Annice was jolted awake by the rattling of the cart. She looked around in a stupor, barely recognizing the lumpy sacks cushioning her. There was a tarp overhead clouding the night sky. She could still feel the cool air.

She groaned before getting a grip on the tarp and pulling it back. Her head popped up and scanned her surroundings. Rolling pastures disappeared over the horizon. There was a lamp post at every mile, illuminating the dirt road. They flicker as she passed by, her eyes fixated on the clear skies above. The moon was grand and glorious surrounded by the stars.

This was a sight she’d only ever seen from the estate. Like a distant dream. But she was fortunate to be sitting below its splendour.

“Rise and shine, Little Mistress!”

Annice grunted at the mocking tone steering the cart. She had nearly forgotten her escort driving in the first place. That maid from the bathroom. That doe-eyed girl that accompanied Ingram. Annice learned her name was Myla just a few weeks ago. She’d been employed at the estate for a few months now. Not that Annice really paid attention to who came in and out of the house, just who was assigned to her, when and why.

The two met by random chance one summer night. There were no other attendants close by. Annice was gripped by a horrible nightmare when Myla peaked into her room. She must’ve seen the unholy sight of her young mistress contorting in pain.

Annice was just as surprised to have someone shaking her awake. A short stocky girl with choppy short hair, round cheeks, and thick eyebrows that seemed to have a mind of their own. It certainly brought the dream dazed girl back to reality.

And thus, their unique business relationship was sealed in blood. In a very literal sense.

Trusting Myla to safely smuggle her into town wasn’t Annice’s smartest plan. But she didn’t have many options. She’d rather take her chances with someone who’s got a clear motive. Money. Annice didn’t have the liberty of spending an allowance as she pleased. This caused some contingencies in her escape plan. Fortunately for her, Myla was willing to exchange her short-term services for jewels that could easily sell for a pretty penny. She could get new ones when she found a new home.

Annice agreed to rendezvous with her questionable partner at the stables in the dead of night. Myla waited there ready to steer a crap cart with a wobbly wheel, and a single horse pulling. The cart was inconspicuous enough to pass through unnoticed. Annice remembered the cringe on her face as she stared at her oh so glamorous chariot. Myla rolled her eyes. “Beggars can’t be choosers. Now get under the smelly sheets and don’t make a sound.”

Annice begrudgingly got in and nestled between the lumpy sacks. “How romantic of you...” She grumbled. What were even in these bags?

It got a smirk out of Myla as they rode off into the chilly night.

“Gotta get the girls somehow.”

As their cart made its way to the border entrance, Annice leaned back and continued to watch the starry sky. “Are you sure these people can help me?” She glanced back to look at Myla.

“Even if they couldn’t, you really gonna make me ride all the way back now?”

Annice sighed and turned away. Despite the odd smell, she tried to wrap more of the tarp around her. Warm light slowly crept up from behind her, before illuminating them both. They passed through the brick border and the horse’s steps became more pronounced from the stone path beneath them.

The Amora Marketplace.

A district dedicated to the merchants and entertainers foolish enough to settle in Lenoa. Their businesses were built into the tall apartments lining the stone paths. There were giggles and lively chatter floating about in the distance. Likely from the many courtesans and pleasure houses working hard past midnight. Annice closed her eyes and listened closely. She felt her chest well up. These women with high spirits and strong ambitions lived their lives however they choose. Annice wasn’t keen on the idea of sex but if it bought you power, she’d gladly take her turn.

“Busy night tonight…” Myla said. The chestnut horse she steered slowed its pace.

“Is it not usually?” Annice asked. She enjoyed the wind rustling her hair before they came to a stop. She opened her eyes to find themselves across the way from a building full of merriment. Beyond the alley stood a bar emanating light from its windows. There silhouettes of late-night drinkers waved their drinks in the air and danced out of sight. It was nameless and out of obvious sight, the perfect spot for some scandalous fun or much more.

Myla got out of the driver’s seat and stretched out all the kinks in her joints. “Not unless the scouts got back early.” She turned to see Annice getting up. She hooked a leg over the side of the cart, struggling to keep her skirt from getting caught. Myla silently approaches and offers a hand, she rolled her eyes at Annice’s hesitation. “Come on, we’re already late.” Myla yanked Annice forward, making her stumble before letting go. She patted down her dress and watched continue on without her.

