We slowed down at the edge of a square. It was surrounded by soldiers and full of people, all wearing white, the women in dresses and the guys in just pants like me. It wasn’t hard to decipher that they were from Shaundakul: their skin was pale, they sort of resembled each other, I recognized some, and lastly, half of them were crying.
The square was surrounded by stone buildings. In front of all the people stood enormous doors that obviously led into the high section of the city. They were carved with designs in stone as intricate as the tapestries of Shaundakul were painted with.
The soldiers leading our small group pushed us forward and told us to find a place in the square.
I took a moment to check on the man I had met in the wagon. He was already racing inwards, towards a woman and child at the edge of the square. The woman was crying and this got him started on it.
I walked in much less animatedly. I took in everything there was to see, and I made sure that I didn’t let myself stress about finding anyone. People not dressed in white stood out on balconies in the buildings all around the square.
As I weaved through the crowd, I saw a lot of people I would rather not have recognized, and I knew some of them recognized me, but the worst was when I saw Slark. He stood in the middle of a group, like he always was, at least two or three of his regular goons around him.
How had he survived? And he didn’t even look hurt.
He caught my eye and I put effort in to make a congenial face. He just looked away.
All in all I thought the whole thing was sort of like a family reunion. Only it was for your country, and you knew that anyone that didn’t show up was dead. A little morbid, way too emotional.
With my hands in my pockets I moved towards the side of the square and that’s when I saw her. Well, her hair really; blonde and much longer that anyone else’s. I got the familiar congestion in my chest that I liked to write off as irritation at the nuisance of her presence. All the same my legs started moving towards her.
I didn’t stop until I heard a horn blow at the head of the crowd.
A man in white and gold armor stepped up above the rest.
~ ~ ~
CHAPTER FOUR
ELLIA:
*
I was distracted when the Akadians called for attention at the head of the square and by the time I looked forward and saw who stood there, he was already speaking.
“Welcome, people, to this great city,” Tobias said. “As you might have realized by now you are inside the walls of Akadia. We are a country centuries old, owners of the proud behemoths of light. We are swordsmen and miners of the earth. Akadia is pleased to have you here with us today.”
There was a murmur across the crowd that I felt myself, but I tried to give Tobias the benefit of a doubt as he went on.
“It warms my heart to see that many of you have reunited with your loved ones. I hope that you have been fed and have had rest. I know that it is not an easy thing to be displaced. You might be glad to hear that you are not the first group we have taken in. Hundreds have come, from Birmha, and Taelp, and the wilds of Kanth.” While I had a poor memory for names, I knew at least two of these as small countries in the northwest. Tobias went on. “They have joined Akadia entirely, and peacefully. We have a great hope to unite all the nations. Even—if you would welcome it—the people of Shaundakul.”
Shouts of anger burst out of the crowd. Most of them were men, as the woman had the strength to do little more than cry, and the ones that had found their husbands simply clung to them.
“Please, please,” Tobias said, waving his hands. “Look around you. We are a prosperous city. You have nowhere to go. We offer you citizenship and a home. Food for you families.” The crowd quieted at this. “All I ask is that you tour the city beyond with me. See our homes. See what jobs are available to you.”
“You’d have us become slaves!” a woman shouted.
Tobias frowned. “I promise you, lady, that is not what we intend. You will be considered no different than any Akadian. Your strong men may join our armies. Your daughters will be taught useful trades.”
“And what of your renowned mines?” A man added. “How many will be sent down there never to emerge?”
“Some will work underground,” Tobias admitted. “Most citizens of Akadia have at one point worked in the mines. It is our greatest industry. Honorable work.”
He stopped speaking, as if giving the people an opportunity to bring forth more complaints. The silence frightened me. I was suddenly filled with a great panic. I wanted to say something, anything, to oppose him. It was all so wrong. Couldn’t they see? My tongue was stuck in my throat; I didn’t know what to say. All I could think was, my father would have known. My father would have known how to argue with him. My father would have known how to band our people together. I was helpless.
“Please, come with me through the palace complex beyond. Once you have seen all that Akadia has to offer, I am confident that you will realize the advantage of joining our kingdoms.”
The crowd remained silent. Tobias let his raised arm drop in a quick flick and a horn was blown. A loud creaking began from inside the doors behind him. There was gasping from the crowd as the doors opened inwards. The people on the balconies all around us cheered and in the explosion of sound the complex beyond was revealed.
In the sun, the city I had seen thus far was bright and glowing, but this, it was like jewels it shown so bright. If the buildings were stone, they were unlike any stone I had ever seen.
Back in Shaundakul there were rocks near the old ruins; if you broke them open and held them up to the sun they had crystals inside them that sparkled. These buildings were most similar to that.
The doors clanked to a stop. Tobias walked through, waving us on to follow. I couldn’t believe it when the captives shuffled past me with no resistance. I wanted to run after Tobias and squeeze the life out of him like I should have when I’d had the chance, but more than anything I wanted to die because I no longer felt any hope that more prisoners would come. Tobias had lied. They would not have started such a display if more were coming from Shaundakul.
