Chapter 4- Near Death at Dawn
Princess Amorite woke to the sound of bells ringing throughout the castle. The warning bells. The guards knew Kaolin was missing.
Amorite’s сердце began to beat faster. It was beating to the rhythm of Kaolin running quickly out of the dungeon hours ago. She feared her сердце would leap right out of her chest. If the soldiers found Kaolin, he would be killed. Amorite couldn’t let that happen.
Outside the sun was starting to rise. Kaolin was probably almost out of the city.
Amorite had been Kaolin’s best friend since they were 9 years old. The день they first met was when Kaolin’s father had come to the замок gardens for Fair Day. He had set up a stand of apples covered in nuts and a sweet sauce that was normally found on deserts that were served in the castle. Amorite and Kaolin had connected as his father came back to the замок after that.
She thought of the moment they had shared when he leaned into to Kiss her. She remembered the way he felt against her. Amorite longed for him and she knew what she had to do.
Amorite slipped out of her night clothes. She left her dress on a pile clothes on the floor and knew one of the maids would tend to them.
Hurrying into the huge closet, she chose her simplest dress: light green with a satin bow. It wasn’t as full as the rest of her dresses but it swished when she walked. Amorite wore this dress when she went into town.
Amorite slipped on her flat riding ankle boots and hid them under her dress. She put an изумруд green плащ on over her head. She tied the string under her chin and put a small bag of Золото coins in a pouch. She tucked the pouch in a secret pocket in the inside lining of her cloak.
Amorite took one last look at her постель, кровати chamber and hurried into the corridor.
It was light in the hallway, but the servants had yet to begin their daily routines. Amorite slipped her капот, худ up and took a small passageway out of the castle. She ended up by the gates and Amorite hid behind a horse-drawn тележка, корзина as it left the castle. She followed it until she was past the guards.
Princess Amorite hid in an alley until there was enough light for people to begin their day. The streets were beginning to crowd with men going to work and women pulling little children along. Amorite blended in as best she could.
As Amorite walked down the улица, уличный she heard voices in her head saying: Do not leave! Come back, Princess. That farmer boy is not worth your life! But she ignored the eerie protests and headed toward the market.
People ignored her as she followed the crowd. She ducked her head as three soldiers marched past her. A few peasants had a frightened and hungry look in their eyes. Amorite shivered. She felt sorry for these poor people.
Amorite was now in the Market Square, a place where villagers and farmers could sell their products. There were stands of fresh fruit, multicolored cloth, vegetables of every kind, and beaded jewelry. The день was just starting, but the people were already yelling across the square: ‘Buy your vegetables here! Grown on the best soil in Anoxia!’ and ‘Fresh fruit! Picked ripe and delicious!’ and ‘The finest cloth in Anoxia sold for the best price!’
Amorite browsed the stands to avoid causing suspicion. She looked over the selection of cloth. She fingered it for quality. It felt nice and soft, something Amorite would consider wearing. Amorite smiled at the woman behind the counter who was intently staring at her.
“Are Ты going to buy anything или not?” The woman asked in a menacing tone.
Amorite gasped. She never would have thought this pretty seamstress would be so mean. “Umm…I was just looking.” Amorite said, trying to hide her mixed emotions of shock and fear.
“Well, look somewhere else! I’m trying to run a business here.” She growled, glaring at the princess. She silently moved a few bolts of blue and red fabric out of Amorite’s reach. “Are Ты going buy something или not?”
“No, thank you.” Amorite walked off, her palms sweating.
Amorite walked past a few еще stalls. She was looking around when she bumped into a small boy looking hungrily at a stand of fresh watermelon.
“Oh, I’m sorry!” Amorite said, bending down to pat the boy.
“It’s alright.” The boy’s gaze never left the watermelon.
Amorite figured the boy would like some Еда and decided to buy him some watermelon. She picked up a thick slice of арбуз that the farmer had just cut and handed it to the boy. “Here Ты go.” Amorite smiled.
The brown haired boy smiled and took a bite. “Thank you, ma’am.”
