Crossing Tulusala: Chapter Three

Avion never came for me. I waited for over a week staring out that window. I had run over everything in my head many times, packed all of my cherished belongings and come up with an explanation for my absence. But he never did return.
Every afternoon I would stalk the market to see if Avion would come for more supplies only to leave feeling thoroughly angst, once even gave up on the market and stalked through the Amber Forest to his clan village only to find it abandoned, the houses empty, every elve gone.
I was even ready to storm into the throne room to interrogate my father about it—as king he must know where a quarter of his subjects were—but Falburt had beaten me to it, he was talking with my father already. So I slid behind the door and listened carefully.
“Gone?! You can’t be serious Falburt? Why would he ever—”
“I do not know but it’s gone, and I know what they’ve been up to. He shall pay for this My Lord.”
“You don’t think...? That why after all these years?”
“I wouldn’t put it above him, or them for putting him up to it.”
Who where they talking about? What was gone? What were “they” up to? God why did two people always speak like they had one mind between each other only in private?
I’d had enough of this annoying babble that I couldn’t decipher so I stormed into the room “father do you know what’s happened to Avion and his clan, they’ve been missing for a week—”
“—do not speak of that little thief!” Falburt shouted across the room looking like an angry troll on a rampage. What for fairies sake was up with him?
“Kressy, please just leave. Falburt and I have important things to discuss. None of which concern you.” my father looked down on my with a fixed glare, yet somewhere in there was a strange pity and grief I couldn’t understand.
So all I could do was stand at my window waiting for someone who would never come. I had given up hope. I was left with so many questions buzzing through my rattled brain that would not be answered; why did Avion leave without me? Where has his entire clan gone? Would I ever see him again? Each put a little more ache into my already wallow heart, filling it with misery.
Feeling horrible I left my once bright and cheerful window with its stunning view I used to marvel at and yearn for—I still did—that now reminded me of the friend I’d lost and the hurt he’d left, abandoning me, and curled up on my bed.
My eyes began to droop and succumbed to sleep filled with dreams of my childhood very quickly.
Where are you Avion?1


The soft ripples of stream water swished across my pale ankles, cooling and easing them. I suddenly felt an icy splash across my face.
“Avion!” I cried in mock anger.
“You looked far too hot m’lady,” he jested bowing. I took the opportunity to splash him back, getting his sandy hair wet leaving it like the colour of the Maridian beach when the blanket of foamy waves pull out.
I stuck my tongue out at him “I told you I prefer just Kressy. I’m not a fan of unnecessary titles.”
“Ah, but you won’t say that when your queen Kressy.” Avion tossed his head like a shaggy dog, covering me with drabs of stream water.
I wiped away some of the water with the hem of my sleeve “actually I’m not going to be queen, I told you that aswell. I’d have to be taught pointless thing like ballroom dancing, and educate and I’d have to get married!”
Avion moved closer to me “good point,” he nodded his head, his head went flying up and down with him “but maybe you wouldn’t have to marry some pompous idiot. You could marry me, and then we’d always be together. And I’d be a great king!”
Avion puffed out his chest and tried to stand tall and look heroic. While he was focused on this I pushed him and watched as he fell into the water with a loud splash.
“What was that for?” he whined like a girl pouting just a little.
“To knock you off your high and mighty horse, Mr pompous idiot.” Avion began to throw water my way and a splash fight broke put between us. Each of us throwing the flitery liquid at each other until we both collapsed in a wet huddle laughing like pixies on bottlebeer.
“If you were going to be king we could be like this forever,” I laughed hugging Avion, our soaked clothes weighing us down.
“We don’t need be married to stay like this,” Avion attempted on a deep solemn voice “Kressy Merith Dedrian, Princess of Florrie. I swear to you as an honoured young elve that I will never abandon you, will always protect you, and will always be there for you. To be whatever you need me to be.” He picked up a stick and traced the elvish sign of oath—a small spiral on each of our left palms, pressing them together “A promise?”
“A Promise.”2


What about now Avion? You broke your promise.
As my eyes opened a whimper escape my lips. Slowly as the days had passed and turned to a week I realised a painful ache had been growing in my heart as the days slowly passed and I sinked into the realisation of what Avion had done.
Then a thought across in my mind and I remembered my powerful words that forced Avion to falsely permit me to come: “If you do not let me come with you I’ll go up there myself.”
At the time it had been a bluff Avion probably could see straight through like spectres but thinking about it, why not? He couldn’t object to myself going. I immediately began rearranging my plans in my head.
I could find him, I could demand to know why he’d lied to me, I could have to adventure I desired so much.
The sun was setting lazily, dusty salmon clouds scraping against the golden sky the unnoticeably fading every second into a mystic inky midnight blue. Yes, no cover story, no farewell, when the sun had set and all of Florrie was in deep slumber I would creep out in the dead of night to the mountains of Tulusala…3


