From A Kingdom's Shadow

CHAPTER TEN

Apondra entered Aremina's pub to see that apart from Mina and Beren's voices carrying over from the kitchen, there were no customers in the pub. She shifted her cloak on her shoulders, making sure her dagger was well hidden from where she placed it in the pocket of her cloak and called out a greeting to them both. She smiled when they both returned her greeting and Mina called that she was already cooking up dinner for her.

"Just make yourself at home kid!" came Beren's voice, "Be out in just a second!"

Apondra laughed, "Music it is then!" she could barely catch Beren's chuckle as she sat before the keys, wondering how long it would be until Elwe and the others would arrive. At first her playing was silly and whimsical, reflecting her excitement of the day, but as she lost herself in the music, it was all she could hear, and the tone of it changed with her. The tone of the songs reflected the passion she felt, as the notes of the children's songs in the streets echoed over the empty pub, then the sorrow she hid as the notes of her mother's songs rang out and she began to silently sing, She did not realize her repetition nor the tears that landed on the keys as she played, stuck in a grief stricken trance. Over and over, the loop of sorrow continued with shaking hands, so lost in the memories of the cabin she called her home, and the images of her mother preparing food for her, or bringing flowers to brighten their dank home. The gentle smile on her mother's face that never truly met her crimson eyes. Apondra did not notice the drink that was set before her, or the quiet prince who had entered moments ago, sitting silently on the corner of the bench as he watched her play, while Colin and Dreco took seats nearby.

Apondra played through the song, and though her eyes met the small audience she had gathered of her newfound friends, she did not truly see them until her hands slowly moved away from the keys and she rested her weary head in them, wiping the trails of tears from her cheeks. She reached for her drink and took a long swig to ebb away the pain in her heart,

"You play beautifully, Apondra," Elwe sounded almost breathless, as if he did not want to ruin the piece that had just ended by speaking loudly, "May I ask, who taught you to play so well?"

Apondra did not turn to face him, but let out a sigh to relax her shoulders, "I taught myself, it took nine months, after Dryn became my home," her answer was so desensitized that would she have been in any other mood, she would have worried about the prince's response. But the numbness had taken hold again.

Even with the memory being so long ago, she could still remember how the fear gripped her, fear of the people she did not know, the feel of her body trembling at the thought of being tossed out because of her age, or worse yet, someone discovering her best kept secret. Apondra was still wary of the prince, no manner of his charm or status could change the fact that he knew her, at least in part, for what she truly was. Could he be trusted to hold his tongue with Beren and Mina? Or would he take this opportunity to expose her? No. Not now, and certainly not here.

Apondra tensed for a moment and stood from the bench quickly, with almost enough force to topple it with the prince still seated upon it.

"What is it?" Elwe's startled voice rang in her ears as she moved towards Colin and Dreco.

Dreco frowned at her and stood with Colin.

"Get them out of here," she whispered, darting her eyes towards the kitchen, "Now,"

Dreco and Colin both exchanged a look and nodded. Dreco grabbed her arm and pulled her in, "You keep him safe. Understood?"

Apondra nodded, "There is a backdoor through that way. Beren will show you. Now get them out of here!" her voice raised with the urgency and both guards ran to complete her request.

Elwe shrugged off his cloak, revealing his glorious muscled arms, and a scabbard at his waist, a shortsword lying in wait.

"You knew they were coming..." Apondra addressed the prince directly, bringing her dagger to her side.