer, and I have to talk to Lady Kristel immediatly. Things have become complicated beyond belief," Rachealla replied in respectful tones, that only seemed to antagonise Canon.
"Oh really why?" Canon asked cruelly. Rachealla reached out and brushed aside his hair from his cheek. A scar ran from his eyebrow to his chin.
"I see... How did you get this?" Rachealla asked. Canon tilted his head.
"I woke up with it a few weeks ago. Why do you ask?" Canon replied. Kinik seemed slightly put out that the subject had turned from the all important wedding.
"It is nothing and everything. It may mean that we have got everything wrong... You must know that Miri is in love with a man called Salem? Canon looks a lot like him, do you not think Kinik? And although you may look older I'd say you are about sixteen, am I correct?" Rachealla asked. The King nodded, it seemed that he was no longer bothered about formailities.
"Indeed," Kinik said. Rachealla found her heart was beating faster and faster. Twins! Hell, this is tough! Joined as well...
"I believe that Salem and Canon are twins, that means that to have Canon marry Miri you must have Salem's consent. For it means that he is giving the throne to Canon. I think that Miri's marriage will be postponed for now," Rachealla stated. As twins the one who married first got the throne, and the other had to rightfully give it. It was a long process which usually meant that the father would name the successor at death.
"Miri will marry Canon, because you won't be able to tell her this revelation until after the marriage! SHADOWS!" Kinik roared. Suddenly Shadow monsters appeared from the roses. Rachealla was out-numbered. There was a laugh, a woman's laugh.
"I will take her to the dungeons myself, your majesty. She will not escape me and my little tricks," Tami said. Her eyes challenged Rachealla to fight. Rachealla could not summon any special powers like the other Guardians so it was useless to resist. She would only resist when there was no other option, otherwise she might put Miri in danger.
"So! That is why! You wish for Earth to be destroyed!" Rachealla shouted. The Shadow monsters had hold of her arms, she didn't struggle.
"Yes, and then I shall be the ever faithful servant of evil, with Tami and Canon by my side! The Chosen are split up!" Kinik had an evil smile on his face, one that made the hairs stand up on the back of Rachealla's neck.
"What about your daughter's life? Does she mean nothing to you? Are you just going to use her as a tool in your plans? Are you really that heartless?" But before Rachealla got an answer she was pulled away.
"PEOPLE SCREAMIN' DOWN THERE! ANYONE'D THINK I WERE SCARY!" Alret said. Salem had a severe headache now. Alret's voice was loud enough from fifty feet away but when you were sitting on his back it was like a mini-earthquake every time he breathed.
"SO WHERE'D YOU WANT DROPPIN' OFF? AH THERE'S A GOOD SPOT! THE IMPERIAL GARDENS, CLOSE TO THE PALACE TOO!" Alret landed and all of them fell off his back. Luckily Alret caught them all in the leather of his wing.
"CAREFULLY! HEY, USE THIS TO CALL ME. IT'S A DRAGON FLUTE. DON'T CALL ME UNLESS IT'S AN EMERGENCY THOUGH!" With that Alret set off, and was gone before they realised that he'd given Salem a flute.
"Miri can play the flute, can't she? We'll get her to play it to use it..." Salem said, he popped it in his rucksack though, for now at least.
"Excuse me? Do you mean Princess Miri?" asked a priest who was nearby. Obviously he was wary of them all, and who wouldn't be. The thing with normal people though is they believe that dragons don't exsist so if they see a dragon they think, "Oh dear, I'm daydreaming again" they'll rub their eyes, and by the time they've done that the dragon is gone anyway.
"Yeah, that's right!" said Jinxes enthusiastically. He punched the air.
"You'll find her at the Grand High Temple. It is her marriage to Prince Canon of the Northern Heights today. All of the Southern Lands is rejoicing at their union! There are rumours that Princess Miri has magical powers and put a spell on him to make him love her, though rumours is all they are..." The priest said. Salem choked, Miri was going to marry someone else?
"Thank you, we'll go find her!" Victory said. He bowed to the priest.
"Oh, are you friends of hers? If you are there is a special phrase you msut use to get to her. All priests know it, and it will not harm to tell you. The phrase is "Praise be to your star," I hope you get to her before the ceremony. It starts in half-an-hour. It will take you twice that to get there..." The priest called after their retreating backs. As soon as they were out of view they called out their familiars, who had been hiding and rode them full pelt across the city.
"Have you seen Guardian Rachealla?" Miri asked one of the maids. The maid shook her head. Where had Rachealla gone? There was a knock at the door.
"Enter!" called Miri. Her mother walked in, all done up in her finery. Miri thought she looked like an over-grown jewel-studded porcupine. She had great long sticks holding bits of her dress in place. Miri humoured herself imagining her mother as a rodent.
"You look beautiful, Miri dear! Absolutely beautiful!" Miri's mother exclaimed. Miri sighed. She'd rather not have to face her mother's praise. It was embarrassing and she really didn't want to look "Absolutely beautiful!" at all...
"Do I mother? Do you think I really care?" One of the maids offered Miri a little box. Miri took it.
"A gift from your fiance, your highness," the maid said courteously. She then backed out of the room.
Inside was a ring and a necklace. The ring was made from gold and had rubies and saphirres embedded in it. The necklace was in the shape of a lion, it was a heavy looking thing, it was made out of garnet. There was a note, it read:
My dearest darling Miri,
Please forgive me for my rash words yesterday. I wish for you to know that you have my heart. You have made me feel as though I could take on the world. I know you love another, but I hope that in time you will grow to love me as well.
