Feather and Fortune. A Shadow And Bone Story.

Chapter 1

[Aleksandria]

Running away.

That's what I was good at. That's what I was doing now.

Mother said running away was a cowardly thing to do as a Grecia.

But me...it was my only option.

I tried to tell them I didn't want to be the heir.

But why would they listen to me?

I was always the one who was made to listen. Never to think for myself.

But no more.

As I snuck out of the palace gate, I watched as carts full of produce and food and guns were leaving the little palace.

That was my way out.

The only way.

Mother thought I was asleep. Of course she did, she never expected me to do anything she didn't tell me.

I slipped slowly towards a cart pulled by horses. I somehow manged to stay out of sight of the gaurds.

I lifted the cloth covering the now empty wagon. Pulling myself up into the cart took all my strength and will power.

The light was nonexistent under the tarp.

I felt around with my hands and found some old blankets. Making quick work, I covered myself from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.

As we went through the last gate, I prayed to all the saints I knew of to protect me.

I heard the driver conversing with one of the Operlinchki.

The seconds were going by way to slowly for my comfort. My eyes were squeezed shut with fear.

I nearly yelped as the cart began moving.

My mouth opened in surprise.

I had made it through.

                                                         ▪︎○●○▪︎

In the morning

I awoke to find myself lying in the grass. In a ditch near the road.

I had that feeling when you wake up and forget where you are. Although I had never experienced that feeling before, since I had always slept in my mothers bedroom.

I felt something touching my hand, I looked down and saw it was a note.

Gingerly, I grasped it and held it up to my face.

It read.

I found you asleep in my cart
I don't know why you were in there.
But if you were trying to escape from the little palace,
I'm not going to stop you.
I left you a sack of kruge by the tree behind you.

Good luck.
The driver.

I sat bolt upright.

I turned around and saw the tree.

I quickly crawled over to it, I dug around under the leaves and brambles, until I pulled out a small sack of kruge.

"How am I supposed to use kruge?" I whisperd. That money was for the other side.

I glanced up at the sky. The Sun was in a familiar place.