The Quartet Empire

Chapter Three

"Keep your arm straight princess!" Zen was commanding, his stormy grey eyes, urging her to focus.

"I'm trying!" Sarah replied, with gritted teeth.

She let the dagger fly through for the thirty seventh time, but this time it was with precision, with the way Zen had showed her, with controlled movement of the uper arm and the flick of her wrist.

It struck, not near the aim, it struck inside the aim, almost at the rim of the innermost circle!

The princess whooped with joy and started clapping her hands together excitedly.

She danced around, exclaiming "I did it, I finally did it!"

Zen looked content, and then got even more delighted as he saw her reaction.

"Congratulations Your Highness, you finally have accomplished your task." He complimented her hardwork since the past two hours, with a huge grin.

He wiped off the dripping sweat, from his own brown locks.

"Thank you!" Sarah exclaimed, the joy not leaving her voice, "Beige is going to be so impressed, he-" her voice was cut off, when she saw Beige in the doorway of the training room, regarding her with pride.

"Please, tell me you saw that from the start." She said hopefully.

"I did," He said smiling from ear to ear, "and you were right, I am impressed; With you both."

"I didn't really do anyth-" Zen began, but Sarah intervened apprehensively. "He showed me a new way, by this flick of the wrist." She went on, acting it out.

Beige truly was impressed with the young man, he was a lot more talented than he had earlier presumed.

"I am happy I chose you as her knight Zen, you have proved yourself." Beige said, as Zen blushed crimson red.

"Thank you, Captain." he sputtered looking at the ground.

Captain Primevelt was Zen's idol and he had heard all the stories about his valour and bravery; one of the reasons why he wanted to join the Royal Guard.

To be praised by him, absolutely meant the world and it was entirely because of the Princess.

"Thanks to you too, Your Highness." He said, bowing his head.

"Please call me Sarah, it pleases me and saves significant amounts of your oxygen." She said, making them both laugh.

"How was the survey?" Sarah asked the Captain. "It went smoothly and thanks to Zen, I didn't worry about missing out on lessons with you." Beige replied, smiling at Zen, who smiled back brightly.

"So, I think I can take my leave now gentlemen, I have official business with the King of Ivory." She stated.

"You're going to boast about how amazing your training session was, aren't you?" Beige taunted her.

"It's the truth!" Sarah said, seemingly outraged and hobbled off through the hallway, towards the throne room.

Sarah admired her father greatly.

King Bernard Ivory, was a proficient and an insightful king.

He was tall and herculean to look at, but was very benign and gentle at heart.

Her mother was a very beautiful and kind woman too, but she had passed away, when Sarah was three years old.

She never really missed her mother much, because of all the love that the King showered her with.

Currently, her esteemed father was engaged in an intense conversation with the Duke of Arroway; It was another trade city of Ivory.

Sarah waited for their conversation to culminate, but it was taking too long. Knowing that it would be very impolite to interrupt, she kept on sauntering around the corridor, occasionally peeping in to ascertain if they were finished.

When the Duke withdrew, she hustled inside.

"Father! I became really adept at dagger throwing, I missed the centre by even lesser than an inch!" She said breathlessly.

Her father's tender eyes lit up at the sight of his darling daughter.

"That is absolutely commendable dearie." He said, patting her head with affection, he sounded a bit tired.

"Although, I have news that would make you happier than your triumph at dagger throwing." The King smiled, his eyes crinkling.

"Well, disclose it then father!" Sarah said, curiously.

"All your friends are arriving, tomorrow morning." He said.

"Finally! Oh, how am I supposed to contain so much happiness in one day." She said as she embraced her father, smiling brightly.

Her three friends, were the princess and princes of the three neighbouring kingdoms of Ivory.

Princess Carroll Jadelight; Prince Ilai Emberknight; And Prince Timothy Sapphire.

These four Kingdoms namely, Ivory; Emberknight; Sapphire and Jadelight, were united since centuries.

The other Kingdoms referred to them as, the Quartet Empire.

It was the best coincidence ever, that the princesses and princes of these Kingdoms, were all sixteen years of age, and the best of friends.

Ilai Emberknight and Sarah were friends since they were children, because Ilai's elder brother Eugene Emberknight, was Victor's classmate and his best friend.

Whenever Eugene came to meet Vicky, he would bring Ilai along to play with Sarah and vice versa.

When they were sent to the Academy, Sarah had befriended the fine princess, Carroll Jadelight and soon they were inseparable.

Timothy Sapphire, was more close to Ilai but, Sarah and Tim became instant friends, as they shared a mutual love for reading and writing.

With the passing days in the Academy, they all grew fond of each other.

Thier friendship renewed the bonds of the Quartet Empire, making them more profound and stronger than ever.

They had all decided to gather at the Ivory residence, for a crucial purpose.

They were all not content, to be accompanying their parents only on surveys and not when they actually conducted the court session.

So they resolved that they would do something about it, they planned to form a judicial club, to try and aid people with problems, as responsible future rulers, of their respective Kingdoms.

Sarah smiled, and clutched her pillow tightly, as she drowned herself in the white, velvet sheets of her bed, closing her eyes, thinking about her friends.

"I can't wait to see what the future holds for us." She rolled on her bed in excitment and soon drifted off to sleep.

"My Sariyah?" A sweet voice called out, making Sarah slowly flutter her eyes open.

The voice, belonged to an ethereal looking woman with, long black hair and warm, hazel eyes, she was smiling at Sarah.

"Mother!" Sarah gasped.