CHAPTER TEN

Trinket couldn’t understand why there were no city guards as she and Jane approached the city of Wyld Fell. She remarked that something had gone terribly wrong. Was the King even in control? After having been away for three months, doing some secret mission that Jane didn't ask about or show any interest in, Trinket said she didn't know what was happening in her home city. Perhaps everything had changed while she was away?.

The boardwalk widened and huts began to appear amongst the branches.

Jane asked a question that had been bothering her, ever since she had set out on this mission to find the Wyld Book of Secrets.

‘What if the King doesn't give us an audience?'

‘He will give us an audience. The King is my father.’

‘The King is your father! Then you are a ...'

'Yes, I am a princess.'

They passed an elderly thrip who had his arm cranked back to tow a cart filled with pine cones. His green eyes looked lazily at Trinket, then suddenly came awake. ‘Our princess ... You are back.’

She put a hand in the air and gave it a small shake of acknowledgement.

The path went through a cave of foliage, and emerged onto another path crowded with thrips. All along this board walk were green tunics and green tights and pointy ears and blazing green eyes.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

A thrip shuffled past banging a flute against her leg. When she saw Trinket she put the flute to her lips and played a merry little tune. Another thrip with smooth green shoulders in a nut coloured singlet, recognised Trinket, took a step back, bowed, then suddenly looked around as if afraid that someone had seen him show humility, as though ashamed of having bowed. A girl thrip carrying shoes made from loosely woven twine, nodded her head at the princess, the nod happening so quickly it could hardly be counted as respectful.

Trinket got close to Jane, and leaned in so she could breath words in her ear.

'The thrips aren't showing respect.'

Now Jane noticed that the thrips were being careful when they recognised the princess, like they were all afraid to recognise her as being special.

Trinket whispered, 'Something has gone terribly wrong since I have been away.'

A thrip with dark hair and half lidded, brooding eyes must have heard Trinket's whisper, because he came close and spoke in a low, guarded voice:

‘Don't you know?’

‘Know what?’

‘The King hasn’t been seen for three turns. He is reportedly sheltering in the palace, and the Governor from the School of Alchemy is running Wyld Fell. The Governor is working with a division of Empire soldiers to keep order.’

Trinket sounded murderous.

‘The Governor is working with the Empire?’

‘He is ‘assisting’ with the management of Wyld Fell until things get sorted out. The soldiers are assisting him.’

‘How long?’

‘The Empire soldiers arrived twenty days ago.’

After a moment Trinket hissed at Jane, ‘This is terrible.'

‘What does that mean for us.’

‘It might be difficult to see the King.’

‘But you said...’

‘Shhh..’

Trinket took her hand from Jane’s arm. ‘I will do what I can. I know that my father will see me if he is able to.’ She leaned in close and whispered, ‘You must promise me not to mention the name Elion to anybody, and you must not mention the key. There is a million Rizer reward for capturing Elion and delivering him to Emperor August. People will do a lot for a million risers.’