4 Are You the Princess?

/How the hell do I even begin answering that question? Wait.../

I blurt out, "Princess!? Who?"

Poor Andri looks so confused, "you?"

My mouth hangs open. So not only am I, possibly forever, stuck in a mental breakdown. I take the place of the kill-happy maniac, masquerading as a princess.

/...And here I thought it would be just another Tuesday./

I take a deep breath, rather than scream at the Gods for the shitty hand they dealt.

"Do you know who you are?"

"Didn't you just say I'm Princess Nadia?" When all else fails, lie and play along. After all, what's the harm? If I'm going to be trapped in my mind, I might as well enjoy it.

Andri and Irvin glance at each other.

"Are you saying you remember nothing at all?" Andri clarifies.

"I remember some things, but mostly everything is a blur," I hedged.

"So you don't remember being taken from the castle? Or how you got here?"

I scrunch my face up as though I'm in deep thought. "Not really."

They share another look. Andri hesitates. A rarity, considering his usual inability to read the mood before saying whatever comes to mind.

"Are you Princess Nadia?"

And there's the awkward medic we've come know and love. Does he expect me to say, 'No, I'm an imposter; I replaced the princess and planned to rule the world.' Followed by evil cackling. For a moment, it even looks like Irvin is going to wack him in the back of the head. It takes a long moment before I answer because I had to keep myself from laughing.

I reply, "who else would I be?" Acting like a sweet little amnesiac who could do no wrong.

There's a long moment of silence. During which they stare at my face as though they can find answers written on it. I made my best impression of innocent and confusion. But since I can't act, I'm not sure how well it works.

They stare at me a beat longer. Irvin breaks the silence, "move out."

I internally sigh, relieved they bought it. I drag myself off the ground. The dress is riddled with tears, but it's whole enough to cover the important parts. Lark finishes collecting the captives. Each has on loldun, black wide banded goras. These prevent asura use and keeps the victims as weak as infants. Irvin makes a brief piercing whistle calling over their pleos. Forming a hand signal Shaede moves next to Irvin and kneels. He is the largest with midnight blue fur shimmering with every move. Irvin quickly throws three of the captives onto Shaede's back; strapping them down before jumping on himself.

"Lark, take the last two. Andri, with Princess," Irvin orders.

"Yes Commander," they say in unison.

Shaede stands, and Irvin waits for us to follow, constantly on guards against any potential threats. Lark puts the remaining men on Bao, his pitch black fur shot with streaks of white; while I move to mount the smallest, Kala. Her shaggy coat a deep scarlet. When she makes high pitch barking noises at me, I hesitate.

Andri says, "She will not bite," like that was going to be a comfort. I see the way she's looking at me.

I glare at her, "If I fall off, so help me, Kala. You and I are going to have words."

I can hear Lark's soft chuckle as takes the rear, and Irvin takes the lead, leaving us in the middle.

I refuse to sit with both legs hanging from one side. While I'm not afraid of heights, I'm terrified of falling from them. Unlike back in the real world, where people use things like saddles to ensure the poor rider doesn't take a spill. There is no such thing utilized. So I'm maintaining a death clench on her fur to keeping me astride. With Andri riding behind me it shouldn't be a concern, but I wasn't going to take that chance.

With a powerful leap that threatens to toss me to my death, we reach the top of the first root quickly leaping to the next. We thread through the trees. I internally scream, since physics now affect me, if I fall I might truly die.

____________________

Many thoughts run through Irvin's head as they zip through the trees at a rapid clip. He has no clue what happened, but Andri's Soma Asura and the stone both verify her identity. It's clear she isn't telling the truth. Irvin has seen people on the brink of death come back changed men. But never has someone die, come back, and change physically and mentally. And never has the change been so drastic or sudden. Princess Nadia is well known for her unreasonable attitude. Easily set off, hundreds have died at her hands. Years of twisted personality etched deep into her face along with a scar. An experience with death wouldn't have changed that type of person immediately.

Is she really suffering from memory loss? It could explain the change, but there is too much clarity in her eyes. No confusion or uncertainty is reflected. And if she truly as lost as she acts, then wouldn't she ask more questions? Would she follow along with people she doesn't know? It almost seems as though it doesn't matter to her.

The princess disappeared from the inner castle, who took her and why is currently unknown. The kidnappers managed to bring her all the way to the Bloody Sea. The forest is a natural divider running along the borders between the kingdoms Thayor and Miota and acts as a neutral area between the two. Chances are the Thayor Kingdom is involved. Since we have retrieved her, there's a high chance they're going to come for her again.

Irvin is relieved to be tasked with retrieving the princess and bringing back people to question. Not figuring out how and why it happened. Cause it's very likely involving the nobility of the Thayor Kingdom. And he isn't willing to deal with a potential political disaster. If handled poorly it could lead to another war.

Irvin throws those thoughts to be back of his head. Left with little other choices, Irvin focuses any possible dangers to Princess Nadia. Although she is keeping secrets, since we've confirmed who she is, we must take her back to the castle. It shouldn't be difficult. After all, how hard can it be to look after one pampered princess?