Ranger

Chapter 6 - The letter

Almost there. Just one more corridor to go.

I thought as I continued my breakneck sprint through the manor. Expertly dogging servants and other obstacles.. such as laundry carts. I knew that Stephanie had fallen far behind me about 3 corners ago. But I couldn't stop, my destiny was waiting.  

What if they don't accept me? What if my birthparents lied? What if I'm not destined for greatness? What if I'm just an unwanted, abandoned child?

I repelled those unwelcome thoughts from my conscious and willed my burning legs to go even faster. I leapt over a large chest and slid under another as two servants were lugging it to the storage.

Just as I turned the last corner into the main entryway, from the top of a grand staircase, I saw my parents talking to a middle aged man with dark blond hair and a square face, wearing a large satchel and dressed head-to-toe in expensive riding gear decorated with a red crest of a roaring golden lion on his hind legs with magnificent golden wings located on the blonde-haired mans' chest. The royal crest of the Kingdom of Thoren!  Therefore, this man must be the King of Thoren's messenger!

I lifted my body onto the elegant wooden railing of the lavish staircase, my legs dangling on the inside. With a slight push off the soft railing, I gracefully slid down it on my butt, my hair blowing from the speed as I glided in elegant circles.

When I reached the bottom I leapt off the railing, landing on both feet with a grunt and in 5 large bounds I was at the large, also wooden, door.  I bent over, placing my hands on my thighs for support as I gasped for breath.

"Are you Miss Adelaide Fiore?" The messenger asked in a nasally voice.

"Y-Yes, hello." I wheezed, raising one hand and flicking my wrist in my attempt to greet him.

"I'm the King's messenger, um... Are you alright Miss.?" He leaned sideways to glance at me as I took deep breaths. I held my thumb and index finger in a circle, indicating that "I'm just peachy".

"Well, I believe that this is for you." I straightened my posture - with much difficulty - as the messenger pulled a white, rectangular envelope with my name and address written in elegant cursive letters out of his brown satchel. My eyes widened. He handed me the envelope with a small smile, I gingerly took it in my hands afraid to damage it.

"Thank you Sir..."

"Thomas, the name's Thomas mi 'lady."  He bowed deeply, his head nearly grazing the floor.

"Thank you Sir Thomas, for delivering me this precious package. " I smiled gratefully at him.

"Why yes, it must have been a tremendously long journey from the King's castle to our remote manor. You are most welcome to rest at our home for a while." My mother, Daniella Fiore, smiled warmly at him. Today she wore a lovely red velvet gown with gold lining, highlighting her tanned cheeks and hazel eyes. Her waist length golden hair was braided over her shoulder and she wore a golden circlet on her forehead. Her hands were intertwined respectfully above her stomach. People all over the kingdom talk of my mother's beauty, many argue that she is more beautiful than the queen herself.

Meanwhile my wise and noble father, Henry Fiore, donned a tightly fitted red tunic that matched my mother's gown and black trousers. His sandy hair smoothed away from his face and his signature grey eyes shinning as they looked at his beautiful wife. He wrapped one muscular arm around her waist protectively as he saw Thomas' eyes darken when he took in Daniella's slender figure.