First Steps into Chaos

The cobblestones, rough and uneven beneath her brand-new, decidedly un-royal boots, were a revelation. Princess Aurelia, or rather, Aurelia now, inhaled deeply, the air thick with the scent of roasted nuts, something vaguely fishy, and the undeniable tang of unwashed masses. It was glorious. Her perfectly starched gown had been exchanged for a sturdy tunic and breeches that, while frankly a little itchy, allowed her to *move*. And move she did, a giddy skip in her step that would have sent Captain Borin into apoplexy.

Her first destination, a bustling marketplace, was a kaleidoscope of noise and colour. Vendors hawked their wares with a gusto Aurelia had only ever witnessed in hushed whispers during royal pronouncements. A woman with a voice like a rusty hinge bellowed about the unparalleled freshness of her turnips, while a man with a magnificent handlebar mustache juggled pomegranates with alarming speed. Aurelia, who had always been presented with perfectly portioned, elegantly arranged meals, found herself staring, mesmerized, at a mound of what looked suspiciously like dried, hairy roots.

“Haggle, you must!” a familiar, reedy voice chirped from beside her. It was Pip, the traveling jester, his motley garb a stark contrast to the earthy tones of the market. He’d been her unexpected companion since she’d slipped out of the castle under the cloak of pre-dawn mist, a rogue smile playing on his lips when she’d declared her intention to “experience life.”