Adiri, Chapter 2

Chapter 2!! I got to chapter 2, people!!

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Ch.2

Anisocasi was the smallest castle Aretha had ever seen, even with her father’s. The walls were decorated with satin and silk, and golden flags tossed from the walls, but it only had 9 windows, and the entire place seemed old and crumbling.

Aretha almost didn’t notice entering the city. She was preoccupied shrieking at the people who were mocking her in the streets as the soldiers carried her through the city gates.

As she went into the castle, she fell silent. Nobody was to be seen in the castle. No cooks. No servants. No maids. A few aged men passed through the corridors, their faces white as clouds. The windows were choked with heavy curtains.

They entered a small room from which the only light showed, bathed a soft yellow. Guards stood outside the door.

“What is it now, father?” a voice came from within. A young man sat at a desk overflowing with papers, turned away from them. He wore an elaborate silk uniform, which was stained with ink. From the back Aretha noticed his hair was an ash brown.
“You weren’t supposed to come back from the hunt for another day. James said that you-

“I can do what I please without your consent, sir,” the man in front set Aretha down suddenly. She squeaked. Wincing, she pushed herself up and began to twist at the ropes on her hands.

“I have brought a guest for you, someone I need to have investigated by the next day.” Aretha pulled one of her hands free. She began to edge it toward her back…

“You are the only one that could know who she is. She has got to be identified. She may be a danger,” he whispered, so she couldn’t hear. “She might be…”

“Quiet down, Mendas!” the Prince didn’t even turn around. “Whoever she is, you can find out yourself. This letter needs to be revised…” As he scratched something out, Aretha quietly pulled out a shard of sparkling glass, and reached up to the man’s scabbard.

“Turn around and give your father the authority that he- Mendas, the father, turned around and beheld Aretha trying to cut his scabbard. Eyes wide, she pushed away with her hand.

“Trying to escape?” Mendas advanced on her, looking amused. “Trying to get free?” He advanced on her, and she pushed herself into a corner. He leaned closer, and she closed her eyes at the great face in front of hers, breathing in wafts of barley ale and cured meats.

Aretha panicked. Her fingers moved over the splinter of glass. She slashed Mendas’ face while looking away.
He screamed and drew back. His face was scarred with blood. His skin hung in pale bags where the glass had curved downward. The cuts flashed a bright red, and Mendas fell over, a heavily breathing body. The shard of glass fell to pieces in her hand.

“What are you doing to that prisoner?” the Prince turned around and saw Aretha scrabbling for the pieces of glass. His eyes widened as she straightened up.

“Aretha,” he said.

“Cloithar,” she glared.
The pieces of glass on the floor burst into flame. They spread about the room, crawling up the desk. The Prince (or Cloithar) jumped out of his chair.

“We have to go. Don’t ask.”

“Cloithar, just-”

“Go OUT!“ Cloithar shouted among the fire. “I’ll follow you, go!”

Aretha turned and escaped through the door. Cloithar turned and pulled up Mendas, then, dragging him through the door, was out before the entire room went up in flames.