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#I’ve only written the prologue and velvet’s story and I’m already exhausted
asteralien · 3 years
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things im looking forward to doing in dryad alice if i do in fact ever get my act together:
everyone tells their own version of an orpheus & eurydice story
all of hermes’s stories are real stories he lived through (i think he starts the orpheus thing). it’s not because he’s self centered but because he was old in the old world but now he’s young and alone in a new world and is trying to figure himself out.
chokeberry, as a fairy, tells his stories through magical images, sensations, and impressions, so they’ll be in script form
all of velvet’s stories are about herself and cashmere. she’s the oldest of the group but like hermes she is still trying to figure herself out.
jonathan thinks telling stories is stupid and only tells two-sentence horror stories. wink wonk.
alexandrite’s stories are all nestled together in that the characters from his last story are telling the new one. they’re all about the day before the end of the world. everyone gets sick of them
i don’t know what kind of stories the other six characters will tell especially since meggy and amar are Children and jennet isn’t really the type but i guess that’s the fun part.
on the first day velvet tells the first story, and inanna tells the last. they’ve been apart for a long time and are getting to know each other again. on the tenth day they tell the middle stories, back to back, probably interwoven or connected in some way. because they know each other enough to tell stories to each other again.
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rosecolouredash · 5 years
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Querencia CH. 2
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Previous Chapters // PROLOGUE ONE
Summary: A prince and his sword reunited with his knight best friend.
Warnings: Insinuated violence and death.
Notes: I’ve been heavily inspired to write as of late so another chapter it is! This was the last full chapter within my Google docs (before I abandoned it.) I do have random dialogue and scenes written out (ie. Luke’s story in this all.) Now to fill in the blanks, haha
CHAPTER TWO
King of the Wastelands, Michael Clifford and his family of unruly bandits—plus one gryphon—were able to drive off the invaders that set fire to their fortress. In the process, they saved the ousted Prince Calum from the wrath of, who they discovered to be, the Easentis Army. Left with nothing but a burnt husk of a stronghold, they decided to join the prince on his quest to return to his homeland and to defeat the Empire—on the promise that they received a new homebase.
They allowed themselves a couple of days to recuperate from the battle before they journeyed North of Veodia, setting their course towards the capital city of Waiburne.
Michael and Calum walked side-by-side, at the center of a ring of bandits. The group chatted animatedly amongst themselves, around the two young men. Everyone seemed to be in high spirits.
“How’s it look up there, Dionne?”
From her place in the sky, on her beloved gryphon’s back, the russet-skinned girl surveyed their surroundings. They had made great progress—travelling past the silver sands of the Veodian wastelands into an area less barren and with paved, though rocky, paths. Dionne pushed the dark curls that had fallen in front of her eyes while flying.
“Nothing to see for another ten miles.”
Arnie the gryphon let out a squawk, in agreement with his rider.
“All right, thank you!”
Calum watched as Michael waved her off. 
Dionne and Arnie, flew ahead of their group to continue to scout.
“I don’t think she likes me much.”
Michael whipped his head towards his new royal friend. “What makes you say that?”
The prince pursed his lips, “she doesn’t seem comfortable around me.” Calum then let out a sigh. “She never speaks to me unless absolutely necessary and when she walks with us, she keeps her distance.” The frown on his face deepened. “Even the gryphon, gives me quite the glare.” 
Michael chuckled at the last comment. “That’s just Arnie for you. I’ve known him since he was a hatchling and he still gives me the side eye, sometimes.”
The bandit kept a watchful gaze on his oldest friend as she weaved through the clouds on her gryphon. “As for Dionne? Well...she’s not the biggest fan of you royal folk.” 
“But you’re a king too, aren’t you?” 
Michael let out a loud bellow. He grabbed the prince by his shoulder—successfully bringing him into a one arm hug. “They call me king—yes but I have no royal bloodlines to back it up.”
