6 SIX: Sephora

After hours of traveling, I started to question whether we'd reach the Nedor Kingdom by nightfall, as Aiyana had told me. It seemed unlikely since the kingdom was roughly a two-day journey on the map. I pondered how we could possibly arrive by nightfall.

I let out yet another sigh, gazing out of the carriage window, away from the King and Princess seated opposite me. It struck me as a reckless decision on his part to bring just a single carriage and hardly any guards, especially considering he was a king and a prime target for many.

We traversed a dense forest, where thick trees crowded in on us, yet a path somehow wove its way through. I watched birds and squirrels frolicking in the branches, my attention caught by a bird diligently weaving its nest until it disappeared from view, shifting my focus to something new.

I heard Princess Aiyana inquire of the King, "Can we truly reach your Kingdom before sunset?"

To which he responded, "We'll arrive sooner than you anticipate."

Despite my desire to trust the King, all that lay ahead of us were more thick trees. It seemed unlikely that a kingdom could be hidden behind them, at least not until a day's journey away. Thankfully, my hunter's sense of direction would come in handy if anything went awry; I'd be ready to whisk the princess away.

As thoughts of potential escape routes filled my mind, I couldn't help but notice a peculiar mist creeping in. It was odd, considering the sun hung high in the sky and the forest wasn't overly dense. Glancing at the princess, I saw the same perplexed expression mirrored on her face, confirming that I wasn't imagining things.

"Your Highness, it's rather peculiar to have fog at this hour, isn't it?" Aiyana inquired of the king once more, and he smiled at both of us.

"No, not at all," he replied, just as we noticed the carriage coming to a halt.

The sound of footsteps crunching twigs on the forest floor filled the air, making my heart race. I couldn't help but wonder what was approaching us, and why the King seemed so composed. Were we in danger of being sacrificed? Was I the intended sacrifice?

The stomping of feet came to a halt, and a cloaked figure stood outside the carriage. However, this figure appeared to be a small person, not much taller than a tavern table.

In an instant, the figure glanced up at me, and I quickly averted my gaze.

"Excuse me, miss," a timid voice called out, and I struggled against the urge to ignore it. "Could you open the door?" the voice asked, and I looked down to see a small girl staring up at me. "I need to get in."

"Why, where's your mother, little one?" I asked automatically, and the king chuckled.

"She's not so little; ignore her height, it's in the nature of her kind," he chuckled, gesturing for me to open the door.

"Her kind? What on earth did the King mean?" I wondered silently as I unlocked the latch. The door swung open, and the little girl clambered in.

"Greetings, your majesty," she greeted as she settled down next to me. "I see you've brought company this time."

"This time?" I thought, puzzled. Why was a little girl all alone in the woods, and why had the king done nothing about it since he had encountered her many times before?

"Greetings, Sylvanwee. Yes, I have brought myself a partner," he replied, a smile spreading across his face. He seemed very familiar with her.

She glanced between Aiyana and me before speaking, "You speak for one, but I see two."

He chuckled and took Aiyana's hand, saying, "This is my wife, Sylvanwee," then gesturing to me, he added, "She is her handmaid."

"Ah, I see. My congratulations to you, your Majesties," Sylvanwee said, knocking on the carriage to prompt the rider to continue the journey.

Aiyana and I had questions, I could see it in her eyes, but for some unknown reason, we kept them to ourselves. The girl smelled of moss and earth, though she didn't appear dirty. I assumed it was because she spent a lot of time in the forest.

As we ventured deeper into the thickening fog, my concern resurfaced. Then, I experienced a strange sensation: eerie, tingling, and fleeting, sending shivers down my spine and a prickly feeling that lasted a few seconds.

When the sensation ceased, the girl knocked on the carriage again, and it came to a halt. She unlocked the latch and prepared to step out into the fog when I glimpsed her ear. It was unnaturally long and pointed at the end.

I've heard of people like this, but I never knew they existed. My mother had always told me about them. If I wasn't mistaken, what we had just encountered—what Aiyana and I had just encountered—was an Elf. And if all the mythological tales I've been told were true, what we had just passed was a portal.

"Have a wonderful journey, your Majesties, Miss," she said, bowing in acknowledgment before slamming the carriage door shut and disappearing back into the fog.

My thoughts returned to the girl, trying to recall every feature I noticed about her. It was challenging since she wore a hooded cloak, but her eyes, when she looked up at me, I glimpsed them—they were very light gray. And her face was so pale, you'd think she was a ghost.

Whether I was permitted to speak about what had just happened, I was unsure, but Aiyana's calm composure suggested I should probably keep my words to myself. I believe she had figured it out herself, especially since she saw the Elf girl face to face.

We rode in silence until the thick fog transformed into mist, gradually dissipating to unveil a less dense forest.

"Welcome to the outskirts of the Nedor Kingdom," the king proclaimed, and Aiyana gasped. I could sense what she was thinking—the fog had indeed been a portal and that little elf girl was indeed the guardian.