This was too far out of her depth. She gripped her dress and looked back to the rickety old cart.

She should turn back. Break the horse free and ride back home before anyone noticed she was gone. She quickly turned herself around and followed Myla’s lead. This was no time to be a coward, not when she was practically halfway there.

Myla brandished bright grin as she pulled the door open. The two young women were greeted by a bright atmosphere, a strong smell of sweat, and bittersweet alcohol. The patrons of the bar were an odd mix of the common folk and the roguish type. Belts and buckles with exotic clothes and accessories. There were tables at the corners of the room to make space for the happy dancers making a show. Annice watched silently from the door, not sure whether to be shocked or mesmerized. The way these people stomped and swayed to the music playing. It felt rather nostalgic.

She felt a tap on her shoulder and flinched. Myla gestured for her to follow and went to the back of the bar. The drunken merriment became muffled as came to a secluded back hall. The soles of their shoes clicked against the floorboards uncomfortably loud before coming to a stop in front of a single door.

Myla knocked then opened it, not bothering to wait for permission. Annice clutched her bag to her chest, looking behind them every other second, expecting someone to snatch her up. Myla left the door open for Annice to enter. She took one step in and looked around. It wasn’t a large office by her standards, but it certainly had some charm to it. Paintings and ornaments hung on the walls from all over the country. A portrait of Saint Elizabeta from Jacoste. A colorful china collection from Madiz. At the centre of the room was a large mahogany desk with papers scattered and small trinkets along the corners. A large chair had its back turned to Annice, but subtly swayed back and forth.

“Boss!” Annice jumps again at Myla’s sudden shout and the slamming of the door behind her. Myla approached the desk with a skip in her step. There was a beaming smile on her face. “So glad you could see us on such short notice.”

The chair stopped its swaying. Annice swallowed the lump in her throat, she kept to herself in a corner of the room and watched this unfold. She had her suspicions that Myla’s real loyalties were to the Crimson Jackals, how else could she arrange a meeting like this so quickly.

That was a name you didn’t casually throw around unless it was to slander them. They were an exact opposition to the ruling power of the monarchy. A barbaric group spanning the entirety of the country that made a mockery of the crown. They had their ways around the Queen’s sights and influence. Which Annice hoped would work in her favor.

The leader in question turned themselves around in the chair. There sat a beautiful woman with dark dreads draped in deep violet robes. The crystals she had around her neck jingled against each other as she swung her legs over an arm of the chair. She smugly greeted Myla with a smile. “It’s a little past your bedtime, don’t you think, Mimi?”

Myla suddenly turned a deep shade of red. “Ruth-!” She staggered back before shrieking. “What the hell are you doing here? Where’s the boss!”

Ruth leaned back in the chair. “They had a busy day today and needed some rest.” She kicked off the desk with one her feet and spun around in the chair. “She sent me instead, hope that’s alright.”

The mischievous grin on her face only grew wider. Myla growled and crossed her arms. “This doesn’t concern you.”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“The hell it doesn’t. You trying to recruit someone your age? I told you that’s not a great way to make friends.”

“She’s not a friend. She’s a Mezziane.”

Ruth kicks out one of her feet to stop herself from spinning. The grin on her face is gone. She stares at Myla silently before her eyes shift to Annice, who stayed silent in the corner. Annice felt her chest tightening under the scrutiny of this woman’s eyes. She couldn’t look away.

Her words were caught in her throat, waiting to be swallowed. Fortunately, she was able to force them out. “My name is Annice. I-I..” She glanced at Myla. Her confidant gestured for her to continue. “Nice to meet you...”

Ruth’s nails dug into the leather of the chair as she sat upright in the chair. “Are you out of your fucking mind?” She completely ignored Annice and focused all her attention on Myla. “You thought if you waltzed in here and it was Beatrice in this chair instead of me, you would’ve gotten a better result?” She got up from her chair and circled around the desk to Myla. She was a tall figure, nearly matching Annice’s dear brother and father with her height. Myla stepped back but Ruth easily closed the space between them each time with a single stride. “What’d you tell her? How the did you get her all the way out here with no one noticing?”

