Kingdom of thieves

Kingdom of thieves - part 9

Narla became aware that she was getting odd looks from all the upper district dwellers because she was standing in the middle of the path not moving. 

She couldnt help it she had never seen a space so big. 

The buildings all formed a semi circle around an area of dark marble. Flowerbeds lined the sides of the area filled with red and gold plumage. Two rectangular shallow pools filled with fish of all colours created a walkway which led to an enormous golden fountain. 

The soft falling of the water seemed to pull Narla forward and before she knew it she was walking towards the fountain. 

The sound of the water seemed to surround her and she had a strangest sense of peacefulness, as if all her worries and problems had disappeared. 

She shook her head and looked around, the sense of ease dissapeared and she became tence. 

The place was so big, she felt small and insignificant in comparison, a small insignificant speck probably treading dirty footprints on the polished marble, she glanced down at her grubby feet. she had no right to be here. If the guard knew that she lived in the ghetto she would no doubt be arrested.  

She smiled to herself, the fact that she had made it almost to the palaces door despite being a ghetto dweller showed that she had as much right to be here as any upper district dweller did, no one knew she was a thief just by glancing at her cloak, and for that she was glad she hadn't ditched it when it became too hot. 

She neared the fountain. Closer she could see that the water fell from a vase held by a beautiful golden girl, about her age. 

The girl was holding the vase high above her, her head thrown back. The water that continuously poored from the vase fell over her head an neck and ran down her body into the fountain.

Her hair fell down her back to her knees, even made of metal it appeared soft and silky.  

The artist had dressed her in a thin flowing dress that reached her feet, showing only her toes. It clung to her body showing all her curves. She was inhumanly beautiful. 

Narla dropped her gaze, feeling insignificant again. 

A lone cloud blotted out the sun for at that moment and Narla lifted her face to the sudden breeze. Without the sun glistening of her, the fountain maiden appeared dull and plain. If she lived in the ghetto she would be a whore Narla thought angrily, the sun came out from behind the cloud, and she felt ashamed to have thought such a thing. 

She glanced up at the maiden and the water that fell from her vase, and felt very thirsty. 

"Yer wont mind if ah have a drink now would ya" she asked the fountain, then it remained silent she shrugged. 

She grabbed the ledge of the basin and pulled her self up so she was sitting before the pool above which the maiden stood, she braced her hands on either side of her body and leaned down. her hood fell down as well, she straightened and pulled her hood down, grabbed her hair and tucked it firmly behind her ears. Leaning down again she submerged her head in the water and drank in gulps. The water was clean and went down her parched through easily. When she had taken her fill she lifted her head and wiped her face to get the water out of her eyes, when she glanced at her hands she cursed, they were covered with grease and dirt, dirt which she had no doubt just wiped all over her face. 

She looked at the water, considering washing again, but then decided against it and pulled her hood up again. 

She looked at the water again, so inviting and clean. She shifted on the ledge and keeping a hold of the hem of her cloak she dipped her feet into the water. It felt amazing, she wiggled her toes and felt her self begin to cool down. 

"Oi you!" 

Narla jumped, the shout interrupting her peace, and saw two palace guards coming towards her complete with swords at their sides. 

She quickly pulled her feet out of the water, jumped down from the basin and ran towards the entrance to the trade root. 

She didn't get far.