The Hunt

Chapter 9- The Four

Cecily Earnheart was anything but unimpressed with the modern palace. Each wall was a silicon white, most had a touch screen or a fingerprint scan. The doors slid open by themselves and didn't require a loud buzzing that sent fear into the hearts of everyone who heard it.

"Like what you see?" Reiko asked, a mocking tone in his voice. "It's better than that prison, huh? Probably better than anywhere you ever lived before."

"It is."

Knocked down. That's what she's done with that little insult. She took a hammer to it and knocked it down like it never existed.

"Ever been to Royale before?" He tried, taking a new approach."

"My trial was here."

"Alright, but before that?"

She tipped her head back. Had she?

Yes, she remembered. She's been to the city plenty of times to sell her wares. Though the first time she ever went she was with her mothe-

"No."

"Maybe I could give you a tour, if you like. Give Zephyr the day to convince the assassin and the Saint to join up with us."

"Assassin and Saint?"

"Yeah, I don't remember their names, but I know that's what Zeph wanted."

A Saint. How strange.

"So how about that tour of the city? I'd be happy to take you."

"So long as this thing is strapped to my neck, I will not be going in public without legitimate purpose."

"Right, of course. We can go to the common room for now. I think Zephyr and assassin boy are already there."

Not really caring where she had to be, she simply nodded at him before going back to examine the modernized palace.

The newest thing to her was the people. Even before the prisons, she lived in a small town where everyone knew everyone. Here, there were hundreds of people just going on with her lives.

Cecile lifted her hands, moving her hair to cover as much of her neck as she could.

Just as she did, a small man gave her a suspicious look. She tried to ignore it, going back to thinking of something else.

For instance, what the man looked like. In the prison, everyone she saw cowered in fear when she caught sight of them. Or tried to taunt her like the stupid wolf who thought he could steal from her.

The man that passed them was short, old, and remarkably pale.

She turned the other way, her eyes catching on Reiko.

He was fairly good looking, more so than the prince at least. He had carmel skin and black hair. His eyes, upon close inspection were a dark shade of brown, nearly black. He was tall, maybe six foot four, give or take a few inches.

"Like what you see?" He asked, catching her examine gaze.

"Not particularly," she replied, no joking in her voice. "Just curious."

"About what? You can ask me anything, you know."

"Hmm. Where's your family from?"

"My family? We're from the Northern Isles."

"With the snow?"

He nodded. "My great grand parents came over during the war, lookin' for somewhere safe to stay, but..."

Slaves, she thought. That was the word he was looking for. After the Free Man act, which the current king set in place about forty years ago, slaves were illegal. However, during the last war, it wasn't. The chance of any human without Free Man papers getting taken, no matter skin color, was increasingly high.