Chapter 2: Child's play

Helena grew up as the fifth child of her parents. No one ever expected much from her - after all, she was just a spare, a little girl who later could be traded for better connections and favorable alliances.

Her daily life consisted of a lot of '''musts''. You must be obedient, Helena, no one likes a rude girl. You must learn how to play the piano to impress others. You must smile and wave, just pretend like it is the best day of your life.

Helena was very confused by all these rules. All she ever wanted was to have fun: she was an ordinary child who needed attention, just like any other child does.

She was willing to go way and beyond to get what she wanted. One of her favorite activities became shadowing her eldest brother, Pavel. She would follow him around everywhere, much to his teachers' dismay.

'' You cannot come here, princess Helena'' lamented Pavel's economy teacher. Her brother laughed and lifted her from under the table, where she was hiding.

''It is alright teacher, let her listen to us men talking if she wants to''. He petted her head lovingly. Helena hugged him in response.

The teacher signed but continued with the lesson.

''Our economic growth is greatly inhibited due to the lack of technological improvement. We need to rely on the Pareta kingdom to procure most...''

''What does economic growth mean, Pavel?'' Helena pulled her brother's shirt.

''Princess, you cannot interrupt us without...''

''Let her be'' Pavel interrupted him sharply. ''Isn't explaining one's material one of the best virtue of a pupil, master?'' he added with a softer tone. The teacher resigned and nodded in response. ''You see Helena, all people have value, which means that they can make or do something good. For example...'' his voice carried as Helena listened to him happily. She was right where she belonged to be.

''Helena, I heard that you have been disrupting your brother's studies again'' her father lifted her and placed her on his lap. They were alone in the library, his desk flooded with various documents with barely legible writing. ''Aren't young ladies more suited for music or drawings, my dear?''.

''But dad, I love spending time with my brothers. I learn more this way than with my teachers'' she answered, giggling.

''What is wrong with your teachers?''

''They just keep saying the same things, over and over again''.

Her father sighed deeply.

''That is one way to learn Paretonian, my dear''.

''But my brother just talks to his Paretonian friends instead! Can't I do the same?''.

''Once you learn the basics of the language, you will be able to''.

''But dad...''

''Helenka, please''. Her dad called her fondly, which meant that Helena suddenly had an urge to become a sweet little girl, just like her father wanted. ''I can allow you to follow Pavel but make sure to put effort into your studies, too. After all, you are a princess, not a lost kitten''.

Helena laughed and hugged her dad's broad chest. ''Daddy?'' she asked. ''Do you think I can make a great princess one day?''.

''Of course, my little crumble''. Her father embraced her tightly. ''You already are''.

Helena looked out from her window and noticed Pavel heading out somewhere with his friends, Tomo and Igor. She thought they were fun: last time they were tossing her up and down and she couldn't stop laughing. Maybe this time they were planning something fun, too? Helena decided to sneak out of her room and follow them.

Unlike her previous attempts, she managed to go under the radar and sneak behind them undetected. She was very proud of herself and couldn't wait to brag to Pavel about it later.

Helena didn't recognize where they were going; it was already dark and she felt a bit chilly in her nightgown. ''Maybe I shouldn't be doing this'' she thought to herself, but it was already too late to go back now.

Soon enough, a tavern emerged. Helena thought how weird it was that her brother and his friends instead of entering the tavern, headed directly to the back of it. She panned slowly behind them and noticed a flap, through which the boys entered. Determined, she lifted it with great difficulty and went down the ladder.

She was able to follow their voices but before she realized it, their sound abruptly ended and she was left alone in the darkness. Scared, she leaped forward and banged her head against something wooden. Holding back tears, she touched it and felt another ladder. She climbed up and barely managed to push herself through a flap.

Helena had no idea where she was. She looked around her and saw crumped buildings, meek lantern lights, and a dirt road. She realized she was lost and without her brother in sight, panic sent shivers through her body.

''Hey, you!'' a voice came behind her back. She turned to see a bunch of boys, not much older than her, pointing a stick at her. ''Who are you and what are you doing in Bronavice?''.

''I'm looking for my brother'' she said shyly and looked closer at the boys. Their clothes looked ragged and dirty; in their hands, she noticed various tolls and stones. She began to shake. ''Could you please help me?''.

The boys laughed ickily and came closer to her. ''And what you gonna gives us for this help?'' one of the boys poked her with a stick, and she felt the thin material of her nightgown tear on her arm, Sharp pain went through her body. ''No one is doing anything here for free''.

''I don't have anything with me''.

''Don't lie to us, you look like you sleep on the money!'' another boy touched her puffed sleeve. ''Who the hell can afford that?''.

Helena looked at them desperately but saw that their looks were stern and they weren't grinning anymore. For the first time in her life, she realized she might be in the presence of dangerous people that she has only heard about.

''Please, leave me alone''.

''Oh, now you want us to leave you, just after you asked for our help?'' the boy who approached her first pushed her, making her fall into the mud. The rest of the band laughed. ''Let's see how much we can fetch for you''.

Before she was able to react, a calm voice came from behind their backs. ''Are you sure you are not going to regret this?''.