Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles

Chapter Eight: The Questionable Solution

"Slaves in public must not speak unless spoken to. If this law is at all violated, the Slave will undergo severe physical punishment. If this law is violated against one of Royal or Noble Blood, the Slave will thereafter either be executed or assigned into the following Annual Slave Arena. The owner may or may not be informed and will not be reimbursed for the Slave's value."

The trek through Helvetica wasn't a completely quiet one, which Nadia would have much preferred. As they neared the boarder, Polaris began to ask her questions, and they were questions which put Nadia on edge.

"So, when did you color your hair?"

Obviously, Nadia was hesitant to answer honestly. However, it was clear to her that Polaris knew she had dyed her hair, and she reminded herself that it was dangerous to lie to a noble who had royal authority.

"I think the day Master bought me, sir."

"Was it his command?"

"Yes, sir."

"I see. Is he also demanding that you wear makeup?"

"Yes, sir."

"Hm."

Polaris opened his notebook to where he had sketched out the markings and lashes he had observed behind the Rose Tree. He walked behind Nadia and examined the scars that peeked out from the top and bottom of her choli shirt. From what he could see, they matched perfectly.

"What did you do to deserve those lashes on your back?"

"I ruined my Master's construction, sir."

"You what?" Polaris replied, now beside Borealis's neck. He looked at Nadia in the eye and Nadia had to fight not to do the same. "What influenced you to do such a thing?"

"Master thinks he owns mermaids, sir. So he's building a tank to trap them in and show them off to everyone. I don't think it's right."

Polaris calmed down as this was understandable to some degree. "I see... and he knows that you're a mermaid?"

"Sir?"

Nadia nearly made eye-contact here, but caught herself just in time. How much did this man actually know about her and how? Even though lying could mean death for Nadia, she couldn't confirm the truth of her ethnicity to him, but she wasn't sure how to avoid it without telling even the smallest fib.

Polaris decided not to put Nadia in such a position. Instead, he wanted to make it clear to her that he knew all her secrets and that they were safe with him.

"If I understand correctly, you are familiar with a little pixie named Rein Bow."

"Yes, sir. Does she talk to you?"

"She showed me to you. You should know that she has explained everything to me, including who and what you are."

Nadia remembered her last conversation with Rein. "Are you Polaris the palace-worker?"

"Yes, I am the king's own royal advisor." The advisor even. He could behead her on the spot if he caught her in a lie! "It seems she's mentioned me to you."

"Yes, sir. She said that you'd be coming to get me. I forgot until now. Are you taking me to live in the palace?"

"Indeed I am. How do you feel about that?"

Nadia hesitated to answer as she peered over her shoulder at Helvetica, which slowly distanced itself behind them. She begged in her heart for it to return and even began to plot an escape back to Aimonbay. She quickly realized that would be suicide and searched desperately in her mind for some other alternative.