I don't know what it was about the bright, late summer afternoon sitting at the round, crudely constructed birch table, but my mind was anywhere but focused on the task Minryn set before me; she instructed me to write down a list of the herbs and remedies in her stock as well as the ingredients to make such ointments and creams. But I simply didn't care- it was rare for me not to care. I was always cautious about letting my mind wander aimlessly; I never enjoyed the loose-ended feeling no matter how pleasant my thoughts would be.

    Over the weeks, Minryn had taken me under her wing, and I had proven prodigious in my ability to learn my cursive letters, even the most complex of scripts. My hand was still shaky when tracing most, but my flow was better as well as the size and spacing of the individual letters. Some days would be devoted solely to penmanship- just learning how to properly grip my writing tool took work, but eventually, I began to excel.

   With my writing improving, Minryn moved onto teaching me other knowledge, like identifying certain herbs and their proper names. She taught me how to use each plant and root to its fullest potential. She made me pour over thick volumes, taking copious, detailed notes until my hand no longer could hold the tool. She would constantly test me on my knowledge, never letting up on me. At first, I didn't appreciate this style of teaching, but with time she broke my resistant, slothful mentality. I tried tirelessly in everything I did. Minryn would quote what later became another important life lesson for me to live by.

   "If it isn't a challenge, it's not worth your time."

   Along with scholarly knowledge, she filled my head with wisdom. The simplest tasks or occurrences could be major life lessons. She built my character, she made my mind stronger, ignoring the negative and focusing on the positive. My morals and ethics, which were before only developed by my parents, were now being shaped by Minryn's influence as well.

   There was never a lazy day of drifting through the motions. There were always things to do, things to learn. Except for that day.

   That day, for me, dragged on in a dreamy, summer haze. Resting my head in my arms, I dreamt of things only a child's mind can conjure up. By the time Minryn came back from town, I had slipped into a late doze.

    It didn't take much to stir me, only a nudge to the side. Groggily, I sat up, blinking my rheumy eyes before noticing her standing over me. My wits flew back to me quicker than they had fled. Minryn was not one for idlers.

   "A wastrel are we?"

   Sheepishly, I shuffled the papers I was supposed to be writing on. Only a line and a half had been scratched down.

   "I'm sorry, Minryn."

   She set her basket of goods aside, clucking her teeth.

   "What has you today, girl?"

   I got up to help her put away her items, but she waved me off back to my previous task.

   "I don't know. My mind just won't stay quiet in one place no matter how hard I try. Something must be wrong with me."

   "There's something wrong with you, all right. You can't let your thoughts overwhelm you so easily."

   I kept my eyes to the ground, disappointed at my lack of self-control. I wrote quickly down on the paper. Rarely did I ever make a mistake, but that day I kept crossing out my careless words. Minryn noticed this as well and, behind me, let out a tired sigh that wasn't disappointment as much as resignation.

   "Put down your tool, Aelita."

   I did as she commanded then turned to look at her. The lines etched on her face were light which meant the subject matter was not grave or correctional in nature.

   "You work a hard lot, you do. Every day, most every day, coming so far to learn so much in so little time. You choose work before leisure daily and it shows- some ways more positive than others."

   Though I sat in my sit as still as a rock, I was uneasy and restless inside.

   "I believe you've earned a break."

   I couldn't believe what she was saying. My heart soared at the sound, but I only nodded appreciatively at her in thanks.

   "I'm going to let you go wherever you wish, but you must return here before the sun begins to kiss the horizon's cusp. Here, take two coins, go on."

   Reluctantly, I accepted the coins with much thanks, my excitement threatening to spill over. As I hopped up to leave, making a hurried dash to the door, I hesitated, looking back at her.

   "Thank you, Minryn."

   She waved me off. "Go now. Be back as I told you."

   With that, I leaped off into the bright day.

   I didn't have the slightest idea where my feet would lead me since my mind was preoccupied, wandering to senseless, childish things. Surprisingly, I avoided town altogether, continuing further north where the road led to the main, commerce highway. Perhaps I thought of going on an adventure, I'll never know, but I pressed forward, skipping under the rays of gold.

   While I traveled, I whistled a cheery tune Minryn had taught me. If I sung the lyrics it would have been a blissful melody. The story of the tune was about a man named Riddance who sold his soul to a devil in exchange for the attention of a craggy yet beautiful sea maiden. The young woman did end up falling in love with the man, but she was an obsessive lover who clung night and day to the man. The man, now regretting his decision, pleaded to the devil that bid his wish to reverse the curse, but the devil merely laughed and kept the man's soul for eternity, also taking and preserving the woman's soul so she could torment the man forever. It was actually seen as a humorous piece which those on the sea would sing merrily on a bright, calm day like I was in.

   By the time I had arrived on the main road, I determined in my mind to travel to Lochmere for the day. A rather bold idea for me seeing how far it was and the time it would take to travel to and fro. Either I was adventurous or reckless and at the time I felt unstoppable.

   Whistling the third verse in the song, I was stopped in my tracks by the whine of a horse in the near distance. I became quiet in order to better perceive where it was the sound was originating from. After a few moments, I deciphered it was approaching from behind, and turning around my indications were correct as a wild-eyed, swift mare galloped past me, narrowly avoiding me.

