TRIAL AND ERROR | short stories + snippets

"So, what's your princess name?" Gnak asked when they had walked far enough that the purr of the stream was no longer audible.

The elf pondered the question for a moment. "Syrtika," came the answer. "It was my great aunt's name."

"Syrtika," Gnak repeated, then smiled at her friend. "I like it. What's your favourite colour?"

"Orange, I think... Orange like marigolds."

"Good choice!" Gnak had to crane her neck to see Syrtika and, not looking in front of her, tripped over a protruding root. She picked herself back up and continued. "Mine is blue. Like the sky, aaand... dart frogs. Oh! and like blue Rainbow Chews. Speaking of which..."

She dug out a packet of Rainbow Chews from the pocket of her trousers, careful not to spill any from the corner she had opened earlier. She poured some into her hand, accidentally dropping one into the moss.

"D'you want some?"

She offered them to Syrtika, who squinted at the sweets with suspicion. "I haven't had these before. Maa says sweets are bad for your teeth."

"Oh... Well, luckily, us goblins have strong teeth. I'm sure elves do too." Gnak poured the handful into Syrtika's palm and peered into the packet for a yellow one. "You should try each colour."

After each flavour Syrtika ate, Gnak asked for an opinion and their ranking of the sweets kept the friends occupied for quite a while. It was only when the trees grew denser and the soft moss was replaced with rocks that Syrtika looked around.

"Are you sure we're going the right way?"

"Of course," Gnak answered.

The last time she had gone to the Pink Meadow had been several moons ago with her grandfather to collect begonia petals for cooking. She really couldn't describe the directions if someone asked, and the trees all still looked the same to her, even if her grandfather had pointed out different species to her when they passed them. Gnak couldn't describe a single landmark on the path.

Still, she felt no worry about leading Syrtika in the wrong direction.

"I can feel it," she said, internally thanking the rough skin of her feet for protecting her from the sharp edges of the stones they had to cross.

"Feel it?"

"Can't you? If I step this way–" Gnak turned to her left and climbed up the mountain "–I can tell we're off the path, but this way–" she continued in the direction they had been headed in, across the mountain "–I just know it's the right way."

Syrtika cast another doubtful look into the trees before following Gnak. She clung to the strap of her satchel and tried not to flinch when a bird cawed nearby.

Gnak hopped off a boulder, onto a fallen tree, and to the ground. Even if her mother found out she broke the rules and crossed the stream, she knew she wouldn't be in any trouble for it when she did it to help a friend.

She glanced at Syrtika over her shoulder, saw her fall behind, and paused to wait. "Have you been on a real ship?" she asked when the elf had caught up, thinking of her bark boats.

"Once," Syrtika answered. "The last time we visited my big sister in Tamrathi. I don't think I liked it. I got really seasick."

Gnak nodded, though couldn't entirely hide her disappointment. Princess Idisha had married Princess Lautina the summer before the last and moved from her home kingdom to the seaside palace in Tamrathi. Gnak had seen incredible illustrations of the ocean and fleets of Lautina's kingdom.

Syrtika's poor experience didn't dampen Gnak's mood for long. Within moments, she was smiling again. The drizzle had stopped and she pushed her rain hat off, leaving it hanging around her neck by the strap. Her green hair was frizzy and she combed her fingers through it once before giving up.

The ground began to tilt downwards and the pair slowed down to avoid tripping over rocks or roots.

"What's your favourite game?" Gnak asked.

"Game?"

"To play?" When Syrtika didn't answer, Gnak looked up at her to find her brows knitted. "You don't play?"

"I play my instruments," Syrtika said.

"Do you like that?"

"Yes. My favourite is the flute."

That was where the downhill became so steep that they had to descend into the ravine in a zig-zag. Gnak thought for a moment about mountain goats and how they were able to climb almost vertical rock walls.

"What do you like about it?" she asked when her moment of admiration had passed.

"The sound. And it's not heavy to hold like so many other instruments."

"What's your favourite thing to do?"

"You ask a lot of questions."

Gnak giggled. "I do. But asking questions is the only way to learn. That's what my Grandad says and he's the wisest troll in aaall the kingdoms."

Syrtika nodded. She took careful steps behind Gnack. The flimsy sandals she was wearing were certainly not built for climbing into rocky ravines. It didn't help that smog filled the creek and it was impossible to see the bottom.

It curled around Syrtika's ankles. Gnack was far enough ahead for the mist to reach her waist.

"I like to read," Syrtika answered. "I've read all the books about rocks we have in the royal library. Did you know that cling crystals are formed by water? Water drops collect on the cave ceilings, then eventually evaporate, leaving only the minerals behind. After many years, a cling crystal forms."

"I didn't know that."

Gnak had already started a new question when she noticed that Syrtika's footsteps weren't following her anymore. She turned to see the elf staring at the mist, trying to see something behind it.

"What's wrong?"

"Can't you hear them?" Syrtika whispered.

"I can't hear anything."

Syrtika took a step back, only for the stones under her foot to loosen and give away. She stumbled. "We should turn back."

"We're almost there," Gnak said, but Syrtika was already clambering up the ravine on hands and knees.

By the time Gnak had climbed out, there was no sign of Syrtika. She called her name, peering into the trees, but the only voice to answer was a bird.

Gnak kept calling and looking as she retraced their footsteps. Syrtika couldn't have gotten far so quickly.

Soon, the sound of rapid breathing reached her ears and, following it, Gnack found Syrtika tucked against the trunk of a massive banyan tree.

She sat beside her but, this time, did not ask a question. Her mother had told her that sometimes it was best to wait for someone to be ready to speak. Keeping this advice in mind, Gnak looked for birds in the foliage of the tree that spread almost infinitely above them.

It didn't take long for Syrtika to collect herself. "There were whispers," she says. "They said such horrible things."

It was called the Ravine of Whispering Doubts but Gnak had always thought it to be nothing but a dramatic name. Like the lily of fallen kings, which her mother had told her was called that only because of the purple and red petals of the flower. She had never heard any whispers.

"This is silly. We should go back. I can't be a princess."

"Maybe we should eat first," Gnak suggested, sliding off her backpack to find her lunchbox. "My mum says to never do anything on an empty stomach."

She offered one half of her spinach and chickpea sandwich to Syrtika. The elf nibbled on the corner but eventually the flavour won her over and she ate it eagerly.

"Do you want to try again?" Gnak asked when they had finished the rest of her Rainbow Chews. "It's really not a long way to cross the ravine. I can hold your hand if that helps."