Abigail's pov

The fresh spring air blew through my room as I got out of bed. I hurried to get dressed in my maid uniform as I saw the first few candles being lit in the hall. I wrinkled my nose at the scent of my green cloth apron. I will definitely need to wash it soon. I smiled suddenly as I remembered today was the day. I was going to run away from my job as a maid. I planned it all out in my head days ago. I'd simply slip away and maybe go become a baker or something like that in Highcity. I brushed my deep brown hair and rubbed my emerald eyes before leaving.

I walked out of my room and walked along the corridor with the the other maid's rooms in them. Most maids don't live in the castle, but I jumped on the opportunity of getting a free place to sleep in the castle. Sun hit my eyes as I passed the large wall of glass that looked out on one of the many town gardens. Farmers and maids were already tending the crops. This wasn't the garden I tended to, it was one of the basil and parsley gardens. Warm air greeted me like any other morning though it was Autumn. Like how Winterrip always has winter we always have spring at Hillstone. I picked my way throughout the gardens reaching the one i worked in, the orchid.

The orchids were probably the best garden to work in all I do is pick fruit and occasionally plant new trees. Earlier that year termites killed several of our apple trees and new ones are still growing now. The first fruit were harvested only a few days ago. I quickly grabbed one of the wooden buckets. I began to pick pears from a tree, hoping I could sneak them with me when I leave. I jumped suddenly as a hand rested on my back. I turned around to see one of the other maids, she must of worked in a different garden because I didn't reconize her. Her blonde hair seemed brittle and there was bags under her chestnut eyes.

"Someone killed the king last night, there's a meeting in the hall right now." Was all she said before she walked away. I slowly put the bucket down, fear held in my throat. Was he really dead? I ran to the great hall, seeing Queen Gytha trying to hush the crowd of maids with her dry olive colored hands. Once we were silent she sighed. "I'm sorry ladies, but it's true" no bit of sorrow was in her voice and her brows were knitted together. "We won't let this hold us back, and I have a few suspects!" The maids chattered for a moment before the queen hushed them again. "There's only two of you the others are from the other kingdoms. They have already been assembled in HighCity for we don't have... Dungeons"

I felt relief flood over me. I certainly didn't do it and if she was only picking two maids there was no way- "Abbigail RavenGem, and Merek RavenBranch come up here please." I felt my body freeze as the eyes of a few around me cast a hateful glance in my direction. I walked solemnly, getting pushed some of the way. The queen looked down with me with hatred as a knight suddenly grabbed my arm. "You'll be taken to HighCity where the others are gathered, you will then decide as a group who is the murder! Who you decide will be put to death" I got taken away by the knight who gently led me to my room "grab your things, maybe change your clothes too."

He shut the door, I felt frozen still. Though I changed my maid outfit into my nicer one. I had deer fur boots on with tighter hide pants and a deer skin tunic since it would be Autumn in Highcity I puy on a nice wolf elk fur vest. I clipped on my soft green dyed silk hood around my shoulders. I grabbed my staff which had a Peridot gem in the top. It was the family gem, almost all families have them. Mine got passed down through this staff though most other families pass them down through jewelry or a knife. I grabbed my small satchel was was pre-packed with my things because I assumed I was leaving today. It had some sunflower seeds {along with some other plant seeds}, some coins, and a map.

Along with a small knife I kept on me. I opened the door and the knight led me to a small carriage. It wasn't very nice all the wood that was splintering and cracked, but I sat down in it anyways. Shortly after Merek joined me. His small brown curls bounced as he entered the carriage and his pale green eyes were large. "you didn't do it, did you?" he said to me. I was taken back by the statement. "You know I wouldn't do that, you've lived with me a few years now!" I replied. he sat down crossly as the carriage began to move. "I'm only your stepbrother, how would I know." he turned her head and didn't speak to me for most of the ride. A thought suddenly struck me, maybe I could leave now and this terrible carriange ride could be my free ride to the high city.

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