We strode through for a few minutes, it being nothing but plants surrounding the narrow pathway, and then suddenly he turned, going through yet another bush. I did as well and gasped at what I saw when I reached the other side.
Obsidian walls.
I was about to have a heart attack.
We’re in the Center! Just by the castle! What the hell is Quill doing here?
I then realized I had lost him. Panicking, I glanced around. Then, as I was about to follow this new, cleanly cut path, I heard someone yell. I jerked my head upwards and saw a royal guard standing atop the wall.
Shit!
“What do you think you’re doing?” the guard exclaimed, crossbow aimed at me. “Run, and I will shoot!”
I shakily raised my arms, not knowing what else to do, and another guard descended from the post and grabbed my wrists tightly, cuffing me before lugging me towards the castle.
I was in trouble, so much trouble. Not only for sneaking into the Center…but if they discovered what was in my bag—
Without much thought, I slammed myself and my bag against the castle’s stone border, shattering the vials of elixirs.
“Are you crazy! Don’t do that, or you’ll get a bolt in your head,” the man detaining me hissed.
The guard dug his grip into my arms, and I yelped, looking up to meet his gaze. He seemed young, well, older than me. Maybe mid-twenties. His deep brown eyes seemed nervous looking at me, or perhaps concerned. The wind blew his white-blond hair, and I would have been able to acknowledge the guard’s handsomeness if I hadn’t been scared shitless.
“Do not argue, do not fight. I don’t know what you were thinking sneaking around the castle, but if you wish to spare your life, do not cause trouble.” His words were clipped.
My lip trembled, but I nodded, looking forward as we hiked up the castle’s side stairs. The guard on the tower lowered his crossbow cautiously as he monitored our ascent.
This was the nearest I had ever seen the castle; it felt even taller and more ominous this up close. I tried to steady my breathing as we made our way up the steps, guards exchanging glances and briefly touching on how I was captured. Sweat was dripping down my forehead, and my body was trembling uncontrollably. Another guard stepped in line in front of me, and a door to the castle opened for us. A stairway appeared as I stepped through the entryway, and we began our walk up. Sconces lined the stone walls as we hurried through, leaving it eerie and dimly lit.
I was being led up to the prison.
An older guard was speaking to one of his comrades when his eyes went to mine briefly, then up to the guard next to me.
“Where did you find her, Torrin?” The man almost laughed, but Torrin ignored him as he led me to my cell.
He gently pushed me inside, and I turned to stare at him. My whole body continued to shake.
“You will remain here until morning when the Queen calls on your punishment.” I could swear sympathy flickered in his eyes. He took my soaked crossbody from me, its contents only being broken elixirs and copper. I knew I would not be seeing it again. “Good luck,” he whispered, then closed the door, leaving me alone in the cold, dark cell. The small, barred windows, one in the back wall and one in the door were the only sources of light. Both are far too small to escape from.
I was frozen for a moment, standing there in disbelief over what the fuck had just happened.
“Wait!” I exclaimed.
Torrin peered through the opening of my cell door.
“My…my mother will be worried sick if I don’t return home. Can I send a note to her? Letting her know that I am okay?”
Torrin didn’t respond and walked away.
I stood there for a minute before I began to sob, falling back onto the stone “bed”, if you could even call it that. I buried my face in my hands.
What have I done? What will happen to me, to Mother? I had no idea what the punishment for sneaking into the Center would be, but I knew for the Inner Ring, it was a hefty fine. Part of me hoped it would just be monetary, but it would rob us of everything we had. We couldn’t afford the Inner Ring trespassing fee, and I could only assume the Center was an even greater sum.
And that’s assuming imprisonment isn’t another part. I’ve never seen any Outer Ring citizen put to death over being in the Inner Ring past curfew. But I was so close to the castle when I was caught…I didn’t even know where I was going!
When my sobbing died down, I curled into a ball. With it being daytime, I had hours more trapped in here. I had to think and come up with some sort of excuse.
At some point, I cried myself to sleep. When Torrin returned to my cell, I jolted awake, and my body began to shake again. I rubbed my eyes and glanced out the little window opening of my cell, and though the sun was still out, it was nearly set, meaning it was probably around eight at night. My stomach was grumbling as no meal had been provided all day.
