Chapter 14: A New Journey

The decision had been made. Princess Liria, after weeks of trying and struggling, had come to the conclusion that the sword was simply not her path. It wasn't that she lacked determination—no, she had plenty of that. She had spent countless hours trying to get a feel for the sword, but every time she picked it up, it felt wrong. The weight of it, the sharpness of the blade—it was all too overwhelming. She was quick, yes, and her reflexes were good, but she lacked the natural grace needed for such a weapon. She would watch Belin practice with his sword, his movements flowing with purpose, but no matter how hard she tried, her hands felt clumsy with the steel.

It wasn't like that with the bow. The bow and arrow, she found, were different. There was a calming rhythm to it—an easy fluidity in drawing the string, aiming, and releasing the arrow. The first time she held the bow, something clicked within her. The focus required to aim, the discipline of steadying her breath—it was a kind of peace she hadn't felt in a long time.

With Belin's help, she had made considerable progress, and she had even managed to hit the target a few times. The satisfaction of watching the arrow fly true, hitting the center of the bullseye, made her heart race with excitement. It was a small victory, but it was enough to make her believe that this—this was what she could do. The sword would never be her weapon, but the bow felt right.

That morning, as Liria sat cross-legged in the living room, she felt at peace. The early light streamed in through the windows, casting a soft golden glow on everything in the room. Belin sat beside her, absentmindedly flipping through a book, while Tia sat at the other end of the room, knitting quietly on the floor. The steady sound of her needles moving in and out of the yarn was soothing, and for a moment, Liria allowed herself to relax.

She had spent most of the morning practicing with her bow, the feel of the string in her hand, the pull of the arrow, and the satisfying thud of it hitting the target. After weeks of trying to force herself to be good with the sword, this had been a welcome change. The sword had felt like a burden, a weight, while the bow was light in her hands, like an extension of herself.

As she sat in the living room, her mind drifted. It was a quiet moment, one of the few they had experienced since their escape. Belin, as always, seemed restless, but today there was a calm about him. Maybe it was because they had finally settled into some semblance of normalcy—or maybe it was just that they had both realized how long they'd been running.

She looked at him, her fingers absently twirling a lock of her hair. "Belin," she began, her voice soft but serious, "I think we should go to Aberdale."

Her brother didn't immediately look up from his book, but the tone of her voice caught his attention. He raised an eyebrow and closed the book in his hands, giving her his full attention. "Aberdale? Why?"

Liria's heart ached at the mention of Aberdale. The village by the sea, where her mother had often told her stories of the ancients and the power of the sea. Her mind instantly conjured memories of the quiet village, the sound of the waves crashing on the shore, and her mother's laughter as they'd sit by the water, watching the fishermen return with their catches. Aberdale had always felt like home—peaceful and unhurried, a stark contrast to the bustling cities they had visited since leaving Eastanzarth.

"I was thinking... maybe Mother went there," she said, her voice soft but tinged with hope. "When she escaped the castle, maybe she went to Aberdale. It's where she was born, and she always said she had ties there. Perhaps she took the rest of the family with her."

Belin's brow furrowed as he considered her words. He understood the logic behind her idea, but there was still uncertainty in his mind. "I don't know, Liria. It's a long way from here. And we still don't know for sure where Mother and the others went. It might not be safe."

"I know it's a risk," she replied, her voice firm despite the worry that lingered in her heart. "But I can't shake the feeling that she's there. And it's the one place I feel like we could find some answers." She hesitated, biting her lip. "We don't know where else to go. Aberdale is my only lead. It's the only place left that feels... familiar."

Belin exhaled slowly, staring at the floor for a moment, contemplating her words. He hated the idea of taking risks, especially when it came to his sister, but he knew Liria was right. They had no clear direction, no solid plan, and her mother's disappearance had left a gaping hole in their lives. If there was even a chance that Aberdale was where they would find her—and perhaps the rest of the royal family—he couldn't ignore it.

"Alright," Belin said, finally looking up at her with a resigned but determined expression. "We'll go to Aberdale. But we need to plan carefully. We can't be reckless. We'll need supplies, and we need to figure out which roads are safe."

Liria felt a surge of gratitude for her brother's willingness to follow her lead. She had known that, despite everything, he would always protect her. She smiled softly. "Thank you."

Tia, who had been silently listening from the corner of the room, put down her knitting needles and looked up. "Aberdale?" she asked, her tone thoughtful. "I've heard of it. It's by the sea, isn't it? It's a place of... legends."

Liria nodded. "Yes. My mother always spoke of the people there, how they had ties to the sea and the magic of the water."

"It's worth a try," Tia said with a small smile, though her eyes still held a hint of concern. "But we should be cautious. It's a long journey, and we don't know what we'll find."

"I agree," Belin said. "We can't afford to take unnecessary risks. But if we can make it there safely, we'll have to find out what's happened."

With that settled, the conversation turned to planning. They sat together, mapping out their route to Aberdale. The road to the coastal village wasn't direct—there were forests to traverse, and the land was known to be treacherous in certain places. They would need to avoid the major roads to stay hidden, taking winding paths through lesser-known forests and small towns to keep a low profile.

"There are two main routes we can take," Belin said, pointing to the map that lay across the table in front of them. "One goes through the western woods, but there are reports of bandits there. The other is to the south, through some lesser-known villages. It's slower, but less dangerous. We should take that route."

Liria leaned in, her fingers tracing the path on the map. "I agree. And we should pass through Aralis—the capital. I want to return the book to the library. It feels... right."

Belin raised an eyebrow at her. "You really want to go back to the capital?"

"Yes," she said, nodding firmly. "I feel like it's something I need to do. It's a small thing, but it's the least I can do."

"Well then, I suppose we'll head to Aralis first, then," Belin said. "We'll stop by the library, and then make our way to Aberdale. We'll leave tomorrow morning, before the sun rises. That should give us a head start."

Tia nodded in agreement. "Let's make sure we have enough supplies for the journey. It will take time to reach Aberdale, and we need to be prepared for whatever may come."

With their plan in place, the group spent the rest of the evening gathering what they would need for the trip ahead. Supplies were packed, maps were studied, and their minds, while still heavy with worry, began to settle into a rhythm. The decision had been made: they would go to Aberdale, where Liria still held on to the hope that they might find the answers they sought.

And though they didn't yet know it, the road ahead would take them through more danger and more challenges than they could ever have imagined.