When the Swords Clashed

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 - Strangers called Family

"There are times when strangers are family and family are like strangers"
                                                                                                  - by Hlovate

                                                  POV - Ellemera

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I and Marquis start walking out of the corridor and towards the open part of the forest. Marquis knows the way back home and I don't need to guide him. Rides with Marquis are relaxing. I hold his reins in my right hand and touch Izzy's sword on my back with the left hand. I run my fingers on its edge, so smooth, so sharp, just a little mistake and blood will ooze out of my fingers. His and mine swords are so similar , the only difference is of the patterns made on its grip. This kind of sword is not easily available. I got mine from Ritikeya. 

Why did he give me such an expensive sword? 

I hear rustling of leaves behind me and I swiftly turn to look behind.

I see two soldiers of Engaston and relax immediately. They bow their heads in my honor. Bowing to people you actually don't give two hoots about, is one of the royal rules that I hate.
I turn to move but one of them speaks up.

"Why are you here Your Royal Highness?" he says. 
"Because I wanted to check the securities of the border" I lie. 
"Hope you are happy with our services, Ma'am. "

"Yes, You people are doing a great job". Great job. By not guarding the border and roaming here in the middle of the forest like a lost fellow, you are doing a great job. By not finding out about the secret corridor even after patrolling here for so many days and nights, you are doing a great job. If I was the King, I would have fired them by now. The current King apparently is too busy celebrating little victories to care about security loopholes like this. 

I pull Marquis' rein and he starts walking again.

After a few minutes when we are near to the palace, I notice the cut on my gown that Izzy made. Meaty stuff for rumor makers. They will probably make rumors worse than what has happened. I pull my dagger out and make a similar cut on the opposite side. The cuts now look intentional and new fashion.

I pass through the small part of Engaston market area. I see women buying bangles, men picking up heavy objects, children running here and there without any care for the future. I never had a normal childhood. I never wore bangles. For me, Bangles = Mumma. She used to wear them. Glass bangles, metal bangles, colorful and of different designs and patterns. I never had the courage to wear them.

Marquis starts walking faster, its his lunch time now.  

We reach the palace. The palace is the biggest house in the whole Engaston, because of course, the King has to show off. The Palace is called "Kashaf Mahal", named after my paternal dead grandmother, Her Majesty, Queen Kashaf. She was a South Asian Muslim, with whom my grandfather fell in love with and married. 'Kashaf' is a Urdu name which means miracle. 'Mahal' means palace, hence Miracle Palace.  Everyone says I look like her, same eyes, same skin color, same fire, same desire. 

We reach the of front gates and I jump down from Marquis and hand him over to Basheera, the royal servant who looks after the royal family member's horses and carriages. 

As I walk toward the palace , I pull up my cloak and make sure to hide Izzy's sword. 

The palace is rich cream in color, with details with cray blue. Its a perfect mixture of our South Asian and Greek cultures. The palace was designed by my grandfather himself, making it the most beautiful building ever.