Calum looked towards the wild-haired man who continued with a soft smile. “Look, if it’s something you’re concerned with, you should ask. S’not my place to completely talk for her.”
The prince then shifted his gaze towards the sky. “I just—a number of people have already made sacrifices to keep me safe.” 
The bandit watched as Calum’s eyes seemed to cloud over.
“I wouldn’t want to hold anyone to the same fate if they were unwilling, which is rightfully so.”
Michael let what Calum said linger in the air before he offered some reassurance. “If it’ll help you sleep better at night, I did ask them if they wanted to do this.”
The leader of the bandits thought back to the night they met—when Calum had fallen asleep from exhaustion before Michael and the rest of his crew. 
“I gave them the option to back out and to stay in our wastelands but they all agreed. This is a cause we can’t not help with.”
A warm feeling enveloped Calum’s chest—he was grateful for his newfound allies. 
“Your dad—King David—he was a good man and from the little time I’ve spent with you, I can tell. You’re following in his footsteps.”
Calum smiled at the kind thought. He hoped so.
“It’s only right that you take back what’s yours and bring peace back to this kingdom.”
They continued to walk side-by-side, the bandit’s arm wrapped tightly around the prince.
“Michael?”
“Hm?”
“Thank you.”
“So your main force is at Clare View Point?”
The travellers neared the aforementioned area. Calum nodded at Michael’s inquiry while they picked up their pace. When Dionne had flown ahead, she quickly returned with news that she found a group of knights under attack by the Empire. 
The prince could only hope they were Saerean knights. “They offered themselves as a decoy to cover my escape to safety but Lorian’s army must have seen through the ruse.”
From above, Dionne signaled for the men to slow down. They took her word and found cover behind a large rock. When Michael peered around it, he happened upon the battle that raged ahead. “That’s your main troop? They’re not looking so good.”
Calum too had a look, only to be saddened by how right Michael was. 
“I don’t believe it. It was quite sizable before…”
The bandit gave him a reassuring pat on the back. “They won’t be able to hold out for much longer so we need to devise a plan quick.”
Dionne had Arnie bring them back down to earth. She hopped off the gryphon, once they landed and she joined Michael and Calum. 
“The royal army is nearly sunk but I think I heard someone cry that the third cavalry was still putting up a fight.”
The prince let out a sigh of relief. “The third cavalry? That’s Ashton’s unit.”
For once, the gryphon rider regarded the prince but her face stayed neutral. “Well, whoever he is, his men are doing their best but they’re definitely short on numbers.”
“We might be able to help then, if we hustle.” Michael quipped.
He turned towards the rest of the group. “All right, everyone. Prepare for battle.”
“Sir, we’re surrounded.”
Ashton Irwin, leader of the third royal cavalry of Saere, gave Remy a tired smile. Or maybe it was Rome? He was usually very good at telling them apart but unfortunately, he was currently in a weakened state. 
The Abal twins watched from their stallions, in concern, as Ashton picked himself up from falling off his white mare. He used said horse—affectionately known as Margaret or simply Peggy—and his giant lance to steady himself. When Ashton was suddenly flanked by the twin knights, he looked ahead to find the woman that caused him such pain to begin with.
“We’ve got you now.” 
A rich velvet covered her body—cascading to the ground in the colour of fine wine. She approached the knights but stopped when the boys on their horses took a step forward—in warning. 
“You can’t hold out forever.” Her hands began to glow—sparks of electricity crackling around her nimble fingers. “So, if you surrender now, I might just spare your lives.”
The head knight paid no mind to her threat. She could have sworn she heard him giggle too. “Surely you joke, witch. A royal knight never surrenders.”
He gave her a charming smile though winced at the sudden pain of his face, likely from being electrocuted moments prior. 
“I say, I’ll give you one last chance to withdraw.” Both Remy and Rome smirked at their captain’s offer—if Sir Ashton wanted to fight to the bitter end, so would they.
