Beyond My Control Book #6

Chapter 1 Traitor

   I, Queen Verity the Faithful, had been attending the School of the Arts in Tashbaan. I sort of enjoyed it. No one knew I was a Queen. Not even Madame Cebba, our teacher.
But I had a little secret: a few months back, I sent a book I'd written to a publisher. So, during that time, I barely kept up with my studies. However, that wasn't the only thing I did.

    Life in Tashbaan wasn't like everyone made it to be. There was a wall behind the glamorous buildings, huge parties, beautiful gardens, and markets smelling of spices. A wall that divided rich from poor, cruel from helpless, luxury from poverty, gold from grey. It wasn't a visible wall, but everyone felt it to be there and one that wall I crossed one cold afternoon, a plain cloak wrapped around me, under my arm I carried a loaf of bread and under the other a basket of apples. The slums, crowded with people dressed in rags who could barely afford food and much less a roof over their heads. Oh, the poor, forlorn faces who looked at me, I just wished I could feed them all, but I wouldn't dare, knowing the guards who watched the streets would be more than happy to kill me if I did it in the open.

     "You're so kind," Mrs. Cauldron told me as she handed her two children each an apple. They quickly devoured them. "Bringing me this food."

     "Well, you're with child," I stirred the fire, "When will you're husband be back?"

     "Oh, he's still working at the mines," she sighed, rubbing her hands on her apron, "I haven't heard from him in a month." She sat down at the table, "If we don't get the money in two days, we'll get evicted."

    "Evicted!" I cried as I stood up, "They wouldn't just tear a pregnant woman and her children straight out of her home."

    "That makes no difference, Young Lady," she told me, "You should leave if you get caught, they'll kill you."

    "Well," I looked down at the gold necklace that hung around my neck. I quickly took it off, "Maybe this will help." I handed it to her.

    "No," she shook her head, her eyes filling with fear, "I can't."

    "This should help pay rent for three months," I forced it into her hands. "Take it, I won't take it back."

    "Are you sure, don't you want to keep this? It's a beautiful necklace," she fingered it in her hands.

    "I'm sure," I smiled, "Now I'll take your advice and leave." I put my hood over my head before blowing a kiss at the two children, "I'll bring more food next week."

    As I walked out of the house, I hid my face, hoping a soldier wouldn't recognize me. I breathed heavily, knowing that my life could end at one misstep, and one recognized my wealthy clothing. When I was nearly out of danger, I was Takrkaan Birsha going down the street.

   The fellow was much older. I had shown an interest in me, but He, Tarkaan Birsha, seemed to know too much about me. I came down to the idea he was a spy.
One day, I found him in the streets and followed him. He didn't notice.
He walked down an alley. It was dirty, I had to hold the skirt of my dress up from getting it muddy. I can imagine Madame Cebba would be too pleased if I came back dirty. 

   "Tarkaan Birsha, there you are," I hid behind a cart.
A man walked up to him, Lord Alaric! Head of Calormene's navy.
"She won't tell me anything," Birsha sighed, "Nothing."
"High King Peter has trained his sister well," muttered Lord Alaric, "But we know about their upcoming venture, sailing. Exploring their territories."
I gasped, so he was a spy. I clenched my fists.
"What does that mean?" Asked Birsha.
"The kings and queens won't be there to defend their land, easy come, easy go. With Narnia ours, Archenland will buy more resources from us. Ever since I heard of their future navy, I have a feeling, Archenland will get everything from them. And the Tisroc will get even angrier with me. Who said I can't captain the Black Eagle? If this happens, I'll lose my position, and Captain Coral will take over. The Tisroc will do anything to get rid of me." He explained.
"Why don't you just get rid of him?" Birsha suggested, "The Tisroc probably won't listen."
I held my breath.
"Great plan, Birsha; why didn't I think of that sooner? And if your friend, Queen Verity, finds out, she will tell her siblings. To death with all of them," Alaric threatened.
I decided to leave; maybe I should warn my siblings, but no, if I did, it would mean death. Andrew was friends with Captain Coral.
I hurried back to the school, and Madame Cebba met me. "You're late."
"Sorry, Madame, I'm just taking a walk," I excused myself.
"You are aware that today is a dinner party at Tarkaan Laurent's," she told me.
"Yes, Madame," I nodded.
"Well, don't wear that dress, change!" Madame answered, annoyed.
I obeyed, putting on a blue ball gown. I hated those dresses. It seemed all this school was about was parties and behaving socially, and how to act when being called on by young men. Maybe that's why Susan wanted to send me here. Peter had a different reason. If he knew about this, he'd pull me out. He is a bit too overprotective as an older brother.
"Verity!" I was standing alone, awkwardly at the party amid the dancing, when Birsha came up to me.
"Tarkaan Birsha," I tried to give him a give a big smile, "It's a pleasure to see you."
"The pleasure is all mine, milady," he grinned, kissing my hand, "Would you care to dance?"
I cringed, but I nodded.
"So I heard the news," commented Birsha, as we lined up with the other dancers.
"What news?" I asked.
"You don't know," he chuckled.
"What?" I asked.
"I'll tell you later, milady," he answered.
The party was like it usually was. Dancing and stuffing oneself full of food.
"And now a toast to Tash the inexorable!" Announced Tarkaan Laurent, later in the evening. I placed my glass down. I couldn't. I had never done it. That was the evil of the city. It was worshipping a God other than our own. Other than the one true God in our world. Aslan in Narnia.
"Do you care for any wine?" Birsha asked me.
"No," I pushed the glass away.
Birsha walked me back to the school, "Now the news you've been waiting for." He handed me a book.
I looked at the cover; I couldn't believe my eyes: In Peril of Winter by Lady Josephine Major. My name! Although I was a queen.
"They published it!" I exclaimed."Where did you get it?"
"My dear," he laughed, "Your book is everywhere. You seem to have an interest in Narnia, that strange country up North."
"Yes, I do," I nodded.
"Farewell, milady," he said, kissing my hand.
As soon as he was out of sight, I clapped my hands and gave a loud shout, "Hurray!"
But then I was reminded of the earlier events of that day. I couldn't trust Birsha, but now he could read my book. He'd find out more about us. Did my book do more harm than good?