2 years later

Princess Antalasia watched yearningly as her elder brother, Prince John and her father, King Charles dueled against each other. Everyone was sweltering from the hot, relentless summer sun and covered in grime.

King Charles and Prince John each held a broadsword with a leather-bound hilt. The tapering edges of the blades glinted against the afternoon sun as the swords flew at each other in a series of fluid motions. The powerful strikes resonated with harsh, jarring clanks. Fine dust lingered in the air as the opponents flew at each other on the leveled dry practice ground.

"John, keep your wrist firm, but flexible. Flex your wrist when you deliver a cut to protect your arm from the excess force," instructed King Charles as they continued to spar.

Tired from the relentless attacks, John took a few steps back and breathed choppily. 

Knowing his father wouldn't spare him even for a moment, John quickly stepped forward and leaped high bringing down his sword. 

A grating clang resounded as King Charles brought his sword up, parallel to the ground to block the attack, even as he stumbled back.

"Good John. The power behind your attacks is impressive," praised the King.

The father-son duo continued to parry with King Charles instructing and encouraging his son. Antalasia looked on with unwavering focus determined to absorb all the lessons her father was teaching her brother.

With a final sweep, King Charles knocked off the sword from Prince John which went spinning through the air. 

A high kick sent Prince John flying to the ground who then lay there breathless, gasping for air. 

Princess Antalasia clapped her hands hard and cheered her father. Seeing Antalasia's longing expression, King Charles said, "Alright Princess, you can have a turn as well." 

With a delighted yelp, Antalasia jumped into the ring and swiped her brother's sword. She then took her stance and waited cautiously for her father to begin. 

Rolling his eyes, Prince John shouted as he got out of the ring, "Seriously sis, when will you start acting like a girl?"

Ignoring him, the princess focused on her fight. 

Princess Antalasia's swordplay was a sight to behold. Though lacking the power seen in Prince John's attacks, The Princess more than made up with her lightning-speed moves and reflexes. Never staying still, she seemed to dance with her feet lightly touching the ground.

"Antalasia put in more force. Use your body, not just your arm," instructed King Charles.

With cuts and thrusts that were at times a blur, the father-daughter duo exchanged quick, successive parries. Sharp, piercing sounds whistled through the air right before the metallic clinks when the swords struck against each other.  

"And she falls. The sword is slipping. You are going to trip now," teased John hoping to distract Antalasia.

Clenching her jaw in irritation and with flashing eyes, Antalasia began to fight more aggressively. Slipping away from their furious exchanges, Antalasia feinted to the left, pretending to attack. As soon as King Charles raised his sword to counter the move, Antalasia jumped to the right and crouching low swept King Charles to the ground, kicking him off his feet.

King Charles jumped up promptly ready to counter, only to freeze to a loud screech that had everyone in the vicinity cover their ears.

With the sword still in her hand, Antalasia looked up to see the Queen, dressed as elegantly as always, striding out of the castle towards the practice grounds.

"ANTALASIA!! How DARE you duel? Get inside right now. For the next month, I will personally mentor you every day. You WILL learn to act like a lady," screeched the Queen. 

Terrified, Antalasia turned towards her father and begged, "Please Papa. Please, Papa. Don't let Mama do this. Those lady lessons are terribly tedious and trite." 

King Charles gave a deep sigh and tried to console his daughter, "My little love, try listening to your mother. Hopefully, it will not be too terrible. Besides, I'm leaving again tomorrow. I won't be here to continue your dueling lessons." 

Ignoring everything that had been said and concerned only for her father's health, Antalasia exclaimed, "But Papa, you just got back today. You look tired. Can you not rest?"

King Charles patted her gently and moved away to discuss other pressing matters with the army general, effectively dismissing Antalasia.

That night, as Antalasia laid in her bed, she kept pondering and thinking until her brain was ready to burst. Finally, she decided enough was enough. She would travel with her Papa and escape Mama. 'Besides, I've gotten quite good at fighting and I even knocked Papa to the ground today. I should be useful to Papa', thought Antalasia. 

As soon as the sky lightened and the birds started chirping, Antalasia quickly stripped out of her bed, got dressed and made her way to the front courtyard. Cautiously, she sneaked to her father's carriage and quietly opened the rear hatch and settled herself in the trunk before closing the hatch-door.

Antalasia stayed as quiet as a mouse wondering if she would get caught. Soon, she heard loud clanking noises of the men moving in their armor, clip-clopping and neighs of the horses, and muffled voices and laughter. There was a sudden jerk when the carriage finally began moving and Antalasia fell across with a loud thud. Hoping no one noticed the noise, she remained frozen for a couple of minutes and then settled down.

