The early morning sun peeked through the opened corners of the window straight into my eyes, forcing me to tighten my sleepy eyes even more. The girls around the room were just getting up from bed as well.
"Anyone seen my leggings?" a girl said rummaging through a box of clothes.
"Did you add it to the laundry?" Another asked.
"I'm pretty sure it's around here somewhere?" The first girl said, their voice fading from my ears as I focused on getting myself ready. I could possibly be facing punishment today for what I did.
"Hey white hair…did you see it?" She asked.
"Who? Me?" I asked, even though I knew I was the only one with white hair in the room.
"No…the other oddball, did you see my leggings?" She asked again and the other girls giggled to themselves.
I didn't want any trouble with them so I smiled despite the name she called me.
"No" She groaned, turning away from me, her silky blond hair flowing behind her. I thought as I got ready, in case the master rang for me.
After getting ready, I went in search of Madam Beth to see if I could help with anything. Aside from tidying up the master's chambers, what else would I be doing? I couldn't have the master or anyone think I'm slacking.
"Madam Beth" I called impulsively without thinking when I saw Madam walk by me, holding a tray of food items in her hands.
"Raven, I could use the help…drop these in the armoury. The master needs his snacks," she said.
The master? I thought. If I had been holding the tray of food already, I would have carelessly dropped it due to the shock and anxiety I felt.
"The master?" I asked, my voice a bit shaky.
"Yes…the room is not far from the garden, he's waiting, go" She said, handing the tray of sweets and a couple of fruits to me.
I hurried towards the garden and then I spotted a small building separate from the manor. It was a small house but it was big enough to fit about three of the houses I used to live in. I knocked but no one answered. I swallowed, planning my move carefully. I could just go in, drop it and leave before he even sees me.
I walked in and heard the clattering of two metals coming from somewhere ahead of me. The room I was in, indeed looked like a weapon room as it was filled with all different sorts of weapons, guns, arrows, traps and war explosives. I walked further and the metal sound clash became louder.
That's when I spotted him sitting with his back against me. I could tell he was sharpening a knife. Edging towards him slowly and quietly, I attempted to drop the snack in the little round table beside him but he suddenly turned around and tackled me to the ground, sending the whole snack falling to the floor. He pinned my hands to my back and placed the knife to my neck. I could barely speak as I tried to regain myself.
"You…what're you doing here?" He asked, a frown obvious on his face as he released me. He had a grey shirt on him with it unbuttoned to his chest region, revealing a little of his toned chest.
"Please, I only wanted to give you your snack master. I mean you no harm" I said, my head lowered.
"As if," he said, putting his knife into its sheath in his boots and walking away. His snack is ruined. Oh…I'm gonna die.
"I'll be going out for the day, give the captain this," he said, handing me a folded scroll.
"Yes, master," I replied. I didn't know who the captain could be but I had a guess. The man from last night. Besides, I didn't want to stir up his already rising anger for me.
"Clean that up" he said, finally leaving and I sighed, having escaped another moment without punishment. He's probably piling them up for me.
Alexander's pov
I had felt someone sneaking up on me so I waited till they neared. After tackling the person, I saw the white-haired girl again. She was lucky because I didn't slit her throat first before checking who she was.
The annual clan gathering was approaching and as always the four clan leaders met to plan for it together.
I made my way towards the already prepared carriage and soon we were on the road with Cole riding on a horse ahead clearing the path filled with people.
Going through the buzzing city, the carriage rode out through the south gates, which led out of the city. As we rode on, it was quite empty compared to what Cole had said about the outsiders surrounding the gate. He probably already took care of it. He always does.
I gave the order and we rode fast. The meeting was in less than an hour and it would take at least thirty minutes riding slowly.
It was a smooth road so there were barely any bumps and potholes.
However, that moment was abruptly shattered by a sudden jolt that resounded through the carriage, followed by a deafening crash. The carriage tilted to one side, throwing me off balance as if something had gone wrong with the wheels. I placed my hands on both sides of the carriage as the chaos continued, but that didn't stop me from hitting my head hard on the side window. After a short while, the carriage finally landed on its side.
The smell of dust and earth filled my nostrils as I tried to find the right position to get out since the door to my left was blocked. With a burst of strength, I kicked the door on the opposite side open and got out.
"Sir, are you all right?" Cole asked with a worried expression on his face. I searched through the guards and my eyes finally fell on the coach whose head was injured with blood dripping down his face. I swallowed, inhaling the metallic scent. With a sense of reflex, I slapped him.
"Forgive me, master" he begged, his knees falling to the ground.
"The wheel suddenly went off…I don't know what happened, please have mercy" he continued because he knew what was coming for him.
Screams could be heard and then nothing.
I got up, cleaned my lips, wiped the dust off my outfit and began walking.
"Get rid of the body".