Into the City

Eventually the eight of us were escorted back to our accommodation in a covered wagon. We didn't even fill all the seats. It seemed like moments ago when not only had this wagon been full, but that there had been multiple covered wagons carrying us all to the arena. I huddled in a corner trying to make myself look as unthreatening as possible while the other girls stared each other down and in the case of Nara and Rowena, recognised each other as kindred spirits and started chatting excitedly, trying to keep to hushed tones.

When we got back, we all went off to our different suites, watching as the teams of the fallen competitors collected their belongings and left. There were many angry faces; whilst fatalities were to be expected, a fight to the death at the opening ceremony was not only a shock, it was rude. Central had practically skipped past all the formalities involved in such a tournament. Silk had coached me on what to expect so I knew that usually there were hours of introductions of competitors. Where they came from, what known skill sets they possessed, their family background, the role they played within their community, why they specifically had been chosen to represent their region. And that had all been passed up for a massacre.

That night Silk warned me to be careful, not only of the other girls, but of the officials. Without the traditional opening ceremony, I was blind when it came to knowledge of the others. I only knew what I had witnessed in the arena. Since the officials seemed to be changing the rules, I had no clue what would come next, and it seemed that their own agenda was at play here.

I had rinsed most of the blood off of my face, hands and feet with a bucket of water before I had gotten back in the wagon that would take us back but I still need a long soak in the tub to relax and process what had happened. I had seen a lot of strange things today. Silk had explained to me that the people in our village lived a much more straightforward life than those who resided in other lands, especially the ones who lived in Central. They did not care for themselves in the same way we did and they also wore clothes not for convenience, comfort, or even tradition but because that was what everyone else was wearing. The idea of wearing ill-fitting clothes because they were popular baffled me and I wondered if anyone in Central was ever comfortable. They also seemed to have a level of bloodlust I had never seen outside the hunt. The crowd at the arena had been like a wild beast, eyes crazy for the spill of blood. The Crocasant respected the hunt, we respected the battles our warriors participated in, but to enjoy the spill of blood like that...and those black roses...perhaps there was more to our separation from the rest of the kingdom than I had been told.

I had a light dinner; tonight was not one to be tearing into a steak. Since I was tired I went to bed fairly early, but I slept fitfully that night, tossing and turning. I was unused to my soft bed, I felt like I was sinking and swimming at the same time. And the noises of the city, even though we were further out still managed to distract me from slumber. Eventually I must have drifted off.

"Sorrel, it's time to get up." Silk shook me softly, and brought me to a tub full of steaming water, where I bathed.

As I woke up from my groggy half sleep she said "The officials have changed plans again. Instead of the customary horse riding, you are to walk the city unseen and observe all that goes on around you. Using your observations you must produce an initiative that will most benefit the poorest of Central. The two champions with the worst proposals shall be eliminated from the tournament, and then the 6 of you will attend a ball tomorrow night."

"Wait, how long do I have to come up with this idea?"

"You have the entirety of today. Usually a task such as this would not be given until much later on in the competition but as there are only eight of you left they decided to... skip a few steps." Skip a few steps, more like a big bundle of them! Silk had reassured me that I would not have to do any hard thinking for a few weeks yet. Most of my focus had been on the physical aspect of all this, though I had had strategy training and the like, charity was not something that I had a good grasp of, mainly because in the Village we shared all we had. The glory of a hunt might only go to one, but the kill itself was divided amongst those who needed it most. We had no currency, though we had learnt of it. We merely traded items we wanted, with each other and with the peddlers. How did one help the poorest in a place where everyone was expected to look after themselves?

After my bath, Silk dressed me in a dark grey woollen dress and a black cloak with my hair down and wild, covering my face. It was so I wouldn't stand out as a stranger to the city. I was quite excited to see the city though. I had never been in such a concentrated area of people before and there was so much to see and hear and smell even. Silk walked me to the door before she bid me farewell with a smoothing palm on my head, and a bag of coins to buy food with. She was not one to be affectionate, but every so often she would do something that showed she cared. Silk took care of me. I walked into the city with the determination to do her proud.

The Prince's Point of View

I was encouraged to see the girls in action. Whilst I was not allowed to interfere, if I had a favourite, there were ways. I found the whole thing sickening. What was I? A cattle to be traded? A prize bull? Oh yes, this guy right here will give you some award winning babies, he is a proper thoroughbred through and through. With such pedigree who wouldn't want to claim all this...

After being dropped off by my guards, who would watch me from the shadows, I walked along the poorer streets of Central, and soon began to spot the girls. One of them, wearing the same long pants as before, stuck right out, twirling and skipping along the cobbles, her head in the clouds. I had no doubt she would probably come up with a stupid proposal, naïve and ridiculous.

