Thread: The Urchin and the Prince [Ava & Eyesoffire]

A barrel toppled, clattering against the frozen cobbles sharply followed swiftly by a string of curses, an intoxicated tramp struggling to right himself after a bundle of tatter fabric and fear had run head long into him. The girl stumbled, staggering from the impact yet somehow managing to maintain her footing to plunge on down the dimly lit street. Her two pursuers were hot on her heels, their misted breath hanging behind them in the frigid night air as they threw aside the unsteady stranger who had inadvertently lumbered into their path. Ells swung right sharply, almost slamming straight into the wooden wall of ramshackle lean to before pushing off the rough surface and surging on. Poorly shod feet slapped loudly against the hardened filth beneath her feet, each step sending sharp stabs of prickling pain up thin legs, numbness long since having settled into the girl's bones. Teeth clenched, her breath coming out in ragged gasps as she took another turn and then another. The spaces between the buildings were gradually beginning to grow wider, the building themselves in better repair, confirming that she was drawing closer to the lower market square as she had hoped. Just as the street opened up into the vast empty space, hard stone giving away to the shadows of untended market stalls, something heavy struck solidly between her shoulder blades, pitching her forward violently. The cold ground rushed up to meet her. Her fragile body slamming into the cruel stone in a tangle of limbs and tattered fabric, forcing the air from her lungs in a single agonising rush. Darkness pricked at the back of her eyes, every nerve raw to the pain that coursed through her and the icy terror that fell over her with the shadows of the two men. Little bitch... Rymos spat, swiping at his mouth with the back of his hand before sucking in a deep lungful of crisp air before stooping to get a grasp of the girl's tangled dark locks. His fingers never found their purchase however, for no sooner had he begun to bend than he staggered backward with a howl of pain. A foot had lashed out violently, all the girl's might focused upon sending her foot into the middle of the bald man's shin, enough to create a brief window for escape. It was enough. Ells clawed at the ground, feet scrambling to gain purchase as she almost fell face first onto the cobbles again. She staggered, an arm clutching at her side as she caught her balance and began to move again, half running and half stumbling, legs heavy and sluggish. Rymos was cursing, his voice carrying across the empty square as he instructed his caped companion to give chase. By now, the girl had reached the other side of the courtyard and disappeared from sight, feeling desperately along the wall of the nearest building. She glanced up. The high wall of the upper district towered above her, a silent and resolute remainder that she was not welcome upon the cleanly swept cobbles of the wealthy and influential. Heavy footsteps grew louder, drawing closer. Expression set in grim determination, Ells pushed off from the wall she had been leaning on and began to run again, as fast as her weary body would allow, following the road that swept up to and past the nearest gate, hugging the shadows as best she could. The high arch came into view between the buildings, lit by a number of flickering torches secured firmly within their brackets, illuminating the figures of a number of guards milling about in an effort to remain warm. With what energy she had left, the girl put on a burst of speed and was upon the gate before any of the watchmen even noticed. A shout went up, figures began moving toward her but she stumbled on, head down, ignoring them. She passed by the heavy wooden doors, great slabs of wood held together by iron, laid open and unbarred. Fingers suddenly snagged at her arm, a firm leather-clad hand taking hold and whirling her round sharply, a nearby torch providing a warm glow by which both urchin and guard could see each other. Oi, two more...look lively lads. Her head snapped back toward the way she had come just as Rymos and his companion stepped into the torch-light, a self-satisfied smirk touching his lips. She was caught, trapped. The guard would bundle her back into cheap side and into the bald thug's waiting arms. Ells paused and turned to look back down the winding road she had been staggering up for the past half hour. Below her the districts of the city sprawled out on all but one side, faint lights winking in the stillness of the night. Behind her the palace loomed still higher, many windows still illuminated with the glow of a multitude of candles. It was beautiful, even from this distance - away form the sights and smells of poverty - the slums looked almost quaint. Thin fingers raked through the tangled wisps of hair that floated idly in the wind that had began to pick up the higher she climbed. She wasn't sure how she had managed to get this far - fate, the gods, pity, or simply good fortune, whatever it was she truly didn't care. All she knew was the guard's grip upon her arm loosened, for whatever reason, sufficiently that she had been able to wrench herself free and bolt before anyone had a chance to stop her. Rymos, enraged that his prey had slipped the net, had violently shoved one of the guards out of his path, resulting in the full attention of all watchmen to fall upon both men. Whether they had eventually got passed or not Ells didn't know, but the delay had allowed her to put a good deal of distance between herself and them. Enough to buy her some time to consider her options. While the streets of the upper district had been near deserted during her hurried passage through them, she knew all too well what would happen to any unfortunate soul found begging on these streets. In theory, the pickings were certainly better if you could find a noble woman with half a heart you were in for a rather generous amount of coin. Unfortunately in practice, you'd be lucky if you escaped with anything less than a few bruises. The guards, as well as the citizens, within this part of the city were merciless when it came to the poor and down trodden - even the youngest of beggars beaten to within an inch of their lives, and sometimes beyond. Neither could she return to the slums, or any of the lower district for that matter. Ells knew Rymos and Rymos knew her, as well as a good many others that frequented those dirty streets. She'd be lucky if she lasted a day without him catching up with her. So she had only one option to throw herself on the mercy of the palace guards and hope that the information she carried would buy her something, even if that was only a night in the cells. This gate was far better guarded than the last, well disciplined men clad in armour and cold stares stamped their feet and strode back and forth in an attempt to build some warmth into their bodies. One of the heavy doors had been bolted shut, the gap left by the unsecured door well manned. There would be no slipping by these men. In fact even as Ells made her painful approach, a shout rang out from one of the sentries posted upon the wall and before she had barely had a chance to step into the circle of light provided by the torches a voice called out to her. State your business. It was a command, not a request. An order, not a question. The girl stopped, still cradling her side as she took a moment to try and slow her ragged breathing. I-...I have a message... Her voice cracked and broke, wavering pitiably, ...For the King. No sooner had she finished than several of the nearest men began to laugh, another voice repeated her request loudly and obnoxiously. More laughter followed. The girl felt an anger stir within her, an indignation at being so simply dismissed. It's important! She raised her voice, trying to shout over the sound of their mocking, stepping further into the circle of light which only seemed to ignite the men's mirth further upon seeing her tatty clothing and generally grubby appearance. Ells felt her cheeks flush, her jaw tighten. She had risked her life for this. There is a plot to kill him! The mood changed drastically, what had been amusement at her expense now became cold indifference, expressions growing stern. Mind your words, filth. Threaten the King again and I will have your head. No, not me but someone else-... Her persistence was cut short, an armoured guard stepping forward to meet her as she took another tentative step forward. Enough. Crawl back to your hole, wretch. We aren't listening to your tales.. When she made no move to leave, the man sneered, grabbing a handful of her rags and shoving her backward forcefully. Ells just barely managed to maintain her balance, stumbling before straightening herself and standing her ground, pale leaf green eyes lifting to stare up into the face of the stranger. Someone is going to poison him, I heard them say it! The second push was far more forceful, sending the girl sprawling onto the ground to the sound of snickering and jeers. Eh...Sorry, that got stupidly long . I'm not sure i'll ever post that much again, unless you particularly enjoy reading