[ IP ] Sanctuary

The day had not gone well for Princess Vanessa. If not for the years of etiquette lessons, she would have said it was downright shitty. The night before, the Princess had fought with her betrothed, and because of the acrimony she slept very poorly. So poorly that after tossing and turning all night Vanessa awoke having rolled out bed and onto the horsehair carpet, which she hated because the smell reminded her of animal droppings. 
 
 There was no comfort to be found in her morning bathing ritual, as the castle was plumb out of water. We're in a drought, the royal advisor said. She asked when they would fix it, but he just smiled condescendingly. He was a nasty man, and whenever circumstances brought the two together she amused herself with the memory of the time he fell down the loo shaft while overseeing its remodeling. 
 
 Breakfast was similarly a disaster, as the morning's pastry deliveries had fallen off the cart and flattened by a mule. Her father the King stopped by to deliver the news that her fiance, Prince Mianos, had been spotted by his spies at the border crossing. So much for that bozo, said the King. Was n't he your favorite, Papa? I just said I liked him because I thought you liked him. Shall I have him killed? I would sacrifice everything to please you. No, Papa, she said, while nibbling on a densely compacted croissant. This, too, betrayed a faint odor of horse manure. 
 
 After finishing her meal, Princess Vanessa chanced upon her squire standing outside the morning dining quarters. Are you ready for an adventure? The Princess rather liked her squire, for he was always taking her interesting places beyond the castle walls. All pre-approved by the King and his cursed adviser, of course, but something about the squire's manner made the excursions feel spontaneous and unplanned. Perhaps that was one of his job requirements. Are you for real, she asked? 
 
 After mounting their steeds, Princess Vanessa and her squire set off down the stone path. It was a long path, and the journey up and down it often took the better part of an hour when it was crowded or slick with rain. But today there were just a few clouds in the sky, and only a small party of tradesmen leading several horse-drawn carts. The squire told her to halt while he made sure it was safe to pass them. He returned momentarily, satisfied with the interrogation. They are plumbers, he said. They will let us pass first. 
 
 As Vanessa and her squire rode single file past the men, she thought she saw one of their horses release a foulness into one of their plumbing carts. She thought it queer that they would hitch the thing in such a way to allow their work tools to be soiled, but decided they had come in a rush that they had not had the time to properly secure their horse-carts. Anyhow, the Princess was not interested in such trivial matters, and as soon as they were safe and she could see the road beyond the bridge she kicked her stallion into a gallop. 
 
 The squire took Vanessa to a new section of forest where there was a waterfall going through some ancient ruins and there was a really cool looking type of animal that only exists that that part of the forest. It was really the most tremendous sight to behold. They went into a magical cave and it was almost pitch black but it was acoustically amazing. They bumped into each other and laughed and shouted to hear their voices echo beautifully as they reverberated through the tunnels. Vanessa felt exhilarated, and as they walked out of the darkness of the cave she could see the squire was beaming. He laid out a horsehair rug in a clearing near the falls and retrieved some sandwiches from his saddle. He turned around and the Princess was right behind him to surprise him with a kiss. 
 
 Suddenly he went cold like a sturgeon. I thought as much. Thought what? You. Your nature. Your adventures. It's all an act, is n't it. I ca n't lie to you, Princess Vanessa. The truth is your father the King had these trips planned in advance. Up till this moment, everything has gone according to a precise plan laid out by the royal adviser, to further your knowledge of the world. But I thought you knew as much? Oh I knew. It's been like this my whole life. I've been on trips like this since I was a little girl. I just thought you were someone, I do n't know. I guess I thought you liked taking me around and showing me the lands. But I do, Princess. Until six months ago I had never been out of my village. Ever since I came to work for your family I have seen and heard things that I could never have imagined, let alone describe. 
 
 They ate in silence, the squire packed up in silence, and as they got on their horses Vanessa realized that the squire was just the same as he had been an hour before, as he always was, energetic and happy. It was she who was different. He was just a fucking imbecile. The pair started to ride home, and she made him promise not to speak of her indiscretion, to which he was more than happy to oblige. 
 
 Princess Vanessa noticed something way off in the distance on the road headed away from the castle. Is n't that odd, she said. We have to hurry home now, Princess Vanessa. Nonsense, she said, and went racing on her horse toward the object. When she came upon the gruesome scene, it was pretty messed up. The opposite of the nice stuff she had scene. She had never seen a dead man before, but the squire thought they were a plumbing crew because that is the type of equipment they had been impaled with. We must hurry home, said the squire, and Vanessa agreed. 
 
 When they reached the end of the ramp to the castle, a peculiar stench emanated from entrance. Gingerly, the squire got off his horse. Wait here, he told her, and crept slowly inside. Princess Vanessa waited a moment or two, then got off her horse and went in after him. Instantly she came upon a pair of slaughtered castle guardsmen. Eww, she said out loud. She roamed around the hallways until she bumped into the royal adviser, who sported a new kind of smile in addition to an expression of terror. 
 
 As she continued on her journey of carnage, Princess Vanessa noticed a glaring lack of tapestries and paintings on the castle walls. Any sort of fixtures, really. It was all gone, except for the bodies. Eventually, she found her squire standing outside the afternoon dining hall, looking nonplussed. Do n't go in there, he said. Your father... the King... he's... 
 
 She glared at him. Did you call 911? No. Do n't you think you should? Yes... my Queen. She abruptly turned around and went to her room. Like the rest of the castle, it had been completely ransacked. Her tables, her chairs, her bed, it was all gone. She stood in the middle of the room looking dumbly at the sunset. It occurred to her that the red dress she had worn on the outing now represented the entirety of her wardrobe. She sighed, pulled out her iPhone, and knelt down on the floor. 
 
 My parents are dead, she texted her friend, Princess Kneshia. 
 > LOL wut? 
 
 > Ya some guys came and stole all our stuff and killed evry1. 
 
 > Wow that sucks. 
 
 > Wait so r u liek, the queen now? 
 
 > haha ya i guess i am. 
 
 > when can i come over? 
 
 > nytime after the police are done cleaning up. 
 
 > k. 
 
 > wait so do you have any furniture or should i bring some chairs and stuff. 
 
 > ya its all gone. they even stole that stupid rug. dumbasses. 
 
 > lol 

