Poisoned

RUN!

Snow

Chapter Three

I walk along the cobbled streets, watching the small wall blocking my way to the castle, to the Mega Bitch. Her hair always in perfect form, her precious mirror, and everything from that point on.

My hands pull closer my blue cloak around my shoulders, keeping me warm. I shovel along the road, keeping my head in the hood. I see people stare at me, watching. They do not see my sword under the cloak, and I am glad for it. Guards take away weapons and turn you to the dungeon if you're caught; which is not to say that I am afraid of them. It is just a waste of time, really.

I walk with footsteps that are almost silent. I watch the people cross the road with their children hugging their parents. I smile as a young boy runs into his father's arms, hugging tighter than thought.

I find a stand of bread. It is manned by a boy no more than fourteen. He nods to me, as he knows me, just like everybody else does. He greets me a good day, and I flash back a smile. I reach into my bag and pull out a piece of deer meat wrapped in leaves. I hand it to the boy. He takes it and opens it to look at the meat. He nods in approval as he looks at it then hands me a loaf of bread. I smile again and turn to walk off.

âI can see your sword,â he says to me. I turn to look at him. âI know you don't really talk. Your name is Sam, right?â I nod. He runs a hand through his blonde hair. âAre you handy with that blade?â I nod again. âOkay. You'll need it.â

My head cocks to the side. âYou really haven't gotten the news yet?â I shake my head. âWell, the Queen assigned a huntsman to capture you. If I were you, I would stay out of town for awhile.â

At this knew bit of information. I turn to look at guards, then back at the boy. âWhat is your name?â I say.

He looks surprised at the sound of my voice. âK-Kale.â

âWell, Kale,â I say, âthank you for the tip. I really appreciate it.â I tip the brim of my hat, then turn around to walk. I watched all the children play along, not minding everything going on. Friends and family greeting each other in the streets. Surely they aren't oblivious to the fact that is the Queen. They smile and laugh, then go along side-by-side.

As I pass the old houses, I start to actually look at them. They have fallen apart over the past years since I lived on the hill. I see the shingles on the roofs fall off. The bark is falling off, gravel and sand covering every-thing. The people don't seem to notice, they just go along with what they have. It makes me smile when the red-haired boy holding a baby girl runs across the road and to another girl. They must be all siblings â a mother and father walk over to them â and they hug each other tightly.

When I reach the house in the corner of the wall, I am frozen. I stare at the neat and clean house, waiting with the candles put out in the window. It looks as if a cleaner has been tending to it for a long while every day. I know who lives there, and that's exactly what makes me freeze. Jameson.

When lunch was served and eaten, I excused myself from the table and left. Anna had barely even stirred from her tea.

I knew Father would be gone. He left at dawn to meet with the Counsel members, discussing strategies for upcoming wars and raids. It helps to discuss things and plan them out beforehand, so that we can never be surprised.

My door room slams as I lock it. My chair is pushed up against the knob so nobody can get in. I rush to the closet, search for my clothes. I take out the shirt and trousers that hide in an old chest in the corner of the closet â Anna has the same thing, as does my mother â and grab a key taped to the bottom of the chest. It's a skull key with small sapphires put in as eyes. Blue is one of the family colors. I unlock it and open the lock. Mother always tells me that anything I put in the chest will be safe as long as the key is hidden. For some reason I believe her completely, and that's where I hide all my precious things, including my great-grandmother's necklace. Grandmother gave it to me while she was on her deathbed. She said she never showed it to Father, and that not one other person alive knows that it exists, and that only two people can know of it at a time. When she died, she left me the only one that knows of it. She said to wait and find someone that I trust to tell it about. I have never mentioned anything about a necklace or jewelry to anyone.