get all the way around the upper city before leaving for the King’s Rock. We could probably see her if we waited at the castle gates.”
“Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go.” Aleest greeted Cero’s suggestion with an enthusiastic grin.
“Come on. I know just the spot.” Cero had to trot to keep up with Aleest as they took a series of back alleys until they came out behind a small throng of people intent on the same goal. Aleest skirted the crowd until he came to some ornamental gate structure. There was a small hole at the base that they were able to slip into. Once inside, they climbed the framework and came out on a ledge halfway up the wall. They had a bird’s eye view of the city and were situated right beside the gate. The structure gave the old stone the façade of grandeur without requiring the effort needed to repair the ancient bulwarks. Laying on their stomachs and peering over the edge, they were invisible to the people below.
Nearly an hour later, the giant gates began opening inward. Twenty men could have marched abreast through the fully open gates. Normally, the gates would have remained latched and any visitors would have entered through a smaller gate within one of the great doors. A few minutes later, there was a loud cheering from the assembled throng below as the first of the castle guard marched through the gate. They were wearing their finest polished armor and had feathers in the plumes that fluttered atop their helmets. Cero noted that they were not entirely for show as they immediately began forcing the crowd back for the next group of guards. The two groups took turns pushing the throng of people back and forming a wall of armor between the people and the rest of the procession.
There were easily a hundred castle guards attending the procession and preparing the way before the first open carriage rolled out of the gates. A chill went through Cero’s veins as he recognized the figure watching the crowd with an expression akin to disdain. The black hair and silk garments were the same as when he had seen the man in his dream. He didn’t have to ask Aleest, who was mumbling some incoherent threats at his side, the identity of the man even if he hadn’t been able to recognize Reigns on sight.
“So that is him.” Cero mused as Aleest began describing Reigns’ ancestry in terms of the rodents that had made contributions. “I thought you liked rats. Don’t insult them like that.”
“You are right. Rats are too noble to be related to him. Snakes on the other hand are a different story.” Following Aleest’s observation, Cero peered over the edge at the second carriage that passed through the gates. Inside and reclining on several purple cushions was a girl that, from their prospective, looked nearly identical to Em’risi. There were subtle difference that one who hadn’t known the real princess wouldn’t have noticed. The hair was a little darker and curlier. The fingers on the hand that was waving mechanically were a little shorter than should be. Unless one had Aleest to point out the “obvious” dissimilarities, there was little chance someone would ever notice.
“She looks scared. See how she keeps glancing at Reigns?” Cero nodded as she made another furtive glance.
“I would say she looks terrified of Reigns. I wouldn’t expect anything else. Em’risi would have been sitting right there if she hadn’t escaped when she did.”
“He killed them all… Everyone I love is dead. I'm going to be killed next. If only I could defy him and tell everyone I'm not real. He would be ruined, but not before he exacted his revenge on me. Oh, how did I get caught up in this…?” Cero heard the voice at the corners of his mind and at first dismissed it as something being said below, but then he heard it again and was able to make out the words. Puzzled he tried to figure out where it was coming from. The carriage was almost directly beneath them at this point when he heard it another time, only louder than all the others. The riddle was clarified a moment later when the old man driving Reigns’ carriage leaned back and whispered something to him. Reigns then turned and glowered at the princess, silencing the voice instantly.
“Would Reigns kill all her family and friends to keep them quiet?” Cero inquired of