I had half a week left of resting before I began my etiquette class. I was closing up shop (my healing business), when a man came in. It was a particularly cold night, and he was wrapped in a cloak.

“Hello, I was just closing up shop. What do you need?” I asked.

He lifted his arm. There were bandages from his wrist up to his shoulder.

“Oh dear! What happened? I need to know so I can treat your wounds properly.”

“Burns. I was attacked.” He said in a low voice. He shouldered his cloak revealing a thin, linen shirt, leather pants, and fur boots. He was muscular, very much so. He had smooth looking olive colored skin. He also had kind gray eyes, and shaggy copper hair.

“You must be cold.” I said fixing a cup of coffee. I grabbed my aloe plants in the process.

“Thanks.” He said as he sat down.

I pulled off the dirty bandages wrapping his arms. The burns he sustained were infected and terrible. There were blisters that popped and coated the area in pus.

“These are bad.” I muttered. I set the aloe aside, and went to grab disinfectant. Imani had invented a special potion that disinfects the area it’s applied to.

“This will burn.” I said and held down his arm with mine. I poured the potion onto a cloth and rubbed his arm with it. He tense up and made a hissing sound. He gripped the chair and almost broke a piece off of the arm of the chair. “Almost done.”

I continued to cleanse his arm with the disinfectant potion. Once I finished the disinfecting, the infection had gone away and I applied the aloe. I then wrapped it in clean bandages.

“Thanks.” He said rubbing his newly bandaged arm.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Cian. Cian Arlott. Yours?”

“Diana Faustine. I’m princess of Crystal Falls, but don’t tell anyone.” I said with a smile.

“If you're a princess, then why do you live here and not in the castle?”

“It’s a long story. I just recently was chosen to be the heir of the queen, but little did I know I was actually a real princess.”

“Story doesn’t seem that long.” Cian joked.

“Whatever. What brings you to the Crystal Falls Slums?” I asked.

“Well, you revealed yourself, I guess I should too.” He said. “I’m the prince of Ephraim. I ran away and have been traveling since I was about eighteen. It’s been two years. I got caught up in a bad fight with a fire mole in a cave last month. That’s why the burns are so bad. I checked on them the other day and that’s when I decided I needed medical attention. I ran into a farmer who told me about a very gifted healer in the Crystal Falls Slums. That’s what brought me here.”

“Interesting. How come you didn’t go to the court healer?”

“They would have know who I was, and then would have sent me back.”

“Why don’t you want to go back?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to. It’s that I can’t go back. Ephraim is in a state of war. If I go back I will be killed. My family has already been killed. I’ve been looking for someone to help me out and get Ephraim out of rebellious hands.”

“Interesting. Take me with you. I’ll help.”

“What?! I can’t do that you’re just a girl!” 

I got up and pinned him in the floor in less than two seconds. “I was and still am in the notorious Amoxtli gang. Do NOT ever say that just because I’m a girl! I can fight!” I yelled. Cian had a expression of fear on his face, but it went back to calm and collected.

“So a princess was in a gang? Didn’t expect that.” He said as he tried to move his arm around. I pushed down on his arm even harder, causing him to grimace. “You’re strong and fast. I won’t question you anymore if you let me go.”

I released Cian, and he got up from the ground.

“Yes, I am in a gang. Big whoop. I’m an orphan too. I have a brother, but he is a knight.” I said, wiping the dirt off of my pants.

“That’s brilliant!” He said laughing. “Your brother serves the queen and you work in secret as a member of the city’s most dangerous gang!”

I let him laugh for a few more minutes, then punched him in the face. He fell back to the ground. He was holding his mouth, and I saw blood dripping from his hands.

“You had your laugh. Get up.”

“You busted my lip!” he said spitting out blood.

“I’ll let you fix that yourself. I’ll give you a rag, but that’s it.”

“That’s cruel.”

“Where are you staying? I can send supplies over in the morning.” 

“I have no idea. I know for sure that it’s not safe to wander around these streets at night. Hint, hint.”

“No. You’re not staying here.”

“Why not? If you don’t let me stay I’ll turn you in.”

“Evil. Fine you can stay, but don’t tell anyone, unless you have my permission, about me being a princess and in a gang!”

“Promise.”

The next day, I woke up and was about to leave my house when Cian grabbed my arm.

“Don’t leave yet.” He said. There was a slightly scared tone to his voice, but it still had it’s low smooth sound.