Cyric was dead, or back in Uldin Keep, or sent to some horrible place that I would never reach.
As my eyes filled with tears I felt a tap on my shoulder.
With all the viscous anger I had built up inside me I slapped in the direction it had come from, hoping that it was a guard that would take his vengeance on me then and there.
Instead a hand caught my wrist. The familiar feel of it caused me to swing around. The face I stared up into was brutally incredulous.
“Already?” he said. “What could I possibly have done?”
I felt my chest lift in joy, then I threw my arms around his body. “Oh, Cyric. You’re alive. It’s you. You’re alive.”
I squeezed him tighter and he put his own hands on my back to pat my shoulder. Without thinking, I kissed his neck. He flinched and his skin shivered. This made me wonder that I could feel the reaction so easily; then of course I realized it was because like the others he wasn’t wearing a shirt.
I quickly pulled back. “I thought you were dead,” I said.
He smiled. “Yeah, I got that much.”
“Oh, you look terrible,” I said, pressing a finger to his bruised forehead.
“Thanks. That’s just what I was hoping to hear from you.” He laughed.
I made a face at him. “What happened to you? How did you get here?”
“By wagon. With some other soldiers. You?”
“The same. Well… most of the way.”
He frowned.
I looked around. We were the only ones left in square, the only ones left from Shaundakul at least. People still stood up in the balconies and soldiers dotted the area, but they weren’t paying attention to us.
“They’re just letting us be,” I said to Cyric.
He followed my gaze around the square with his brows up. “I think they’re pretty confident we�
��re stuck in here no matter what.”
“Oh, Cyric. It’s terrible, isn’t it? How could all those people go along with them, even consider joining the Akadians, after what they did? You don’t think they will?”
Cyric frowned, then laughed darkly. “Yeah, I do.”
I narrowed.
“They don’t have anywhere else to go, Ellia,” he said. “Most of them are just helpless women, and… if the Akadians are being honest, they aren’t offering a bad deal.”
“Not offering a bad deal?” I repeated. “You realize that the destruction of our home was a part of the deal?”
He glanced behind me and I realized that I’d drawn the attention of a couple of the soldiers.
Cyric grabbed my arm and walked me towards gates. “You remember that one time, about a day ago, when I told you to stop yelling and you didn’t listen to me...”
I shook off his hold, but kept my mouth shut. As we walked into the palace complex I saw that the others had not made it far. I was not surprised. The beauty was distracting. The very stones beneath our feet were painted.
“Then what am I to do?” I asked Cyric. “How can I convince them not to listen?”
“You can’t. And you shouldn’t.” Cyric scoffed. “You need to stay alive.”
“But I’m the—” He glared. “They’re my responsibility,” I corrected.
“You can’t help them if you’re dead,” he said. He waved a hand. “Besides, do they look miserable to you?”
I watched the crowd pass by a fountain of sparkling water. Three women sat beside it; Akadians, beautiful. They splashed water on a young man dressed in white. He blushed a little, then smiled. A child stuck his head over the edge and took a drink. Another joined him.
“The women do,” I protested, a little weakly. “I listened to them cry last night.”
“There’s nothing you can do to help that,” Cyric said.
He meant by this, of course, that there was nothing I could do to bring their husbands back. I swallowed hard and tried to keep pace with him. His gaze was very watchful of the buildings and the people, but it always was. I figured that was why he knew so much about everything all the time.
We passed the fountain a little ways still behind the group; the three Akadian women were still there, laughing. They wore layered, sheer, red robes, one was dipping her foot in the water. They grew quiet as we neared and looked our direction. It didn’t take long to realize that they weren’t looking at me at all. Cyric glanced towards them. Two of them giggled. The one with her foot in the water smiled coyly, bent her head, and slid her hand down her leg, all without taking her eyes off of him.
I watched his face turn red. My features flared. I wanted to shout at him for looking, but I couldn’t get my throat to squeak anything out.
He turned away at least after we’d passed. I couldn’t say as much for the women. I thought of the soldiers kissing last night and wondered what was wrong with the women in this city. In Shaundakul, they never behaved in such a way.
“Dragon’s breath. Ellie, look at that,” Cyric suddenly exclaimed.
His words were so surprising that I assumed I’d see something amazing. Cyric never used such expressions. He always said they were foolish and silly.
Maybe it was amazing. Maybe I was jaded, but I thought it could have been more impressive.
It was what must have been the palace. It was at the end of the wide road we’d spiraled up. It rose above the other buildings, though it was connected to them at its base like everything else. The crowd of captives were circled below a wide set of stairs that preceded its front. The sun was high in the sky and the very moment I looked up its light hit the front of the building. As shadow raced downwards it was clear to see that from its top to its bottom it was painted with pure gold.