“She didn’t tell me anything!” Annice quickly forced herself between them. She grabbed Ruth by the shoulder and pulled back. She squeezed between them and kept Myla at arm’s length. She didn’t break eye contact with Ruth the whole time. “She said she knew someone that could get me out of the country. No one’s going to notice I’m gone. Not for a long while. They don’t even know I’ve been planning this.” She puffed out her chest and stared her down, her hands balled into fists. “So are you going to help me or not?”

Ruth leaned forward, casting a shadow over Annice’s smaller figure. “You really think that’s an option?” She asked plainly.

“Name your price.”

“That game doesn’t work on me, kid.” Ruth nodded her head toward Myla. “She may take bribes, but I don’t. Especially when I can’t deliver.” She stepped away and circled around the desk. “You’re gonna take back whatever you paid Myla off with. Then you’re gonna head back home, got it?”

Myla cursed under her breath, she dug a hand into her pocket but hesitated to take out the jewelry Annice gave her. Annice shook her head furiously. “What? N-No!” She slammed a hand on the desk, stopping Ruth. “You have to help me out- You have to!”

“I don’t have to do anything.” Ruth replied. “Myla bring her out, and don’t expect anything good next time you hear from Bea.”

Myla went around Annice and came to Ruth’s right side. “By the time we get back, we’ll both get caught!” She said. Ruth looked between the two girls. She turned away while pinching the bridge of her nose.

“You’ll be fine.”

Myla tsked and turned on her heel. She stuffed both her hands in her pockets.

“I’m not risking my butt just because you won’t take an easy job!”

Ruth growled at Myla, pointing an accusatory finger at the girl. “Well you shoulda thought about that before trading your brain in for a couple o’ pearls. We need you there.”

“Ruth, please.” Annice spoke up again. She reached out to touch Ruth before pulling her hand back. She winced when Ruth stared down at her again. “I’ll do whatever it takes, I can’t go back there. I don’t have a place to run. I’m going to shipped off as a slave for the church to use me. They’ll have me waste away until there’s not a single drop of magic in me.” She held a hand to her chest, feeling the pendant underneath the bodice. “That isn’t a life I can live.”

Ruth’s eyebrow twitched in annoyance. Her jaw tightened as she held in her venomous words. This was just some kid. Some rich asshole’s stupid kid. It wasn’t her problem.

“Some of us have to make do.”

She snapped her fingers to call Myla to attention and gestured to Annice. Myla huffed but went to take Annice by the arm. “Come on…” She gently coaxed her to the door, even in Annice’s stupor. Annice could feel her reservations falling apart. This couldn’t be it. She only just got here and she was being sent out the front door?

She roughly pulls away from Myla, gritting her teeth before barking. “I’ll report you!”

Ruth, having turned her back on them again, looked at Annice. This little girl had the look of a hostile mutt, holding back tears as she bared her teeth. “You think people won’t notice a girl like me coming to a place like this? It’s only a matter of time ‘till they catch on that there’s something shady going on here.” Her eyes held scalding fire as she hissed. “I could just speed up the process.”

Ruth looked down, contemplating the threats Annice spouted. She looked up at the girl once more. Her hands were shaking. Her breath was shallow in her chest and struggling to break free. Her face, that of a desperate child, tears brimming. Ruth met her eyes and her threats. Not with a smug grin or glare. Just pity.

“Go home, kid.”

All three ladies briefly shifted their attention to a sudden commotion coming from the main bar. Ruth sighed and left the office to deal with the matter. On her way out, she patted Annice’s shoulder. “Sorry, I can’t do more for you right now…” Myla watched Ruth leave. She watched Annice’s shoulders shake and reached out to touch her shoulder as well. She stopped herself from doing so and turned away in shame, leaving to help Ruth.

Annice leaned against the doorframe. Her breathy suddenly came out ragged. She fell to her knees, covering her eyes as salty tears came. She blinked and shook her head furiously. “Fuck…” She roughly wiped her face, cursing under her breath. As she ripped her skin clean of tears, she mindlessly knocked herself in the head. “Idiot! Fucking idiot! Why did you say that, you stupid girl!” What was the next move. What was the next step. Her only laid plan fell through six feet under, and she made a mockery of herself in front of her only possible allies.

“I can’t go back.” She mumbled to herself. The room was closing in on her. The corners of her vision were fading into black. She immediately returned to her senses at a deep voice calling her name. She looked up, her nails dug into the wood of the doorframe.

