Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!
Relana shot up in bed, eyes wide. Who could be at her door at this hour?
"Open this door by order of Prince Nodran!"
"Seriously?" Relana muttered under her breath, "what does that infernal boy want from me now?"
The harsh knocking turned into rapid pounding.
"Old woman! Open this cursed door, by order of the Prince. Open this door, now," he repeated.
"Why does that damn Prince always wake me before the sun?!" She sighed and forced herself out of bed.
Relana felt for her candlestick and sparker. Her eyes were still weak with sleep, she could not get the stupid thing to work properly. The candle would not light.
"Hurry up, old woman. I have better things to do with my time!" The guard shook his head.
"For the sake of our goddess, chill out!" With one more strike, the candle lit up.
She placed the sparker back on the table. She grabbed her walking stick in her left hand, the candle in her right.
She shuffled out of her bedroom. She grumbled under her breath when her eyes saw the mess in the kitchen sink.
She shook her head, pausing for a moment in front of a mirror. Her reflection stared back at her. She had long curly hair; the gray had taken over her black. Her silver eyes showed her age. She growled.
"I must go to the Northern Springs at the edge of the wastelands again. It is almost time. I hate doing it. I hate what he has done to me," she scowled at the wrinkles under her eyes.
She continued walking. Her feet stopped when she reached the front door. Relana opened it to see a royal soldier standing there with a letter. He was dressed in a royal guard uniform.
Draconian armor reflected the light of her candle.
"An order from Prince Nodran," he smirked. "I suggest you not delay," he told her.
"Thank you," Relana set her candle down on the table inside the door. She took the note and sighed. The messenger left and she closed the door.
Upon examination, in the low light, she discovered that the letter did in fact bear the royal seal of the Prince.
"Ugh," she groaned, "why is it always something extreme with that damn Prince?" she cursed at him.
Relana rested her cane against the door jamb. She opened the seal. Fear rippled through her body. She thought this day would never come. Terror shook her veins as she realized it was time.
She was grateful for her bond with the Prince. She looked up stairs, sighed and unfolded the letter.
This life has been such a journey. But the wear was showing in her features. With a slight growl she began reading the note.
Her fears were only confirmed by the words on the page.
Relana Wavelander, Keeper of the Guyla Trees,
I, Prince Nodran, cordially command you to make me twelve pies made from the oozletuft berries.
I need them by sundown. I am bringing thirty mages.
Xanther is coming, he knows about Alazar. We cannot delay in moving them.
Your son's treason will not be overlooked. His alignment with the Obsidian Cabal will not go unpunished.
Xanther knows where you are, but I will ensure your safety if you keep your promises.
His men are hidden in the shadows of my ranks. I have hand selected six men personally for your protection.
Do not trust anyone else. These men have an invisible tag on their wrists.
You are a bright enough sorceress to be able to tell.
You will not prevent me from taking both of your sons.
I have woken the sleeping Giant, and I know where the brothers sleep. I know how to wake them. Do not leave the planet. I will not accept anything but complete compliance.
Prince Nodran,
The crowned Prince of Finna
Cursing, she wadded up the letter and tossed it into the waste basket.
She picked up her cane and candle. Relana limped back through the kitchen. She chose not to look in the mirror a second time.
She smirked when she saw one of Gus's feathers on the kitchen floor. Relana set her candle down on the counter. She bent down and picked the feather up along with the two buckets next to it. She balanced them with her cane and picked up the candle once more.
She had everything she needed for the pies except the oozletufts.
Relana shuffled up the stairs, across the landing and to the bedroom on the right.
There were two beds in this room. She looked at the person in the first one. She scowled in frustration. Relana walked past the sleeping six-foot, four-inch-tall man.
In the second bed was the reason she came in here. A small furry animal on his chest. It was black and white. Relana smirked and set her candle down on the small table by the door. She shuffled over and pet the cat.
"I am so glad you are here Samuel. Your presence here brings me peace." The cat opened his eyes and looked up at the old woman. An intelligent expression fixed on her. Purring reached her ears, "you like pets. It is time for Landon to get the day started."
The cat stretched and jumped down. It went to the corner where it curled up on top of a fluffy purple dog with two tails. The dog raised its head then curled into the small cat.
Relana turned her attention back to the boy in the bed. "Landon! I need you to go to the orchard to get berries, now!"
Landon groaned, "I want to sleep, Mother!" He rolled over and tried to ignore her.
"Not today you don't," Relana laughed with wicked intentions.
A feather tickled his nose. His sleep was short lived. He sat up in a startled fright. "For the love of all that is holy! Why must you use Gus's feathers against me?!"
The woman huffed, "I had no choice, your hippogryph's feathers are the only way to wake you, boy."
"Fine! I'm awake, what do you want?" Landon rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
Two buckets made from ash wood were dropped into his lap. They were crafted of wood planks bound together with metal bands and had simple handles. One was stacked inside the other.
"I need two full buckets of berries. Now! So, get going, boy."
Landon moaned, "who is important enough to get me out of bed to get that many berries?"
The old woman smirked, "Prince Nodran."
Landon's eyes went wide with surprise, "is he back? He was not supposed to be home for another year!" He threw the covers off himself and rose to meet his mother's eyes.
"He will be here tonight. Now get moving!" She tapped the two buckets with her cane, before shuffling to the door.
She paused and turned to look back at Landon, "you know why he is coming. He has found a way to take you. You must be ready when he gets here."
Landon looked at his mother, "He found a way to move Alazar?"
"It doesn't matter, just hurry up, boy," she picked up her candle and disappeared into the hallway.
He jumped out of bed and scrambled to get himself together. He threw on his green commoner tunic. In a rush, he brushed out his messy hair.
Landon threw it up in his signature man bun. He went to his mirror and glanced at his reflection. His piercing emerald eyes glowed with excitement. His Prince was coming to get him.
With the buckets in hand, he bound down the stairs two at a time.
"Take Fluster and Samuel with you!" She reminded him as he rushed past her. She turned to her cupboards and began pulling out all the supplies for the prince's pies.
"Come on boys!" Landon called them. A purple dog with two tails and a small cat slipped out the door with him. "I will be back soon, Mother."
Relana hollered up the stairs. "Windraven! Are you going to sleep while Landon is outside?"
Relana heard a loud bumping and rattling noise as something fell out of its bed. She chuckled at the high-pitched squeal.
"Blasted woman! Why did you not wake me?!"
Relana watched with humor as this tall insanely buff man came down the stairs with caution.
She smirked at the fear in his eyes. He clutched his sword in hand. Timidly, he tiptoed down the stairs. His eyes darting back and forth as if he was searching for something.
She rolled her eyes and smirked, "watch out for the mice."
"MICE? Where?! Oh, in Lilith's name, do not let it touch me!" Windraven threw his arms up in the air and squealed in fear. His sword dropped from his grip and hit his toe. It rattled and rolled down the stairs.
Windraven squealed in pain and clutched his foot. He hopped down the last three steps before tripping and falling down.
Another squeal of fear ripped out of his throat as he jumped back up.
He frantically searched for where the mice could be. When he did not find any, he scowled.
Relana laughed, she could not help it. "Oh, God, that never gets old! Now hurry up and get after Landon!"
Windraven looked at Relana, his eyes narrowed in on her. "So, help me if you do not stop doing that, I will send you to the underworld!"
"Windraven, that might hold some bite to it if your voice was not so squeaky," she chuckled. "Here, take this bucket with you. Perhaps you shall have fun collecting berries with Landon."
He deadpanned an expression lacking amusement. He picked up his sword and took the bucket and walked out the door.