______________

Antalasia woke up with a jerk. The carriage had finally come to a stop and nothing could be heard from inside the trunk. She quietly opened the hatch door and found a deserted camp that was set up in the middle of eerily, quiet woods. 

Over a grassy open clearing, brown tents were spread out and the horses were tied to a tree at the edge of the camp. The horses seemed spooked with their ears twitching and wary eyes darting everywhere. The woods were silent and still except for the gentle fluttering of the leaves by the cool breeze. It appeared as though all the animals and birds were hiding, concealing themselves from a predator.

Suddenly, a painful screech shattered the silence. Screams and shouts began to pick up in intensity, growing louder. A cloud of smoke began rising up in the same direction, growing thicker and greyer by the minute. Wide-eyed, Antalasia looked around cautiously assuming that the Rhazaqats were responsible for the ruckus. She found a well-trodden trail and began to follow it.

The scene that Antalasia came upon would forever remain etched in her memory. Under the canopy of tall trees, stood a makeshift village with colorful tents held up by sticks. Donkeys tied to trees were braying incessantly, unsuccessfully trying to run away. Tiny carts were overturned and food, clothes and valuables were tossed without regard. 

The Karas tribe members, strange-looking humans and a few Rhazaqats were running in a frenzy. In the midst of the chaos, the soldiers were attacking the Rhazaqats. Just as John had described, these Rhazaqats looked like a cross between chimpanzees and humans. They were very slow and at first, Antalasia assumed that they were attacking the Karas settlement and her papa was protecting the villagers.

To her horror, Antalasia soon realized it was not so. The soldiers were not only killing the Rhazaqats but, dragging the remaining villagers to the center. Even as she watched, a soldier began setting fire to all the tents. The fire glowed red and a wave of heat almost knocked her to the ground. Shocked, Antalasia remained frozen. She neither blinked nor dared to take a single breath. Neither the King nor the soldiers noticed the frozen, young Princess at the edge of the village.

"Heeeeelp!" a young girl shrieked shrilly. She looked to be eight, around Michaelo's age. Her curly blonde hair was tangled into knots and her thin dress was being torn apart as a soldier dragged her across the ground. She looked ethereal with translucent skin that highlighted her pointed ears and silver eyes. The little girl started kicking her legs, raising dust. She then tried to bite the soldier's hands, desperately trying to escape.

Tears filled the little girl's eyes, snapping Antalasia out of her stupor. She ran and pushed down the soldier who was dragging the young girl. She shouted, "Stop. What do you think you are doing?" 

King Charles started when he heard his daughter's voice and on seeing her, remained transfixed unable to believe his eyes. The stunned King strode towards his daughter, "What are you doing here, Antalasia?"

However, Antalasia stepped out of his reach and said, "No Father, first stop this massacre. Then we shall talk."

"Antalasia, this is not for young eyes. Come away," pleaded King Charles. 

"This child is younger than me Father," responded Antalasia stubbornly.

"Antalasia, there are greater matters at play. Now, come away," ordered the King. 

Antalasia did not budge and coldly asked, "Has she killed anyone? Has she hurt anyone? Isn't that one of the primary principles of our kingdom?"

She continued in a pained voice, "Why Papa? Why would you do this? You are the one who taught me to always stand up for the innocent. Why are you committing these atrocities?"

Disgruntled, King Charles responded, "Antalasia, that child is a half-breed, a product of the forbidden mating between a Rhazaqat and a human. She's an abomination. She must be killed." 

Antalasia was not moved and argued adamantly, "Are you so cold that you would kill a child for a crime someone else of her breed committed? If one human kills another, would you condemn entire humanity?"

Frustrated, King Charles finally said, "Antalasia, as per the Sun kingdom's rules, we kill all half-breeds and their supporters." 

Upset over the inhumanity she had just witnessed, Antalasia cried out, "We are not the Sun Kingdom. We are the successors of the legendary King John, renowned for his kindness. You taught me that. You might be the son of the great army general from the Sun Kingdom but, you are also our king. We are the Dragon Kingdom. Why are you behaving this way, Papa?"

Antalasia let out an involuntary sob and ran into the forest.

Muttering furiously, King Charles turned towards his men, "Treat their injuries but don't allow them to leave. Also, put out the fire. I shall decide their fate once I get our princess back." 

The villagers which included half-breeds, Rhazaqats and tribal members of the Karas sighed with relief and began to help each other.

All of a sudden, a blood-curdling scream ripped through the forest. 

Thank you for reading this far. 

Please comment and vote if you like.