Chapter 36

“You’re right. My apology won’t change what happened in the past but it will show you that I was and I am still very sorry about my actions. Please, forgive me,” she said.
“Please, forgive her,” said Albert. “She is truly sorry. She has carried the weight of her guilt with her all through her time in the Highlands until she came here.”
“How did you leave there? Did you piss off the almighty Alpha Jaxon?” I asked.
“No,” she said. “He did in the fall of last year and his oldest son became the new Alpha.”
“Oh, so that beast finally died. What a bastard,” I said without sympathy.
I remembered how the wicked Alpha treated me in his palace and my stomach was knotted with humiliation as those awful memories flashed through my mind. I hoped that monster died a slow painful death. He didn’t deserve a peaceful rest at all.
“His son dismissed all of the domestic staff in the palace and brought in new ones from a neighbouring pack that he conquered after his father’s death,” said Lattie.
My heart skipped a beat. “A neighbouring pack? What are they called?”
“The Gypsy Pack,” replied Lattie, confirming my fear.
“Oh, no,” I whispered.
“What is it?” Albert asked.
“I used to be one of them…” I said.
“One of the Gypsies?” Lattie asked. “I thought you said you were from Apex Woods?”
“I am. Was…” I replied. “It doesn’t matter. Do you know if they captured the Alpha of the pack too?”
Lattie shrugged. “How would I know? All I know is that the Gypsy Pack was conquered by Alpha Rowan and he has made them his slaves.”
This news worried me. What had become of Hycinth and his family? Was his mother still alive? Did the new Alpha kill him? What about Lola and her babies?
“I need to find out what happened to the Alpha of the Gypsies,” I said.
“Why?” Albert asked.
“He was my… I mean, we were together briefly,” I replied. “I need to know what has happened to him.”
“And just how do you intend to do that?” He asked me with a curious expression.
“I’ll go to the Highlands, of course,” I said confidently.
“Have you lost your mind?” Lattie asked me. “Have you forgotten that you were banished from there?”
“And I have you to thank for that, don’t I?” I replied sarcastically.
“I wouldn’t go there if I were you, Jade,” Albert warned me.
“He’s right,” Lattie agreed. “Alpha Rowan is a devil. His father was an angel compared to him. Trust me, you don’t want to go anywhere near the Highlands while he’s in charge.”
“I don’t have a choice,” I said. “Hycinth helped me and my son to find our feet again after I was kicked out of the Highlands. He saved me once and now it’s my turn to save him.”
“That’s very noble of you, but you cannot break anyone out of Rowan’s prison,” said Lattie. “He is a sadistic bastard who was raised by a monster. If you love your life, don’t go anywhere near his territory.”
“That’s the thing, Lattie. I hate my life,” I said with a smile. “Perhaps, this is the perfect opportunity to finally check out of this miserable world and find peace in the afterlife.”
“Come on…” Albert groaned. “Why are you so obsessed with dying?”
“What are you talking about?” Lattie asked him and Albert narrated how he fished me from the bottom of the river a couple of hours ago.
“Whatever it is you’re going through, dying isn’t the answer,” said Lattie to me. “Think about your dear son. Are you going to leave him alone in this world without a mother?”
“He has already left me alone in this world without a son,” I replied flatly. “He died two years ago.”
Lattie gasped. “My goodness! I am so sorry to hear that.”
“I have to leave now,” I said, rising to my feet.
Albert was alarmed. “You can’t leave tonight. At least, eat some food and rest, then you can leave tomorrow if you insist.”
“He’s right, Jade,” said Lattie. “The village may be a safe place generally, but once in a while, someone loses their mind and break the rules. I don’t want you to get hurt. Please, stay.”
“Ok,” I said reluctantly. Spending the night here would give me enough time to think of what to do when I reach the Highlands.
“Thank you,” said Lattie, smiling. Relief and gratitude were written all over her face. I nearly forgave her.
“I’ll tidy up our spare room for you,” said Albert. “I hope you’ll change your mind about leaving tomorrow though.”
I smiled at him. “I won’t, but thank you for your concern. I am a drifter and life is about to take me to my next destination.”
He took my hands in his and squeezed them gently. “I hope you eventually find that elusive happiness that you’re looking for,” he said softly.
Tears stung my eyes. Albert had seen through my misery and could tell that deep down, all I was searching for was happiness which was buried inside true love.
This stranger has seen my biggest desire in my eyes and he was rooting for me. I gently squeezed his knobby old fingers too, appreciating his wisdom.
