Hallow Crown

Chapter Six

"This is a complete waste of time." Row sighed.  

We had been watching the guard to the Royal archive nodded in and out of sleep for the past hour. But he did not show any signs of moving his post.  

"I mean it was never going to be this easy." Cormac just had to point out, "maybe your new friend could get you in?"

I couldn't even look at him. I knew the look on his face all too well. It had not budged since he spotted the prince escorting me back.  

"Shh..." I hiss at him.

"I am just saying he could make this all a lot easier." Cormac shrugged while casually dodging my fist.  

"And I told you we aren't friends he is just worried about what his mother will do." 

"Step-mother," Row piped up. 

"Thanks, Row that really helps matters." I take one last look at the guard and officially gave up, "let's go this isn't getting us anywhere." 

We jumped down from the window landing with a gentle thud.  The tree line was dense enough that we could move through with ease but I was still wary that guards might patrol the woods around the palace.

They really should.  

It sometimes worried me how quietly Row and Cormac could move through the shadows.  If we hadn't left together I would not have known they were there.

  I used to hate it. Cormac and his friends would constantly sneak up on me or torment me at night by banging on my window or screaming my name. Eventually, they stopped when I stopped reacting and started throwing stones out of the window with incredible accuracy.  

I smile remembering the time I gave him a black eye,  he sulked for the whole week.  

Row on the other blended for another reason. while we traveled she had likely shrunk to her original size and was flying through the air.  Another thing I envied about my friends. Row's wings looked like those of a butterfly's, a vibrant orange that reminded me of a sunset.  She used to be bullied about her wings, according to Row having such bright wings was a design flaw and typically transparent wings were valued more. 

Traveling with a druid and a fairy really did have a way to make you feel inferior. They both naturally held so much power, orange wing, or not. And what did I have? Nothing! I am just lucky enough to have been abandoned by my parents at the entrance of Diva's cave.  

Sure, she had taught me some magic but and to quote her 'I had no natural ability for it' so she quickly gave up on my lessons. I could still use some basic magic but it was nowhere near the level of Cormac. That was why I was deterrent to be physically stronger than him, that never happened but I was now stronger than most humans. 

"So princess, what do you plan to do now?" Cormac asked.  

We had reached the wall of the Cold Palace, I looked up to the open window.  The ivy climbing up the wall would have to do for a rope.  

"I am going back to my room to think about how we move that guard while you are going to go gather wood and all the stuff we need to make hellfire." I watch as realisation dawns on his face followed by his usual evil grin.  

"Sure thing," he turned and went back into the forest. 

I pull slightly at the ivy, unsure whether this was a good idea.  I heard a soft chanting and my body suddenly felt lighter. I look at Row who gives me an exhausted smile.  I hold my hand out to her. 

"Need a lift?" I asked.

She gave me a nod and lands on my shoulder. I take one last breath and start to scale the wall. Thanks to Row's magic climbing the wall was a lot easier but I was still unsure of the ivy's strength. I did not give myself any more time to think about it and moved a little quicker. 

I gently lift myself up on to the ledge and heave myself in. No lights had been lit in the hall and from the chill that drifted through the hall, it was clear no fires had been lit.  

"What is it with this the maids in this place," I mutter under my breath. Surely if Oriana had really come then she would have thrown a fit at the sight on this place. A smile played on my lips, maybe this place as a little better than her current accommodations.  

"What has you smiling?" Row whispered in my ear. 

"Oh nothing," I waved the thoughts of Oriana away and quickly made my way to my room. From the silence, I could tell that no guards or maids had been told to guard my door or even the front entrance for that matter. I guess Oriana had come with her own soldiers but nowhere near enough to guard a whole palace.  

I wondered if this was another of the Queen's plots.  I relaxed it was unlikely that anyone would be roaming the halls. studying the wall it was clear that his place had not always been the palace of the rejects. Underneath layers of dust and neglect was a once beautiful royal residence.  

The rumors about the dead mistress might have been the reason this place was so forcefully forgotten but something about the story really did not sit well with me, I just could not think what.  

A soft thud came from further ahead followed by mumbling.

The only door ahead was the one to my chamber. I crept up and tried to hear what had caused the noise.

"Where is she?" A male voice hissed. 

"How should I know." A female voice replied it sounded like Cieles. 

What is that cow doing in my room? I turned to look at Row. 

"This cannot be happening!" Cieles sounded flustered, "if I a fail this time..." 

"This was your stupid plan, why did you have to drag me into it?" The man was getting angrier. 

"Because the Queen commanded me too!" 

 I held down a gasp but I am not sure why I was so surprised. After the stunt, I played earlier today it's no surprise she would want me dead.  

"It was supposed to be easy," Cieles continued. "You sneck in and get on top of her then I would charge in and accuses her of being impure and the Queen could be done with her." 

Oh wow! So she's even worse than I thought.

"Well, now what?"  the man asked.

"I will report this to the Queen and we may still be able to question her fitness to be a royal bride by asking why she was not in her chamber." 

I quickly dash back from the door and hide around the corner. I hear as the door to my chamber opens and the pair strolled out. I was indeed Cieles and by the looks of it a young knight from the Queen's palace. 

I ran to the servants' wing and into Row's room.  I collapsed on the other bed in the room.  

"What do we do?" Row looked panicked.  

"It'll be fine if the Queen is stupid enough to admit she sent her maid to spy on me then I will point out that I was scared to sleep alone and so I went and got a glass of milk and stayed with my handmaid in the servants' wing." I smile and get comfy in the bed.

"Do you think she will believe that?" Row asked while she grew back to her usual size. 

"Probably not but she has no way to prove otherwise."  

I close my eye.  I can't wait for tomorrow this is gonna be fun.