As soon as Marcus shot Nicholas with the poisoned arrow, I became scared and confused.
Without thinking twice I ran to a nearby bush and hid the journal, hoping it would be safe from the queen.
All of a sudden Marcus approached me and grabbed my arm, dragging me away on the hard floor, I looked down at the river and saw Nicholas's lifeless body floating in the river, it broke my heart a thousand times.
Marcus dragged me through the streets holding my shirt collar firmly, my shirt material was getting weak due to the force he dragged it with,
The sun shone heavily on us, it got so hot that I could hardly breath.
Soon we were at the market square where merchants and traders hawked their wares and people from all over haggled over prices.
As we walked through the market, Marcus firm grip on my shirt drew attention from everyone around to me but no one dared to interfere, I looked like a slave that had Just been bought.
We were getting close, I could see the palace gates from where we were, the sky began to get dark and as we approached the gate my heart began to beat wildly because I knew it definitely wasn't going to be a vacation in there.
Once we were in front of the gate, Marcus signaled one of the guards to open the palace gates with a wave of his hands, the palace gates creaked open and I saw a team of guards and soldiers all standing there as if they were waiting for me to arrive.
Marcus pulled me through the courtyard, past the guards, and into the palace itself.
The interior of the palace was just impressive, it had marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and beautiful lightings and paintings on the walls.
My feet echoed on the floor as we made our way deeper into the palace.
Finally, we arrived at the throne room, where the queen sat looking at her nails.
She looked at me with disgust as Marcus dragged me Infront of her, I felt a shiver run down my spine immediately my eyes met hers.
I looked at her makeup filled face and knew immediately that my fate was sealed and i was at the mercy of the queen.
"Excellent work, Marcus," she said standing up and approaching me.
"Now, give me the journal!"
I pretended I didn't know what she was talking about. "What journal?" I asked, trying to sound innocent.
She rolled her eyes and her Face turned red with anger, "Do you think you can lie to me, Richard," she said.
"I know you have it. Where is it?"
I shrugged, trying to look calm.
"I don't know what you're talking about," i repeated.
Marcus who was standing quietly behind me this whole time kicked me behind my knees and i fell to the floor.
The queen got more enraged "You'll pay for your defiance.
Take him,. We'll see how long he lasts."
Before I knew it I felt a loud painful thud behind my head and then everything went blank.
AUTHOR'S POV
Elora, a young maid in the palace, was going about her daily duties.
She heard rumors about Nicholas's death and Richard's imprisonment, but she didn't know what to believe, all the maids had been gossiping about it since morning.
Elora's village in Elyndor was a peaceful and prosperous community they had some of the best healer's to ever exist.
The village was rumoured to be in possession of the journal since they've had healing and magical powers for ages, making ELYNDOR one of the strongest city in the land.
The queen, seeking to expand her power and control, had been searching for the journal for years.
She believed it would give her the edge she needed to dominate the entire kingdom.
She heard rumors that the journal was hidden in Elora's village and immediately launched a brutal attack, killing many of the villagers and enslaving the rest.
They couldn't fight back since all they had were just healing powers and just a hand full of men to protect them.
Elora's family was among those killed, and she was taken prisoner along with many of her people.
The queen's soldiers searched the village, but they couldn't find the journal,
Filled with the rage of not being able to find the journal, the queen ordered her soldiers to destroy the village and enslave its people.
And now elora serves the queen as a slave,with no where to go and no one to turn to.
She walked through the big castle halls hurriedly, the head of servants, Lady Grace had appointed her to clean the queen's room and she dared not go late.
Few minutes later she was Infront of the queen's door, without knocking, she carefully opened the door, went in and began to clean,
As she cleaned the queen's chambers, she overheard the queen talking to her guards in one of the inner rooms.
"I don't trust that Richard," she said.
"He's hiding the journal somewhere, I'm sure of it and I don't want you to give him rest until you get it out of him".
Later that night, Elora snuck into the palace passageways so she could go to the prison and get a glimpse of Richard, as she walked she kept contemplating on whether to move forward or not because she could get into serious trouble and probably end up in a cell.
She decided to turn back and immediately she turned her back she ran into the queen and an old lady who stood with the queen, her heart jumped immediately she saw them.
"What are you doing here?" the queen demanded immediately she sighted her.
Elora's curtsied. "I was just... um... looking for a way to get to the kitchen, Your Majesty."
The queen raised an eyebrow. "At this hour? I don't think so.
You're spying on the prisoner, aren't you?"
Elora's heart raced repeatedly and the queen's guards stepped forward, their hands on their swords. She knew she had to think fast.
"No, Your Majesty," she said. "I swear, I was just lost."
The queen looked deeply into her eyes, "Very well," she said and dismissed elora.
Elora nodded, and ran away quickly before she got into more trouble, but she knew she couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
She felt that Richard could know something about her people since he was rumoured to posses the journal.
As she ran away, the queen turned to the lady by her side, keep an eye on her".
The lady nodded with a creepy smile and they continued walking.