"Say, where can we find something decent to eat here, Prince", Elizabeth asked, surrendering to her stomach's continuous protests against moving forward without food.

"Follow me, warrior princess.", he said.

They walked to a tavern and sat down after ordering some food.

"So how did you learn swords fighting?", Louis asked.

"I learnt it with my brother. I've been practicing it for seven years since then with him and Alfreda, my friend. What about you?", she said.

"Well, I learnt it from my trainers. I've been practicing it since more than a decade and believe me when I say I have never been defeated until I fought you."

"Well, there is always a first time." she mused. "Why did you learn French?"

"I want to travel to distant lands. Discover and explore the places beyond the ocean. What about you?", he asked.

"Well, I too wished to travel and experience new places. Besides, I love Literature.I learnt quite a few languages to read all the books I wanted to." she said as she began eating her food.

"Do you always practice at dawn?". she asked.

"Rarely. Henry and I had planned to come here today so that's how I discovered you can speak French and wield the sword exceptionally well."

Uhh, Elizabeth thought, embarrassed at how spectacularly her plan had failed.

"Well, I didn't except anyone here to know French.", she replied defensively.

"Then it did involve the talent of speaking many languages when the rumours said that the princess has more than one talent.", he said

"Well, the rumours are true, then. How many languages do you know?", she asked.

"Four. And I am not telling you which in case you decide to change your code language.", he said as they got up.

Clever, Elizabet thought. 

 They walked back to their horses and started riding back slowly to the castle.

"I thought you could ride faster than that.", Louis said, daring her.

"Challenge accepted, prince. See you at the castle.", she said, pulling Burak's reigns.

Again she experienced the adrenaline rush a challenge always gave her. The sound of the hooves of Burak were like the drumbeats of the war drums to her. The sound of the winds gushing past her drove her hair back steadily. She felt like a knight starting a mission.

The castle beckoned challengingly to her. She watched surprised as Louis overtook her and reached the castle half a minute before she did.

"There is always a first time.", he said, quoting her.

They bid goodbye and walked their separate ways. Elizabeth's clothes were drenched in sweat. She bathed and dressed in a parrot green dress. She sat by the window and watched the birds sailing in the sky hardly flapping their wings. Sky was their home, their domain. These creatures were not governed by any boundaries of kingdoms or any rules of any land. That's why they flew so high, free of any burden, any restriction...

"I am so sorry for leaving you there today, Elizabeth.", Jane said, entering her chamber.

"Yes, about that.", Elizabeth said, putting on a solemn voice, surprised at her sister's apology when she herself had ran away without informing her.

"Considering the fact that it was I who had run away, you are forgiven princess.",  Elizabeth laughed. Jane joined in too.

"What had happened?", Jane asked a minute later, serious with sisterly concern.

"I saw a lad suddenly fall down. I ran to help him.", she replied.

"Is he fine now?" Jane asked,

"He'll heal.", Elizabeth replied.

They talked for hours before proceeding for dinner.

The dinner at Orenia was getting grander and better each day. After the main course, she tasted the sweetest delicacies on earth. The fresh honey spread on the dishes was testimony to the fact that Orenia bore the sweetest nectar. The orange juice was made from fresh, ripe oranges. She felt delighted in the blissful sweetness. Talks of kingdoms prevailed at the dinner table. They all joined in.

After a while, they all got up. Elizabeth was tired. It had been a long day. She desired nothing more than having a good peaceful rest. She slept peacefully.

She awoke as the first ray of sunlight entered her chamber. She thanked her Creator for another beautiful day. She got out of her bed. Changing into her combat clothes, she ran into the swords arena where Alfreda had just arrived.

"Alvina told me it was prince Louis who came. You fought him.", she said, declaring rather than asking. She knew Elizabeth well enough to know she could never back out of a challenge.

"You know we well Alfreda", she replied.

"No warrior could ever defeat him.",  Alfred  said as they both circled in a battle position.

"Well there is always a first time.", she replied.  Alfreda smiled.

Elizabeth aimed a strike at Alfreda's left and the sword-fight started. The fight ended in Elizabeth's defeat.

"So this is one of the rare times,  Alfreda defeats Elizabeth. You are distracted today. ", Alfreda said as they walked out of the arena.

"Yes.", she confessed, "I am thinking of something. It's based on a language.", she replied.

"If you were not a princess, you would do well as a translator. Honestly, Elizabeth how many languages do you intend to learn?", she teased.

"Well, quite a lot.",  Elizabeth mused. She walked into her chamber once they parted ways. She sat on the window sill facing a beautiful garden. She sat there, stitching her black combat dress that had been torn today. Perfect. She had mended it and stitched golden threads around it. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Author's note - 

Hey readers.  First of all, thanks a lot for your support and for continuing with me through my first book, THE CURSED KINGDOM. I will try to update it every Wednesday and Sunday.  Your suggestions and views about the story are more than welcome. Do keep showing your support by voting and commenting on the chapters and adding it your reading list. Your support means a lot.

So finishing my first author's note, I write - 

Happy Reading.

 NOTE tavern was a restaurant in old times