Sunni's Arc

Chapter 1 of 1

Sunni pressed her back to the cold stone and pulled the tapestry over her shoulder. She pulled the hood up in the cloak she wore, covering all but her face. She was a prisoner in this castle, held for years in the small cold rooms. She didn’t know why she was special or different, but the King kept her apart from all the other captives. Normally, she chose to stay in the shadows, preferring to be ignored by all. But tonight, voices had stopped her in the throne room. New voices. She had not seen a new person in over a year. She had slipped in, unnoticed, behind a tapestry of the great battle of a former king. One of King Damon’s predecessors. However, unlike his ancestors, Damin preferred to use others to do his dirty work. King Damon sat above the floor in his gold and purple robes. His red hair fell loose around his bored face. Three strangers stood before him in leather armor. Sunni had never seen foreigners like them. They did not bow. "We trade gold for what you keep in your cells," said the tall one. He had brown hair and a smirk, and a long sword rose over his shoulder. He was very handsome. “Your dungeon holds enough workers to help sustain our farms.” Sunni's breath caught. He meant to buy captives. "Yes," the king said. He waved one ringed hand. "They are of no use to me, if your price is high enough." Sunni's nails dug into the stone. They were talking about buying people. She felt her heart race at the indignity and the brutality of it. They were people, just like her, stolen from their homes and forced into cells. How dare they! A blonde woman turned her head toward the wall. A scar cut down one side of her beautiful face. Her eyes found the gap in the tapestry where Sunni's amber eyes shone. She had heard, or seen, or simply guessed. She smiled sweetly. "You have a little spy," the woman said. She lifted her bow before Sunni could blink. Sunni looked at the man with the smirk on his face as he turned to where the woman was looking. For a moment, she felt a strange tingling beneath the surface of her mind. The most beautiful blue eyes she ever saw burned into her amber ones and the unfamiliar burn in her fingertips made her twitch. She saw the woman nock an arrow into her bow out of the corner of her eye and broke eye contact with the man. Sunni ran. She tore free of the tapestry and bolted for the side door. Her bare feet slapped the marble. Behind her the king shouted for his guards. An arrow struck the door frame beside her ear. Wood splinters stung her cheek. The blonde woman was already nocking a second shaft, calm and quick, her aim never wild. "Don't kill her, Kala," the smirking man called. "She's worth more alive." Sunni shoved through the door into a long hall. Two guards spun toward her. She slid and barely missed the outstretched arms of the guards. She bounced up and began running again. Boots pounded behind her. Kala's voice was close and level. "You can't outrun me, little cat." Sunni chose the servants' stair and threw herself down it. She had let curiosity get the best of her and she knew she would be forced to pay later. The king had never been fond of her, but lately had been eyeing her strangely. And now, foreign warlords hunted her through his halls.