Annice picked herself off the floor and walked down the hall. She kept a hand on the wall to keep her balance as she entered the main room. Amongst the conflict, she sees the culprit of the sudden noise being held back from confronting Ruth.

It was Ingram. He roughly pushed people out of his way and yelled at Ruth, demanding where his sister was hiding. Close behind him stood Helen who silently observed the entire situation. Her eyes scanned the area and quickly noticed Annice across the way.

The color drained from Annice’s face.

Helen’s eyes visibly darkened as she called for Ingram’s attention. “Young Master.”

Annice backed away. Her eyes darted around before she bolted to the bar. She hoisted a foot onto an empty stool and vaulted over. Glass and food spilled all over the floor. The bartender staggered back as Annice disappeared into the back.

“Annice!”

She ignored Ingram’s voice. She crashed into nearly every kitchen station and helper in her way. It was a demented dance of slipping on spilled ingredients and miraculously catching herself. She burst through the back door and broke off into the night. Her path was lit by flickering lamps. She slipped into a dark alley to the right and clung to the wall.

She could still hear him calling out for her. But didn’t move from her place. She couldn’t tell how close or how far he was. She kept herself low to the ground and eyes trained on the path she took.

She suddenly felt a hand brush against her shoulder and jumped back. She nearly trips on her own feet but was harshly grabbed by the wrist and pulled to her feet. She shrieked and couldn’t break free from their grasp. She turned and went to hit them with her free hand. But that was caught as well. She was pulled closer to her captor and came face to face with Helen.

“Have you lost your mind?” She hissed at Annice. Helen letting go of her wrists as she made another attempt to break away. Annice spun and hit the cold stone. She hissed in pain but quickly scrambled to her knees, her palms were scraped.

“Annice!”

She came to her senses and hurriedly got to her feet. She turned to run in the opposite direction but was quickly caught in her brother’s arms. “It’s okay, we’re here. We’re taking you home.”

“Get off me!” She screamed. She clawed at his arms and tried to pull him off. But he kept her in his embrace, burying his head in her hair, relieved that he found her unharmed.

He lifted his head and turned her around. “Are you alright? Are you hurt at all?” She refused to look at his face. He was distraught, much to her disgust, and refused to listen to her pleas. She managed to get loose and wretched herself from his hold. She hit him square in the jaw with the back of her hand. Her knuckles swelled with pain. She backed away from him, cradling her hand. He was stunned by the hit, it only pinched his skin, but coming from his little sister it felt like a blackened bruise. Ingram looked down at her like an injured puppy.

Ruth ran out the back door with Myla close behind her. She skidded to a stop and watched the lamp posts around them start to crackle menacingly. A kindling fire was beginning to swirl inside its cage. She watched Annice closely. Helen approached from behind her and grabbed her arm.

“Your mother won’t be happy when she finds about your little stunt tonight.”

Annice delivered a heavy slap to Helen’s cheek, a flash of heat searing the skin. “Get the hell away from me!” Her hand shook as embers flickered off the skin.

Helen was keeled over. Her neat bun had let strands loose and they were singed at the edges. She instinctively went to touch her cheek but pulled back at the severe sting. There was a burn mark clear as day, touches of flame continued to bite at her skin.

Ingram brushed past Annice to help Helen. He carefully pulled her hand away and examined her injury. Annice backed away from them, suddenly occupied by a nauseating ache flooding her body. Her vision started blurring again. But the embers clinging to her hand cut through the haze.

She glanced up to meet her brother’s expression. He kept an arm around Helen, prepared to take a hit in Helen’s place.

“What did you do?” He asked in a hushed tone.

She took a deep breath in. She forced down the throbbing pain and balled her hand into a fist. The licking heat on her skin grew. It spread through her arm and into her chest. There was a wicked chattering in the back of her mind as she spoke. “You won’t take me back there.”

Ruth’s eyes widened at the sudden shattering of glass. Wildfire broke free from the lamps and flooded the scene. “Annice, stop!” She cried out. She launched herself forward to grab onto the young girl.

The dancing flames surrounded them both and shot into the sky. Annice was overwhelmed by flashing lights and intense heat before it all went black. The pain that gripped her nerves was suddenly gone. But the chatter in the back of her mind never left.