ACROSS THE MEADOW (book one)

Chapter 12: What the hell is a Devotee?

Raey

From out the waters, up the latter, and into the city of the Vagabonds they went. Morning would soon come following suit and her father will eventually notice her disappearance. If not her's, the future king's without question and finally she will get to sink into her lavender and chamomile bath. Her dreads no longer tied up into a high pony-tail that brought a heartbeat to her head and finally down, soaking in fragrances. A scalp massage should also be demanded of course.

Still, if she ignores the insanely nauseating stench that trails behind each of them, there is something cathartic about walking down the empty street. Her heavy eyes catching the running street cats and the empty boutiques that pass them. Not a single whisper passing through lips. Not a single eye tracing her for imperfections. Raey looks up at the sky and watches the moon as she feels it call to her. She is small under its presence, but not in the way her father would make her small. In the way that she is free, like an ant in the middle of a pasture and nothing simply matters. All her worries, gone in the hands of it basking light. Is this what the Lonely Sea Pirate felt?

Elio's footsteps catching up behind her breaks Raey from out of her trance. The sound is strange, like metal against rock. Shamelessly, her eyes fall to his leg and in return she is gobsmacked.

He is an amputee.

Quickly she looks away. Even a princess knows it is rude to stare.

When he had finally caught up to her, he walks side by side with Raey with a limp she had not noticed before. His expression contorted as he watches her.

"There's blood on your shirt." He speaks, pointing at the streaks of blood from prior. Though he does not seem to be speaking out of concern. More so out of a want to converse.

It seems boredom had struck him too or perhaps a need to leave his mind like she.

Raey opens her palms, showing the soldier. Not a hint of shame in her voice. "I hurt myself."

"You...hurt yourself?"

"Yes."

"And why is that?"

"I do not know. I guess you could say I'm growing mad."

Elio is fast to look away. His eyes to the bricked streets, and his expression completely constipated. It is evident he regretted speaking to begin with.

"Is something the matter?"

"Um," Elio nervously scratches the back of his head as he speaks. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Beats me. Maybe it is because I am so bored and sleep deprived that any ounce of anxiety I had left has drained itself from out of my pores." Raey lets out a deep sigh that soon falls into a yawn. "Or maybe because when the sun rises my father will awaken. My head servant, will be coming into my room to prep me for my lessons. And for my brother, my father will be gracing him with his presence for his first day of his studies to become king. When they are welcomed with nothing, but empty sheets and a letter from me stating my disappearance to the Vagabonds on my nightstand in case something were to go wrong, my father will rain fire onto your people like never before."

Elio swallows hard. His eyes in a pensive before he speaks. "That still does not answer my question, Your Highness."

"Only one of us will be standing once the sun rises. What I say to you will not matter." Her gaze leaves the floors. She looks to him, his brows furrowed.

"May I ask a question?"

Elio nods. "Why are you not worried about Saint's coming for us?"

"This is Devotee territory."