Before Amorite could reply, a girl a little older than the boy ran up. “Tanis, come on!” She grabbed the boy’s arm and started pulling him away. “We have to go! He’s waiting.”
The boy ran off with the little girl.
“Excuse me!” The man behind the counter yelled. “You need to pay for that!”
Amorite turned around. She reached into her pocket and pulled out one Золото coin. “Will this do?” She held out the coin.
The man looked the Золото greedily. “Of course.” He snatched the coin away.
“Clear the way!” A booming voice shouted through the city. “Make way for Prince Dassin of Azonic!”
Amorite froze. She pulled the плащ over her curls. Prince Dassin would surely recognize her from the past visits. She had known him since she was young and they had seen each other throughout the years.
What if he forced her back to the castle? What if he turned her into her father? She had to save Kaolin.
Quickly pushing through the crowds, Amorite kept her head down. Suddenly a strong hand grabbed her arm.
A young man with a scar down his cheek glared at her with one brown eye and one black eye. His grip was strong, but he eased it when he noticed the frightened look in Amorite’s eyes. “Did Ты not here the call? Clear the streets for the Prince!”
Amorite jerked her arm, but it wouldn’t Переместить in his steel lock. “Let me go!”
“Feisty, eh?” The man bent his head to Amorite’s face. “I сказал(-а) clear the way. Have Ты never heard of a prince before? Ты follow his orders.”
Amorite glared into his brown eye. “You are no prince, so I will not follow your orders.”
With a fleeting glance at Amorite, the man jerked his head to a man riding on a horse behind the carriage. “Slater!”
Slater was a burly man with a shaved head and a menacing look in his narrow, red eyes. He dismounted his horse and strode over to the soldier and the girl. “What’s the meaning of this?”
The man grasping Amorite’s arm spoke with a firm tone. “She refused to Переместить from the street.”
“Did she now?” Slater let his eyes roam over Amorite’s body as she shook with fright. “Lorton, tell the pretty lady how we deal with people who disobey?”
Lorton, the man who now held her wrists behind her back, bent his head. “We execute.”
Amorite stopped breathing.
Maybe she should call out Dassin’s name или tell them who she was. But she couldn’t speak.
Slater clapped his hands. A grin spread across his face. “Very good.” Slater spoke to Lorton as if he were training a puppy.
Lorton was shaking furiously as Slater pulled out his sword.
Amorite felt her knees get weak and she grabbed for Lorton’s shirt. She closed her eyes and сказал(-а) a quick prayer.
Slater raised his sword.
There was still a smile on his evil face.
Amorite prepared herself for the blow. If she had to die she would gladly go saving a friend. She squeezed her eyes shut.
Father, I am sorry I could not say my name. I was a coward. Kaolin, do not regret what happened. I love-
“What is going on?!?!” A voice demanded.
Amorite’s brown eyes flew open. Standing at the door of the carriage was Prince Dassin. He still looked the same as she remembered, only еще fit and his brown hair was a shade darker. He wore a scowl on his face. Slater dropped the sword and fell to the ground with a thud.
“I said, what is going on?” The prince’s eyes flashed and landed on Amorite who had her head bent.
“Nothing, Your Highness,” Slater replied, “We have it under control.”
Dassin strolled toward them. “Are Ты sure of that, Slater?” His green eyes narrowed.
“Yes, sir.” From the corner of Amorites eye, she saw a shadow of fear pass over Slater’s face. Was Slater scared of this eighteen год old boy? He was only a prince but would one день be King. Slater must want to look good for his future ruler.
“What was the crime?” Prince Dassin stopped walking.
“She refused to Переместить from the street.” Lorton addressed Dassin.
“Is that a crime that calls for execution?”
Lorton looked Slater who looked at the ground. “No, sir.”
“Let her go.” Dassin gently touched her arm and Amorite jumped. She realized this was the first time he hadn’t asked a question. “There is no call for punishment.”
Lorton quickly dropped her wrists. Amorite didn’t Переместить away from him. She felt protected with the strong young man behind her. She felt she had a mask on and Dassin would not recognize her. But her mask did not work.
