Jewels of the Crown

♛ 13 ♛

Warning: A scene of a suicide, violence, and swearing. The suicide is not "on screen", but it is mentioned. Please do not read if this could trigger, or upset you, or you even think it could. If you want to read the chapter still, but want to skip over the scenes that could possibly upset, I will place them in bold so you know to skip over them. I repeat please do not upset yourself by reading the scenes if you think it could upset you.

The boundary to the kingdom is unassuming. There are no gates like on the outskirts of the town shielding us from the views of the world outside, and there are no lines on the road. A sign doesn't greet us to tell us that we're leaving Monerton. Overall, if you were unaware of the upcoming boundary you would think that it was only a continuation of the road.

The only indication is a guard post high in the tree, and even then you would only know of it when you got close enough to cross or had been across before. I had and as we got closer I looked up to where I know the guards are stationed. It's not the only one in the woods, there are more scattered around for protection, but it's the only one I've ever seen.

A thud and the scene of someone falling from the tree beforehand has me following them down, to see a man in guard's uniform standing on the track in front of the horses. My horse startles slightly, making me think that it's a relatively new horse in the castle's stables, but luckily all four hooves stay on the ground as it takes a step back. I take control of the horse, before looking to the guard. He doesn't say anything, looking us all over, his eyes lingering on me for a moment too long making me all to aware of what we're embarking on, before he nods, bowing slightly in my direction. He turns and climbs back up the tree to his station.

He didn't need to ask our names or our intentions of leaving the kingdom. The checkpoint is only in place for outgoing people, as it's always good to keep track of people leaving and where they're going. This could help in cases of treachery which are rare but not unheard of or just tracking the goings-on of our people. Censuses are held often, but it's good to keep track of whether people are dying or leaving the kingdom.

As our horses start forward yet again, I have the urge to start crying again. I would have thought that the major wrench for me was leaving my mother and passing the gates to the town, but this seems to be just as hard. Even though I have passed here countless times, it still feels like a new experience and a momentous occasion. As soon as we step over the non-existent line we are no longer under the protection of the kingdom. The only protection I have is courtesy of the kingdom are the men surrounding me.

I stroke my horse's neck as the tree holding the guard station gets smaller behind us, giving me the comfort that I need to stop myself from crying again. Thane was right, if we continue to stop, we're never going to get anywhere, and I know if I start crying again we'll be forced to stop. I've also done enough crying around these men.

I say one final goodbye to Monerton, before telling myself that I will no longer think of it until I cross back over the boundary, if I ever do.

The ride, similar to when we left the castle, has been silent so far. The silence is probably as a result of us all reflecting on what we've agreed to. I know I've been trying to think of anything but. The road has been much of the same, and it has me wondering whether the trip will be as dangerous as suggested, or any different to what we've experienced so far. Will it only be roads surrounded with trees. The most dangerous thing for us would probably be the silence. Soon we'd grow bored and lonely.

I've been staring at Thane's back for I don't know how long. It feels like hours since we left the castle, but time is a weird concept out here. I don't know how long we have been on the road, and how long it's been since we stopped last, but my bottom is beginning to get sore from riding non-stop. I look up at the sky and see that the sun is high in the sky, and I try and work out the exact time. Maybe sometime after midday. I don't know when we left, but, at least, it's been four hours.