The Servant Queen

Keith the Guard

Ani

I held onto my wrist with my other hand, hiding the numbers on my wrist. He placed his helmet back on. He looked like a Guard because of his armor and the helmet that covered his entire head. It looked almost like a knight's helmet except it had less complicated designs and was the color of bronze. He held out his hand to help me up.

"Are you hurt?" the Guard said.

I stood up by myself, fearing he'll see the numbers on my wrist if I take his hand. He placed his hand back down.

"No, I'm fine. But..." I looked around frantically, "have you seen another man around here, mister?"

"I apologize, miss. I didn't see anyone out here except you."

I looked at him for a few seconds before hurriedly walking past him. "It's okay. Thanks for helping me though!"

"Hey, wait."

He grabbed my arm lightly to stop me. The cold metal of his armor touched my skin and sent a quick shiver throughout by body.

"You should stick with me. The Border Watchers will attack you again even though you aren't a demi-human."

"The dogs— the Border Watchers are meant for the demi-humans?"

"Yes, and this gun here tells the Border Watchers off." He took show me his small gun. "All the Guards have it. The demi-humans usually come from the south to the other regions by the Trice River in the night, so these genetically-altered dogs guard this forest in the night, but they're a failure in a way since they can't tell between humans and demi-humans."

"That gives me more reason to search for Walt—" I paused, realizing that I was talking to a Guard. "my brother..."

"You were talking about your brother? Geez, why are you guys out here in this hour anyways?" He climbed back on his horse and held out his hand for me to climb on. "Get on. We don't have time. Let's find that brother of yours."

I grabbed his hand, careful so he won't see my number, and he pulled me up unto his horse. I sat behind him as he hit the reigns. We weaved through the forest on his black mare.

The Guard is suspicious of why I'm out here, isn't he?

"It's my fault my brother is out here. I ran away from home, and he followed after me to bring me back," I said, lying.

"You ran away?" he said, looking back at me.

I nodded.

"Why?"

I bit my lips trying to think of a reason.

"I just wanted... to be free," I said.

"Freedom..." He was silent as if he thinking for awhile. "After we save your brother, are you going to go back with him?"

"Y-yes."

Walter said that I would receive freedom anyways if I act like his younger sister.

"That's wasted efforts then," he said, quietly.

I was startled he said that.