I wanted to be angry at Cyric for the way he stared at it. He looked over at me smiling. I felt too frightened to return it.
Tobias let the people walk up and down the steps and touch the gold stone. After that we headed back down the complex.
At the gate we were directed into a single-file line. There was no talk of the Akadians’ proposal, joining or not. The people obeyed without a word. At the edge of the square the line began to divide.
I realized why when we neared.
“Cyric, they’re separating the men and women,” I said, turning around.
“I can see that,” he replied. “It’s probably for the sorting. They’re going to get us jobs, remember?”
“We’re going to work?” I asked darkly.
He shrugged. “For as long as we need to. Do you have a better idea?”
I bit my lip. “No…. Well then, can’t we get the same job?”
“Maybe we will. Not that you and I really share the same skillset.”
“They let women become soldiers here,” I said. “We could both do that. Scholar Padril taught me many maneuvers with a sword.”
“You want to join the Akadian army?” Cyric asked pointedly.
I frowned.
“Bad idea,” he said. “Besides, I don’t want you doing something so dangerous. Try and find something normal to do.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. You’re pretty—they seem to like that here. Figure out what the best job is and then get it.”
My cheeks got hot. I had to look away from him for a moment. For the first time that day I actually couldn’t hold back a smile.
All the same, his suggestion felt insufficient.
“Well then, when will we see each other again?” I asked.
His lips curved to a smile. We were almost to the point of separation. “It doesn’t look like they’re that strict. I’ll be around.”
“But Cyric—”
“We can’t be with each other every second, Ellie; that’s not how we lived at home. Not nearly. You’ll be fine.”
I bit my lip.
“Just follow orders,” he said.
I scowled. And then I saw something familiar. I narrowed and turned Cyric’s arm over. When I saw that the silver band really was my crown, I gasped.
“What?” he said. He checked my line of sight. “Oh no, you saw it. Look, I don’t know what happened. I didn’t do anything to...” His voice trailed; his features narrowed in confusion.
“How did you get that in?” I asked.
He touched the turquoise jewel like it was suddenly the most fascinating thing. Then he started tapping it.
“Stop it,” I said. “Give it back.”
“You can’t. It’s too dangerous.” His tone was dismissive, but he was still staring at the crown. “You know, this is going to sound crazy, but I swear just a while ago…”
“You!” a soldier shouted. He stood where the line was being divided. There was a wide space between us and him; we must have been behind. “Boy,” he continued, gesturing to Cyric, “get over there. We don’t have all day.”
Still fingering my crown, Cyric started walking away.
“Cyric,” I complained. “You didn’t tell me where you’re going. What will you do for a job?”
I thought he wasn’t going to answer me, but then he looked up suddenly and winked. “What I do best.” He turned around.
I rolled my eyes. The soldier gave me a sharp point in the direction of the other women.
Because I was behind, it didn’t take long for me to reach the front of the line. A burly solider with a pad of paper and a desk set before him was measuring the woman that had just gone up. She carried a little girl in her arms.
“Do you have any talents?” he asked her.
She moved her daughter from one hip to the other as she answered. “I can cook. And… I sew.”
“Spin around,” he instructed. When she hesitated he made a twirling gesture with his finger to prod her on.
She obeyed.
He frowned. “You’ll be in the trade district,” he said as he wrote. He ripped off the piece of paper, handed it to her, and pointed. “Get in the
line there and give them this. They’ll give you further instructions.”
“Please, my daughter?”
He waved a hand. “Take her with you. She’s of no concern.”
I couldn’t tell if the woman was happy or not as she walked away; she seemed reluctant. The line she walked to had around six other women in it. There were roughly ten lines just like this. A quick examination showed an obvious classification between them. Though I was loath to believe it, it was impossible to ignore. All the most beautiful girls were together, then the average ones, and finally the old and plain.
I tried look over at the men’s side to see if something similar was happening. Cyric was standing before the sorter. He had his hands on his hips, and looked anything but old, plain, or average.
The sorting guard on my side waved me forward. He wasn’t looking up. It took everything in me to obey a command given in such a way, particularly when I knew what was coming. The two soldiers that flanked him stared at me. I crossed my arms.
“Do you have any talents?” he asked mechanically.
I thought of Cyric. He’d said that I should get the best job, but in honesty I didn’t have any talents. Unless I could tell them that I knew how to converse at diplomatic meetings, stand for hours in glass slippers, or perfectly waltz all the finest, classic Shaundakul dances.
“I have… played a lyre once,” I said.
He sighed, just as the soldier beside him tapped his shoulder and pointed at me. The sorter looked up. His eyes went wide. “Oh,” he said, but that was all, and he didn’t quit staring. I chewed my lip. He started writing something on his paper.
“Have you ever attended to anyone?” he asked.
I shook my head.
He waved a hand. “No matter.” He handed me the paper. “You’ll be happy to know you’ll be working in the palace distract. As a handmaiden. It is one of the finest jobs available for women.”
Fallen Prince Page 5