Prince Dassin looked into her deep brown eyes. “Do I know Ты from somewhere?” He searched her face and gently held her hand.
Amorite swallowed. She found it hard to speak. Her hands were clammy and she felt faint. “N-no…sir, I-I don’t…believe…you do.”
He frowned. “Are Ты sure? I’m sure I know you.”
Amorite forced a half smile. “No, your Highness. I’m just a common girl…you surly don’t know me.”
Dassin dropped her hands with a vexed look. “Well, I’m almost positive I do. If I can remember I will come find you.”
Amorite’s сердце shook with such a force she was certain he could feel it beating. “Al-alright.” Amorite turned and started quickly walking away from him.
“Wait! What is your name?” The prince shouted.
Amorite turned her head. “I mustn’t say!” And she started running as she turned the corner. Prince Dassin must never find out who she was.
Princess Amorite woke to the sound of bells ringing throughout the castle. The warning bells. The guards knew Kaolin was missing.
Amorite’s сердце began to beat faster. It was beating to the rhythm of Kaolin running quickly out of the dungeon hours ago. She feared her сердце would leap right out of her chest. If the soldiers found Kaolin, he would be killed. Amorite couldn’t let that happen.
Outside the sun was starting to rise. Kaolin was probably almost out of the city.
Amorite had been Kaolin’s best friend since they were 9 years old. The день they first met was when Kaolin’s father had come to the замок gardens for Fair Day. He had set up a stand of apples covered in nuts and a sweet sauce that was normally found on deserts that were served in the castle. Amorite and Kaolin had connected as his father came back to the замок after that.
She thought of the moment they had shared when he leaned into to Kiss her. She remembered the way he felt against her. Amorite longed for him and she knew what she had to do.
Amorite slipped out of her night clothes. She left her dress on a pile clothes on the floor and knew one of the maids would tend to them.
Hurrying into the huge closet, she chose her simplest dress: light green with a satin bow. It wasn’t as full as the rest of her dresses but it swished when she walked. Amorite wore this dress when she went into town.
Amorite slipped on her flat riding ankle boots and hid them under her dress. She put an изумруд green плащ on over her head. She tied the string under her chin and put a small bag of Золото coins in a pouch. She tucked the pouch in a secret pocket in the inside lining of her cloak.
Amorite took one last look at her постель, кровати chamber and hurried into the corridor.
It was light in the hallway, but the servants had yet to begin their daily routines. Amorite slipped her капот, худ up and took a small passageway out of the castle. She ended up by the gates and Amorite hid behind a horse-drawn тележка, корзина as it left the castle. She followed it until she was past the guards.
Princess Amorite hid in an alley until there was enough light for people to begin their day. The streets were beginning to crowd with men going to work and women pulling little children along. Amorite blended in as best she could.
As Amorite walked down the улица, уличный she heard voices in her head saying: Do not leave! Come back, Princess. That farmer boy is not worth your life! But she ignored the eerie protests and headed toward the market.
People ignored her as she followed the crowd. She ducked her head as three soldiers marched past her. A few peasants had a frightened and hungry look in their eyes. Amorite shivered. She felt sorry for these poor people.
Amorite was now in the Market Square, a place where villagers and farmers could sell their products. There were stands of fresh fruit, multicolored cloth, vegetables of every kind, and beaded jewelry. The день was just starting, but the people were already yelling across the square: ‘Buy your vegetables here! Grown on the best soil in Anoxia!’ and ‘Fresh fruit! Picked ripe and delicious!’ and ‘The finest cloth in Anoxia sold for the best price!’
Amorite browsed the stands to avoid causing suspicion. She looked over the selection of cloth. She fingered it for quality. It felt nice and soft, something Amorite would consider wearing. Amorite smiled at the woman behind the counter who was intently staring at her.
“Are Ты going to buy anything или not?” The woman asked in a menacing tone.
Amorite gasped. She never would have thought this pretty seamstress would be so mean. “Umm…I was just looking.” Amorite said, trying to hide her mixed emotions of shock and fear.
