Dragonborne

Chapter 11

There was a downpour outside, heavy raindrops were pounding on the window like pebbles. The streets below were tinged with grey and everyone seemed melancholic. I, on the other hand, am very much delighted to have woken up today despite the miserable weather. I proceed downstairs for breakfast.

I don't really understand if what I dreamt of last night was even something worth holding on to, or actually worth something outside the world of dreams, but I do know that it's a start. I finally have a clue to my parents' murderer, and it's his face. I was able to sniff the scent of pancakes from the stairwell so I picked up the pace.

Levi and Alyse were already on the table set for us. I took a seat right in front of Alyse and wolfed down my plate of the pancakes drenched in honey. When I finished, Levi discussed our plan.

"So," he started. "We now know that the Red Party is responsible for the murder of Feyre's parents. The said group has been hunted by the kingdom ever since I could remember. And as recent events would have it, they are still running rampant doing their seemingly random actions."

"Seemingly," Alyse stressed out the word. "You don't believe that their actions are random?"

"I don't."

"Well that's refreshing to know, that there's still someone who doesn't immediately believe whatever the government chooses to inform the general populace."

"Can I say something?" I said, barely containing my excitement.

"What?" they both said at the same time.

"I know who murdered my parents."

"We do, too." Levi said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "the Red Party did."

"I mean," I was barely keeping myself from throwing my utensils at him. "I know specifically who did it. At least, I know what he looks like."

"Tells us," Alyse said.

-oOo-

We've trudged through the slightly muddy streets of the city in search for Levi's version of my parents' murderer. As I have already suspected, they will not be believing me right away. They'd be adamant about other things such as the high improbability that a clue that crucial would be revealed through a dream. Also, Levi had another person in mind and, as men, they're quite assertive of their own opinions.

"You know what," I said, i was getting impatient already. "We've been running around this specific block for about a quarter of an hour now. Don't you think that whoever you're chasing here must've gone away by now?"

"He doesn't know that we're on his trail." Levi said, still desperately searching around him. "His house should be somewhere..." and he moved towards the direction that we've been going to ever since we came upon this area of the city. This city is all about fashion but this young lady isn't even close to it's shopping area.

"You deal with him." I said with an irritated voice. I walked off towards a random direction

And I immediately realized it was the wrong direction.

It led me straight towards the kingdom guards.

On ordinary circumstances, I wouldn't have minded running into them. But somehow my instincts kept telling me to walk off the other way. But the guards already spotted me.

There were three guards and they were holding a stack of papers. One of them glanced at the stack their holding and nodded towards me. I ran, I have no idea why.

I stumbled upon an alley, it was the back alley of a tavern, not the one we stayed in. I rushed forward and I was midway past it when from the backdoor of the tavern came out a man carrying a crate. I tried evading it by sidestepping but I wasn't fast enough and my tunic caught the corner of the crate. The man stumbled and I fell to the ground. I could see the guards in the entrance of the alley where I just passed through.

I got up quickly and dashed towards the end of the alley with the guard's heavy footsteps right behind me.

I exited the alley and quickly crossed the brick road in front of me, not even bothering to check where I was. When I've crossed over, I ran along the sidewalk, taking a sharp right on the next block. I spotted a wagon with it's goods covered with cloth. I climbed on the wagon, went in the cloth and snuggled with the crates. I counted to three then slightly lifted the cloth, just enough to see but not be seen.

I gasped when I saw the guards so close to the wagon I'm in. Then relief spread through me when Levi approached them.

"What seems to be the problem, officers?"

"Milord," one of the guards said. "We have spotted a wanted criminal here at Dragonscale. Please be careful while you stay here." And they left.

"I know you're in there." I heard the familiar voice of Alyse. "Climb out from the other side. Follow my voice."

"You say that as if I'm climbing out of a tunnel." I said as I crawled out of the wagon.

"What happened to your hair?" Levi said, coming over to us.

I ran a hand through my hair. "I just came from a wagon containing whatever it's containing. Of course, my hair would come out grimy."

"It's not that." Alyse said. "There's a part of your hair that's black."

I ran my hand through my hair again and this time saw some strands of my chestnut hair black. "What is happening?"

"While we're on the subject of mysteries," Levi said, showing us one of the papers that the guards were carrying, though he really seemed intrigued by my hair because he was still looking at it. "Alyse, would you mind explaining why the kingdom guards regard you as a criminal?"