Queen Bee

Judgement

    Sawney is the one to wake us up. He bursts in the tent, stumbling a bit, before igniting a candle. 

    "We need to get going." He says. I dare to open my eyes, but the light of day blinds me before I can even see where I am.

    "A few more minutes?" I beg. 

    "If you're not ready to leave in a few more minutes I'm leaving without you and saving the castle by myself!" I suddenly remember what's going on as the world around me focuses once again. I remember my parents. The castle. Jules. I just now see that Olivier is laying on the floor without a shirt on.

    "Please get out."

    "Yep. I'm gone." His face turns red before exiting the tent. Olivier let out a laugh from the floor. 

    "What are you laughing at?" I ask, throwing the blanket off of me. 

    "Nothing." I spot my bag near the tent flap. Sawney must have left it there. I pick out a shirt and pants for the day and begin to get dressed. Olivier sits up, his broad, bare shoulders shaking in the cold of the morning. He stands up and strides over to me. His hand grabs my chin and I let him lift it up as he kisses me gently. 

    "Get dressed." I say, acting annoyed as I try not to stare his muscular body any longer. I find my belt and begin strapping it as the prince gets ready. I find my hair tie on the ground and put my hair in a bun.

    "Are you scared?" Olivier asks, genuinely looking concerned. I think for a moment. 

    "I'm to angry to be scared. I suppose I feel rather hesitant, but there's no time to feel that way." He nods like he understands. Maybe he does. The world seems to look a little more grey when I peak out the tent. 

    "You might miss the sun rise." I say as Olivier stands behind me, putting his hands on my hips. 

    "As long as I'm with you, I don't care." I want to say something, but the words cant seem to form. 

    "Are you too ready yet? Gosh, I'll be dead by the time we get going." Li appears in front of us, her hands on her hips and an angry look in her eyes. 

        "We're ready!" I reply, stepping out of the tent with Olivier close behind. 

    "So I accidentally took this the other day by mistake," she hands me my pocket knife, her cheeks going red, "and I forgot to give it back. Sorry about that."

    "Don't worry about it." She pauses before waving at us to follow her. 

    "It's really pretty. Where did you get it?" She ask, leading us through he village of tents. The place looks like a ghost town this early in the morning. 

    "My mother gave it to me, actually." Li gives me a side look of surprise.

    "I didn't know you royal ladies got weapons and all that!" 

    "We don't," I laugh, not sure how to explain this one. "It was just a parting gift."

    "Ever stab someone with it?"

    "Yes." I swallow, the heat suddenly swelling uncomfortably around us. 

    "That's awesome!" We approach Sawney, who is currently feeding our three horses (or trying to) grass. He stares at Olivier, then barely glances over Li and I. I think I'm the only one to notice and I'm confused as to why he does it. Electing to ignore it, I say "What's the plan?" He smiles before replying. 

    "I'll tell you on the way." 

    "I hate waiting!" Li complains, pulling her hair into a messy pony tail. 

    "I know, but it'll be faster if I just explain on the way." Sawney chuckles, handing my horse, Argo, over to me with the bridle. He does the same for the prince. As we three mount, Li appears with a horse of her own and a group of villagers as her entourage. 

    "Ready?" Sawney asks. Everyone nods or grunts in response, allowing us to begin moving away from the village and into the surrounding woods. As we ride, Sawney explains the plan Olivier, Li, and I. It's a crazy plan, but smart. And I think it might just work. 

    We tie the horses up outside of the village and leave them there as we all throw cloaks on over our clothes. 

    "You four go through the North of town and meet us at the west entrance of the castle. There's less guards there. You three," Li points at us, "Follow me." 

    "If she's a girl, then why does her father let her do this sort of thing?" I whisper to Sawney as we start moving in our designated directions. 

    "Because it's easier than telling her she cant." 

    "Makes sense." As we approach the village I'm careful to keep my head down and nonchalantly avoid eye contact with any of the citizens or newly stationed Frense guards who roam the streets. A few people still roam the streets, setting up their carts of food and fabrics to sell today. The air is tense, like right before a storm. A sudden wind ghosts through the narrow streets as my feet pound against the pavement. We make it to the castle unbothered by some off-chance. Hiding in some bushes, we tear the cloaks off and go over the plan once again. 

    "Sawney and I will take out the guards at this entrance. Then you two come in and find a place to hide, alright?" Li says, her eyes serious. 

    "We'll hide in the walls. There's a tunnel that leads to the seamstresses room and we can meet there?" I say, looking to Olivier. They all nod, our plan starting to take form. Li and Sawney stand without saying anything else and make their way up to the entrance. A few breathless moments pass as my heart pounds before a voice calls out. 