    I scrambled to move onto the grassy side of the road.

    There seemed to be a rider occupying the animal, but they were doing a very poor job at maintaining the massive creature.

    Once pass me, the horse flew off the road into the thicket beyond. I would have paid no mind to the spectacle if only I hadn't heard a fearful cry issued from atop the creature.

   "Slow down! Why won't you stop!?"

   My curiosity- and worry- was peeked, and since I was already in a venturesome minset, I had no reservations about racing after the creature and rider, who sounded especially young and fragile.

   I knew it be difficult to keep up with an animal so swift, especially the corybantic beast that raced into the woods, but I was thimble and hurried without hindrance through the woods. Thankfully, the forest shallowed and opened into a wide meadow where I could easily spot the rider and horse.

   Out of breath, I stopped the pursuit knowing I couldn't- wouldn't- keep up. Like the problem-solver Minryn had taught me to be, I began inventing a way to calm the mare and help the rider.

   The rider was huddled down on the bareback of the beast without a saddle nor reins. Instead, they seemed to clutch tightly onto the mane of the animal, perhaps agitating it more than it needed to be.

   Suddenly, as the distance between us grew a thought of action formed in my mind. Without wasting time to refine or ponder the choice, I emptied all thought from my mind, stretched out my hand and let forth an icy furl in the direction of the two.

    The blast from the icy mound startled the beast, as I hoped it would, causing it to lift up to its full height and coming to a quick stop before running into the sharp shards. Up on its two legs and with a very weak grip, the rider fell from the back of the mare, crumpling on the ground, motionless. The animal recovered, returning to all fours and racing off in a new direction.

    I wasn't concerned with the mare as I was the fallen, still rider procumbent on the ground. I hurried to their side, kneeling beside them.

    Being closer, I could see the rider was a young boy about ten or eleven in age. His hair was a lighter shade of brown than Erinna or maman's was, closer to a deeper shade of barley. He wore a scarlett colored cloak and a costly looking pair of shiny riding boots which indicated to me he came from an influential family that had some sort of wealth.

    Kneeling beside him, I tried the best I could to stir him, but he had all sense knocked out of him. I pushed him on his side to look him in the face to wake him easier.

   His cheeks were rosier than anyone I had ever seen- they had such a healthy glow to them! His lips were a matching pink as well, full and plump. His fair skin appeared smooth to the touch, no callous, blistered hands affirmed my belief about his family background. He looked so well-kept and orderly, it made me feel ashamed to be bending over him with my worn, fraying dress.

   I didn't have a chance to hide myself before he began to arouse. He came slowly at first but then he opened his eyes, glancing side to side before staring up at me with his soft hazel eyes.

   Frightened and bashful, I shrunk back as he sat up, a dazed expression clouding his eyes.

   "Who are you?" He asked.

   He had a prim and proper voice that carried like an accent.

   I simply shook my head like a mute, suddenly ashamed to be in his presence. He sat up straighter to get a better look at me. As he did so, our attention was diverted by a raucous voice coming from the direction we came. Emerging from the forest was a trio of horses, much calmer and controlled, with three men mounted on top.

   With that, I fled from the boy and raced to escape from the meadow, hastily disappearing into the dense woods which protected me. The demure boy called out for me to come back, his voice possessing a genuine undercurrent to it, but I ignored him and melted into the trees. The man who led the trio of riders called out for me to halt, his commanding, rough voice only spurring me to quicken my escape.

    Even though I fled into the forest, I didn't run too far from the meadow. Crouched in the thickets, I remained close by to observe the unfolding scene; my curiosity overcoming me.

    The trio of men arrived by the boy who was still looking into the forest, probably in bewildered spirits about me. The man on the first horse dismounted and assisted the boy onto his feet, clearly not as interested in me. They were farther from me so I couldn't make out every word the boy said, but his gestures of pointing into the forest told me that he was wondering about me. The man's voice was a very resolute one which helped me understand the full conversation better.

   "Are you hurt?"

   The boy shook his head, continuing to point in the direction I fled. They exchanged some more words, the man glancing over with an indifferent face, not seeming to care about my origin. Instead, he assisted the boy up onto his own horse then mounted as well.

   "I suppose now you'll listen to wise counsel and not try proving yourself a brave hero all the time."

   The other two riders chuckled at this, but the boy seemed intent about looking back in my direction; I could sense his eyes scanning. I drew back even farther from sight just in case he could spot me still. Finally, he gave up and looked ahead.

   "Let's go find that bucking bastard of a beast." The man said.

   They took off from the meadow in the direction of the animal. I was surprised, yet relieved, the men didn't take much notice of the ice shards still present where I had dispersed them.

   They were nearly out of earshot when I crept out of the woods and heard them galloping away.

   "You're lucky you weren't killed, your Highness. Are you sure..."

   Then, their voices and noises faded from the meadow completely and I stood alone, staring in the direction they went. I had just caught onto the title used for the boy. It repeated again and again in my mind.

   Your Highness.