Paper Wings

Chapter 10

Tieyan POV

"We have to find the missing piece," I say.

Abdullah looks me up and down. "Well not with that gear your not."

I look at my torn dress and throwing spears. "Yeah that's fair. Where can I get some new paraphernalia?"

Abdullah smiles, and makes a motion with her hand that says 'follow me'.

She leads me to a large building that says Weaponry and Armory.

"Oooooo," I smile. We go inside. I gasp. Two girls are stood there, fully equipped with chest plates and weaponry.

I step back, and take one of my miniature spears.

"Who are you," one of the girls yells. I recognize her. I can't figure out where though.

"Who are you?" Abdullah hisses.

"Princess Grace, of Ivara," she says.

Oh that's why I recognize her! I put my spear down. "What are you doing?" Abdullah whispers out of the corner of her mouth.

"She the princess of my kingdom. I can't hurt her," I whisper back. Reluctantly, Abdullah puts her sling down.

I do a slight curtsy. It's quite clumsy. If you couldn't tell already, proper— well proper anything— is not my forte.

"Look we're just here for some weapons and armor to rescue her sister," Abdullah tells them.

"Be our guest," the other girl says insipidly. "We were just leaving to find her friend and my brother."

"Wait," I say. I recognize this other girl too. "Krystal? Your name's Krystal right?"

"What's it to you?" She asks bitterly.

"Mother always sent me to buy meat from your trading post," I tell her. "We can help! I'm looking for my sister. Just give us a second and we can all go look together."

"Okay," Grace shrugs, then whispers something to Krystal that I can't hear.

I grab a bow that may not be able to use, but it's my remembrance token of Sumya.

I turn around. Abdullah has a brand new sling and a chest plate.

"Let's go," Says Krystal.

Sumya POV

"I am Hedas."

"Hedas," I echo. "Like the god of the Underworld?"

"No that's Hades!"

"Hedas, Hades, there's no difference," I mutter.

"Yes there is!" He snaps, then let's out a breath. "Okay." He folds his hands on his lap as he sits in a wooden chair at the table. He motions for me to sit. I stay where I am. "You work for me." I stare at him doubtfully, but let him continue.

He hands me a pickaxe. I stare at it, muddled.

"It's a pickaxe," he tells me.

"No duh," I mutter.

He ignores my comment, and smiles heinously. "You work there," he points to an excavation. "You will quarry in there, and you will get paid with food."

"Don't you have magic? Can't you just be like poof and BAM you have your precious gems?" I ask.

"Yes. But this will keep you busy until your sister comes to attempt to rescue you," he says.