Chapter 256
My heart pounded like drums in my ears as we continued to run. At this point, I was starting to think Earth just wasn't for us. There were so many dangers, and we just couldn't keep up. At least, Agua was safe, even if it felt like a prison; no one had to die. On Earth, death was always there, roaming around us, ready to take more and more.
"We can take a break here; you need to rest. I can hear your heart race from a mile away," Sasha said as we stopped at a secluded area. It was hidden enough with a few rocks and trees. However, I could feel the difference in this area from Alaric's. There were a few trees here; it's like some of them were chopped, and there was less wildlife.
I breathed out as I looked around, always alert. "Is this it... is this Westeroz?" I asked Sasha.
She smiled, "Come, follow me." I nodded as I followed her with Lilah and Amara right beside me.
We were on higher ground, and right below us were buildings, older buildings surrounded and guarded by a very large wall. It was the biggest wall I had ever seen. It was a whole city, an old city just like how it was described in all the books I have read.
"Wow," Amara said, and I nodded.
"Double wow," Lilah breathed out.
Sasha didn't look impressed at all. "That's Westeroz, the enemy's land," she said, turning back. "Three minutes' rest, and we are back on the road. We need to act fast; by now, Alaric has sent all his men after us."
I nodded, "Okay."
We stayed for a bit as we watched the walled city. Tyler joined us, "I hate this place," he said.
"You hate everything," Amara replied.
"John is dead because of the grounders; there's nothing good about being on land," he said a bit annoyed.
"Tyler is right; we thought this was our safe place. A new home, but it's clear we do not belong here. We will never be safe here," Sam sighed.
I couldn't help but agree with my friends. They were right; this place was like hell to us. We were surrounded by beasts and wild people that wanted us dead. We were the weakest links, but not anymore; I was going to protect my people no matter what.
We returned to Sasha and began to make our way to Westeroz. Sasha took out a large scarf from her bag, "Here, wear this; we want to try our best to avoid attention coming our way," she said, wrapping it around my head. I nodded; of course, my hair shouted 'attention.'
Sasha had surprised us by borrowing pants from Lilah and a jacket. She also told me to do the same. Apparently, the people from Westeroz had a different way of dressing than people from the East. People from the East were considered wild and untamed, so they were not allowed inside the walls.
When we arrived at the gate, I was amazed at the number of people lined up to enter Westeroz. There were traders, farmers, and many more just waiting to enter the big city. There were more than a dozen guards by the gate and some above the walls watching. Sasha had made us leave our weapons behind because the guards search every single person before they enter.
"Just be calm and look innocent...all of you. Do not make any rude faces or remarks even if one guard says something that bothers you. These people will make sure you don't enter especially if you try something stupid" Sasha said looking at Tyler. He just scowled at her ,Tyler was just a bad boy in general. He liked causing trouble but right now wasn't the time for that.
The line moved surprisingly fast and in few minutes we were next. I kept my head down as the guards searched us . I noticed they wore black uniforms with a golden dragon sign on the chest. We didn't have much trouble entering ,all we had to do was keep our heads down and our mouths shut.
As we entered Westeroz, my heart raced with anticipation. The cobblestone streets echoed with the footsteps of vibrant inhabitants. The ancient buildings' timeless beauty made me feel like a character in a storybook.
"Would you look at this place!" Tyler exclaimed, his eyes wide with awe. "Feels like we've stepped into a different era."
Sasha sighed, her eyes scanning the surroundings with a hint of caution. "Enjoy the view later. Right now, we need to figure out our next move."
We walked further into the city, passing by people immersed in their daily tasks. I couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder as an old man shuffled past us, hawking colorful head scarfs.
"Scarf for sell, my sister! Scarf for sell!" the man called out, extending a scarf towards me.
Sasha, ever vigilant, pulled me away. "Ignore that, we need to focus."
Behind a building, we huddled to discuss our plan. Sasha's sharp eyes surveyed the area as she spoke. "Any idea where your people might be held?"
I bit my lip, deep in thought. "I'm not sure, but Sasha, you think it's in the castle, right?"
Sasha nodded. "It's a high possibility. Important prisoners like your folks would likely be held there, especially if the people of Westeroz discovered their machines on land."
Tyler interjected with a mischievous grin. "So, we sneak into the castle. But how? Traders or guards?"
"Why not both?" Sasha suggested. "Blend in, gather information. We need to be smart about it."
Tyler's eyes sparkled with a daring idea. "Give me a minute." He took Sam with him and disappeared around a corner.
As the two returned, my jaw dropped. Tyler held guard uniforms, and Sam carried a sack filled with silver plates, forks, and knives.
Sasha raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on her face. "I won't even ask where you got those, but good job. Now let's get dressed."
I hesitated, glancing at the silverware. "Shouldn't we return these?"
Tyler shrugged. "Don't worry, they won't miss a few silver trinkets. Let's just focus on getting to the castle."
We emerged onto the bustling streets, now disguised as traders being led to the castle by guards. Sasha and Sam decided they were better off as guards.The city's pulse quickened around us as we approached the imposing castle gates.
Sasha, scanning the surroundings, whispered to the group. "Remember, act natural.Tyler try not to speak please."
I couldn't shake the feeling of being in a living novel. Each step towards the castle was a dance between excitement and danger. I just couldn't wait to see my mother and everyone else. I prayed that they were safe and unharmed.
As we entered the grand castle, its towering walls and opulent architecture made me feel like a mere pawn in a vast game. The guard stationed at the entrance eyed us suspiciously.
"What's your business here?" he asked, narrowing his gaze.
Tyler, always quick with words, responded, "Traders with special silverware for the council. It's required inside."
The guard seemed to buy the story and gestured for us to proceed. Once inside, we exchanged glances, realizing that we now needed to navigate the labyrinth of the castle to find where our people were being held.
As we explored the corridors, each room held a potential clue. However, our covert mission took an unexpected turn when a guard intercepted us.
"Why are you in the council's living quarters?" he demanded, suspicion etched across his face.
Tyler, perhaps fueled by the urgency of the situation, instinctively reached for his weapon. Shock rippled through the group as Sasha's earlier warning about leaving our weapons behind echoed in our minds. I seriously wanted to give Tyler a big slap ,he always had to ruin things.
More guards materialized, and chaos ensued as we fought to defend ourselves. However, their numbers overwhelmed us, and the reinforcements kept pouring in.
In the midst of the skirmish, we were captured by the relentless guards and brought before the heads of the council. A stern woman regarded us with a piercing gaze.
"What were you doing in the council's living quarters?" she inquired, her tone demanding an explanation.
One of the guards handed the woman our weapons and she narrowed her eyes at us. "You are from the waters?"
Lilah stepped forward, her voice steady. "We were looking for our parents and families that you captured."
The woman's demeanor softened, and a small smile played on her lips. "Your families are well and safe."
The doors behind us creaked open, and I turned to see my mother standing there. A surge of emotion overwhelmed me, and I ran towards her. She embraced me in a warm hug, and tears welled up in my eyes.
"Mother!" I exclaimed, my voice choked with emotion.
"I'm sorry I was mad at you," I confessed, my mother wiping away my tears. She kissed my cheeks gently, assuring me that everything would be fine now.
"Shshh everything is going to be fine now my baby" she kissed my forehead and for the first time in a long time I felt safe and at home in her arms.
"Now that you have your children we have much to discuss" the woman said and I turned to look at her as my mother nodded. There was something that bothered me about whatever she wished to discuss with my mother. I would ask questions later.
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