I Don't Like Camping

We decided to take the twins with us. Well, I decided. Margot didn’t seem very happy about it, but I did not want to run into another pack of monsters without the two of them by my side. Besides, I thought, they came to the woods to help us in the first place. They rode in my carriage with me, the maids, and Sir Robert, who still didn’t seem too chuffed about the whole magic-healing thing.

They said the village wouldn’t be too safe, given how recently the monsters had appeared. The beasts could still be roaming around. Instead, we would have to make camp.

Cernnos Village was indeed not safe. I got a glimpse as we passed it by on the road: collapsed houses, scratched walls, modest buildings reduced to blackened piles of ash. I tried not to think about how exactly those had come to be. There was not a single sign of life in the small settlement. Within moments, however, it passed from sight as we continued through the woods to find a less conspicuous place to spend the night.

I was on edge the entire ride. The encounter with the ‘Scourge’ rattled me to my core. I never, ever want to see those things again. Not in a million years. My knees bounced in anxiety, the tips of my heels making tiny clack-clacks against the floor. I probably would have gone crazy if not for Marie, who, after seeing my fearful state, calmly offered her hand. She really knew how to help me. I’m sure she was terrified, too, but she never showed it. Will of iron, that woman.

With my nerves in peril for an hour, I was only able to relax once we stopped. Finley had directed the caravan to a spot he’d seen on his way to us. When we arrived, he and Diana stepped out to survey the area and ensure there were no beasts nearby. Once they determined that it was safe, the company set up for the night.

A small clearing close to the road, next to an absolutely massive rock, served as our motel. Defensible. Smart. The knights guided the carriages in a protective circle and began to make fires and set out their bedrolls. Margot and Marie went out to help them cook rations.

“Poor brutes won’t know their salt from their pepper. Marie, let us conduct a little cooking lesson.”

“I always keep a bit of thyme handy,” Marie replied as the two disembarked to teach the knights a thing or two about gastronomy.

They’ve got beds. Lucky them. Knights always have some emergency stuff, huh? Though I guess I could ask for one of theirs for myself…

While I contemplated how I would find sleep, watching the camp get set up from inside the safety of my carriage, the faces of the twins popped up at the bottom of the window.

Jumping back, I squeaked, “Agh! Hey! Don’t do that!”

“Sorry, sorry! Accident, I promise.” Diana bowed.

Finley joined her in the apology. “Could we come in, princess?”

I nodded, and they clambered back inside.

“You don’t have to keep calling me that,” I said.

“Hm?” they responded in unison.

“I mean, Diana, you’re a princess, too, right?”

Putting a finger to his chin, Finley thought aloud, “Oh, right, I see what you’re saying. She is, but nobody really addresses her as such outside of introductions.”

“It’s usually ‘Captain,’ mostly,” Diana added. She wore a wry smile on her face, pleased with getting to lay down her prestige as she had.

I waved it aside. “Regardless, we’re the same rank. Honorifics aren’t necessary.”

“Yes, just call me Diana. If you’d like, ‘Ser Diana’ works, too. I’m much more a knight than a royal, anyways,” she laughed.

“Speaking of,” I said, using her mention as a segue, “why are you dressed like that? Even if you weren’t royals, I would expect Finley to be wearing the armor, not you. You said you were a captain or something?”

“She’s the deadliest knight in the Andraste empire. Who cares if she’s a woman?” Finley scoffed.

“No, yeah, sure, but like, your father is okay with it? He doesn’t want to like… marry you off or anything?”

Diana leaned back and folded her arms. “Well, that’d be rather barbaric, don’t you think? I can’t imagine not having my own agency in something as important as that.”

Mouth agape, I was at a loss for words.

Finley filled the gap with a question. “I suppose that’s how things get run over there, though, isn’t it?”

I wanted to scream. You wouldn’t believe it! My insane dad isn’t giving me a single choice anywhere! But I didn’t. Instead, I offered a simple, “Differences amongst Kingdoms, hm?”

I was going to blow up if we stayed on this topic any longer, so I pivoted back. “You aren’t a knight, though, Finley?”

“No. I serve as the High Scholar of the Andraste Empire.” So… you like books?

He was met with a blank stare from the beautiful princess in front of him (that’s me).

“Ah, Scholar, as in, someone learned in the magic arts.”

Oh, magic! I wanna hear about that!

“Oh! That’s amazing! Could you tell me about it? We, ah, don’t have any in the Kingdom, as far as I am aware.”

Finley’s face lit up. “Really? You’d like to hear about it?”

