Castle of Vines

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄

Saffron fidgets with the letter in her hand while Mayeura is seated on the bed, her knees to her chest.

"So, the Queen of Gurasee sent you to give this to me?" She waves the letter around.

"Uh- yes." Mayeura mumbles.

"Alright. And it needs to be sent back as soon as possible?"

"Yes."

"How do you travel back and forth? All things outside of any border are dangerous."

"I travel by horse. The guards surrounded me in a protection circle on the way here." She changes her position, looking more formal.

"Where are the guards staying tonight?" She sits down on the couch in front of Mayeura.

"Not sure. I dropped my horse off at one of the stables and walked straight here. I heard the guards take off somewhere, not sure if they are still here."

"Right."

She sticks her finger underneath the sage green wax seal, it was an emblem of a rose with vines around it. She lifts the seal up and takes out the parchment.

"This isn't some... execution, right?" Saffron looks up at Mayeura, unsure if she wants to read the rest.

"I'm not allowed to read any letters that I am to send, so I do not know." She says.

Saffron looks down at the folded piece of parchment, brittle under her calloused hands.

"If it clears any doubt, the queen would not directly write this letter nor have a whole guard with the letter." Mayeura gives a weak smile.

"Okay.."

She unfolds the letter to see delicate handwriting filling the page.

"Dear Saffron Elowen, I request for you to come to the Palace of Gurasee to do a task for me." She mumbles, her eyes moving across the letter. "...it would be a great pleasure....will supply formal clothes.....please report back as soon as possible.... 𝒬𝓊𝑒𝑒𝓃 ℐ𝓇𝓎𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝒢𝓊𝓇𝒶𝓈𝑒𝑒."

"Oh.. wow." She says, not sure what else to say.

To be going on a mission was something Saffron had always wanted, but to be requested by the Queen herself? It was a whole new level of awe.

They stay in silence for a moment more, Mayeura looking at her waiting for her answer.

Saffron clears her throat, "Yes, I will go do this task for the Queen, it would be my pleasure."

"Oh, fantastic. Do you have a piece of parchment, ink and a quill anywhere?" She asks.

"I think Mason would have some in his office, you wait right here and I'll go get it." Saffron places the letter where she was sitting and walks out of the door, but stopping at the last minute.

"Do you want me to shut it or leave it open?" She gestures to the door.

"Leave it open please." She requests.

"Alright, also you can open that window if you want to, I'll only be there a minute or two." And with that Saffron walks off down the hallway.

Mayeura gets up to open the window, she hears the horses hooves click against the gravel and looks through it.

It seems as though Sorrow Streets has already begun, as the Walk of Sorrow is being held at the moment. The criminals are walking down the street with escorts at the front and the back. People are throwing old scraps of fruit and vegetables at the criminals.