Sequel: The Game ›
Status: complete, but revisions are being made
The Pauper Princess
Chapter Thirty
After so long without sleep, it didn’t come as much of a shock that I had fallen asleep. I slowly opened my eyes and quickly became aware that it was much brighter than I remembered. I squinted for a minute, trying to get my eyes to adjust. Taking a closer look at my surroundings, I noticed we were on a well-worn road now instead of a rough trail, and we were moving at a slower pace. In the distance, I could see the sun shimmering off some formation of polished stone only a mile or so further down the road.
“That must be it,” I mumbled, mostly to myself.
“Finally awake, I see,” Ekohl said. Though I was still leaning against him, it wasn’t until he spoke that I really realized he was there.
“How long was I asleep?” I asked, sitting up straighter.
“Only an hour or two,” he assured. “We’re almost to the city.” I nodded drowsily and yawned. I tried to stretch my stiff limbs and almost fell off the horse in the process. I caught myself on the saddle horn, and Ekohl’s arms were on either side of me anyway. My legs ached from not moving for so long and I couldn’t help but squirm and try to sit in any other possible position.
I was still trying to get comfortable when we approached the high walls of the city about fifteen minutes later. Ekohl slowed the horse a bit and allowed the prince and Mehta to lead us through the massive gates. There were two guards stationed in the entryway, looking bored as they monitored the flow of traders and travelers. Upon seeing their prince enter, they both seemed startled and immediately stood straighter.
“Your highness,” one said, “What happened to the rest of your party?” The other man eyed Ekohl, Mehta, and I warily.
“Due to certain circumstances we were forced to part ways,” Jegan vaguely explained. The guards looked dissatisfied with the answer, but they simply nodded to the prince and allowed us to pass. I couldn’t help but think they looked displeased to see us at all, but I tried to push the thought out of my head as we rode through the streets toward the palace.
The massive structure sat on a hill overlooking the city. Its glossy stones were visible from the moment we passed through the gate. Bright emerald flags waved happily from the guarded inner walls. As we ascended the streets to the palace, people stopped what they were doing and stared until we were out of sight. The prince seemed unfazed; Mehta, however, was visibly distressed by the condescending and disapproving looks most of the villagers leveled at her. I smiled at her when I caught her eye, but I knew it did little to cheer her. Mehta always hated people to be disappointed with her.
We reached the entrance to the palace courtyard, a grand arch of what appeared to be solid silver. With the glare from the sun, it nearly blinded me as we passed, but I assumed it was meant to be stunning. Our passing was overseen by two rows of soldiers with swords and banners ceremoniously lifted along the pathway. Jegan pulled back on his reins and dismounted before reaching the soldiers. Turning, he helped Mehta down as well and laced her arm around his own, guiding her down the corridor of raised blades. Ekohl and I quickly followed, walking near to each other, but not as intimately close as Mehta and Jegan were.
The walk between the lines of soldiers seemed to take an eternity even Jegan walked with swift purposeful strides toward the short set of stairs that led into the palace. I focused on keeping up with Ekohl, but it did not escape my notice that many of the soldiers were less than happy for us to be here. A sudden chill ran through me, even in the midday sun, as I thought of what those glares might mean.
“That must be it,” I mumbled, mostly to myself.
“Finally awake, I see,” Ekohl said. Though I was still leaning against him, it wasn’t until he spoke that I really realized he was there.
“How long was I asleep?” I asked, sitting up straighter.
“Only an hour or two,” he assured. “We’re almost to the city.” I nodded drowsily and yawned. I tried to stretch my stiff limbs and almost fell off the horse in the process. I caught myself on the saddle horn, and Ekohl’s arms were on either side of me anyway. My legs ached from not moving for so long and I couldn’t help but squirm and try to sit in any other possible position.
I was still trying to get comfortable when we approached the high walls of the city about fifteen minutes later. Ekohl slowed the horse a bit and allowed the prince and Mehta to lead us through the massive gates. There were two guards stationed in the entryway, looking bored as they monitored the flow of traders and travelers. Upon seeing their prince enter, they both seemed startled and immediately stood straighter.
“Your highness,” one said, “What happened to the rest of your party?” The other man eyed Ekohl, Mehta, and I warily.
“Due to certain circumstances we were forced to part ways,” Jegan vaguely explained. The guards looked dissatisfied with the answer, but they simply nodded to the prince and allowed us to pass. I couldn’t help but think they looked displeased to see us at all, but I tried to push the thought out of my head as we rode through the streets toward the palace.
The massive structure sat on a hill overlooking the city. Its glossy stones were visible from the moment we passed through the gate. Bright emerald flags waved happily from the guarded inner walls. As we ascended the streets to the palace, people stopped what they were doing and stared until we were out of sight. The prince seemed unfazed; Mehta, however, was visibly distressed by the condescending and disapproving looks most of the villagers leveled at her. I smiled at her when I caught her eye, but I knew it did little to cheer her. Mehta always hated people to be disappointed with her.
We reached the entrance to the palace courtyard, a grand arch of what appeared to be solid silver. With the glare from the sun, it nearly blinded me as we passed, but I assumed it was meant to be stunning. Our passing was overseen by two rows of soldiers with swords and banners ceremoniously lifted along the pathway. Jegan pulled back on his reins and dismounted before reaching the soldiers. Turning, he helped Mehta down as well and laced her arm around his own, guiding her down the corridor of raised blades. Ekohl and I quickly followed, walking near to each other, but not as intimately close as Mehta and Jegan were.
The walk between the lines of soldiers seemed to take an eternity even Jegan walked with swift purposeful strides toward the short set of stairs that led into the palace. I focused on keeping up with Ekohl, but it did not escape my notice that many of the soldiers were less than happy for us to be here. A sudden chill ran through me, even in the midday sun, as I thought of what those glares might mean.