Contemplating me, Diana chimed in, “It’d make sense if you’ve never seen it before, with your Kingdom’s laws and such.”

Huh? Laws?

With that, Diana popped the surprising enthusiasm her brother displayed moments prior. Deflated, Finley pulled back. “Hmm. Right, I suppose it’s probably best not to interfere with that. Don’t want to create an incident or anything. We certainly don’t need the King any angrier at us, and I can’t imagine teaching his daughter about magic would go over well.”

What!? No! Tell me! It seems so cool!

I stopped myself from voicing the complaint. As princess-y as possible, I agreed. “Hm. Yes, you make a good point. We ought to endeavor to ease relations as much as possible.” In my mind, however, I thought the opposite. Oh, I’ll get you to tell me all about this magic stuff, whether you like it or not. I’m not passing up a chance in a fantasy world to get to do actual, real magic.

A short silence befell the three of us.

On that point, I began to wonder if maybe the Andraste Empire to the east was actually all that bad. From conversing with the two imperial heirs, it seemed a friendly place. I’ll keep my guard up, though. There must be some reason ‘Dad’ hates them so.

I glanced outside. Toasty-looking fires flickered in the clearing, and I saw Marie and Margot standing behind one of the knights, guiding him through roasting something on a stick. His brow was in a knot.

We’re alone in this carriage. I considered the two twins in front of me. They’ve no expectations for me. I could ask anything… They wouldn’t get mad at me or tattle to my father. Marie knows something is up, but these two have never seen me before, so the fact I just became Elisabeth yesterday won’t be obvious. …Right?

I decided to take my chances.

“Say, could the two of you explain what those monsters were?” I innocently asked.

The two looked at one another.

Finley chuckled. “We’d heard that the princess of the Lumineuse Kingdom was sheltered, but my, my. I must say I’m surprised. Magic I expected, but you don’t even know of dubhiast?”

Um, ouch. I might not be an expert about this world, but I’m not clueless.

…Well, actually, I might be.

“That. What is that? I heard Diana shout that word earlier.”

“It’s what Andrastians call those beasts. I believe in the Kingdom you all call them ‘Scourge’?” Diana looked at me expectantly. She furrowed her brow when she saw that no realization dawned on my face. “You know what that is, right?”

I looked down at my feet and silently shook my head. I couldn’t look them in the eyes, for some reason. Though I knew the name from what Sir Robert had said, it wasn’t much to go on.

“It’s not really understood anyways, I suppose,” Finley mused.

Diana grunted in response. “We don’t need to know the specifics to know they need to be felled.”

“Those monsters are a corruption of the natural order. Raw magic gone awry.” Finley leaned forward, wearing a grave expression. “ They appear sporadically, and without much warning. I’m trying to study them, myself, actually.”

“I see. I’d never seen one before.” I looked back up at them.

Movement outside caught my eye. Marie and Margot were making their way back to the carriage, their instruction completed.

Uh-oh. Time’s up.

“Well, thank you for helping me understand. Perhaps we can continue this later.” I bowed my head.

Diana waved her hand as if dismissing my thanks. “Think nothing of it. It’s a pleasure to even be in the presence of someone as radiant as you,” she said, winking at me.

I was briefly taken aback. Instinctively, I put a hand to my chest in surprise.

Are you…?

Marie opened the door. “Are you ready to settle in yourself, Your Highness?”

“About that,” I replied, “where exactly am I going to sleep?” Most of the knights laid out bedrolls outside, removing their armor to get to sleep. A few were gearing up to begin first watch instead, though.

“Oh, I can help with that, actually,” Finley began with a grin, holding up his hand with a glow of blue. What, you gonna put me to sleep with that or something?

Margot glared at him. “That won’t be necessary, Prince ‘High Scholar’.”

Continuing for her, Marie added, “This carriage is outfitted to support nighttime excursions, as well, Your Highness. If you would, please step out for a moment.”

I obliged, followed by the twins. We watched in wonder as Marie flipped over the carriage seats, shifted a few pieces around inside the cabin, and presented a temporary bed that had been hidden within the structure.

“Whoa! Thanks, Marie!”

She bowed in response.

“Well, if you’ve got your sleeping situation settled, Diana and I will take our leave. We’ll be right outside, so scream if anything happens.” Finley walked away with his sister. As he did, he waved his glowing-blue hand, and two bedrolls materialized out of magic in his and his sister’s arms. That. Is so cool.

Evidently wanting to keep an eye on the two, Margot trotted off after them.

Marie turned to me. “Well, Miss Elisabeth, shall we get you changed and into that bed?”

“Yes, please.”