“I hope so too,” I said with a sad smile.

***********************
With Albert’s help, I got a ride from the village to the Highlands port for free. Lattie had gone out of her way to resize a few of her dresses for me. Then, at her husband’s insistence, she trimmed my hair and dyed it a bold strawberry blond colour.
“You look stunning!” Albert had gushed when she was done with my makeover.
“The red hair brings out the brightness in your green eyes,” she’d said.
“I don’t want to draw anyone’s attention, Lattie,” I had complained. “I want to blend into the crowd.”
“You were not created to blend in, Jade,” said Albert. “You were made to stand out.”
I chuckled at his words. “How would you know?”
“I just do,” he had said, grinning like a proud father.
“Will come back this way and visit us again?” Lattie had asked hopefully.
Sometime in the course of the night, I had buried my hatchet with her and decided to let bygone be bygone. Staying angry with her won’t bring Domarius back to life, so it was pointless.
“Maybe,” I said. “But don’t hold your breath.”
Now, at the ports, I adjusted my shoulder bag that contained a few things that Lattie had given me as parting gifts. She had given me everything I needed to take care of myself during my road trip.
I began my walk to the palace with my heart in my mouth. Would anyone here recognize me? How was I going to get into the palace grounds when I had no business there?
“Hello, beauty,” a man said beside me. He was grinning at me with stained teeth and dragging a wagon filled with fruits and vegetables behind him.
“I can tell that you’re not from around here,” he said.
“Is that so?” I replied.
“Yes. Highland females are dull and always look miserable,” he laughed. “Where are you from, sweetheart?”
I disliked him right then. Why would he call me sweetheart when he didn’t even know me? What a bum!
“I’m from the south village,” I told him. “I’m looking for work.”
He laughed again and I got a whiff of his stinky breath. I nearly gagged. “You’re looking for paid work in the Highlands? You must be from another world if you don’t know that Alpha Rowan owns everyone who works in his territory.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means, we are all his slaves. We don’t get paid in coins. The food we eat and the spaces we occupy in this territory are our payment.”
I was shocked. What manner of cruelty was this? Lattie was right. Alpha Rowan was worse than his father. At least the former Alpha had paid workers in and out of the palace. How could his son declare the entire population in the pack as his slaves? Who does that?
“You can come and work for me, though,” the dirty man continued. “You will get to eat whatever you want on the farm. All you have to do is to be mine and keep my bed warm at night and hot in the afternoon.”
He winked at me and rubbed his crotch suggestively. I almost vomited because I was so disgusted by him. This smelly douchebag wanted me to sleep with him? Not in this lifetime!
“Tell you what, I’ll warm your bed tonight if you can get me into the palace kitchen right now,” I told him.
His smile dimmed. “Why? What are you looking for there?”
I looked around quickly and lowered my voice. “The truth is, I heard that one of my sisters now works in the palace kitchen. I want to go inside and see if it’s true.”
He became nervous. “Listen, sweetheart. If you’re trying to break your sister out of the kitchen, then let me be the first to tell you that you won’t succeed. Nobody goes in and out of the palace without clearance from the royal guards.”
“Trust me, I’m not trying to break her out of there,” I assured him. “I just want to be sure that she’s alive and well.”
He snorted. “She may be alive but I can’t say much for her being well. Alpha Rowan works everyone to the ground like oxen.”
“He doesn’t sound like a nice guy,” I commented in a low voice so that the people passing by wouldn’t overhear me.
“His father was a saint compared to him,” the man replied from the side of his mouth.
“So, are you going to help me?” I asked him.
He thought about my question for a moment. “Fine, but you have to cover your hair. I don’t want the guards to suspect foul play once we reach the palace gates.”
“What’s your plan?”
“I’ll tell them you’re my cousin and you’re delivering these harvested crops to the palace kitchen with me today.”
“Are you really going to the palace kitchen?”
“Yes. It’s my turn to bring my harvest today. You’re lucky you found me.”
“I guess I am,” I replied, although I didn’t feel lucky.
I searched inside my bag and found a black shawl that Lattie had given me. I tied it around my head, making sure to tuck in every strand of my hair underneath it. I covered my shoulders with it and made sure to tuck in my necklace under my blouse too.
I was hoping that I might find Lola or any other female from the Gypsy Pack inside the palace kitchen. They would tell me where to find Hycinth and then I’d start plotting how to set him free. It was an ambitious plan but I had to at least try.