Under the Water (Book 1)

Seven

Quinn Seventh

"Get up" A prod to my side wakes me up. I grunt and roll over to my knees, trying once again to keep the world from spinning.

"C'mon boy. Your trials soon and we need to get you presentable." the guard says gently pulling me to my feet. At least he's kind. Better than some. I've seen friends come out of the palace from trials looking far worse than when they went in and not from the punishment.

I stumble along with the guard to another room that holds a crude tub, sink, toilet, and pile of fresh clothes. After bathing and changing, (alone) I'm wide awake, and ready for what awaits me.

I get led up a large flight of stone stairs, a large wide marble hall, an even grander set of marble stairs, and then finally to the large oaken doors that I'm guessing leads to the court room.

I curse under my breath.

"Who'll be defending me?" I ask the guard. Eyeing the large flood of people starting to enter the hallways and merge into the room.

"Probably some rookie guard who's just trying to finish it as fast as he can and get to lunch." the guard says dryly.

"And I don't suppose you could be my defendant?" I ask.

The guard smile once more. "I can't. You're being accused of being a Rebel force. If it seems at all like I'm tryin' to defend to in any sort of way... I'm sorry. I know you didn't do anythin'..." The guard trails of looking ahead. With a look on his face that says all to well he would much rather be doing anything else in the world than this.

In other words I have no hope.

I nod my head once not going to push it any further. I hear the announcer say something inside the court room. The crowd inside hushes.

I can't just leave. Say something. I think. Something and anything that won't get you in more trouble than you already are.

"What's your name though." I blurt out.

"It's Baelinn."

And I get pushed through the doors.

***

The court room is huge. The walls cold, clean and white. The people sitting in it are the same. Everyone feels so tense. All because of me?

Baelinn stands at the entrance with another guard as an escort takes me through the middle isl. Walking up everyone is staring. Normally I wouldn't mind. Just another stare from another snob Inner dweller. But it does get to me this time. It's like I'm walking up to my execution.

At first it seems like I'm moving in slow motion. Then suddenly a tray clatters to the floor and a sound like breaking china snaps me into reality.

I automatically look toward the noise.

Toward the front of the room.

Then freeze. One of the princesses is there waving off the serving boy like an annoyance. The boy who must've spillt the the food. All that food, the plate of greens, the platter of meat. That could last a family of three in the outer circle for a month.

Suddenly I'm angry.

Just because she's a princess, a princess who has all the crap she's ever wanted, protected and taken care of to her every whim, all her life. Doesn't she know how it is for some of us?

Left in the outer piers to rot in freaking silence.

My escort shoves me forward with an angry word of insult and I'm moving once again up the isle.

Finally, I get to the front, where the Royal family sits, and that girl. Why does she bother me so much?

I'm forced down on my knees. But I can't stop staring at that girl. The one closest to the King and Queen.

Red hair.

Green eyes.

Maroon dress.

I blink. She's the girl from my dream. The one from my childhood.