Chapter Five

Alia or Queen Jensari as she must now answer to, paced back and forth her royal lounge. The room had two large windows, curtains drawn and was filled with the most luxurious plush couches and chairs you could have ever imagined. Yet she remained on foot. At present, the door came swinging on its hinges and her sisters, Candy and Rwen were ushered in by Silverus. Who bowed, closing the door upon his exit.

"Hey did you know I had a pet dragon?" As soon as the door was shut, Candy had thrown herself into a small dark red sofa. The light was fading outside and the lanterns inside were not yet lit. "His name is Gochen and he's super adorable!"

Rwen drew closer scratching her hands, the paint had dried and she was having an allergic reaction to it.

"That's not important what is, is the fact that they think we are royalties who can save them from danger. And how come I'm queen does this mean I look old?!" Her attention was drawn to a mirror hanging on the wall. No she was just the same. "Anyways we have to find a way back home before anything else happens".

"C'mon if this is a dream we can not be harmed". Candy explained.

Alia lurched at her then, grabbing the flesh of her arm between her thumb and index finger and squeezing down.

"Ouch!" Candy hollered.

"Exactly! and which dream remembers such tiny details like my working watch and cellphone or the fact that we are in the same clothes we went to the spring dance in?"

Candy stopped to think for a moment before breaking into a grin.

"Lucid dreaming?!" she shrugged.

Alia gave up.

In all this Rwen remained silent, her itch had worsened and now there was a bright rash on her skin.

"Rwen?"

Her eyes focused on Alia, they were holding back tears.

"I think I'm allergic".

"Silverus!" Alia called from the top of her voice, guiding Rwen to the door. It was opened in a flash and the cankey dashed to her side bowing respectfully.

"Yes your majesty"

"Get Orpha cleaned up and take her to the physician to check her rash".

The cankey looked from both girls.

"Do you mean Dira, your highness?"

"Yes, Dira". She coughed to dismiss the mistake as the cankey hurried away with Rwen.

"Well I'm out of here!" Candy declared, pushing herself up from the sofa.

"Candy! listen to me, this is not a dream and not a good one anyways. We shouldn't stay here. What about the trees and the lights? This is all my fault! I wished to go home! But this isn't home!"

"Why do you have to be such a worrywart? Can't you ever enjoy life? Maybe that's what this dream wants to teach you. Ever thought of it like that?"

Alia watched in disbelief as she turned her back on her.

"Candy. Candy!" It was only her and Rwen perhaps.

Later, Alia floated into the dinning hall, followed closely by her sisters. They were draped in regal clothing and Rwen was looking more herself, only quieter. The subjects at the table, a very scanty party, rose upon their entry. There was Elrod whom Rwen could not seem to resist eyeing, warily, a well dressed man, bald and shinning and a girl around their age who had starry green eyes and a tail.

Alia took a seat at the head and both her sisters, Rwen to the right away from the other occupants and Candy to the left, beside Elrod. As if a silent command was given, they all seated themselves once more. There was the sound of heavy hooves clattering against the stone floor, then an imposing figure appeared at the threshold. A beast with the lower half of a cow and the upper half of a man. He was a dark shade of lavender with a pair of tusks and dark horns and a much heavier tail. An apron swung from his waist and he carefully carried a tray heavily laden with delicacies. The small youth from earlier accompanied him, for this was indeed, Netly, the cook.

"Your highness," He bowed after laying the tray before her, and when he spoke, the whole room trembled.

Alia was terrified but she reminded herself of the disguise she wore. She was queen and everyone answered to the queen! Well she hoped so.

She nodded and was in herself, surprised to see him make himself scarce by the wall. Then all eyes at the table were trained on her, excepting Rwen who kept her's fixed on Elrod. And he, uncomfortable from the attention. Alia stared at the plate before her uncertain of what to do. She had not eaten anything since earlier that morning and she could feel her stomach complaining. Already, Candy had begun piling food onto her plate and Alia had an idea.

"You may all eat now".

It worked. At her command, everyone began to busy themselves with the delicacies provided. The food were not at all like anything she had seen before. There was orange fruit much like papaya and what she assumed to be brown rice and there was roasted lamb and pink deviled eggs and a frothy milk like brew and the more she stared, the more her tummy grumbled and she soon gave in.

To her delight, the food was delicious, so much that she forgot all together that it had been prepared by some sort of minotaur.

Rwen on the other hand, armed with a fork, was unremitting in her watch of the one eyed, monster across from her.

Elrod, who had kept his calm all till now, had had enough! Beads of perspiration were forming on his forehead and everytime he reached for something he risked a glance at Rwen only to find her piercing eyes. Clasping his hands in his lap he gave Alia a pleading look. She was quick in understanding and turned her attention to Rwen.

"Dira?" She whispered. "Dira!" She nudged her foot sharply.

Rwen was conflicted but she chose to turn her gaze to Alia. Who shook her head firmly with a glare. She should let him alone.

As the day drew to a close, and she was left to herself, in a bedchamber she knew did not belong to her, she twisted and turned and sleep was far from her. How could she?

There was a soft nock on the door and she opened it to let a sniffling Rwen in.

"Alia, I want to go home..."