    "Come on!" Sawney calls the prince and I up to them. 

    "You still got your knife?" He asks me as I begin groping the wall for a hidden knob. 

    "Yes." I find one behind a decorative vase. 

    "Good. Aim for the chest." I knock the vase over, glass shard and a sharp clang scattering through the hallway. I push the pedestal over and open the door. 

    "Good luck. I have to check on the others and get them out of here." Li gives Sawney a short hug, then nods to us, before sprinting out of the doors. The sound of foreign voices coming closer force us to speed up. 

    "Good luck." I say to Sawney, even though he's already taken down the hall to take care of the guards. Olivier and I disappear in the wall, quickly slamming the door behind us. 

    "Princess Adela!" I jump, a shrill voice coming out of nowhere. I turn to see a group of children sitting on the ground, the whites fo their eyes shining in the blackness. 

    "What are you doing here?" I whisper as I regain control of my composure. 

    "Our moms and dads told us to hide in here until they come back. But it's been a really long time!" The same voice calls out. 

    "It's alright, Your Highness, I'm taking care of them!" A familiar voice says, catching my attention. 

    "Anslo?" It's the page boy who pretended to be a soldier.

    "At your service! Are you here to save the castle, Your Highness?" He hides the fear in his voice well. giving me the courage I've needed for the past week. 

    "Yes, I am. You've all been very good! I promise to get you all out of here soon, alright?" Sounds of agreement come from them as I make my way down the hall. Olivier keeps his hand intertwined with one of mine as walk. I come up to Anslo, the only one standing. 

    "Thank you Anslo, you've been a very good soldier. Please keep them safe until we get back?" He salutes, puffing his chest out. 

    "Of course, Your Highness." We continue down the hall until we find the two doors from before, when Anna led us down here. Anna. In all of the chaos I'd completely forgotten about her. Guilt, as well as worry, wrench my heart as I think the worst of what could of happened to her. What happened to the rest of the servants. Olivier seems to sense my concern as he takes the lead, running his hand along the wall for the third door knob. The one that will lead to the seamstresses room. 

    "I don't think you should come with me when Sawney comes back." I blurt, earning an odd look from the prince. 

    "Why?"

    "Because...he is your father. I would understand if you would prefer not to watch when I..." My voice trails off. The thought of plunging my knife through the sick King's heart doesn't bother me, but forcing his son to watch does. He opens the door a c***k, just enough for a streak of light to fight its way in. 

    "I want to be with you, Adela." puts his arm around me as we lean against the wall. My bones ache from sleeping on the ground and my legs feel like they could fall off from all of this walking. 

    "Just...just don't try to stop me, alright?" I feel cold saying it, the words leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. 

    "I will not." His reply sounds empty, but I let it go. I've got enough to worry about. Olivier grabs my shaking hands, anxiety filling my lungs with each creeping second. A cough comes from the door of the seamstresses room, forcing me to swallow the anxiety. That is Sawney's signal as he enters the room, now dressed like a Frense guard. I pull myself away from Olivier as we step out of the wall as quietly as possible. 

    "The king is in the throne room with one of his advisors. You ready?" He says, pulling the helmet off his head. His usual black mask is now covering his lower face, moving with each of his words. 

    "Yeah, we're ready." Sawney glances at the prince for a moment, giving him time to back out before abruptly turning. We follow him down a hall, glass sprawled all across the floor. 

    "When we turn down here, don't look. Just keep going." Something odd is in his voice. I prepare myself to turn the corner, but it's too much. Bodies are strewn across the once spotless, elegant floor. The sweet smell of blood accompanies its red, bubbly liquid as it runs down the floor like a small river. Most of the bodies are dressed in Astarian uniform, some not even guards. I force myself to quickly check each face as we pass them to make sure Anna isn't in the pile. I watch Sawney fight to regain his balance after slipping in a pool of blood. Tears threaten my eyes, burning them intensely from the inside. 

    "The throne room is just a few feet ahead, so get ready." Sawney instructs, seemingly unfazed by the calamity. I shakily pull out my knife from its place in my belt, switching it open. It glints, and I see a face I don't recognize. Then I realize it's my own. Sawney stops us in front of the throne room doors. He looks me in the eyes, waiting for me. I look back at Olivier to make sure he is still there. Then, looking back at Sawney, I give him a final nod. I muster all my courage in my chest as we barge in, the only thing stopping us is death. And that's exactly who we're greeted by.