<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Shivering, the sleeping woman pulled a ratty sheet tighter around her shrinking frame. She moaned out in fear, visions of a talking throat fueling her dreams. Red stained her eyes as the throat rasped \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Be strong,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and she shrunk back. She couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be strong. Had instead felt weak and helpless ever since she watched her first friend callously murdered.<\/p>\n
She was roughly shaken awake. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Up, you old maid,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the roadswoman whispered into Bionca\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ear maliciously. A smirk settled onto her delicate features. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time to see what the border officers make of you lot.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
For weeks, the three roadsmen had shoved their prisoners through the snowy landscape. Their chains chafed their ankles, blood often dripping alongside their path.<\/p>\n
Once he had awoken, Oscar had gruffly accepted their captors\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 deal to earn his freedom through making the others keep in line. Drake refused to look at his son, even now that they were about to enter Taesh. The roadswoman was whispering jabs at him in her girlish voice.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s enough, Paget,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the leader scolded. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want the officers arresting us now, do we?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Her smirk only deepening, Paget responded \u00e2\u20ac\u0153As my lord commands,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d while bowing theatrically. The man scoffed and pushed his cargo toward the border gates.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sir, please state your party\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s identities and business in Taesh,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d a red cloaked officer said, holding up an eye-scanning device to corroborate his answer.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153My name is Edzard Orsin. My partners are Katie Paget and T.J. Rakowsky.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Upon a glower from the man, he added \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And Oscar Sullivan. The rest are runaways we found on the road. We are here to sell them into the guilds.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I see.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d The officer relaxed his arm and peered at the chained prisoners. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Tell me your names.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Gaia squared her jaw, then answered fiercely, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I am Gaia Durant. This is my husband Brion and daughter Bionca. My friend is Drake Sullivan.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
The scanner beeped as it surveyed Brion\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s eyes. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Excuse me. Please wait here,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said to the roadsmen. They waited nervously; crossing into the city had always been a quick and simple task in the past. This script change was unfamiliar and unwelcome.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Did they figure out who we are?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Rakowsky hissed.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153How could they have? We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been careful, and it was that blondie that set it off.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Enough, both of you,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Orsin reprimanded the pair. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t raise their suspicions.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
The officer returned wearing a smug expression. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Mr. Orsin, you may take Mr. Sullivan and Ms. Durant to the guilds. The other two have an audience with the Volarch.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d With a nod from Orsin, Rakowsky unlinked mother and daughter. Confusion clouded Bionca\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s aquamarine eyes. Gaia looked sadly back at her and her husband, silently saying goodbye, steeling herself for an extended–and perhaps permanent–separation.<\/p>\n
Bionca and her father shuffled behind the officer as he led them through a labyrinth under the city. At one point,\u00c2\u00a0after removing their shackles,\u00c2\u00a0<\/span>they were shoved into separate rooms and groomed. Their weeks of travel had left its odoriferous mark. Their hands were then cuffed behind their backs.<\/p>\n What seemed to be hours later, they began ascending to the surface. A well-armed and -guarded gate greeted them and let the small party pass without incident. Soon, they found themselves in an elaborate building and facing a large door. The red-cloaked man murmured into a device on the wall. The door swung open before them and the man ushered them inside before retreating.<\/p>\n Next to her, she felt Brion tense. He inhaled sharply before taking a cautious step forward. In the center of the room stood a man in an ornate gown and headdress. His hair was even lighter than Brion\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s, and wrinkles stood in stark relief as he smiled warmly at the pair.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153My son. You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve finally come back to me, though I admit under different circumstances than I expected!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He beamed.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Father.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Brion inclined his head stiffly. His daughter peered at him expectantly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Bionca, this is your grandfather.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n The side of the Volarch\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mouth twitched. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Ah, I see you and the Durant girl did stay together after all.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He looked his granddaughter over. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I feared the skin affliction would come to pass from the union of our families.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153My skin is not a problem, thank you very much,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the girl spat, glaring.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Oho, and what pluck she has! Just as her grandmother did. A pity she had to die.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You had them killed!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Brion shouted, rage pulsating through his scar.<\/p>\n A forlorn frown smoothed the rest of the Volarch\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s features. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153They lied about the number of their children, and their daughter refused to cooperate. It was a regrettable, though necessary, choice. They had to be made an example, else anarchy would descend upon this city.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n The door slammed open. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Volarch Taesh,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d a different red-cloaked officer began. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153There are reports of a bright object heading for the city as we speak. What would you have us do?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n Taesh\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s brow furrowed and he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Evacuate the citizens from high-risk areas. Make sure our food stocks can last.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He dismissed the officer, though he stood still, swallowing nervously. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What else?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sir, the object is heading for the center of the city. We don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have much time.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n Brion grabbed his daughter and shouldered through the doorway. Behind her, Bionca could hear her grandfather shouting \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Make sure my son is safe!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Panic spread through everyone in the building and she began coughing. They had nearly reached the labyrinth when the impact occurred. Bionca felt herself tossed around like a child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s toy. Sounds of collapsing structures filled her ears and the skies became visible. Tremors crawled up her spine. She looked to the maze\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s doorway and her breath caught in her throat.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Daddy?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She took a couple steps toward the body trapped under the fallen tunnels. A dark liquid was slithering across the floor. She fell beside her father and shook him. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Daddy, get up!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She began to cry, the tears splashing onto his face. His eyes stared back at her, their fire forever extinguished. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Daddy, please!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she begged through the coughs wracking her.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Get up, girl.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d A woman\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s harsh voice grated against her ears. She felt her arm grabbed. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s gone. We have to find your mother.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Bionca\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s head swiveled, dazed, to lock eyes with her aunt for the first time in over a decade. Mina pulled her niece up and closed Brion\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s eyes. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Volarch\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s men will be here soon. Gaia needs us now.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She dragged the shell-shocked Bionca away from her father\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s corpse.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Brittany Teodorski<\/p>\n <\/p>\n