I sheathe my scimitar and run after Lord Darby. As I exit the training arena, I slow my pace. There's no need to draw unnecessary attention. I scan the courtyard for Lord Darby. He was already at the east gate, nodding and smiling at the gatekeeper. I look down, avoiding people's glances, in an attempt to avoid conversation.

At the gate, I nod to the keeper. His eyes flick down at my short tunic and breeches. "Where are you going?" He asks.

"Out." I reply as I step past him. For a second time in just a few minutes, I feel the metallic coolness of a weapon against my neck. I look down the shaft of his spear and glare at the keeper.

"I prefer to not be treated so rudely," he growls, "but since my orders are to let the Aspenvale court come and go as they wish, I suppose I must let you go."

I bite on my tongue to keep myself from growling anathemas at the keeper. His ridiculous nosiness caused me to lose Lord Darby. Scanning the busy cobblestone streets, I walk until the first intersection and turn left. Still no sign of Lord Darby. I groan. Well this was a successful plot.

The smell of bread baking prevents me from returning to the castle. Its luring scent brings me to a bakery, the counters filled with loaves of bread and steaming hot cross buns. A scowling woman with continually furrowed eyebrows barks at the customers. "There you go. NEXT!" In the small shop, dozens of people push forward to be served next, fighting like vultures over a fragment of carrion. I turn away, refusing to become one of the vultures.

A shout catches my ear. "Get back here you, thief!" Turning around, I spot a boy weaving through the crowd. The woman at the counter pushes and shoves her way through, but by the time she reaches the door, the boy is halfway down the street, clutching his cap and laughing at the woman's shrieked curses as he runs. I follow him, thinking of my years on the street. He turns constantly, taking a path so twisted I almost lost him a dozen times.

The boy slows down and I change my pace accordingly. I glance around me. Throughout the course of my chase, the streets had narrowed into dark alleys. In place of the beautiful, well-kept shops stood ramshackle house with tattered roofs and broken windows.

The boy waves his cap in the air, letting his mop of filthy blonde curls fall loosely. Walking up to the most dilapidated building, he pushes the door open, or rather down as the door swung awkwardly on one hinge. Grabbing my knife, I enter the house behind him.

Spinning on my heels, I meet the boy's knife with my own. "Nice attempt. " I say.

He spits in my face and aims for my abdomen. Despite being partially blinded, I deflect his thrust, causing his knife to clatter to the ground.

"What d'you want? I ain't done nuthin!" He retorts as I pull his arms behind his back.

"I don't want anything. I just am making sure that your friends don't attack me. Call them out, please."

"Why should I?"

"Because I said so. Plus I'm the one with the weapon here."

He spat on the ground twice, then shouted,"Fiddle pies!" I wait for a clatter of feet... But no sound comes. Silently, fifteen boys appear before me, their faces dirty, tired, and pale with sickness. The oldest one, no older than twelve, steps forward. "Let go of him."

"Not until you answer some questions for me."

"What type of questions?" He asks as he glances at his friend fighting futilely against me.

"Does it matter?"

His eyes shift again from his friend to me and back again. "I suppose not. I'll answer your questions."

______________________________

My mind is too full for speech as Teddy, the boy who had led me to the orphans' house, leads me back to the Main Street
As we arrive, Teddy looks me over, his blue eyes much more wary than any seven-year old boy's eyes should be. After his moment of observation, he says,"I like ya. You're like one of us. And ya kinda seem to care about us, 'stead of always yellin' at us. I like ya." With a nod, he runs off, disappearing into some shop.

I turn toward the castle. My feet mindlessly move themselves as I ponder everything the boys told me. Nearly all of them lost their family to Melitan raiders, the scourge of civilization. Bobby, the leader, told me they all had come to Sicota because the streets were safer than the countryside, where Melitans could appear at any moment out of the Rhodenian forest.

"What has been done to stop this?" I asked Bobby.

He responded, "King George has sent some men to fight them, but other than that nothing. The nobles who are supposed to protect us act like we're bothers whenever we talk to them. All of the boys nodded their heads and I heard several muttered slurs against the nobles of the court. My mind realizes that the looks I saw on the villagers' faces as we entered were probably caused by the nobles apathy.

I enter the courtyard through the eastern gate. The gatekeeper watches me warily. "Welcome back, miss."

I nod. My feet lead me to the stables. The smell of horses and hay pervade my senses as I climb into the hayloft and lie down.

After a moment, I hear Eric's voice just outside the stable. "You go along, Cedric. I will see you in the dining hall." He strides in leading his horse. I close my eyes as I listen to him mutter, "Well done, Dmitri. You're a good fellow." I listen as he puts him in his stall, then strain my ears to hear his steps out.

"Hello, Lee."

I sit straight up and whirl around to find Eric laughing heartily at my shock.

"What are you laughing at?"

He smirks. "Your expression right then was priceless. I'll remember it forever."

"How did you know I was up here?"

"I noticed you were perturbed as you were walking in the courtyard. Then you walked in here. It's pretty easy to figure you out. Is everything all right?"

I flush as I realize he followed me on purpose. "Yes, everything is fine."

" Melia, what's wrong?" He asks as he pulls a piece of hay out of my hair. His eyes meet mine and I notice the concern in their expression.

I pour out the whole story, about Teddy and Bobby and the Melitan raiders. "And they're so gaunt and sickly. I think at least two of them have consumption and all of them are near starving."

Eric, throughout my whole story, watched me closely. As I end, he chews on his lip. "How about we bring them some food tonight?" he suggests. I want to throw my arms around him and engulf him in a hug, but instead I respond, "That's a great idea!"

He smiles, lighting up his hazel eyes. "I'll meet you just outside the bakery you described in an hour, then."

I nod. As he climbs down the ladder, he calls, "Lee?"

"Yes?"

"Change into something like the village people wear so we don't attract attention."

"All right." He winks at me and leaves the stable. Does he know the power he has over me?

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I think you can tell, but the pic at the top is Teddy!

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