The Unraveling

Mayla

The town of Mead was full of bustling activity on every street corner. There were more vendors and carts than Mayla had ever seen in her entire life. She’d heard her father say that Mead was like an entire different world, but now she was seeing it for herself.

“The palace is another twenty minutes ride away. Keep your head down and face forward. There’s been unrest in Mead lately.”

Unrest? She highly doubted there was anything  King Vier couldn’t handle, so why hadn’t he put this unrest to rest? She was having a hard time lining up the things she had seen and experienced in the last twenty four hours to the King she had been told about all her life. Looking around, she didn’t notice any unhappy citizens. Everyone seemed to be going about their daily life. There were no signs of…wait. Were they being followed? She glanced over her shoulder, trying to be discreet. 

“Leon?”

“Keep your head down. When I give the word, take the next right and dismount quickly. Run to the third house on the right. Knock twice and give her my name. You’ll be safe.” He said all of this within a single low breath, so quiet she barely heard him. “I’m going to lose them and circle back to get you. Go now.”

She pulled her horse to the right and dismounted, not bothering to tie the reins to the stand. Hopefully the vendor would be kind enough to do so. If not, she had bigger problems at hand than a lost horse. She ran quickly, passing house after house after…this was the one. She knocked twice.

“Who is it?” The woman’s voice was soft, but harsh. 

“Leon sent me. My name is..” 

The door opened quickly and a slender hand pulled her inside. She found herself face to face with an older woman. Leon’s sister? Mother? They looked similar and he obviously trusted her. Something he probably couldn’t afford to do with many people as a member of the Guard. 

“Would you like some tea?”