“A race to Pott’s Creek! Bet you can’t outrun me,” Katryna had dared her brother. Willem had been a little more unsure.
“Kat, we aren’t supposed to go out into the city by ourselves. We will get into trouble.”
“They can’t catch us if we run fast!”
Katryna was always pushing boundaries. She could never stay put for long; she was always seeking the next thrill or competing in made-up challenges. She wanted nothing more than the adrenaline rush of a race to an out-of-bounds place.
“I don’t know. Mother and father won’t be happy,” Willem sighed.
Katryna took her brother’s hand and had led him out to the gatehouse excitedly. She wasn’t going to give him a choice!
“If you win, I’ll do your chores for a whole month,” Katryna said.
“A month?”
“One whole month.”
That made Willem take the offer far more seriously. He peered around the corner at the guard sitting idly at the gatehouse before looking back towards Castle Bower, where servants and lords were going about their business as usual, weighing up his options.
No one would be around to stop them.
Katryna drew a line in the dirt with a stick and stood behind it, beside her brother. “C’mon, it’ll be fun!”
Katryna and Willem raced through the cobblestone streets of hightown, ducking in and out between fruit sellers and squads of city guards, under market carts and around awning posts.
Katryna felt her heart beating and her muscles burning but pushed through to maintain her speed.
Willem was just behind her and catching up fast! He was taller than Katryna, but somewhat slim and lanky, despite beginning sword training with the master-at-arms that year. His long legs were allowing him to keep up with his speedy sister.
The pair rounded a corner of one of Ravenrock’s main thoroughfares, smiles across their faces, sweat on their brows.
Willem took the lead but was cut off by a horse-drawn cart of hay pulling out from a side street. He leapt onto its side before bouncing over the cart like an acrobat and landing on his feet!
Katryna was just as impressed as the stunned driver who raised an angry fist and shouted curses at the children.
Townspeople jumped out of the way as the prince and princess bounded through them.
Over the city’s canal bridges they went, water flowing through the waterways beneath their feet. Across Blackstone Rush next.
Katryna focused on the pitter patter of her shoes on the stones beneath her, and on her breathing, taking long, deep breaths. Her heart raced like a galloping horse.
Katryna and Willem had been to Pott’s Creek one week earlier with their tutor, who had brought them there to study Camridian flora and fauna. Since then, Katryna knew that she had to go back. Both were familiar with the route- what better way to visit than with a race without their parents’ permission?
The prince and princess were a few hundred metres from the Northgate. Katryna spotted a thick crowd of townspeople between them and the gate out of the city. It was going to slow her down getting through them. She needed to find another route and fast.
Katryna leapt over a bench before sliding down a dim side alley to her right, squeezing herself between two stone walls. She then took a left as the dank alley widened up, heading back in the direction of the Northgate. She was now running behind the buildings which lined the main thoroughfare. The alley was empty, save for puddles of murky rainwater, scraps of rotting food and a couple of mangy rats.
Willem will be so shocked! Katryna was sure she would win now, there was no way he would catch her through that crowd.
Katryna followed the alley out to the main road once again before exiting through the city gate. She peered behind her to see Willem shambling clumsily through the crowd of townspeople.
She was in the lead!
Katryna followed a dirt patch running through the green grass around the side of the city’s sandstone walls until she spotted a huge oak tree.
That was where Pott’s Creek was! The finish line was within sight!
Willem was catching up fast, though. Katryna heard her brother’s speedy footsteps right on her heels. She took in a deep breath and willed her legs to speed up as much as possible.
She kept the lead! Katryna grabbed the trunk of the oak tree and proclaimed her victory just as Willem reached her, before slowing down and leaning forward to catch her breath.
Katryna cheered and jumped around. “Woo! I won! I won!” she declared.
Willem fell to the soft grass beneath him beside the bank of the creek with a laugh. His body was kissed with the delicate touch of grass blades, dandelions, and sandy earth.
Katryna, despite her exhaustion, continued her victory dance.
“No fair!” Willem shouted. “You cheated!”
“I did not!” Katryna rebutted.
“You did, you went down an alley. That’s not fair.” Willem sounded only half-serious in his complaint; Katryna could tell by the grin still on his face.
“I made a quick decision to solve a sudden problem. Just because you didn’t think of it, doesn’t mean I cheated!” Katryna joked.
“Pfft,” Willem spat with a laugh, rolling over and dipping his face into the cool water of Pott’s Creek. “Whatever!”
“You’re just jealous because I won,” Katryna said, splashing water at her brother.
Willem turned away as the drops rained down on him. “You’re just jealous because I’m faster than you, and you know it!” he giggled.
“At least I’m smarter.”
Willem tackled his sister at the comment. The two fell onto the soft grass laughing.
“I’m your older brother, you have to do as I say. And I say you have to tell me how fast I am,” Willem said pompously.
Katryna bellowed out with a chuckle. “Older by three
