Catching Up

Oh, Dahlings, I fear that ping.fm has let me down! I must catch you up on the story before I continue. Here is everything that was published on Twitter before I became overwhelmed with mundane duties and had to leave off for a while. Oh, the sorrow of being an upper echelon forced into the life of a peon. I do suppose it builds character, however.

"To me, the call of the wolf and owl is a song. It is not something to fear. I only wish I knew more about the forest."

"You will come to know more about it," Rad promised, taking Isabella's hand between his. She was struck by his sincerity.

"I will teach you all that I know about the forest and its creatures, Isabella," said Rad. "For I can see that you belong."

Isabella said nothing for a time. She just looked into Rad's golden eyes. He wasn't so simple as he presented himself to be.

Ullv and Kaylynn were talking softly. Isabella tried to hear what they were saying but found that she couldn't understand.

It was as if the couple was speaking another language. It was somehow familiar to Isabella, yet she could not place it.

It then struck her that similar words were used by the sorcerers and sorceresses that did the spells for the royal family.

Perhaps Ullv and Kaylynn were saying a spell to keep the travelers safe on their journey. But it seemed more a conversation.

Who were these strange, wonderful people? Isabella was sure they were more than they claimed to be. They were magical.

"If it isn't terribly rude of me to ask, Rad, won't you tell me of your ancestors? They seemed to know wondrous things."

"My ancestors came from the forgotten lands of Frup and Tvug in the Valley of Mxcd," Rad said. "These were great realms."

"Frup was a forest kingdom from whence my mother's people came. Tvug, beside an inland sea, the home of my father's folk."

"Even certain of the creatures and plants of the Kingdom of Frup could speak, and the people of Tvug communed with the sea."

"And the people knew how to make magical things, like these robes and the lanterns," Isabella said. "How sad they are gone."

"How were they destroyed, Rad?" Isabella asked, feeling almost as sad as if they were her own people. "Was there a war?"

"There was indeed," said Rad. "Magicians who cared more of power than peace created weapons and beings of destruction."

"These magicians came from the surrounding monarchies of Jma and Wyx. The people of Frup and Tvug fought valiantly."

"But eventually the invaders unleashed a force which destroyed the surrounding mountains. The destruction was unimaginable."

"Both the valley and the inland sea were filled with the rubble from the destroyed mountains. Almost all were killed."

"There were but a few survivors. They escaped to hide in other lands. The conquerors ruled through fear for many a century."

"Some of the rulers of the modern kingdoms are descended of these destroyers. But the great war has mostly been forgotten."

"I would like to explore the valley," Isabella said. "I would like to see what remnants of the lost world I could find."

"I don't think there is much to find," Rad said, "But I would like to explore with you. I have wanted to go for years."

"I don't suppose that I ever will go," Isabella sighed. "I'm sure my father wouldn't allow it. I hate being a princess."

"Don't give up, Isabella," Rad said. "And there are advantages to being a princess, I think. You'll find them, I'm sure."

"What advantages could there be?" Isabella sighed.

"You can use your title and wealth to help others," Rad encouraged.

Isabella supposed that this was true, but still couldn't help but feel that in many ways her title kept her trapped.

"I suppose you're right," she sighed. "But so far it only seems to keep me locked in a stuffy palace with stuffy suitors."

"I want to be a stewardess of the outlands. I want to explore the ancient ruins. I want to live a life of freedom and joy."

"And if I can in any way help you do that, I will," said Rad. "I promise it on my life. You deserve to have the best life."