ACROSS THE MEADOW (book one)

Chapter 17: Uroboros

Raey

The weather is different than before. It is cold, and the wind seems to carry more force in its combs. Kisses of ice with every blow, shivers and shakes coming to her. Raey's purposefully presses her cold hands against the back of her brothers neck with a smug grin across her face. He jumps.

"Can you stop?" he snaps. Raey let's out a giggle.

The night is quiet aside from the clicks of the horses feet against the brick road. It is peaceful and she lets the night swallow her whole.

"Am I the only one concerned about the weather?" Elio speaks.

Raey's smile slowly falls.

It is strange...why was she suddenly wishing to not be back so soon? Was imprisonment better than her castle? Or almost the same?

"It's probably Sir Phillips," she murmurs. Raey studies the cows again like before, her head on her knee. Though this time, she watches behind her own eyes. "it's his way of reaching out."

"How sweet." Amani deadpans.

That's right; her father, dinner parties, engagement, a wedding—all of that was awaiting her. Not Ester. Never her.

"We are really doing this." Elio pants.

"I don't even think it will work." Raey whispers.

"You don't have a choice." Amani says sternly. "Can't have everyone knowing the royals partake in degeneracy can we now?"

Her words do not even rile the princess. No, this time, Raey finds herself accepting her reality.

"Hey," Amani kicks Raey's shin lightly. "What do you mean it won't work."

Raey watches them, hate bubbling in her and blackmail is quick to silence it. "Walking in and going through my fathers desks in hopes of finding some sort of battle strategy—"
Raey is reluctant in continuing. She turns back to her cow watching. "Meat heads." she mutters.

"Raey's right. What if there is nothing? What if you're caught?" Yewahi blurts.

"You gave us every guard route. We won't be." Elio oddly finds himself comforting Yewahi. His hand on his knee, but no one questions it.

A thought flows through Raey. An idea, something to perhaps give her the upper hand. Her lips begin to curl into a mischievous grin, everyone now attentive. "Or perhaps we could try a different way for you to infiltrate the kingdom." Raey sits up straight, her legs crossed and her hands tangled.

"Go on." Amani is skeptical, her eyes squinting.

"Geneviève Lambert—"

The soldier springs up from her seat, hostility in her stare, but she does not say a word. Raey's grin falls, a solemn in their surrounding.

"You will be my new piano instructor. And you," she points her finger at Elio gracefully. "My new personal chef."

Elio holds his breath, his body stiff at the suggestion. "I could poison you." he spits.

"You could." Raey is smug. The arrogance Amani attempted to beat from out of her now glistening from her stare once again. The soldiers now furious.