In which the princess Cimorene discovers that she is no longer within the Mountains of Morning

[chiefcookandlibrarian]

 Oh, bother.

[From the journal comes the sound of an irritated sigh.]

This is clearly a magical castle. Another one, I should say.   And considering I don't remember leaving the cave?  I suppose I've been carried off.

No one is going to lock me in a tower, right? Or expect me to prick my finger on a spindle or eat a poisoned apple?   It might be traditional, but I've always thought that they sounded like very boring kinds of adventures.  

Besides, I don't have the time for such things.  I was supposed to be making cherries jubilee for a party of six dragons tonight, and I'm already behind schedule.

Now, can anyone tell me how far I am from the Mountains of Morning?

Comments

[ruin_mania]

[written]

I'm afraid you're quite far away. I can't say I've ever heard of the Mountains of Morning, and there's only one dragon here at present. Still, they say we do return at precisely the moment we departed, so I wouldn't worry overmuch about missing dessert.

[chiefcookandlibrarian]

Bother. I don't suppose you've seen any men carrying long sticks around here anywhere.

[This sounded like more wizard plottings to her, though she had no idea why they would have gone to such effort to get her away from Kazul. In Zemenar's eyes she was still just a silly princess, after all.]

[ruin_mania]

Long sticks? I'm afraid not. Of course, I've been in the library all day, so I suppose I may have missed something. You don't seem to be surprised to have appeared in a magical castle?

[Really, she's taking this rather well.]

[chiefcookandlibrarian]

Why should I be? They are rather common.

[ruin_mania]

Really? I've only seen a few myself, and I'm considered to be well-traveled. This one is called Cair Paradisa, by the way, and I'm Raine Sage.

Though I'm afraid people come and go from here all the time, no one's quite figured out how it chooses who stays and who goes.

Dictated

[cyan_maid]

[Cimerone is obviously a new person to the castle, so hello there, welcome, but Jane's more concerned with something else you brought up.]

Dragons? Eating cherries jubilee??

[Yes, because clearly that's the weirdest thing that was said.]

[chiefcookandlibrarian]

I haven't seen many myself. Most of them are in the Enchanted Forest and the further reaches of the Mountains of the Morning. Linderwall was far too proper for such things.

A pleasure to meet you Raine Sage. I am Princess Cimorene of Linderwall, currently Chief Cook and Librarian to the King of the Dragons. [From her tone of voice it is obvious that Cimorene would be curtsying if they were face to face.] May you have good fortune in all your endeavors.

Re: Dictated

[chiefcookandlibrarian]

Kazul is very fond of it. Although I have found that some dragons prefer chocolate mousse.

[ruin_mania]

The same to you as well. And I must say, I quite approve of your occupation. I'm a Professor myself. [Just don't ask her to cook anything.]

I'm afraid this castle is anything but proper, most of the time. Just last week everyone was transported to a village of ninjas was was expected to walk on water, fight plant-zombies, and the like. On the other hand, it's very difficult to remain bored here for any length of time. I find it a good compromise.

[chiefcookandlibrarian]

Are you? How wonderful. I have not met any professors for a very long time.

[Cimorene laughs lightly.]

The title is a rather recent change, I'm afraid. It is simpler and more accurate than calling myself captive princess to the King of the Dragons. Cuts down on the number of princes and knights trying to rescue me too. Doesn't sound very heroic to say that you rescued the chief cook and librarian, does it?

Well! Perhaps this little adventure shall be interesting after all. I don't handle boredom very well.

[doublethefun]

Presumably, they would be beyond the Dunes of Dawn.

[not entirely helpful in the least, but she's sounds sort of amused]

[chiefcookandlibrarian]

The Mountains of Morning lie between the Kingdom of Linderwall and the Enchanted Forest

[Because clearly a short geography lesson was the proper response here.]

Re: Dictated

[cyan_maid]

C-Chocolate mouse????

I...I have to admit, I don't know a lick about dragons, but...is that really safe for one to eat?

[inmylight_commander]

[Have another voice over the journal, female and heavily accented.]

So they have this sort of thing where you're from? I envy you. I'm still trying to find a way to explain everything here.

Re: Dictated

[chiefcookandlibrarian]

Not mouse. Mousse. It is a dessert made out of whipped chocolate and cream.

And of course it is. Dragons have excellent digestion.

[ruin_mania]

I am, though we've no academy here to speak of. Still, research materials and subjects are anything but hard to come by in a place like this. Someone needs to investigate this place, don't you think?

Captive princess? Yet it sounds from your tone like you're there voluntarily. Why would they try to rescue you in that case? We've not many dragons in my world, so you must forgive me if I sound a bit ignorant on the subject.

[chiefcookandlibrarian]

I have heard of them, yes. Although I believe most of hem are in the Enchanted Forest.

[inmylight_commander]

Pretty much this is it. You go off far enough the magic stops but that's no guarantee that you won't run into anything odd.

I take it you're new to Paradisa? I'm Kat-320. Been here a couple years if you need any pointers.

[doublethefun]

[sigh]

I was merely jesting. Places of thy realm will not be found here, for this is another world entirely.

[chiefcookandlibrarian]

I volunteered. The first princess to ever volunteer, actually. But I'm afraid that most princes and knights thought it was a joke. No proper princess would ever volunteer, you see. It isn't done. [She utters that phrase with some disgust.]

There are days that it takes me hours to convince one of them that I really am serious about not waiting to be rescued. I like organizing treasure rooms and trying out new recipes and reading Latin. Its much more interesting than embroidery and etiquette lessons ever were.

[chiefcookandlibrarian]

I should think so. I just arrived here a few moments ago.

Pleasure to meet you Kat-320. [There is a little bit of doubt in her voice at the name. She had never heard of a name like that before.] I am princess Cimorene of Linderwall, currently chief cook and librarian to the King of the dragons.

[chiefcookandlibrarian]

Another world? How is that possible?

[ruin_mania]

[Raine actually chuckles a bit, though she continues writing in her even script.]

I don't doubt that. Sometimes one needs a change in one's life, do they not? Why, I'd be quite happy to live in a ruin, even if it were infested by monsters. There's so much more to be learned out there than there is in any library, no matter how large.

[doublethefun]

The stars are different, if thou wilt but look when night doth fall.

[not the most important difference here, but noticeable, nonetheless.]

[inmylight_commander]

Basics are we're stuck here with no way out, this castle is possibly sentient, and you can wish for things that aren't weapons, living, or too complicated.

[She's used to the reaction to her name; very few even from her world had much experience with the elusive Spartans.] King of Dragons? Is that just a title or was it an actual dragon?

[By now Kat had become familiar with the idea that some things that were mere myths on her world were indeed facts on others.]