Still wary, I followed him into the building. And immediately my breath was taken away. It was beautiful. The reception area where we were was carpeted with lush red carpet, the counters and check in desk were all polished marble, and there were several tables inlain with gold. If all the royal offices were like this, no wonder the kingdom was running low on money and resources. Jacob lead me to the check in desk, and started a brief conversation with the receptionist. I didn't pay much attention, until I heard Jacob say my name.
"-Savanah Ivory. The one that I was sent to collect. She'll go through the standard procedures, of course, and then she'll be sent back to me to be evaluated."
Evaluated? What the hell did he mean by evaluated? I thought to myself. As I tuned Jacob and the receptionist back out, I heard the telltale heavy footsteps of someone running like their life depended on it. I turned quickly, and just barely avoided being ran over by a messanger boy waving a letter above his head.
"Mr. Farlend sir! Mr. Farlend sir!" The boy shouted, stopping just shy of the desk. "There's been an important update Mr. Farlend sir!"
Jacob whipped around, almost hitting the boy. He snatched the letter from the messanger without saying a single word, and ripped it open. "No, no, no, no...!" Jacob muttered while he skimmed the letter. "This information is from the king and queen, nobody else, correct?!" He practically shouted in the poor boy's face.
"Y-yes sir. Directly from the throne room, sir." He stammered.
I watched the boy trembling as Jacob stared him down.
"I would like you to pay very close attention to what I'm about to say next." Jacob said, his voice laced with cold venom. "You are to relate this message directly to the King, no one else, do you understand?"
"Yes sir, what is your message sir?"
"Tell them this exact words. I have found the girl, she will be prepared immedietly. We will be ready to fight back as soon as sun up tomorrow. This time we will not fail."
As soon as Jacob finished speaking, the boy raced off.
"What the hell?" I mutter to myself before addressing Jacob. "What do you mean prepared? And the whole 'We won't fail agan?' How do you know that? Are you a seer or are you just another hopeful pawn of the crown?"
As soon as that left my mouth, I wanted to take it back. Jacob's eyes flashed red with rage and he surged forward, pinning me to the wall. "Never. Never! Call me a pawn. You don't know what's at stake here, do you? No. You don't know how much everyone here has lost. You don't know what this kingdom has faced in this war. So until you do, you will NOT question me or anyone else, do you understand?"
I nodded, my mind racing. War? We haven't been to war in years, not since the War of Borders. So what was he talking about? My mind flashed back to him saying that I would 'be prepared immedietly'. Was he going to try to turn me into a soilder? Fat chance. My dad died for this stupid kingdom and its wars, they weren't about to take me from my brother or my friends. They needed me alive, and going to an unknown war against legends and bedtime stories wasn't how I stayed alive.
"Good. Now please follow me." Jacob said, and it was clear that it wasn't a request. He led me to a small service elevator tucked in a corner next to the main desk. Jacob pressed the call elevator button and turned to face me once again. "Now. Where I am about to take you is only for your eyes, and if I find out that you have shown or told anyone about it, there will be hell to pay. Do you understand?"
"No." I said flatly. "I don't understand, not even a little bit. I don't understand why you picked me, or why you refuse to tell me what you're really doing, or what the message you recived was, or what the message you sent was! What I don't understand is why you can't just take me back home-"
Jacob cut me off. "And where would that home be?"
I faltered. "What?"
"Where is this quote 'home' that you would like me to return you to? If I recall correctly, when I found you you were living on the streets. You were stealing to provide for you and your brother. Is that your definition of home?" Jacob caulked his head.
"N-no! My home is that town! My home is with my brother, and you want to send me away to fight in your stupid hidden war, against some fairytale told to little kids to make sure they behave!" I was angry now, and I was going to let him know. "My entire family was ripped apart by the last war that our idiotic king started, and I am not about to let that happen again! My brother will die if you try to ship me off to some dumb war!" My voice rose even louder. "I will not let that happen, not even if you threaten me with everything you've got!"
Just then, the elevator dinged, and the doors slid open.
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Hey y'all!! I'm so sorry that this chapter took so long to get up. I'm not going to give you any dumb excuses, so I'll just cut to the chase. I am going to keep writing this story, I have so many great ideas for it. And sorry about the cliffhanger, but I just had too.
Bye guys!! -The Author