“Well, look somewhere else! I’m trying to run a business here.” She growled, glaring at the princess. She silently moved a few bolts of blue and red fabric out of Amorite’s reach. “Are Ты going buy something или not?”
“No, thank you.” Amorite walked off, her palms sweating.
Amorite walked past a few еще stalls. She was looking around when she bumped into a small boy looking hungrily at a stand of fresh watermelon.
“Oh, I’m sorry!” Amorite said, bending down to pat the boy.
“It’s alright.” The boy’s gaze never left the watermelon.
Amorite figured the boy would like some Еда and decided to buy him some watermelon. She picked up a thick slice of арбуз that the farmer had just cut and handed it to the boy. “Here Ты go.” Amorite smiled.
The brown haired boy smiled and took a bite. “Thank you, ma’am.”
Before Amorite could reply, a girl a little older than the boy ran up. “Tanis, come on!” She grabbed the boy’s arm and started pulling him away. “We have to go! He’s waiting.”
The boy ran off with the little girl.
“Excuse me!” The man behind the counter yelled. “You need to pay for that!”
Amorite turned around. She reached into her pocket and pulled out one Золото coin. “Will this do?” She held out the coin.
The man looked the Золото greedily. “Of course.” He snatched the coin away.
“Clear the way!” A booming voice shouted through the city. “Make way for Prince Dassin of Azonic!”
Amorite froze. She pulled the плащ over her curls. Prince Dassin would surely recognize her from the past visits. She had known him since she was young and they had seen each other throughout the years.
What if he forced her back to the castle? What if he turned her into her father? She had to save Kaolin.
Quickly pushing through the crowds, Amorite kept her head down. Suddenly a strong hand grabbed her arm.
A young man with a scar down his cheek glared at her with one brown eye and one black eye. His grip was strong, but he eased it when he noticed the frightened look in Amorite’s eyes. “Did Ты not here the call? Clear the streets for the Prince!”
Amorite jerked her arm, but it wouldn’t Переместить in his steel lock. “Let me go!”
“Feisty, eh?” The man bent his head to Amorite’s face. “I сказал(-а) clear the way. Have Ты never heard of a prince before? Ты follow his orders.”
Amorite glared into his brown eye. “You are no prince, so I will not follow your orders.”
With a fleeting glance at Amorite, the man jerked his head to a man riding on a horse behind the carriage. “Slater!”
Slater was a burly man with a shaved head and a menacing look in his narrow, red eyes. He dismounted his horse and strode over to the soldier and the girl. “What’s the meaning of this?”
The man grasping Amorite’s arm spoke with a firm tone. “She refused to Переместить from the street.”
“Did she now?” Slater let his eyes roam over Amorite’s body as she shook with fright. “Lorton, tell the pretty lady how we deal with people who disobey?”
Lorton, the man who now held her wrists behind her back, bent his head. “We execute.”
Amorite stopped breathing.
Maybe she should call out Dassin’s name или tell them who she was. But she couldn’t speak.
Slater clapped his hands. A grin spread across his face. “Very good.” Slater spoke to Lorton as if he were training a puppy.
Lorton was shaking furiously as Slater pulled out his sword.
Amorite felt her knees get weak and she grabbed for Lorton’s shirt. She closed her eyes and сказал(-а) a quick prayer.
Slater raised his sword.
There was still a smile on his evil face.
Amorite prepared herself for the blow. If she had to die she would gladly go saving a friend. She squeezed her eyes shut.
Father, I am sorry I could not say my name. I was a coward. Kaolin, do not regret what happened. I love-
“What is going on?!?!” A voice demanded.
Amorite’s brown eyes flew open. Standing at the door of the carriage was Prince Dassin. He still looked the same as she remembered, only еще fit and his brown hair was a shade darker. He wore a scowl on his face. Slater dropped the sword and fell to the ground with a thud.
“I said, what is going on?” The prince’s eyes flashed and landed on Amorite who had her head bent.
“Nothing, Your Highness,” Slater replied, “We have it under control.”
Dassin strolled toward them. “Are Ты sure of that, Slater?” His green eyes narrowed.
