Agentia's Box

Chapter Three - The Castle

Finally! I'm so sorry for the wait everyone xD

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We travel in a small carriage, the bright yellow curtains drawn tightly shut. The wooden benches are wobbly and uncomfortable, and they don’t have any cushioning to soften the jolts as the carriage travels along the rough, cobblestone path.

The outside of the carriage has been painted the same yellow as the curtains, I noticed before we were forced into it. The paint had been peeling away in places, and ancient wood showed underneath. Once in the carriage, I keep the curtains tightly shut, and Nora doesn’t complain.

The gloomy silence and long journey gives me a chance to think, which I take gladly. When we get their, Nora and I will be given rooms and time to prepare for the King. During the next week Nora would be presented to the King, along with the rest of the Favoured from the other villages, and chosen for a palace job. The jobs ranged from Royal Maid, the highest position, to Lower Cleaner, the lowest position. Another extreme was Rider; those who were chosen for their slight but strong build to ride the Nyrahs, who roamed the skies. They were trained for years in the ways of bonding, riding and finally, fighting. Sometimes air battles were just used for sport, to entertain the upper class, but otherwise they were used to defend the kingdom.

Now that we are on the road to the Palace, there is no chance to cut Nora’s hair, or rip her dress. It would be noticed, and we would both be punished.

I’ve heard it said that sometimes the Guardians are promoted when the King sees them, so I get to work messing up my hair, knotting it over and over again. Nora tries to do the same, but I stop her, knowing it will be noticed. There is nothing I can do about our pale skin, which is so favoured in court. I’ll have to hope that the shadows there are dark enough. Wait, whom am I kidding? The King won’t have any shadows, not with his reputation for light.

“Get some sleep, Nora. I’m sure it will be fine.” I say gently, and she nods, and then closes her eyes. Soon her breathing slows, and she’s asleep. I follow suit and rest my head and try my best to ignore the jolts. Soon darkness overtakes me.

I’m flying, soaring through the air, the wind buffeting my hair from side to side. I’m on a Nyrah, a beautiful lavender purple one with deep violet eyes. I am a Rider, working for the King. In disgust, I turn around; go off course, only to see what’s following me. A massive black dragon speeds towards me, flames rippling in the air around it. Its eyes are deep crimson, the colour of blood, and they’re filled with malice. I try to turn my Nyrah around, to run and hide, but I’m frozen, I can’t move. The heat sears my flesh and I scream, scream until my throat is hoarse.

“Myra!” I keep screaming, the fear and pain is too much, “Myra! Wake up!” I open my eyes to see Nora’s face creased in worry, her small hands shaking my shoulders. I abruptly stop screaming and start gasping instead, trying to form words but failing, “Myra. We need to get out of the carriage, we’re here.” I stop trying to speak and snap my mouth shut. I notice the way she is trembling, and understand.

“Let’s go.” We walk out of the carriage and into the city. It takes my breath away, the beautiful site. I try to remind myself what went into this, thousands of Agentian slaves work every day to keep this beautiful palace spotless, and they do a good job of it, too.

Massive fruit trees tower around the walls, making a barricade themselves. Emerald green leaves as bright as spring create a dappled roof overhead, and the golden Seeranceams hang in juicy, ripe bunches, begging to be picked and eaten.

The path underfoot is littered with pastel yellow flowers, though I’m unsure where they come from. Under them it is smooth, perfectly carved sandstone. Guards in gleaming gold stand around us so that there is no chance of escape.

The actual castle is amazing. More towers than I can count soar into the skies, glimmering with pale pink and bright gold, softened orange and pastel yellow. It speaks of bright summer’s days, of sun and warmth and happiness. All I can think of, though, is how many thousands have died keeping this perfection. How many thousands of my people.

Queen Faelin’s gardens catch my eye more than King Zandor’s Castle. It isn’t your usual flower patch, it’s more like every flower has been carved rubies and topazes and sapphires, while each leaf from the surrounding bushes is a perfect emerald. Thornless raspberries hang like liquid pink silk, and boysenberries are tiny drops of purple tinted ebony, pressed together. Everything is so rich in colour I want to stop and stare forever, but soon my surrounding guards push me forwards. A curse on everything beautiful that is torn from me!

We walk up to the massive oak doors, engraved with miniature battles with beasts of eldritch* and riders soaring through intricately pictured skies. The handles are, of course, gold. They are opened and we are shoved in, then taken by another escort of guards upstairs, to what I assume our rooms are. As we walk up the marble staircase, I see a Rider. My breath and heart leave me as I stare at the beautiful person, and it takes me a minute to realise that it’s a woman. I thought only men could be Riders! Her eyes meet mine, and I am shocked to see they are the same colour as mine. I am hated for my topaz gold eyes; they sparkle and glimmer no matter the light. They are too different. But here, I have found maybe the only other person in the 6, including Agentia, though it's gone now, with the same eyes as me. She looks at me a moment, then starts talking in a hushed voice to the person beside her, gesturing to me. I wonder what it might mean.

We are taken to a room bigger than our house. That being said, our house is tiny, but it amazes me to have two beds in one place, let alone two double beds! The door slams behind us and I hear a key turn in the lock. That’s okay with me; if we need to escape we have windows. Nora might have some difficulty, but I can help her. I lie down on my bed, and Nora mirrors me.

“I’m thinking,” Nora begins, and I look over at her to show I’m listening, “I’m thinking maybe a life in the palace wouldn’t be so bad. As long as I don’t become a Lower Cleaner.”

I nods, not really listening, “Imagine if we controlled all this wealth. Imagine if we even had one golden handle. Maybe we could help the rest of the Agentians...” I murmur, half to myself. Suddenly I sit up, hearing raised voices outside our door. They’re muffled, and I can’t hear a word, but I’m intrigued anyway. Nora stays down, waiting for me to let her know if everything is okay. Soon I hear the lock turning.

“Do you know how hard it was to convince that stubborn man to let me in?” Topaz gold eyes glare furiously at nothing in particular, as she, the Rider, bursts into our room.

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