Majesty

Chapter 7: Scoute Starling

I walk outside to the courtyard, thinking about my sister. I really hope she isn't right. Something about the Queen just shouts at me, "I am good!" Maybe she really is messing with my mind. If so, curse her.

Sun beats on my back, through the gossamer cloth at the back of the dress. A couple male young Flaxen warriors stare as I pass, their golden hair stirring in the wind, hard green armor glinting in the light.[v][w][x] I ignore them, but flash of darker hair catches my attention. "Tom!" I call. He turns, surprised, but beams when he recognizes his sister. I run, and crash into him. Tom embraces me. Some Viridescent scowl disapprovingly, but avert their eyes. As my brother finally pulls back, I examine his face for changes. The one thing I immediately notice is glasses. "Hey, when did your prescription excel?"

Tom laughs. "It's always been hard to see. I told Mother and Father, they just didn't approve of me, a Scarlet boy, wearing these 'nerdy' glasses. But they look fine, don't they?"

I nod. He looks fine; in fact, he looks better with them than without, and I tell him. He smiles. "Thanks little sis. Always knew I could count on you. I need to take care of some of those pestilential mushrooms that are sneaking around; duty to the Flaxen. I encourage you to do the same. Watch for the Queen for me and report anything unusual, okay? I'm counting on you to be our own little conspiratorial spy."

I nod again, but this time it's not genuine. He winks. "Great. See you around!"

Tom melts into the mob, and I feel the same feeling that happened when May ditched me. That something strange is up with my siblings leaving. And both reminded me to not trust the Queen. It's definitely suspicious, sending a shiver down my spine.

A teenage girl with golden-brown hair wearing a yellow Starfleet science officer uniform breaks away from the Viridescent circle and walks to me, smiling. "Hello, I'm Ro. Want some?"

She holds out a hand of small, rectangular crackers. The light brown surface is dotted with salt and another curious spice. "They're Vigil crackers. These small dots," she pointed to the other fine spice, which are maroon, "are called Roon. They have a special natural chemical, Flinn, to give an alert affect to the eater."

I take one, and bite into it. The tangy, spicy flavor permeates my mouth, along with a burst of adrenaline, like standing on top of a monstrous building. "These are amazing!"

"I know! They help in the labs when we're tired. Viridescent also sends them to the other coteries for a price."

"Is that so? What's the price? Money?"

Ro laughs. "No, not money. Secrets. About Majesty."

"About the Queen?"

"Precisely! Her whereabouts, activities, the things the Majesty spies observe."

"Wait, why are you telling me this? I'm in Majesty, and plan to stay there for a while. Nothing's different about me."

She raises an eyebrow. "Actually, you're anything but normal. According to my boss, you are. And those other friends you arrived with. You could be the weapon to prevent the Queen's prevail.

"The plan is that you and some others will be chosen to form a group to help the Queen. However, under instructions, you will actually be spying on her and her toadstools."

"But how do we know she's bad? What has she done?"

"Great. I'll see you later?"

She give me a quick nod, and heads toward the castle's doors. I walk down to the moat's edge, admiring the way the champagne and fish shimmer. A figure in an ugly dark blue robe shuffles toward me, a strange object on its shoulder. The person lowers her hood, revealing a heart-shaped head sprouting lavender hair, and amber eyes. The object is a yellow sponge, and hops down from the shoulder, bouncing. "I, Squish, and my master, Scoute Starling, are brought from the deepest core of the earth. Our mission is to rid the world of good, and you shall join us."

A nagging feeling in my mind tells me to plug my ears and run away, but its voice is incredibly smooth and persuasive. "Joining us means longevity, wealth, fortune, and fame. Not all mortals, or godlings, like you get this sort of opportunity."

The witch girl kneels down and whispers in its ear. The sponge whispers back. Scoute stands up, eyeing me, and suddenly lunges forward, brandishing a club. With a clunk, the wood strikes my head. Black spots swim before my eyes, and a wave of dizziness washes over me. She smirks, just as the world fades away, like someone spilled a pool of black ink on my vision.