“Yes, sir.” From the corner of Amorites eye, she saw a shadow of fear pass over Slater’s face. Was Slater scared of this eighteen год old boy? He was only a prince but would one день be King. Slater must want to look good for his future ruler.
“What was the crime?” Prince Dassin stopped walking.
“She refused to Переместить from the street.” Lorton addressed Dassin.
“Is that a crime that calls for execution?”
Lorton looked Slater who looked at the ground. “No, sir.”
“Let her go.” Dassin gently touched her arm and Amorite jumped. She realized this was the first time he hadn’t asked a question. “There is no call for punishment.”
Lorton quickly dropped her wrists. Amorite didn’t Переместить away from him. She felt protected with the strong young man behind her. She felt she had a mask on and Dassin would not recognize her. But her mask did not work.
Prince Dassin looked into her deep brown eyes. “Do I know Ты from somewhere?” He searched her face and gently held her hand.
Amorite swallowed. She found it hard to speak. Her hands were clammy and she felt faint. “N-no…sir, I-I don’t…believe…you do.”
He frowned. “Are Ты sure? I’m sure I know you.”
Amorite forced a half smile. “No, your Highness. I’m just a common girl…you surly don’t know me.”
Dassin dropped her hands with a vexed look. “Well, I’m almost positive I do. If I can remember I will come find you.”
Amorite’s сердце shook with such a force she was certain he could feel it beating. “Al-alright.” Amorite turned and started quickly walking away from him.
“Wait! What is your name?” The prince shouted.
Amorite turned her head. “I mustn’t say!” And she started running as she turned the corner. Prince Dassin must never find out who she was.
Ты seek for spark of hope.
Your life held by
darkness thoughts,
anchor is
some place else.
Bad luck follows Ты
like a hook,
won't let Ты go,
won't leave Ты alone.
Ты smile today,
and cry whole eternity,
like that's your fate,
disturbing thoughts
to lie inside of you,
to take away everything
that Ты hope for.
Devil is calling your name,
leaves Ты not,
Ты don't see the Энджел on
your shoulder,
trying to give Ты a strength.
Ты long for life
that Ты don't know of,
Ты seek for peace,
trying to get away
from misty forest
that stains your heart
into black.
January 16, 1815
Journal,
We have gotten fortunate, Journal! Nastea has found coats in the broken down train. She sits by Sasha now, covering her in them. And she took one for herself as well. I can see color returning to Sasha’s cheeks. Nastea coughs harshly, shivering nervously. Her toes are turning blue, and one has already fallen off. We slept in the train last night, getting as much warmth as we could. We have to start to Переместить tomorrow, find shelter. The berries Nastea fed Sasha seem to have made Sasha a lot sicker than she was before. She’s coughing up blood now. The snow around her is stained with red and pink. I attempted to make a огонь earlier, and let me tell Ты journal, it didn’t work out. It’s much to cold to start flames. For every time the огонь ignites, it extinguishes, the harsh winds blowing it out. I’m losing my teeth, journal. Nastea can’t talk anymore, and her and Sasha’s hair is mostly gone. Journal, what’s happening to us?
Bye Journal,
Nadia
Journal,
We have gotten fortunate, Journal! Nastea has found coats in the broken down train. She sits by Sasha now, covering her in them. And she took one for herself as well. I can see color returning to Sasha’s cheeks. Nastea coughs harshly, shivering nervously. Her toes are turning blue, and one has already fallen off. We slept in the train last night, getting as much warmth as we could. We have to start to Переместить tomorrow, find shelter. The berries Nastea fed Sasha seem to have made Sasha a lot sicker than she was before. She’s coughing up blood now. The snow around her is stained with red and pink. I attempted to make a огонь earlier, and let me tell Ты journal, it didn’t work out. It’s much to cold to start flames. For every time the огонь ignites, it extinguishes, the harsh winds blowing it out. I’m losing my teeth, journal. Nastea can’t talk anymore, and her and Sasha’s hair is mostly gone. Journal, what’s happening to us?
Bye Journal,
Nadia