Death-Bound

Meeting Place

Chapter Six

It was a café near a river, which flows within the Emperor’s keep itself. To throw anything in, is a crime that would cause you your head. “It’s the only place in town which serves stakes cooked underneath the fire!” he seems so excited and happy in informing me those things. Does he know me? “hey, you are spacing out again.”

“You talk too much.” I said sitting. On the table was a book, I picked it up and looked at the back cover—a novel. It seems interesting, so, I started reading it. I could sense the uneasiness of the person in front of me. But instead of looking at him, I insisted myself on reading. I was amuse by him, I felt like having a little brother.

“Erm, I wanted to ask this earlier.” He said scratching the back of his neck. “uhm, do you believe that we are our master’s best treasures?”

I looked at him, for the first time I heard him say something which gave off some commonsense. I grinned, “Of course…but I also do believe that we can be their biggest threat. That was why they placed this bells in the first place, am I not correct?”

He gave me the biggest smile he could have and then exclaimed, “Your amazing, do you know that?”

“I would not say it that way. But I wanted to read this book and you are disturbing me!” I gave him a black look. He just rolled his eyes. And I continued reading the book.

The next thing I noticed is that a waiter brought us our meal, somewhat 30 minutes later. From the scent of it, my stomach growled even louder! I grabbed it but it was too late! He was laughing like a mad monkey once again! I felt like melting in front of the waiter who was timidly smiling at me. He’s crazy! I gave him such a black look, but then again I was hungry. The stake looked so delicious. It’s the same as the once I had at home. So, I picked up my fork and knife; I started eating. Like a princess, I still had my manners, especially during meals. He stopped laughing when he saw me eating. He started with his meal as well. I was impressed, for such a childish man, he seems to be well mannered. It was hard for me to hinder myself from taking a glance or two toward him. He is such a fine gentleman in that moment. But then again, he laughed at me earlier! Annoying!

After finishing my meal, I started reading once again. The waiter poured me a cup of green tea. I was wondering why it suddenly got quiet. I looked at him, he was reading as well. “a graphic novel?” I asked in disbelief. I was embarrassed for I never wanted to say those words out laud. He looked at me with such teasing eyes.

“Yes, the 300. Want to read it?” he asked being boyishly annoying.

“I read that about three years ago. They all died in the end.” I said. My master gave one to me when the author of the book went to this town three years ago. He went to the last pages, as if proving if I was saying the truth. His brows went up upon seeing that I was right.

“Amazing, you are a wide reader. You are even at the last pages on that book of yours.” He said pointing at the book on my hand, indeed I am about to finish it. “Listen,” he came closer as if he is going to tell me something important. “Are you really the Princess, whom that trader was talking about? Because in the way you act you could be a princess!” I shook my head. He saw through me. He clanged his right arm on the backrest of his chair and smiled at me smugly, as if he hit jackpot! “It’s okay if you tell me. I myself am the son of the Duke of Olives.” He held his bell. And I looked at him emotions heavy. “Why am I a death-bound you may ask?” I nodded. “My father is a greedy man. And because he loves power he doesn’t want me to dethrone him. You should’ve seen him, our people are suffering. And now he wanted to even oppose the Emperor. That’s the reason why I am here. He wants to revolt against him and he wanted me to see the weak point of this city. Too bad for him I am telling you now.” I gasp, He smiled. “you told me earlier that I talk too much, you better give me thanks because I do so.”

“A death-bound shouldn’t betray his master.” I declared.

“That is if your master is the Emperor,” he said as if proving that he was right. “My master, he is under the Emperor as well. Therefore I obey the Emperor, my loyalty is to him. You seem to be ignorant with this matters…in my conclusion your master isn’t just an ordinary royal. You serve the Emperor am I not correct.” He said. I looked away—showing the uneasiness. He smiled, realizing that what he said was true.

“My master is he…” I said finally, taking a zip of my green tea. “I need to go.” I said. It was almost dusk. “I promised to meet someone.”

“Then give that someone this.” He gave me a scroll with a silver necklace. “That someone will know what to do.” I saw a seal. A black one followed by a red flower, a declaration of pleading. “My people are suffering, and I am not planning on just watching. I obey my master for he had bound me but to betray my people is not just another thing.” He said. “oh, by the way…can we meet again some other time?”

I don’t think this will ever happen again… “You must ask my master.” I said.

“I think I will, once this thing is resolved.” He smiled one of his childish smiles and waved his hand to bid me adieu.

I went out of that café and went to the place, which I set to meet Margaritta. Most nobles usually pay a ride to go from one place to another, but to think it would be a waste of time if I would just sit there and wait for the traffic to move. As a death-bound one has been blessed with an extraordinary speed, one that matches even the fastest horses—speed that is equal with strength, a lethal weapon in the art of death. Our meeting place is located in the south. Being in the northern part of town, to ride would take about forty minutes to an hour. However, to run it would just take me a few minutes.

I ran with a speed, which matches no eyes to see. An ordinary person would never notice that I passed them. My destination was somewhat memorable to me, it was where Margaritta would always leave me when we go shopping for everything I needed. But today the person who was waiting there wasn’t Margaritta at all—the Emperor. I chose not to face him, instead I looked for Margaritta. She was sitting near our usual spot—a bench near a huge tree. She looked so worried.

“You seem worried.” I said sitting beside her. “I am going to meet you here you know.” She was amazed. Perhaps the dress… I thought. Then she embraced me. She was sobbing. I embraced her in return, perhaps to comfort her. I made her worry that much.

“His lordship was worried as well, for you to disappear like that without any word. Good thing you sent me that message this afternoon.” She said finally looking at me face to face. Then she saw my garment. “What happened to you? You look so beautiful in that dress!” she touched it, “Could it be that you came to the trader’s festivities?”

“uhm…I went there but I didn’t bought this garments, another death-bound did.” My eyes twinkled as I said those words; as if for the first time in my life, I was happy being a death-bound.