I Spy, a Lie

Part Thirteen

3 Months Ago, Rolanz, Central Command

            Free time, it was something Kayla cherished. She walked through the city of Yalts. The memories from her first time there were still sketched in her mind. It hadn’t been pleasant, but it had been bearable compared to others places.

            Yalts was the Capital of Rolanz. The city was prosperous for the most part, but it also had the worst slums. That’s where she had come from, well her parent’s at least. Before she could even walk her parents had shipped her off to a rich family in Chan, they needed the money. When she was seven one of the maids had to her about it, then when she was eight she was sold off to another family.

            Seeing the slums in Yalts was a lot like some areas in Chan were she’d worked. She had mixed feelings about it.

            Though one thing remained the same about both placed, people needed money. Without a second of hesitation the man that had been lurking in the shadows pushed into to her full force, causing her to topple over, grabbed her purse and started running full speed.

            It took Kayla a second to respond, she wasn’t sure what even happened until she saw her small blue bag swinging in his hand.  She scrabbled to her feet and started to chase after him through the crowd of people that didn’t seem to care, even though the situation was clear. “Hey, stop that guy!” She shouted. “He’s got my bag!”

            When he turned the corner she felt a sense of dread, the likelihood she’d catch him was slim now. But she kept running.

            When she made it past the corner on to the fairly dead street she jolted to a stop in surprise. Standing before her was a man, he was foreign, his skin was somewhere between olive and yellow.  His eyes were dark, almost black, and the ends were slanted. He was staring down at the man he’d stopped, but Kayla couldn’t read his expression.

            When he looked up he was smiling. “Ha-ha, guess you’re lucky I was around!” He held out the bag for her to take. “What’s a pretty young lady like yourself doing in a place like this?”He looked chipper, like what just happened was completely normal.

            “I don’t believe that’s any of your business, now is it?” She took her bag carefully. “But thank you for getting my bag for me.

            He laughed a little. “I suppose I should introduce myself.” He gave a bow, both hands by his sides. “My name is Joylon Qing.” He stood back up meeting her eyes. “And want would your name be?” Now he held his hand out for her to shake.

            “Kayla Haight.” She answered taking his hand slowly shaking it. His last name was Qing, last she knew that was the family name of the royal family of Nami. But what would a royal member of Nami be doing in a land they had to contact and or relationship with? She had no business asking, but she did have a right to wonder.

            His smile bugged her, he looked sly, almost fox like. He spun so he was at her side facing the same way she was arm out for her to loop her own in. “We’ll I hope it isn’t too much trouble if I ask to be your escort?” She wasn’t sure what it was, maybe his eyes, but something made her accept.