An Assassins Escape

Chapter 4

Within minutes I was prepared to leave. I stood by the door, looking at him with confusion. The carriage was coming tomorrow. If it was anyone else, I would have wondered if they had some secret plan, but my father wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed.

"The stuffy nobles send their carriages a day early, in anticipation of being late. The Briarcliffs especially."

"What do you mean Briarcliffs?"

He scowled and growled, "No talking back, kid. Just do what you're told. Get on a black carriage at Roslyn's Ave and follow the coaches instructions. You're going on a boat to the mainland." At least he told me that much. "Honestly, because your an ugly, dumb fuck you can forget all of that. But whatever you do, don't come back. I mean it."

He shoved me out the door and slammed it shut. At least I was free, I guess.

Shining stars sprinkled the sky like salt and sand. The ocean shimmered with the glow of the moon, creating an ethereal atmosphere. Every fiber of my being was saying to turn around and go back to that house. Where such fond memories piled like laundry clothes, even if they were culled by the more recent alcohol smelling ones. 

I rode more boats and carriages than I could count with my fingers and toes, traveling between the Isles. Navy waves wrapped around the boat and brown toothed sailors grumbled about the rum. Typical Isle vagrants.

I painted ugly freckles on my face and seldom brushed my shoulder length hair. With a hood and silent step, people made a point to avoid me. Callus began to form on my hands and feet from the labor and blue bruises bloomed on my skin.

If the slums of the Isles didn't like me, then a snotty noble definitely wouldn't. The mainland would be better, I promised myself. Less filth and more opportunity.

When I arrived, I couldn't help but stop and stare at the enchanting structure. The Briarcliffs must have been filthy rich, because the smooth, white washed walls of the castle screamed luxury. The bright sun shimmered along the curved architecture and skilled sentries stood utterly still. Healthy lilacs and peonies grew along the expanse and they smelled lovely. The emerald grass was perfectly manicured and puffy white cumulus clouds kept a distance, as if even they were not beautiful enough to be near.

I swallowed and glanced down at my filthy garments. How I was here, I don't know. But before I started my way down the elegant cobbled path, the horse coach stopped me short.

He whispered with a crazed, scratchy accent. He looked crazy, too. Like a vulture. "You're pretty brave to venture in there," He chuckled.

I frowned, " What now?" The thought of just leaving passed through my mind, but the castle did look a little too good to be true.

His oily voice rose to a higher pitch, "Rumor has it the inhabitants are psychopathic." he grinned, displaying missing teeth, "They say that they are all murderous killers! That's how they got the money, you know. Killed their way to the top."

I knew that this man was lying, but a tendril of fear still coiled around my heart.

"Why are you going, anyway? If you don't mind me asking, of course." His sharp eyes glinted, "Either way, you won't find that many royals with such blood lust."

I ignored him and left. Even though I didn't look back, I could feel his eyes trained on my backpack.

But wait, Royals? There was only one royal family in the southern mainland, and even people from the Isles knew they were filthy rich. I looked up at the petrifyingly beautiful castle, and tried to swallow the lump in my throat. 

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Authors Note:

Do you think the weird guy was telling the truth? Its kinda fishy...