"This empire has been through certain phases and each one undermines us elves, speaks my master," the man said then.
Orla was quiet.
"It seems these days, the lessers begin to think they can undermine our superiority and they should pay. During the time of Hernan Volkov, they were all slaves, there to tickle the fancy of us elves and suddenly, now, they can band as rebel and revolutionary groups? How dare they? This transition has been too merciful on them- they should be slaves; at our feet where they belong. The Volkovs have been caught up in frivolities. They spend their time on trivialities while a steadily growing problem expands as it fills in on itself. The Volkovs must go so that we can clear the path for the new order: one that would be led by my master and his loyalists. In this new order, the slaves will take their positions below us. Elves will be first citizens and the others, deluded fools, will be slaves. Slaves they are. You must not fail, Spry."
"I will not," Orla said quickly. "I am enthusiastic about a change in the order. Ever since his Imperial Highness' father abolished slavery and freed all the slaves by Imperial decree, the slaves- because that is what they are to me- have felt a level of entitlement that must stop. I will help you."
"I will watch you," the man said.
"But who- who are you?"
"Call me the hooded one," the man said. "Don't fail my master. Betrayal is not an option, as you well know. One word out and your head will be dismembered from the rest of your body."
"Let me see you off. The night grows even darker," Orla said.
She started to walk and the man went with her. I knew because her feet, light, were the ones I heard first and then the heavier footfalls of the man.
I waited a few seconds before finally coming out of my hiding spot, almost reeling with the information I now had. I didn't think much about it though, my leaving the kitchens in one piece was more important.
I let out a deep breath and ambled towards the door. I heard sounds outside, at a few feet from the door.
I peeked through a slit in the door and saw that the hooded man and Orla were in front.
I pushed the door open a crack... and then another, and another.
Once the door was sufficiently open to accommodate my sliding by it, I stopped, not wanting to test my luck- or lack of.
I slid my small frame in the space between the double doors and got into the night cold. But the cold was the least of my worries.
As soon as I was outside, I began to creep toward the darkness, avoiding the lamps. The hooded man and Lady Orla were at a distance now as they walked towards the closest stable to the Royal kitchens to get the man's horse- my eyes were on them as I made my way farther from them.
The leaves fluttered in the breeze as a small night breeze blew. I felt leaves rustle under my work sandals as I made my way towards the workers' accommodation area, almost at a parallel distance to the people I currently watched. I couldn't wait to get to the comfort of my room and bury myself under my blanket. Not just the evening cold had chilled me, I was sure.
I was walking as stealthily as I could, but up ahead, I saw Orla and the hooded man stop. I stopped as well. Something seemed wrong. Had they spotted me?
The hooded man turned back and I dashed farther into the shadows. When both he and Orla began to head in my direction, I ran.
I damned the straight line journey I had been making earlier and dashed towards a cover of topiary art vegetation to the side and I did not stop running even as I heard feet thumping behind me.
I stumbled as I ran, almost falling several times. Vines and branches tore at me as I kept running.
Now, I stared at the clearing I was at, totally lost. But I would not have minded if that was my major (only) problem. I could still hear conversation as footfalls came closer to me.
"The eavesdropper has to be here."
"Who could it be, you think?"
"I have not the slightest idea."
"We will find out in just a while. The eavesdropper lies up ahead in the southern garden. That place is like a maze, I hear. We will find whoever it is and take due action."
Sweat glistened from my forehead. My eyes shone with the beginning of tears, the realization that I would be caught tonight dawning on me.
I went farther into the maze-like garden, the silver moon peeking through the towering trees. I continued my mad stumble forward and hit a hard surface.
I stepped back only slightly from the armor in my face. My gaze went up to behold a dark-haired man whose dark eyes matched the hue of the night. He had a grim expression on his face.
I stepped back to run farther inside the garden when I felt a strong arm pull me back.
I struggled in his arms, protesting.
"Where goes you so late at night, wench?" The knight asked.
"Let me go," I snapped, quickly realizing that I was wasting precious time.
"You must have offended your mistress and are running from her," the knight said.
In the background, the voices of Orla and the man came to my ears. The knight must have heard it too.
My body froze in his strong grip and he knew then that they were the ones I was running from.
"Let us talk to them, shall we?" The knight said.
I have something short of a whimper as my eyes glistened with some tears. "Please..." I choked.
I felt a force throw me to the side, behind a statue, close to a topiary carving of the bust of one of the Volkov emperors gone past.
I felt my body hit the moist earth and I stayed there as I heard the voices of Orla and the hooded man come closer.
"Serene evening to you Silver knight!" Orla said as her voice grew so close it felt like she was just behind me. I stayed on the floor, blending with the dark earth.
"And to you too, Lady," the silver knight responded.
"You might not by chance have come across another soul out here, have you?" Orla asked brightly, her voice loud in the night quiet. All around, the sounds of night creatures rose.
"No," the silver knight's smooth voice came. "I have taken sentinel duty throughout this garden, making my rounds across the field. I haven't seen another soul come here."