5 The new world

I was free! I could go anywhere I wanted. I flew and flew. As I was flying over a little village I had a feeling. I cant explain this feeling. I just knew I should stop. I came down as quietly as I could. I hid in the trees. I really just did not want to run into anybody. I made up my mind that I was going to observe first.

I had been in that tree for over an hour. There had been no activity. No people were walking about outside of the town. It was peaceful. It did not feel right. I started getting another funny feeling down deep in my gut. I was about to take off. Then a little girl with cute curly brown hair came skipping out and headed down the road. She was coming straight towards me. She could not have been older then maybe six years old. But she had this strange hue around her. She almost looked like she was glowing. I rubbed my eyes, I had to be seeing things. It helped; the haze was now gone. She went straight to the river about thirty feet from where I was hidden.

I quickly flew through the trees, making as little noise as possible. She was humming and filling her water bucket. Wait! She was not filling it with water! She was filling it with mud. What on earth was this little girl doing? She stirred it with a stick, picked it up and began skipping back up the road. I had to see what this little girl was doing. It must be something good. That is such a long way to carry a bucket. Especially one filled with mud!

I tucked my wings away, climbed down quietly, and straightened my dress. Then I followed after her. I hurried; she was a fast little bugger for her age. There were people in the town. Not one of them acknowledged me. I was not invisible! Why would these people act like I did not exist.

A loud noise came blasting down the street I was on. "Here ye! Hear ye! All contestants will now enter the arena. No contestant without a horse may enter. The King wishes to thank all of todays competitors. I am here to remind you all that the prize for what ever man to dehorse Prince Glad-spear, will receive one thousand wompits (wom-pits) and a chance to train as the Kings Guard with Prince Glad-spear."

That must be where all the people are! But where did that little girl go. As I came up on the arena I was in shock. It was a crater! They had dug out and made seating. But the whole was gigantic, and round. There had to have been at least fifty rows of seating before the field. The field two football fields wide and long in a square. The far end of the field from me was a royal stand with a fancy chair on it. A man wearing a crown was there. I just had a feeling though he was not the king. Anyway, the field in front had been set up for jousting. Just behind that was an archery set up using hay figures. It looked like they had a hammer throw there as well. I sat down on the first row of seating. I watched as the knights came out in single file out of a large whole in the ground just to the left of the stand in king.

As they did I heard a little girls voice ring out, "A gift from the king your father!" As I and everyone else looked at her, I found my lost girl. She was just above the opening. She dumped out the contents of her bucket. It landed right on the head of the leading knight. The crowd erupted in laughter! The little girl dropped the bucket two. It hit the back end of the horse. The horse reared up, but his rider kept his cool.

He calmed the horse and took off his helmet. He glanced up at the little girl. My heart nearly beat out of my chest. He was so handsome! I scooted down to the next line of seating to get that much closer. He had short brown hair, a winning smile, and olive skin. He was wearing a regular knights armor. The only way you could truly tell that he was a prince was the crest of a crown on his chest. He was chuckling at the little girl and waved to her. He seemed very good natured. Of course, his horse was not. His horse was angary. As he waved she reared up again. She nearly toppled over! But the prince still kept his seat. He did however drop his helmet. A squire handed it back to him as he road on out waving at the boisterous crowd.

They lined up in front of the would be king. All the nights bowed. The prince was the only one to dismount, walk in front of his horse and bow. His horse bowed behind him. The crowd went wild. The stand in king waved for them to continue. The knights turned their horses and went to their perspective ends of the jousting set up. There were at least twelve knights about to joust.

I had never liked jousting before. It was too much of a blood sport. But today I was enthralled. I scooted down to another level. I did not have very many villagers around me. I did not think anyone had noticed me. I looked around and no one seemed to be paying me even a second glance. So, I scooted down another ten to twenty levels. I was about half way down.

The knights were just beginning to get set up for the first run. I could see them tweaking their armor. (I should probably mention this was old primitive armor. It came very close to the old biblical description of roman armor. But more primitive than that. It was made of metal. But nothing too fancy. You could tell they were just getting the idea of how to make the metal armor. It did have really awesome looking engravings on each piece though.) I was highly interested. But that would almost be my down fall. I only got to see the first charge. I was cheering and clapping the same as the rest of the crowd. I did not see the drunken man coming down the levels towards me.

As the horses turned round to begin the second charge, the man grabbed me by my hair and jerked my head back. He spoke slurring, and adding a s, to all his words. "Whats a prettys littles things likes yous doings heres! You'res alls alones!" He put his body between me and the action on the field. He forcibly kissed me. He kissed me so hard, I think my teeth bruised. When he began pushing his hand down my dress, I grabbed his arm and flung him in front of me. I accidently let go (not really a accident), Oopsy, and watched as he bounced down the levels. He did not break anything. I did not think anyone even noticed. I quickly began heading back up the levels. I knew I had over stayed my welcome.

However, just as I reached the top, a bunch of guards were there. The whole fight could not have taken more than a few seconds. I mean it was not like I had burned the guy. He was alive at the bottom of the levels. He was just highly winded, smelt like pee, and was sober for the first time today. I began backing back down. The soldiers had flanked me already. I was caught!

There were several soldiers. But only one talked to me. "Hello, do you have a name sweet lady?"

I felt so stupid the whole time I was asleep I had never came up with an actual name. But it hit me, when I am happy, I am my true phoenix. So, I answered, "Joy Phoenix, now if you would please get out of my way. I have places to go."