* * *4


Even with the flickered candle I clasped tight in my free hand I could barley see the dark corridors as I walked quietly through them, making sure every step was as quiet as a mouse while stalking through the room of a predatory-like cat.
I always left the castle out back doors so I would never run into any guards, and the gates o Florrie were always unmanned. My ego-mystical parents overlooked many thinks like that, it baffled even Falburt how the castle hadn’t come under siege in all these years.
The rough leather bag strapped over my shoulder swung heavily from side to side despite its lack of contents. Day before I had sorted all my suitable and unsuitable clothes, sadly there wasn’t that many outfits that could survive the mountain conditions or I could run in. The outfit I wore now was my favoured plain white dress knee length sleeveless dress, the translucent gauze draped over it billowing slightly in the evening summer breeze.
As I drew near the heavy iron gate the light of the full moon danced off the metallic bars and on my skin making it illuminate like glittering silver. I blew out the now useless candle and gentle pushes it par into a bush where it would hopefully not be found.
I pulled put the map I had stolen from Falburt’s study(along with a weeks worth of food and water, a dagger in case I ran into an trouble, and some of the camping equipment I had seen travlers using)and traced my finger over the route I’d marked to the Mountains. They were clearly visible from where I stood; as long as I kept walking north I’d be at a peak where I could see all of Florrie and maybe the whole side of the country.
I began running down the path carved into the hillside always looks onward. Avion was already a week ahead, I needed to catch up fast.
With every swift step my heart pounded faster with exhilaration, I hadn’t been able to run like this since I was a child! The feeling of simple adrenaline came at me like a rushing river as I cut threw the air, the wind hitting my concentrated face and pushing my platinum streams of hair back. I took deep breaths of the fresh air breathing heavily in and out.
Eventually I had to leer off the path and slow down to almost a complete halt as the green lush ground started to slant upward. My sides began to seer with a pain I had ignored whilst running, burning like dragons fire in my limbs and chest.
“Got to keep…moving,” the words came out in a jumbled panting breathe.
The temping thought to stop aroused. Why not? I wasn’t going to catch up with Avion tonight and I was far enough away from the castle I could quickly move on before anyone came looking. Not that the idea of poor little Kressy going up to the great big mountains would ever slither through they’re minds.
But then gaved at the distance of the great mountains tops which scrapped the dark sky triumphantly. I could climb them, I could beat them, I could reach them. But I mustn’t stop!
I pushed myself on, each step forced as the hill became steeper. With every move I reminded myself why I should keep going, instead of easily turning back and giving up, so much that eventually the thoughts became mere echoes in my head chanting on as my tired body dragged of its own accord.
Soon my feet ache as if I walked on the edge of knives and my pearl white sandal shoes wore away, falling off and rolling down the hills where they would stay forever as a bad omen to travellers. I made better progress without them though, gaining a little speed and better grip, but my feet hurt none the less.
As long yet fast slipping hour passed my mind drowsily wandered. Images of my mother and father danced around me, My mothers golden hair, creamy pale skin and shiny blue eyes identical to my own as she smiled and laughed so carefree hugging onto father with his dark locks, deep brown eyes and fair skin the colour of melting bark glancing at her in deep though the way young lovers look at each other.
Guilt came back to me. They may be egotistical and stubborn just as I was but they were my loving parents with all they’re faults. And I may never see them again…
The scene in front of me blurred a little as a tear of two creeper out my eye. I wiped it away dismissively.
I’ll come back one day. When I’ve found Avion and had the adventure I desire.
The dead-like black sky began to lighten as I trudged on, almost near the first peak where I would see what’s beyond the mountains. Or in it. With very heavy stride across the long mossy green grass my body pushed more knowing it was getting closer to its determined destination.
But as I walked further, my feet burning still I realized the distance I had been from the hills an hour ago was the same. No matter how many steps I was talking forward it never seemed to get any closer.
Burts of panic shot into me as I moved faster, like I would give chase. My eyes stared straight ahed trying to determine if my tired eyes were deceiving me in the changing light. It wouldn’t surprise me since my could barley process a straight thought.
It can’t be…not now… not when I’m so close…
My feet that were surley bleeding gave over, and I tumbled to my knees gasping “It never ends!”
As the golden dawn rose over the hills as the sun came up, shining light onto my tired eye lids I finally felt the weight I had been carrying wash over me. Pain, exhaustion, misery. All fell heavily onto my shoulders that were washed in the morning light I was submerged in darkness and sunk into a dreamless sleep.