Carmine

The children’s laughter was infectious, while desperate sellers of goods pandered to us. They paraded garments before retainers of people; too high above us to walk those round patterned brick roads.

The crowd was hard to navigate through, but I kept my composure as I rolled my shoulders to the waves of people.

The plain linen cloth of peasants was no compare to the thick satin and wool of the judges, artisans and merchants. Valor walked beside the horse leading us. It was ambivalent of my place amongst them even when I knew my place clearly.

I looked back at Valor. He grinned, but held his head low. Good, he was not a confident idiot at least, just confident.

There was so much I had not known. I was worried watching the eyes of so many people piercing Valor with such loathsomeness. Valor kept his eyes from their gazes, for he was used to this.

However, to think he had these clothes and that plan laid out for me to follow. Valor assumed I would have helped him this much and that he would run into this problem. He was either a narcissist or the shrewd assassin he proclaimed.

It was probably better to have him as my ally since he harbored no desire to kill me. I was still not thrilled about our intended destination. What he said about loyalty back there, was he insinuating I could hire him after he delivered me there?

Would that not be too late? I supposed that would depend on how secure his employer’s place was. It was obvious it was a noble, but the question was who? I was still going east. There were four countries before I reached Ascus, Tiam, Baska, Ulyia and Odalon.

“We'll look for a blacksmith. I prefer small one sided axes.” Valor’s hoarse whisper made me tremble in fright.

I said, “That was a large double-headed one you lost back there.” I remembered correctly that the second head looked more like a wide sharpened pick.

“That was a memento from my old lady. I would not give that up for any amount of gold.”

I almost turned around, but restrained the urge to do it. “Yet, you just did such a thing.”

“We need to avoid attracting attention. Don’t worry, I will get it back. When no one else is around to see his intestines spilling the earth—"

“Arrgh, please refrain from describing your job to me.” I scoffed. He snickered when I looked away, but I hoped I never touched Tiam’s soil.

The nobles in that country were self-entitled Demi-Gods in their eyes. I knew I would be treated like a piece of cloth, worn and easily thrown away. What had this noble sought from me?

I hated worrying about this.

We stopped at a blacksmith. The goods were not on the outside, but on two stalls. There were axes of different curves and shapes. Those should have done well enough for him. The blacksmith saw me through the corner of his eyes, while he rolled a sword in hand. "What ’d you want?”

I cleared my throat. “An axe.”

He looked at me then he wavered his eye on Valor then he sighed.

“Him?” The blacksmith motioned.

“Aye.”

He sighed and muttered something incoherent. “Anything you like… ah, fairy?”

Valor looked around with excitement in his eyes. He almost looked like a child, so he was happy. I couldn't taste such a thing. From the moment I exited that keep it's been a nightmare. Valor stepped up to the counter, while my mind drifted into the depressiveness of my situation.

I was an Ascus princess, whose father was dead, but I was likely to gain the throne. The fact that it was likely, but not certain, bothered me.

They had enough reason to use me as a weapon against the current ruler or, I would have been married off. Yes, I remained pure and without child.

If I was already taken and had birthed fruit; Ascus culture dictated the second child would not be recognized. Each Princess got the privilege to take over the Kingdom of Ascus without a King.

Two unmarried queen-regents ruled Ascus. One was famous, the other was quite an infamous one. Queen Moonchy had a common law husband. He was not a Shyia though, so he was never recognized as a King.

Her two children took over after her. The one who became King was the legendary Timbunto. Her other son, Diagga, was my great grandfather. He was a great general of Timbunto’s forces.

Queen Riana on the other hand had many male concubines, but surprisingly had no children. She was said to have been barren, but that is not what made her infamous. She ruled during the bloody ages after Ascus’s rise.

A time where life was shorter and accomplishments were how you were remembered. Conquering was the most loved hobby of a royal.

Her father, King Hotta was at war with the neighboring nations. His death never halted the war, for she continued his vicious campaign. The borderlines of Ascus were forcibly spread across five despoiled countries and thirty cites.

She consumed Baska in the west, Shmoth in the east, the Seprala in the south and half of Elam in the north.

The only conqueror to have successfully encroached on Elam land to such an extent, but Elam eventually pushed her army back into Aica, the capital of Ascus then it was ravaged.

The northern tribes rebelled and she saw a good chunk of her power and territory chipped away. She retired from war after that and died from illness years later.

Ascus fell into chaos then and was awash in blood as nobles were killed to cut down all the possible candidates for the throne. It was a simple list.

Nobles placed bounties against each other, while peasants did the actual deed and the noble washed their hands clean after payment. If anyone aligned theirselves to the wrong faction in Ascus would end up with their throat slit.

The thought of it all churned my stomach. Back then, names were written in stone and that was where they returned; to the earth. All they needed was your name. Your possessions, your position and your life were forfeited.

The dangerous thoughts made my skin crawl. It unnerved me as I breathed out and tried to remain calm.

I was being chased to my imminent grave, but who was it that wanted me dead?

Would they risk damnation in hell for such a short life of happiness? It made no sense to me.

“Excuse me my Lady…” Huh, this voice, I turned and saw eight soldiers. I fidgeted and held the wooden counter as if they were already dragging me. Their eyes were not staring at me though even if they were on me. The soldier that spoke was the one we met earlier from the gate.

“Good to see you are following the rules, fairy,” he said. To one soldier next to him, he said, “Told you these two seemed strange."

That soldier snorted, speaking low, “Let’s take them and go back.”

Valor breathed out and pushed into me. What, something moved in between my armpits. I tightened my arms to my body instantly. What did Valor do?

He lifted his hands and smiled. “You got me.”

The guard shot me a nasty glare before gripping Valor and pushing him into the two soldiers. They grabbed him. I flattened my body against the wood when the guard stepped close.

My eyes narrowed, while my legs shivered. I stood strong.

“You are coming with us,” he said, with a grin.