“Why not? Are you scared of being left alone, even though you lived on your own in the wilderness for two years? I have to pick up supplies, and pay my dues.” I asked.

“Let me come with you. I mean now that I have someone to talk with I’m afraid you’ll leave and never come back.”

“Quit being a child you are a grown man, you should act like one!” I scolded and I yanked my arm from his loose grip. “C’mon then.”

My first stop was at Kapono’s. I picked up traveling clothes and survival supplies.

“Well, what do you have here. Another royal member I see. Are you two , hmhm, together?”  Kapono asked with a giggle.

“No we are not.” I blushed.

“Of course you aren’t Child I was simply joking.”

“How’d you know I was royalty?” Cian asked. He was clearly shocked at Kapono’s accusation.

“I didn’t but now I do. Haha! You fell for it!” Kapono howled.

“Stupid geezer.” Cian mumble. I hit him over the head with my book I just bought.

“I’ll be going then Kapo. G’bye!” I said and left his store.

My next stop was rather dangerous. I had to go to the Amoxtli headquarters. It was deep in the slums.

“Becareful. They don’t know you and I’m the only one that can stop them from attacking. That’s only if I say they can’t.”

“Ok. I’m not scared of a bunch of little brats.” He said bravely. Just as he said that, a group of six Amoxtli gang members, all under the age of twelve, jumped out.

“Who he?” a short girl with choppy blond hair asked.

“A friend Taji.” I replied harshly.

“Ya may be older’n me but ya can’t be treat’n me and the others like trash!” She cried.

“Yeah!” The other five children said in unison.

“Oh calm down. Peter and Perri you two go and tell Hansley that I’m coming down.” I said to two of the smallest children. Perri was slender and to my hip with long, smooth, brown hair. She was probably ten. The other was a very young boy, probably about the age of six. He had very short and choppy black hair. They then ran off and down a sewer hole to go tell Hansley, the leader of the Amoxtli.

“Take me to Hansley Taji. Now.” I demanded.

Taji cursed under her breath and grabbed me by the hand, then took me down the sewer pipe.

“It smells terrible!” Cian exclaimed.

“Only this part. This is the entrance, the stench keeps guards from coming in.” I replied.

“Shh! Ya’ll wake up tha rats, and we’re done fer!” Taji whispered.

“Sorry.” I said.

When we got to the inner door of the base, Taji and I stopped at the door. A small slot slid open and eyes peered out.

“A rock is throw one way but comes back another. What direction was it thrown?” He asked.

“There wasn’t just one.” Taji and I said in unison.

“Come in.”

“C’mon Cian.” I whispered.

We came through the door and entered a large cavernous room filled children of all ages. There was a wonderful smell coming from the southeast corner, which was were the kitchen was. Tables and chairs were set out in various places, and in the far northern corner, was a desk and chair, behind it was several shelves containing diverse knick-knacks and trinkets.

“Ya know your way around.” Taji said curtly.

I walked towards the desk with Cian. As I was walking many children ran up and gave me hugs and greeted me.

“Hello, darling.” A man said from behind the desk. He had light brown hair pulled back into a loose braid, stone gray eyes, and stubble on his scar marked face. He stood up and gave me a hug. He wrapped his giant muscular arms around me and kissed me on the head.

“Afternoon, Uncle.” I said.

        “It’s been awhile since we saw each other face to face. I know you came yesterday to pay. I’m sorry I wasn’t here. Melee had her baby and I had to go with her since she had no family to go.” He said apologetically.

“He’s your uncle?” Cian asked.

“No, more like he adopted me off the streets. He’s known to most of the younger ones as Papa or uncle.” I said.

“Who’s this?” Hansley asked. “He your boyfriend?”

“Heavens no! I walk around with one guy and everyone thinks he’s my boyfriend!” I said.

“Well, you were know for being a prostitu-”

“NOPE! Don’t even finish that sentence. I was never that. I may have gone around fondling others, but I was not a prostitute.” I said cutting off Hansley.

“Whatever you say, Diana, or should I call you by your street name? Bright Eyes.”

“Shutup.” I said in anger. “You know I hate that. Here’s the money I got this month.”

“Excellent. You collected 156 gold, and twenty-five silver. How’d you get this much gold?”

“I sold some stuff and did various jobs.”

“What kind of jobs?” Cian asked with a smile.

“SHUTUP YOU PERVERT!” I yelled as I punched him him the face. This caused his lip to bleed again, but this time it was worse.

