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She was tall, even for one of our kind. Her sable fur was highlighted with silver, and her amber eyes glared balefully at all the patrons of the tavern. When she spoke, her voice was full of malice."Niamvue," she commanded, "A table."
Her follower, a smaller, lighter version of herself with pale yellow eyes, stepped forward, "Of course, Sharidia."
At the utterance of that name, I started and turned my head slightly. My eyes instantly spotted my old rival. She had not changed a bit from when we'd trained together. She still held herself with that arrogant air of superiority. In a way, she was superior; she was the right arm of the Queen. Her Power and ferocity were unmatched. Carefully, I watched her walk over to the table Niamvue had selected. She sat as those amber eyes once again raked the room. Her eyes somehow found mine and we stared at one another for many tense moments.
I was the first to break eye contact and she grinned. My heart raced at the thought that she might have recognized me. However, her eyes left me and I silently heaved a sigh of relief. The barmaid came over at about that time and inquired on any of my needs. I softly told her there was nothing I required, so she then turned and went over to Sharidia's table and asked the same.
"No," she drawled, "There's nothing I need, unless..."
"Unless what, milady?" the barmaid inquired.
"Unless you know the location of any fugitives in the area?"
I tried not to shift uncomfortably. She knows! My mind and heart screamed with panic. My eyes began to search for any possible egress from this simple journey suddenly gone so horribly wrong. I never thought I would be recognized. My thoughts momentarily turned to my friends at the Green Dragon Inn. Oh, please... I thought, Forgive me. Quinn, Krol, Dark, Cal...I was so stupid.
I rose as unobtrusively as I could and made my way out the door. Hope filled me as I reached the solace of the night. Quickly, I made my way down the street, my cloak fluttering behind me as I ran. My breath came harder, choked by my efforts and my fear. The torchlights of the city gates blazed in the distance and I put on an extra burst of speed. I crossed under the massive archway, and only then did I dare a backward glance, expecting Sharidia to be pursuing me. The street was empty.
I paused for a moment, Maybe she didn't recognize me? I turned back to the road that would take me home. Home...to the Green Dragon Inn where my friends inevitably awaited. My feet took off and I was filled with a certain joy. That, however, abruptly turned to pain and surprise as someone grabbed the edge of my cloak and used it to throw me to the ground. I hit the cobblestones on my shoulder with a dull thud. I rolled, gathering my feet under me and getting to my knees.
"Where do you think you are going, Exile?"
Sharidia stepped out of the shadows, her amber eyes filled with malicious amusement. I looke dup at her, my green eyes plainly showing my fear and confusion.
"You know the Law," she hissed, taking a step towards me, "The penalty for returning from exile is death!"
"But Commander!" one of the guards with her said, "Such sentencing is for the Queen to decide!"
Sharidia's paw brutally slashed across the guard's face; her wicked claws leaving three long gashes, "I know that!" she spat, "Never correct me!"
The guard fell meekly to the back, "My apologies, commander. It won't happen again."
"See that it doesn't," she turned to the three other guards, "Take the Exile to the Queen. We'll see what the Judgement is."
All through this I sat, numbly watching them. I was frozen by fear and shock. The penalty is death... That rang in my mind, and echoed hollowly through my soul. I didn't even struggle as the guards hauled me to my feet. With Sharidia in malevolent attendance, they carried me to the Audience Chamber of the Central Palace, and forced me to kneel at the sandaled feet of the Queen.
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© 1999 E. Angeli Mansfield