“Ugh, I’m so sweaty!” I said, mopping my forehead. We had been in the forest, hiking over many, many steep hills for six days now, just to dip back down again. We were keeping to the paths; it would be easier to avoid capture if we’d stay in other people’s sights. “Can we hitch a ride back, please?”
“No! It’d be too easy for someone to hold us for ransom; they’d love to get me because they’d know that my father would pay dearly to have me back.”
“Alright, but I’m going to faint.”
“Just hang in there.”
“Yes,” I said, staring up at the bird flying above. I still wished that I knew how it had gotten out of my dreams and into the real world. Perspiration dripped down my brow and in my eyes, blinding me, and stinging. “Turn right here,” I said, as the swift bird swerved to the side at a fork in the road. The street was getting larger, and I suspected that our town was getting nearer.
Just as I thought this, a tower loomed up over the canopies of the forest, and the Mississippi Kite swooped down and locked gaze with me for a second as it glided past my shoulder. I gaped in amazement after it, and Absalom looked at me curiously.
“He left.”
“I’m sorry, who?” Absalom asked, questioningly.
“The bird.”
“He left? But wasn’t he the one guiding us? How shall we get back?”
“Can’t you see the watch tower?”
“The watch tower?”
“Of our town.”
Absalom stood on the tips of his toes and took a deep breath. “Come on, we’re almost there!” He said as if he had been the one to spot it. He grabbed my hand and sprinted forward. I giggled, and then laughed. We were almost home!
At the gates of town, the guards’ eyes almost popped they became so huge, and then they rubbed their eyes, disbelieving. Finally, they rushed forwards and when they reached us, they embraced me and then bowed low to Absalom.
“Oh Absalom, your father’s been so worried . . .”
“Aigneis? Your mother’s missed you . . .”
“Your father almost sent out armies to search for you . . .”
“Your sister even cried . . .”
“Your brother’s been pale ever since you disappeared . . .”
Ultimately, though the guards lead us to the town. We were taken to my house. Absalom’s father and brother were called to our town, and many guards were stationed around my house to wait. When Mother and Joy first saw me, they burst out crying, hugging, and kissing me. When they caught sight of Absalom, they dried their eyes and bent in swooping curtsies, even when Absalom told them that was not necessary.
Then Mother told us that we’d been through a lot and that we had to go to bed, and that all questions and stories could wait until tomorrow. With that said, I went to Joy’s room to sleep, and Absalom went to my room. I felt as if I was royalty when I peeled off my dirty, torn, musty dress and slipped on one of Joy’s thin, clean gowns. It smelled like flowers, and I thanked God for soap. I flopped down on the soft, cushiony mattress.
“So,” Joy said grinning, “You got to have an adventure with the prince? Lucky. Do you…” she lifted an eyebrow, “like him?”
I couldn’t help blushing and bursting into smile. “He’s a prince, what could happen?”
“You DO!!!” Joy laughed and ruffled my hair. “That’s so cute. My sister and the PRINCE!” She grinned again and lay down on the temporary mat set out for her on the floor.
As she turned out the light I couldn’t help but smile on into the dimness of the night.
*
Off in the distance I can just make out the shape of a bird fighting with something large and dark.
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