Burned to Ashes

Chapter Twenty-Seven

 My eyes open abruptly, taking a moment to remember where I am. It was loud, conversations carrying through the walls. Tendrils of blond hair fall hang above my face. I squint, swatting them away.

"Xavier—" I mumble in exhaustion.

"Sorry to disappoint." A female voice I don't recognize sounds. I rub my eyes, squinting through the light. A girl's face comes into view, her light eyes round and gentle. I sit up as she backs away, the small room coming into focus. The others stand lined up on the wall, their faces tired as if they had just been woken up. Allister crosses his arms over his chest.

The girl smiles, her clothes made of fine leather. The Blades of Saar insignia was branded onto her sleeve. "Calise wishes to speak with the royals." My legs swing over the side of the bed, my shoulders feeling heavy. Her gaze falls onto Ansel as he swallows nervously. "Only the important ones." She says to him apologetically.

"What is that supposed to mean?" The angry voice of Emery cuts through the soldiers words.

"It means what I said." She merely brushes her off with distaste. "You two, follow me." She gestures to me and Xavier, motioning for us to start moving. In dazed confusion I stand; pushing black hair out of my face. "The rest of you," She begins, Desmond raising his eyebrows down at her petite figure. "Stay here and stay quiet. We weren't expecting the princess to arrive with this many people. We haven't decided what to do with you yet."

She strides for the door, blonde hair bouncing at her shoulders.

"Well?" She turns back on us. "Sometime today perhaps?" In realization my eyes meet Xavier's before following her out the door. As soon as we step foot into the corridor it closes, trapping the others behind it. "I apologize for the rude awakening." The girl says as we follow her down the loud hall. She nearly has to scream over the commotion. "I'm Dhara by the way." Yet again, the doors to the chambers hang wide open. Barely clothed men and women sit on their beds, chatting over what I presume to be breakfast. A few look out at us, their eyes growing wide.

"Is that the prince?" A man hanging out of his doorway mocks. His voice was heavy with sarcasm as he bows lowly at Xavier's feet. "Your majesty." Behind him his friends holler with laughter, as if it were the most amusing thing they have ever witnessed. A proud smirk pulls on the man's face. The prince merely looks down at him with disapproving eyes.

"Piss off Ulric." Dhara bares her teeth. The men's laughter only grows. "Don't mind them." She says, continuing down our descent. Xavier and I share an expression before dropping our gaze back down to the floor.

"Not much of talkers are you?" Dhara laughs, more to herself then to us.

"Well, when you are being held captive it might be a bit difficult to create conversation." The princes' voice rises slightly, an agitated edge to his jaw. "So excuse me."

The girl merely shakes her blonde head, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "There we are." She mumbles. Xavier pretends as if he can't hear her, but even through the noise I know he can hear my heart beating. For a moment I wonder if this corridor will ever end, but suddenly a thick set of metal doors comes into view. "I'm guessing you didn't get the tour?" Dhara asks as we approach them. Quickly she pushes them open and warm beams of sunlight pour onto my skin. We step out into the open air, people strewn all about the green grass. "This is the courtyard." She says, gesturing to what's in front of us. "We just exited through the barracks, but there are other places that soldiers will sleep." She points to the stone buildings positioned around the land. The structure of this place reminding me of the Blood Guard base; with the organization and cleanliness. A few soldiers stare as we pass by, but many are unfazed; too busy with their task at hand. We stay clear of the people, walking close to the walls and into another building. I come to realize that everywhere we go there will always be people bustling about. People zip past us, children running in between the legs of workers. Quickly Dhara navigates us through the halls, this building much more warm and inviting then the last one. "Up here." She says, looking back at us to make sure we are following her. A narrow set of stairs looms before us. Slowly Dhara gestures for us to go up with a pale hand. "After you."