I wish for you to wear these for our wedding, as they will look beautiful in them, as you look beautiful in everything you wear.
All my love
Canon
Miri sighed. She gave the card to her mother who began to cry as she read it.
"Oh Miri, can't you see he's in love with you? Why do you hide your heart from him? Can you not forget this other boy and love this brave man your father has chosen?" Her mother asked. Miri ignored her.
"Will you help me put this on please?" She said handing her mother the necklace. Miri had been right, it was heavy and it made her eyes have red tinges.
Miri looked at herself in the mirror. She saw a cold hearted woman, who had locked away their heart, and only one man had the key...
Rachealla sat in her cold cell. She heard the church clock strike noon. Miri would be setting off now. She heard people screaming outside. She tried to see out of the barred window but it was too high. Curses, Goddess damned curses, Rachealla thought.
"I will not give up hope!" Rachealla whispered. She closed her eyes and thought of Lady Kristel.
"My lady?-...-Yes-...-I have been locked in a dungeon of some kind-...-Kinik is in league with the evil, Tami is the one guarding me-...-No, I have not seen Salem-...-Nor any of them-...-Alret?-...-My lady, Miri is to be married to Salem's twin brother Canon-...-Yes my lady-...-Good luck to you also my lady-..." And all through the conversation Rachealla didn't make a sound...
Miri heard the music start. She felt tears begin to well up in her eyes. The song was slow, so that she could keep a Princess-like pace all the way down the aisle.
"Take it one step at a time," she heard a soothing voice say. She didn't know where it came from but hope flared within her. She could do anything, she could jump and fly!
Miri took a step forward, in time to the music. She felt her new found courage falter though. "You are strong!" the soothing voice said again. Miri began to move again, she saw Canon waiting at the bottom of the aisle, all dressed up. She wondered at how much he looked like Salem. He turned and she saw it, a scar running from his eyebrow to his cheek. She stopped.
"You have come so far, Miri do not stop now!" Miri recognised the soothing voice...
"Lady Kristel!" She gasped. A few people looked around, Miri carried on up the aisle.
"Have faith," was all Lady Kristel said by means of reply. Miri went on, her trust in Lady Kristel kept her going.
"We are gathered here today for the union of our beloved Princess Miri and our neighbouring Prince, Canon. I am sure that their union is blessed by the Goddess. If any oppose their union speak now, or live with your guilt forever more..."
Salem heard the bells start to ring. He saw Miri walk into the temple. She looked so beautiful, and so sad... He tried to call her but it was pointless over the noise of the crowd.
"C'mon!" Mraya said pushing her way to the front of the crowd. Some people loked at her angrily but she ignored them. Finally she got to the row of soldiers lining the road.
"I am the daughter of Fundred and Saltia Salanei, of the Challenger House. I wish to be let through immediately!" Mraya said in a commanding voice. The guards let her trough immediately but blacked the rest's way. Mraya turned around. "Let my Kinghts through or I shall have you hung!" The Guards withdrew.
"Never knew you could be that scary!" Jinxes said, Mraya smiled.
"Never knew you were my knights either!" They ran up the steps. Miri was there at the front. The priest was talking...
"If any oppose their union speak now, or live with your guilt forever more..." The priest said. Jinxes nudged Salem
"I OBJECT!" shouted Salem.
"I OBJECT!" shouted someone from the back. Miri couldn't see who it was but her heart felt lighter. Maybe someone would find a reason for her not to marry Canon.
There was a young man pushing his way to the front. He stood there on the steps panting.
"I challenge your right to marry!" the young man shouted. He was shaking and Miri finally realised who it was.
"SALEM!" She cried. Miri ran to him, he took her in his arms and for a moment time stood still.
"How dare you, a peasant, come in here uninvited!" Canon roared. Salem forced Miri's arms from around his neck, she looked puzzled. Suddenly it wasn't just Salem but Victory, Mraya and Jinxes as well.
"I am the rightful heir to the throne of Northern Heights! I as named the heir by my father when he was murdered! It is I, not you, who will take the throne after my uncle has died!" Salem shouted. Canon looked pale. There were now whispers going around the room. Miri ran between them.
"What is going on here?" She sobbed. "Salem? How can you be a Prince? Why did you not tell me?" She asked him. The look in Salem's eyes made her wonder if he wanted her at all, but then he drew his sword.
"Miri, I found out after you had left. And that isn't the half of what I found out. Please stand out of the way, where you won't get hurt," He said. The love in his eyes then was unmistakable.
"If you fight then I fight by your side!" Miri said, standing beside Salem. Victory and Jinxes ran up either side of them, but Mraya stayed back.
"What is it?" Mraya breathed. "Run away?-...-Okay!"
"C'mon! Move it!" Mraya shouted. Salem looked at her over his shoulder. Mraya shook her head and ran out.
"Let's go!" Jinxes said following her. Salem ran out, getting the Dragon Flute out of his pack.
"Can you play this?" Salem asked. Miri took it and piped out a tune, it was quite complicated but it eemed to move the earth beneath their feet.
"YOU CALLED ME?" Alret asked, coming over the top of the Temple. He landed and Mraya used her wind magic to get them all on his back. The crowd below was screaming, but there was one loud bellow of anguish from inside the Temple...