Braveheart Chapter 2

By Talitha Holland

"Although of course we need an army to take her down." I say

"Yes of course." Says Virgil,

"So, maybe we can ask the people we've met over the years for backup."

"It makes sense, although we might need to do some favors here and there."

"Yeah. And to make an army won't be as easy as we would like. Nor as swift."

"It never is, and maybe we can ask your friends in the castle for information. He did say that he wanted you to come back, maybe you can use that as leverage." He said, his pirate life coming out.

"I'm not using my friend, but maybe I can ask him."

And then we made plans and I plan a course to all the places we need to go. First the land of Taterra, the Princess who rules there, by the name of Annette is a wonderful woman. She was a stranger in her own land as well, for there were people who wanted to kill her whole family, they killed everyone but her and the knight that would keep her safe had her stay with an old woman in a small town, not marked on most maps. Me and Olivia quickly became friends with her.

Next would be the Duke and Duchess of Facebrook, the Duchess is nice enough, as is the Duke, but their child is a regular demon. The last time I was there, he put a snake in my pouch. Not my favorite child. I do hope he doesn't do that again.

Then we would go to the Yiryn Kingdom, where the young king found favor in Olivia. Found her to be a kind and beautiful woman (which I believe she is). We have found many friends in our exile and now that Mother has gone mad, Virgil needs to take the throne for his own. "Wait, why me? You're the rightful Ruler and I'm just a lowly captain." He said.

"I'm not the one for the throne, it was supposed to be for my brother, Victor, but he died right before father did. It's what pushed Mother over the edge, I think."

"Victor would have ruled with cruelty, like your mother. But you would rule like your father, kind and benevolent."

"thanks, but I just don't think I could do it. The way the people look at my mother, it's a fearful, forceful awe. I don't want them to look at me that way."

"They would never look at you that way." Just then a girl no older than thirteen came up to me with a picture,

"excuse me, miss, but I heard it was your birthday and me and my mother made this for you. Maybe you can hang it up in the throne room when you take back the kingdom." She gave me the picture and it was beautiful, it was me in a beautiful sea-blue dress, sitting on the throne, my skirt was loose and bejeweled to look like small sparkling roses, my sleeves were long and loose, my neckline was close to my neck, it is just the thing I would wear.

"It is beautiful, you are very talented. What is your name, pray tell?"

"Ann Rose, ma'am." She said, her voice sweet and innocent.

"Please call me Hunter, I'm not old enough to be a 'ma'am'."

"Yes ma- I mean, Hunter. I know you will be the greatest ruler our kingdom will ever have." I blush mildly,

"Thank you, Ann Rose. And when I reclaim my throne, you and your family will live in the castle, and you will be the royal artist." Her face lights up to the point that she almost glows.

"Thank you, Hunter! You are the most amazing person I will ever have the honor of knowing." She hugs me tightly from my seat and runs to tell her family. I smile to myself, then I see Virgil, his chin on his hand, smiling smugly. "oh, be quiet." I said which made him burst into laughter.

When he sobered, he said, "The way that girl looked at you will be how everyone else looks at you."

"We will see, my friend." I say with a smile. I walk around the ship in the twilight sky, everyone doing their respective jobs. Barely noticing me pass, the occasional smile or wave of a hand. I remember when everyone used to bow to me when I passed. I sort of like it better this way. They treat me as a normal person. Not like a deity. I suddenly hear a beautiful sound. Like a Goddess singing. I look around to see Olivia holding a basket of bread loaves singing the most angelic song I've ever heard. She was giving everyone a loaf of bread. Everyone smiling and saying things like "The pretty Angle. So thoughtful." I smile as she comes towards me.

"Hello, Hunter. Want a loaf of bread?" She says with a smile.

"Yes please. So, this is what you do after dark?" I ask, she nods with a grin.

"They all do so much. And they all have family at home, so, they get homesick. So, I do what I can to keep their spirits up."

"You're always so thoughtful, my friend. It's no wonder they all call you Angle." I say. After that night everyone called her Angle. All with good reason of course.