“BWAHAHAHAHA!” Hansley howled. “Whew. That was funny! You should bring this guy around more often!”

“Shutup or you will suffer a fate worse than his.” I snapped. I lite my hand up with white hot fire. “It’s for cauterizing blood, but I could burn you at over 750 degrees.”

“Fine, fine. I’ll stop. Just done scorch me. I’ll pay you next week for all this.” Hansley said in a more serious tone.

“Can’t next week. The queen chose me to be her, um, her heir. I have stupid etiquette classes. I need the money now. I’m going on a long trip Saturday.”

Cian woke from his daze groaning and holding his mouth.

“You know you’re gonna haveta warn me about these things before you come in and demand money from me.” Hansley said sternly. “I can’t keep doing this. I’ll give you half of what you gave me. That should cover you for a while. Where are you going?”

“Ephraim, with Cian. I’m going to help him reclaim his family’s throne.”

“Did you say Ephraim?!?!”

“Yes. I’m going and I’m not changing my mind.”

“It’s too dangerous! Are you sure that kid can even defend himself?”

“He’s been on the road for two years. I can only hope that he can.”

“Then I’ll give you a little gift. Me and founder of Amoxtli made a secret stash a long time ago. We stole from the Royal Armory when the gang was still young. Come with me.” He said.

I followed Hansley down a narrow cave like hallway, and Cian ran behind me, still clutching his bloody mouth.

“We are several hundred feet under the Royal Armory.” He said pointing at the ceiling where there was a hole, but it was blocked. “That’s where me and ol’ Kapono hid our treasure.”

“Wait, Kapono? Like Uncle Kapono the shopkeeper?” I asked shocked.

“Yep. He was my older brother. We founded Amoxtli as a place where orphans could find a place they could stay sheltered, but also learn lessons.”

“Crazy. So what did you two steal?”

“We’re almost there. You’ll see.” Hansley said, and just as he did so, we came upon a thick wooden door. Hansley gripped the handle and pressed a button. There were several clicks and he heaved the door open. Inside was bright and shining. There were hundreds of racks holding weapons of all shapes, styles, sizes, and natures. There were mannequins holding light armors and heavy armors. The room was lit by torches which gave the well preserved armor a beautiful glimmer.

“I should have let you pick something out a long time ago, but I decided to wait. Your father said it’d be a better idea to wait until you truly needed one.”

“My father was in on it too!?”

“Naturally. You had to inherit your troublesome nature from someone.”

“We never were actually brothers, but we considered ourselves to be so. Go ahead pick a weapon and some armor.”

Cian and I stood back in shock. Cian’s hands had left his open mouth, causing blood to spill over.

“Let me take care of that Cian.” I said cooly. My hands lit up and I put them to Cian’s face. A glimmering green light came from my hands and caressed Cian ever so gently. His eyes fluttered for a moment. “All done.”

“Thanks.” He said popping his jaw.

I ran over to a wall holding daggers. The daggers all seemed to have a different color glow to them almost as if they had magical properties themselves. I picked up a set of daggers and a scythe. The daggers were silver with a faint purple glow, and the scythe was gold with a red glow to it. I then ran over to the armor and picked up a suit of light armor. It was made of mostly leather, but had silver armor pieces covering the chest area, the shins, the knees, the shoulders, and the forearms.

Cian picked up an ebony greatsword that gave off an orange glow and picked a heavy suit of steel armor.

“The armor has healing properties. The weapons with purple glows are poisoned when they penetrate the skin, weapons with a red glow make your enemy catch fire upon contact, and weapons with an orange glow cause the user to gain strength.” Hansley said.

“Brilliant!” I exclaimed. “I love it. Thank you so much.”

“I just hope you put it all to good use. Don’t tell anyone where you got it ok.”   

"I won't. Promise!" I said with a wink.

"I envy this kingdom." Cian said.

"Why's that?" Hansley and I chuckled.

"It's got beauty and all of this." He replied as he gestured around the room.

"These are stolen goods kid. They were stolen around the time you were born." Hansley Said. "About the time the Great War happened."

"We should probably head out uncle. I hate to leave the day you came back but we have a very important  quest. Goodbye!" I said and gave Hansley a kiss on the cheek and a hug. "Thanks again!"

I grabbed Cian by the wrist and ran out of the armory. I need to figure out more about this prince and his people. I thought.