The soldier laughed, "Oh so I see. Well how about you come with me. I have a place for you to go too."

I felt myself start to panic. Don't do it Joy! I do not want to scorch all these people. "I thank you for the offer! But the man down there needs help…."

The soldier put his arm around my waist. I thought, don't smoke him! he does not know I don't like being touched! He began leading me away. "Sweet lady, we saw the whole thing! You are not at fault. We will see to it he gets a nice cell for the night. You on the other hand, well, the prince would like to meet you. That's all!"

I did not know what to do! It was apparent that NO! was not going to be allowed. "Thank you for the invitation. But I am afraid I must decline. You see I really do have places…."

The soldier tightened his grip. "Sweet lady, please do not make a scene. From you dress alone I can tell you come from good blood. This will be relatively painless. The prince just wants to meet you. Now I, on the other hand, am just doing my job. You would not make me not do my job would you?"

I forced myself to relax. I did not like this, what so ever! "I concede!" I mean it is not like I cant take care of myself.

I could hear the jousting still going on, as he walked me away. He walked me down a hill that was the backside of this arena apparently. I admit I did not walk all the way around. I took it on face value. The soldier did not talk anymore to me. He only led the way. When we got to the bottom of the hill, there were many structures that looked like little huts. They were temporary housing units (just like tents). They were made out of fur skins and some sort of thin cloth. There were to many to count from down here. The soldier walked me down the line of them. We followed it all the way to the big hole in the side of the arena. He guided me through. We stopped at a door in the wall. A door you had to know was there in order to find it.

He gave me a small nudge pushing me inside. "The prince will be with you shortly."

He quickly shut the door behind him leaving me in pitch black dark. It was laughable that he thought the darkness would bother me. I held out my hand and snapped my fingers. I had a flame that lit up the whole room. I knew immediately what was going on. This was a fancy bed chamber. The bed was made of straw, but it had silken sheets. There were two pillows that had been stuffed with cotton. It was the only thing to sit on. Interestingly enough though, I did not smell any signs of women being here previously. So maybe there is hope this guy is a decent guy. I heard someone knock on the door and turn the knob. I quickly put out my light. The first thing to enter was a lantern.

Then the same guard from earlier holding a plate of meat. "I brought you a light and something to eat while you wait. It is wild boar. I did not know your favorite cuts. So, I brought you a little of everything."

He quickly laid down the food and lantern by the door. Another smaller hand popped through with a glass of water. It was the little girl from earlier. The guard quickly rushed her out, and closed the door behind him. She must be his daughter or the kitchens girl. But it was nice of them either way. I was so ravenously hungry. I ate every bite of the food. But I took my time with the water. I did not know how long I would be in here.

I had been in this room for what seemed like hours. I could not hear anything outside the door. My only light was the lantern, and it was not very bright. I did not want to run the risk of shining my own light again. I think I was almost caught. What was the worst he could possibly do anyway, rape me? Like I had not been there and done that a dozen times. No, at this point the only thing he could possibly do to hurt me would be to keep me locked up in here. Had they already figured out who I am? Did someone see me and give me away? I was so careful! Did I give myself away with the drunkard? No, I do not think so. I barely moved. It took practically no strength. How could they have figured me out already?

Boom, boom, boom, someone was at the door. I stood up preparing myself for the onslaught I had mentally saw coming. The guard opened the door and announced loudly, "BEHOLD THE CONQUERING HERO!" The prince walked in. He was out of his armor. He wore a red tunic and sandals. He smelled of water and lilacs?! He was about six foot tall. The guard closed the door behind him.

The prince looked at the empty plate and smiled. "Looks like you have a healthy appetite. That is good! I have one question for you." He paused and turned around to look directly at me. "I saw you by yourself. And I thought, out of this whole arena, why would you choose to sit in the empty seats, instead of by the other villagers? Then when I was preparing for my joust I noticed none of the villagers paid you any attention either. Now that I see you up close, I think I know why. You must be new to town. If a woman looking as you do lived here, she would have half the village as escorts. But now that I say that." He stepped up in my face. "I am glad you don't! I am Prince Dylan." He quickly dropped to one knee. "If you would allow me, I would be your escort for the rest of the evening." I looked around the room and gave him my best confused glare. He smiled, "Yes I understand. No need to say anything. I will do nothing save be in your company, if you would have me. I would like to meet your parents and ask if I may woo their daughter as well."

I was very uncomfortable! I did not know what to say. Honesty has always been the best policy, so I was honest. "I do not have any parents. I do need to be going though. Thank you for the food." I quickly side stepped around the prince and tried to make a break for it. But he had gently grabbed my hand. He brought me back over to the bed and had me sit back down.

He knelt down in front of me. "You do not have any family, but you are dressed in such finery. My dear, I will keep you in clothes such as this. I will feed you what ever you wish to eat. As long as I can catch it, my cooks will cook it. I neither want a tryst, nor need a bed wormer. What I look for is a soul mate. I have felt drawn to you since the first glance I stole in your direction. I have never been so attracted to a woman in my life. I will give you time if you need it. But please let me keep a roof over your head till you decide. It would be my honor."

I sat there with my mouth a gape. What was this man saying! Is this what God meant by the men treating me better? I was going to need a new dress and soon. This one was not going to last another one of my flights. The burning would destroy it if I did it again. Finally, I shook my head. A man had finally said the right thing to me. I would marry him. We would see how this would turn out. But when he finds out about me, what will he do?