“Well, aren’t we brave? May lady luck see you through because you’re going to need it.” She made a grand gesture when turning around so her full skirt kicked up dirt into their faces. She looked towards her troops when her body started to dissipate. From the hem of her dress to the tips of her long, blonde hair—she fell away like smoke.
“Finish them.”
“Boss, it looks like the enemy can use magick.” Michael regarded the comment as they neared the battlefront. 
“We’ll just have to keep our guard up then.” the bandit king replied, cracking his knuckles.
Calum looked over his allies, unsheathing Zephir from its scabbard. “Don’t worry about the magick.” The wind suddenly whirled around the prince and his sword. “I’ve got your back.”
Michael smirked as he felt something in the air shift. He should have known—the legendary spellblade was not named in farce.
They entered the fight, Michael bringing out his Chasm to deal damage onto the Empire’s troops. 
Dionne and Arnie made waste of Easentis’ men—the gryphon grabbing onto them with his talons and tossing them out and away from the fight. The rest of the bandits helped to defeat many of the soldiers but what was most surprising was the prince himself.
Calum, ever quick on his feet, moved with his sword around the battlefield with ease. He slashed down enemy after enemy—sometimes casting a harsh wind to knock them away.
Eventually, they ploughed through the troops enough to find three knights and their horses at the center of it all.
“Who are you?” One of the young knights questioned. Remy had dismounted from his horse and held onto his captain, who did not have the strength to keep himself up.
“What do you mean, who are we?” One of the bandits responded.
“We’re here to help.”
Rome looked at his twin and then back at the bandits. “Help? You’re allies?”
The King of the Wastelands stepped forward. “I’m Michael, the leader of these knuckleheads.”
Dionne scoffed at the statement.
Grinning at her, he turned his attention back to the knights and continued. “Which one of you is Ashton?”
“I am he.” The royal knight, with some help from Remy, approached the group. “Brave bandit, what is it that you ask of me?”
Michael stepped aside so that Calum came into view.
“Ash!” The prince rushed to his best friend—looking him over. Though he was concerned with the minor burns that littered the knight’s skin, Calum thanked the gods that Ashton was, at least, alive.
“Cal, you’re safe.” Ashton engulfed the royal in a tight hug that was immediately reciprocated.
When he pulled away, Calum frowned. “What happened? When I left?”
The head knight recounted that Lorian’s Court Magician, Estelle appeared soon after they let Calum run away. She caused a storm that decimated the royal army—quickly and violently. Ashton let out a shaky breath, thinking back to the horror of it all. “My ranks have been thinned, considerably. Remy and Rome are the last of our unit.” 
Calum regarded the brunet twins as they bowed their heads, in respect to their prince. These boys were young—barely the age of adulthood. They had much life to live. How fair was it that they must go through this war because of him?
“Don’t feel bad.” Ashton was versed in reading his best friend like a book. He recognized the expression that settled on Calum’s face. The prince was tenderhearted—so much so that the knight believed he would likely be as benevolent a king as his father before him.
“You are the throne’s true heir. The kingdom’s last hope.” Ashton nodded to himself and the twins. “The royal cavalry will fight alongside you—” Then he gestured towards the bandits, “—all of you, until the very end.”
The twins eagerly agreed, both responding simultaneously, “we are at your command, your highness.”
Calum thanked the twin knights. 
He took a moment to gaze upon their group. From the bandits to the lady gryphon rider. From his best friend to his newfound friend from the wastelands. Calum then grinned as he remembered his conversation with Michael, earlier that day, so he addressed his allies with absolute determination.
“To defeat the Empire that took our homes and our families. To bring peace to our kingdom of Saere. I, Prince Calum, hereby form with you, the Royal Liberation Army.”
Tagged: @irwinkitten @calpops @rosecoloredash @lilbabycalum @gorgeouslygrace @rainingcalum @cashton-dolan @lockthisheartinchains @americanhorrorstudies @lovableah @cals-eyebrows @quintodosuniversos
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