Veridia

Chapter 3

Aerithia, present

The sun was barely over the horizon, and the dim light was getting brighter by the second. Still, Geneva found her steps getting heavier and heavier the closer she got to Aerithian land. She was about to kill innocent people, people who had children and brothers and sisters and-

Shaking her head furiously, she shut off the voice in her head.

King Nikolai had given her a day to pack, and a day to travel. Geneva only brought her sword and a flask of water. She could always steal food from the kitchen, and it was better to travel light. Geneva needed to be mobile at all times for this to work.

I owe it to Nikolai. Obey the King.

As the countryside eased into more urban areas, Geneva flipped her hood up and took to the rooftops. Her feet flew over the stone, jumping from balcony to balcony with ease. Up here, with the breeze blowing through her hair and the sun rising before her, Geneva almost felt happy. Up here, she didn't have to care about impending doom. Up here it was just her and wind.

All too soon the Aethirian castle loomed into view, and Geneva's stomach did a flip. The castle was a masterpiece. It was made of smooth, polished glass that had been tempered to catch the sunlight in just the right degree so that no one could see inside. Crystal spires jumped up from within, curling vines of ivy and flowers wrapped neatly around them. The sun was caught perfectly in between a shimmering arch, framed gently like a mother caressing a child. Geneva wanted to look at it forever, breathing in the fresh air and suspending herself in the moment.

Sadly, the muffled voices of the people on the streets below jarred Geneva out of her thoughts.

There were people to kill.

~~

Ducking under a hay cart and hanging on upside down for dear life was not Geneva's best idea. But she didn't have a choice. Even from a distance the red capes worn by Aethirian security flashed brightly in the sun, and the green attire worn by the palace livery mingled among them. It would be impossible to sneak past that many people.

As it was, Geneva's head was about two inches from the ground and her arm was looped around the wooden crossbeams underneath the cart. Her sword hilt dug painfully into her side, but she couldn't afford to move. Every bump in the road, every jitter the horse made, every stop made Geneva's breath catch in her throat.

After about ten minutes, the cart finally stopped for the last time and a gruff voice could be heard from above.

Palace guards.

"What business?"

The hostler explained about delivering hay to the royal stables, and the cart started moving again.

Geneva's muscles tensed in anticipation. The Aethirian palace layout was alien to her, so she needed time to explore the palace and map it out in her head.

The cart stopped, and the stench of horse manure hit her nostrils. The footsteps of the hostler grew more and more distant as he went to find a place to deposit his hay.

Geneva dropped down from the cart and rolled out from under it. The stables were relatively clean, about the same as the ones back home. The horses were kept in several pens, and their bridles and saddles were hung up on a rack outside.

Geneva quickly walked out and started walking in the general direction of the castle. Taking care not to be seen, she moved swiftly and silently. The main gates were heavily guarded, so Geneva didn't even try them. Instead, she walked to over to an ivy-covered wall. Since the palace was made out of glass, finding purchase on them would be of no use. But that couldn't stop Geneva.