Take your daughter to work day

A flash fiction fantasy special thanks to the Lunar Awards prompt Quest.

“Why did you open the bloody box?” 

“I thought it was treasure!” 

“Jessalyn, I’m wearing the treasure!” he held up the golden gauntlet on his arm, “I said don’t touch anything.” 

Every door around them had opened. The echoing groans of the undead were multiplying as more of them emerged from their tombs, casting long, haunting shadows on the walls of the passageway. The sound of grinding lids from sarcophagi, rattling of chains and ghoulish cackling sent chills down Jessalyn’s spine. Her stomach dropped, leaving her feeling cold and as fixed as the limestone in the walls. Her father grabbed her arm firmly and dragged her further down the largest passageway, “this way.” Rats scurried around in the darkness and sheltered behind forgotten skulls as the pair passed with their torches. Valmir pointed his torch at one of the skulls and said, “this guy also brought his kid to work one day.” They were walking quickly now; her father leading the way. 

“That’s not funny.” she pouted. Valmir disagreed and chuckled as they walked faster.

“Quicker!” he snapped. More and more doors were opening behind them. Jessalyn dared to look. She stifled a scream. 

From the catacombs came the army of the dead. They were marching in unison now. 

“Jessalyn, hurry,” Valmir ran ahead, his armour and various weapons jangling in disharmony. “You can do this!” he commanded. 

“I don’t want to go any further, I just can't,” she whined, her feet feeling heavy with the onset of dread. What have I done? 

“What? You’d rather hang back with those guys there?” Valmir raised an eyebrow and pointed. 

The dead were almost upon them now. Jessalyn gasped in horror and ran faster. “Why did you even have to come here? I hate this.” she complained breathlessly.  

“You know the drill, kid.”

“Ugh! Father gets a job, father slays some monsters, father does this, that, everything. Find some treasure! Save the world!” 

“Pretty much.” 

They were still running when a door ahead of them started to open. “Why are we even doing this?” 

“We’re trying to save the princess. If we can’t, she’ll be sacrificed to Malvon and the world will probably end. Get down!” Valmir threw himself onto the stone floor and pulled Jessalyn down with him. She held her hands over her head as a volley of arrows flew past them. The dead were scattering, bones and helmets clattering on the floor. A second volley hit them again. The bombardment continued for what felt like an eternity as they lay on the cold, damp floor. Jessalyn whimpered, holding tightly to her father’s arm. Their torches had been weakened from the impact but the backdraft from an opening in front of them finished them off. 

Valmir looked behind them to check that the undead had been reduced to a pile of remains once more. At least, that is what he hoped. 

When she felt brave enough to look up, Jessalyn was dazzled by the light in front. A silhouette of a man was coming towards them, walking with purpose. When she could see clearly, she was speechless. 

Who is THAT? 

It was no man. It was an elf. 

“Valmir, I am so glad to see you alive,” said the elf prince who stood a foot away from them, hands on hips. Father and daughter pulled themselves up to meet with their rescuer. His immaculate elven armour twinkled in the light behind him.

“It’s about time, Einar!” Valmir grabbed the prince’s hand and shook it emphatically. 

Jessalyn couldn’t speak. Einar was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. Tall, strong and garnished with long, platinum hair, he was the epitome of heroism and romance, straight from the pages of her favourite books. 

“I see you ran into a spot of bother.” he observed the pile of bones behind them. 

“Oh it was nothing.” Valmir waved it off as he dusted himself down and caught his breath. “Not the plan, but nothing has gone to plan today,” he nodded towards Jessalyn. 

Oh dear gods, he’s looking at me. 

“Hello, Jessalyn.” Einar bowed his head. His voice was like liquid gold. 

I am a mere cave troll.  

She shyly waved. 

“Jessalyn is my daughter. It was happenstance that she was here with me.”

“Yeah. It was great,” she said, her heart beating in her throat. Did I say too much? Oh gods, what if he thinks I’m stupid?

“I see,” he smiled. “Shall we?” Einar brought them through the brightly lit passageway to find Aurelius the Great and Einar’s Sagittarii waiting for them. Their winged helmets shone brightly in the concentrated starlight, erasing any suggestion that they were surrounded by the unlucky dead.

Aurelius, who was leading the elves, was a wizard well known to Jessalyn and her family. He was a personal friend of her father’s. She had, however, never seen the likes of Einar or the elves in the flesh. They were as ethereal and dazzling as she had imagined but didn’t strike her through the teenage heart quite like Einar did. 

Einar is so beautiful. 

Aurelius had lit the passageway with his lightstaff, “I can’t hold it forever,” he joked. He was a very old wizard, with deep set wrinkles and a short, well maintained beard. “Just up there is Malvon’s temple. They have the princess and she is still alive but we don’t have much longer before the sun goes down.” 

The three men discussed the options for the storming of the temple. 

“I will lead,” Valmir said solemnly. 

“Valmir. This could be a death sentence, even if we win,” Aurelius said in a low voice. Valmir looked at his daughter as though he had only just noticed that she was there. His eyes were heavy with sadness. 

Jessalyn’s heart sank. This is why he didn’t want me to come. 

“It’s ok, Jessalyn,” he removed the emerald encrusted golden gauntlet and slipped it onto her forearm. He then embraced the girl, “You will live. You will return home and see your mother. You will live for a long time. You will live.” he held her tightly and kissed the top of her golden head. 

“But what about you?” her eyes were filled with impending tears. 

“You know the drill, kid.” 

This story was brought to you thanks to the Lunar Awards Prompt Quest#1

Prompt Quest #1