I saw another one, Galatea I think, trying to blend in and failing. She wore high quality clothes and with a full face of make-up, no matter how she tried to skulk around, she stuck out like a sore thumb. The locals were staring at them, some in fascination and others in annoyance that they were disturbing the peace. I also doubt they took kindly to being stared at like animals in a zoo. Surely people in the outer regions could not be so different? But then, I had never been educated on them, to prevent prejudice on my part in the marriage. It would only be after that I would finally be allowed to learn more than the brief history of Central. What a pathetic excuse of a prince I am. My sister is more knowledgeable about the goings on of the kingdom than the one who will rule it. Some days I feel like a doll in a glass case, on display for all to see, protected and caged all at once.

As I continued walking I saw the girl with the shaved head lurked in the shadows, blending in so well I almost didn't spot her. Something about her sent shivers of revulsion down my back and I quickly looked away from her.

I spotted a girl watching the champions with a small smile on her face. It wasn't till her hood fell back that I realised she was one of them. The one from the Crocasant Village. We had caught each other's eyes at the opening ceremony. From what I remembered she had been reactive in the fights. Defensive rather than on the offense. I could not remember her name, but she was different from the rest. Rather than simply observing, or chatting to a stall owner or two, she was playing with the children. She somehow fit into the flow of the community, and I saw many eyes slide right past her, not even realising she was a stranger. Now there was a girl to look out for. She wasn't entitled or distant. She was of her people, and unlike the others, she did not appear to be high born. She didn't try to fit in or hide, she just was. But even if she seemed different she was still just like them, only here to win the prize of the prince, only here to be Queen. I know it's stupid, but I wish someone wanted to marry me because they like me. Not for power or image or politics, but because they saw me and wanted me, not the crown that comes with me. But that was never an option for me.

Sorrel

I walked into the city and noticed the other girls very quickly. Central did not have a large amount of citizens in poverty, so the poor were relegated to one rundown neighbourhood on the outskirts. I did not know how to approach the people so I stood and watched them until I felt a tugging on my cloak.

"Excuse me miss but have you seen my mama? She has long dark hair like yours but more straight and her dress is blue." It was a little girl and she held out a battered hairbrush with a broken handle, and some ragged ribbon. It almost broke my heart. I had never seen such a child. She was thin and dirty, and shivered slightly. It was spring, but it was a cold spring.

"I'm sorry I haven't seen her. Do you need help with your hair?" I asked her.

"Yes, I asked Papa but he was going drinking again so he couldn't, but mama hasn't come back from work." This poor child had no one to do something as simple as tie her hair. I told her to wait for me, and gather some friends if she liked. I went a few streets over and using the currency Silk had given me I bought a brush, various hair ribbons, some hot meat buns and flannel. Returning, I saw two other little girls with the first one. Sitting one an overturned bucket, I brushed their hair one by one and gave them pigtails with the hair ribbons. The first little girl had pink ones in her blond hair, the second had green in her dark brown curls and the third had yellow ones in her mousy tendrils. I dampened the face towel with my flask of water and wiped their faces clean. Then I gave them the meat buns to take to school. They were so delighted, and I promised to play with them when they came back from school.

After they left I wandered the streets and munched on my own meat bun. I bought a few trinkets with the pocket money I had left. Eventually, to satisfy my curiosity I followed the signs and visited the school. Peering in, I was shocked. There were perhaps thirty kids in there, sat at worn tables on worn chairs, looking scared as a teacher was asking them questions. If they got it wrong they got hit. End of. I was appalled. And from the swaying movements of the teacher, it appeared to me that he was drunk.

Alcohol was not especially popular in the Village. We made our own meadow mead and it tasted nice but was not very strong. Sometimes for special occasions spirits and wines were purchased from peddlers but our people liked to have clear heads. Alcohol slowed you down and confused your reasoning which could become very dangerous.

Moving back from the window I asked a passing young woman about the schools in Central.

"There's only one," she said. "All the rich children have tutors and governesses. And the poorer families hire ones between them. Only the wretches go to school." She had a look of disgust and pity on her face.

"If you were thinking of sending kids there, think again." And she left.

We had school in the Village but it took a very different form. We were assigned to small groups from a young age and we stayed in those groups, learning from an elder who taught us about the world and about what was expected of us. Once we turned sixteen we were separated from our families to live in twos and specialise in our chosen duties. It was an honour for elders to educate the minds of the young, and whilst outsiders might view us as savages, every single person in the Village could read, write, and do their numbers to a decent standard. In the standard language of the kingdom and in our Crocasante language. Our learning are the building blocks of our being. Why would Central leave that up to chance? I wandered around some more and as I did a plan began to formulate in my mind. I walked through some of the more affluent neighbourhoods and things slid into place. I wandered back to the poorer area and kept my promise to play with the girls. They were lovely. I learned their names, Aliss, Maria and Cone. Soon it was time to go and they waved goodbye when I was picked up in the wagon with the other girls. Looking at their faces it was quite obvious to see who had succeeded. The girls with ideas were focused on something else, ignoring the others. The girls without looked frustrated, or kept up blank masks. For my part I made my face as blank as possible. I didn't want them to think of me as competition. I was simple, nothing to be concerned about.

As soon as I got back I started furiously scribbling down ideas. The others didn't disturb me and I worked through the night, going through paper and ink at an alarming rate. My idea was big, and it would require more research, but it would definitely benefit others.