Revealed

Chapter 3- Damage Control

A/N Hey guys. I think I'm going to start doing dedications to a commentor or something from now on so comment and you may see your name here since only like two people comment a chapter so yeah! Dedication for this chapter goes to Awkward_Demigod for creating a cover for my book One-Shots, Rants, and Anything Else that Comes to Mind.  I highly suggest you read her book Need Ideas? if you need ideas or whatever. its really short and really helpful/usefull.

   After taking the hot, sandy, hour long walk (yes, thank you, father dearest) into the heart of Inan's capital city,  Na'nia (A/N pronounced Nah (tiny pause) nee ah) , I finally reached the main market place.  It was an open air market overflowing with beautiful booths made of gorgeous silk blankets and rugs.  It was always packed filled with laughing, jostling, busy, bored, and, most importantly, shopping people.  Everywhere merchants displayed and presented their wares.  You could find everything from colorful scarves to fresh fruits and vegetables to the strangest home remedies for the strangest ailments. There were hundreds of smaller markets scattered throughout the sprawling city but this one was special.  It was called, simply, the Bazaar.

     As well as being the best place to shop, the Bazaar was known for being the place to go for gossip, making it perfect place to start my search for information.  I didn't know if the soldiers who patrolled Na'nia  had been told to lookout for anyone matching my didcription but I couldn't risk it.  It was the middle of the day and a cloak would stick out more in this blistering heat than a Silvarian without question, even if neither one blended real well.  As I slipped into the steady stream of shoppers I unclasped the fastener of my cloak and draped it over my arm.  Without it I felt so.....vulnerable.  I felt my self grasp the circlet even tighter in my hidden hand to reasure myself it was still there. 

      I snagged an orange and red scarf from one booth when the merchant wasn't looking and used it to cover my hair and my face.  All I had to do was look down and none of my distinctive features were visible.  Now I was ready to find out what Cor knew.

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     It should have been a lot harder to sneak into the palace during the day than at night.  If I didn't know better I might think that they were expecting me.  The thought was enough to make me hesitate but I eliminated the possibility about as quickly as I thought of it.  The king was much too conceited to think I would ever come back.  He'd expect me to be cowering somewhere, just waiting to be caught.  I threw my hands into the air in exasperation.  The pompous bigot is a complete imbecile.  Stupidity made things extremly frustrating because it was so predictable and, well, boring.  I wanted a challenge and Cor certainly wasn't up to the task.  Besides, I abslolutly despise arrogance. Except when its my own.  I have a very good reason to be arrogant.  And I meant it.  I was smarter than a king, the best at what I did, and if I do say so myself, flipping hilarious when it suits me.

     I had no trouble getting into the palace. All I had to do was walk through the serving entrance among the constant throng of people going in and out.  No one cared if I was out of place.  I could have come to asassinate the king and they wouldn't care.  They knew as well as I did that he would deserve it. But that wasn't why I had come.  Though I did still need to find him.  It should have been difficult in the huge palace but while I was at the Bazaar I had overheard to palace maids discuss a meeting of palace staff and the Royal Gaurd the king was calling in the throne room at noon.

      After sneaking through an airvent to small for most teenagers the night before, it was nice to walk openly in the halls.  Cor had taught his soldiers not to ask questions and, like the good little boys they were, they didn't ask.  That's why I was able to sneak into the archer's loft that looked out into the throne room without anyone the wiser.

     The loft had been built as a place for the King's archers to await instructions without being obvious.  With the curtains closed, neither guest nor enemy knew if they were there until the king wanted them to know.  And by then it would be too late.

     Since there was know way of knowing, Cor didn't even need to staff someone there all the time because nobody was willing to risk it.  However, since I have some of the worst luck in all the known world, there was an archer waiting when I arrived.  I couldn't risk him sounding the alarm so I decided to be diplomatic.  And yes I can be diplomatic when I want to.  Which come to think about it isn't all that often.

      Anyway, the loft ran the entire length of the throne room, about thirty feet, and the archer was on the  opposite end.   And it was dark so I didn't have to worry about being seen before I made my move.  While floating up to him as silent as a ghost I slipped my favorite dagger from its sheath on my belt.  When I got right behind him I pressed the three inch blade against the large, pulsing vein in his neck***.  He stiffened but didn't make a sound.  Good boy.  I leaned over  so my mouth was right at his ear.  "You are going to sit there without making a sound or an unnecessary movement.  I am going to go about my business and then I will leave.  No one will ever know I was here.  Understand?"  He nodded but I could see he wasn't one hundred percent sold.  I slipped a couple coins from the bag at his waist.  I pressed them into his hand and told him to set down his bow.  This time I could see he was all in when he jumped to obey.  Idiot.  I do love my job, though.

      "Follow me."  I made him follow me back to the end by the door. "Sit."  I stood leaning against the wall so I could see out around the end of the curtain without being noticed.  I could also see my new archer friend perfectly but the bright light behind me prevented him from seeing anything other than the cloak I had put back on when I entered the loft.

      The loft was only about ten feet off the ground so I could see and here everything that was going on in the room below.  The throne room was filled with servants crowded together and there was a tangible feeling of anxiety rising up.  The poor people probably thought they were going to be punished.  I would be nervous too if I was in their shoes.  The crown was not exactly known for its mercy.  And it wouldn't take a genius to realize the entire leadership of the palace gaurd lining the room meant something major had happened.

       Suddenly the giant room was filled with the sound of trumpets.  It was time for my first audience with my king.

       Joy.