Izrina knew her mind wasn't making things up. That man was looking at her. She had been too scared to stare back at him, but...she felt it. He was watching her. The man now sat head high on a white stallion while leading the pack with his back to them.
"Move!"
Izrina got nudged forward, the chains that burned her wrist and ankle dangling noisily. She had become a part of the packs. The princess, who hadn't mourned her family and loss for a full day, was now among slaves being moved into a foreign kingdom.
They had walked throughout the day without stopping, under a strict surveillance of the soldiers, so even Spinola didn't have an opportunity to protect the princess.
"Open the gates!" A guard watching from the tower yelled, "His Majesty has returned victoriously."
The heavy metal gates that appeared like they could reach the sky drew open widely with seven soldiers on each side helping to drag it.
"The heavens have granted us victory!"
Spinola coughed at the sight of the gates. Even if they wanted to escape, it'd take them so many years to pass through these gates without being caught. When the gate closed shut behind them, the woman's shoulder dropped tiredly. There was no hope.
The horse's hooves buckled against the cobblestones as the troop entered the kingdom. The natives had now gathered outside, throwing flowers along the paths, while others danced for joy at the exultant return of their king.
Izrina noticed the young man on the horse didn't look to his side or even smile at the people that had gathered. She could tell the attention was on him, meaning he was someone of great importance.
It wasn't what bothered the princess, rather it was the numbness she felt from her wrist down. And the headache that had reduced earlier now became worse after she witnessed someone die in front of her. Izrina felt her knees buckle, they were threatening to give away but she dragged them.
This wasn't the time to get attention on her, Izrina knew better. She wasn't a princess anymore, neither was she in a familiar soil. Lying low and blending just like others was the best she could do for Spinola and Cora. Those two had risked their lives to make sure she saw a new day.
"Mother, who are these people?" A little girl pointed at the people dragged in chains.
Coincidentally, Izrina turned just in time to see the woman's lips move.
"Slaves.... they shall toil and serve our kingdom until the day they die."
Slaves, Izrina repeated in her mind. Was she now a slave? Was it really happening to her — that she was now a slave....Her head swayed to the side.
"Watch it young lady! Don't step on me!" Someone warned Izrina from behind.
Izrina shook her head. Perspiration kissed her fair skin, and her throat felt dry. The season from her kingdom was quite different from this place.
If ice covered Ziadne, then Zephyrus was dancing in pyre.
The young princess had an epiphany. She was not in her snow-covered kingdom anymore. This place no longer feels like home.
Izrina tried to wet her charred lips, she dragged her body the best she could. Her feet were now sore and covered with bruises.
"Keep moving until we get to the palace!"
Spinola noticed from where she was that the princess was falling back. The woman hadn't looked away from from the princess even after they had been separated. She noticed a soldier walking past her and she beckoned.
"Pstt..." the woman whispered, "Please....my daughter is deaf and hasn;t had anything to eat. Allow me to carry her."
The soldier sneered, "Your daughter will walk fine on her own! If you wanted a better life for her, you shouldn't have made her sell her body to survive!"
"No she isn't a-" Before Spinola could finish, the soldier hit her stomach with the head of his sword.
"Shut up and move! Dirty hag!"
Spinola bit her inner cheeks so she wouldn't make a sound, and yet her eyes remained on the princess. "Oh Karissa....I have failed you. Please help me save this child." The woman had lost count how many times she had prayed to her deceased friend.
"Open the palace gates!"
Izrina swallowed, there was nothing in her throat. It was dried up like a cursed well. The girl had reached her limit and was beginning to see in two's. As a matter of fact, she saw her parents. Her mother waltzed with her father, both of them dressed in white.
"Mother..." Izrina whispered.
Karissa turned to her daughter, a bright smile on her lips. "Come and join us, little pea."
Izrina slowly staggered towards the light, her dulls eyes staring into the void. "I knew you won't leave me...I knew..." she reached for them, but then her world tilted.
"Someone has died!!!"
Spinola almost ripped her arms from the chains, "No! No!! Izrina!!!" the woman yelled like she had lost her senses. She didn't care about exposing their identity. all she wanted was to reach to the girl first. Even the guards could not stop her until she had gotten to Izrina and had her cradled in her arms.
"Please help me! Help us." Spinola wailed, begging whatever or whomever that could hear her.
At same time the palace gates opened, and the young king dismounted from his horse. Everyone's attention was now at the place of commotion.
"What is going on over there?" The young king asked, dipping his hand into a basin that was brought forward. He washed his hands slowly while staring at the woman wailing with a girl half-dead in her arms.
"That woman has lost her mind...I think the girl is dead and...they are mother and daughter."
Neron hummed, "That reminds me of something..." he tried to remember, "A mother holding her lifeless child with sorrow." he huffed, took a dry towel and wiped his hand.
"What should we do, Your Majesty?"
The King dabbed his fingers, in between and thoroughly, as if to consider what to do with his new slaves. "Find out if the girl still breathes...then take her to the infirmary. If she is long gone... send her mother along with her. Nothing is more painful than separating family," he dragged out, his eyes coldly staring at the duo.
"Weakness isn't having no strength to fight. It is losing the will. And that girl has not an ounce of will in her. If she would be a burden to her own mother send them both to abyss and end their ill-fated relationship for good." The king turned his back on them, making his way inside the palace.
"And consign two soiled doves to my bedchamber." he waved dismissively.
"Yes, Your Majesty."