<span style="font-style: italic">'She doesn't look anything like her parents!'<br/>'Hush! That is the high priest's daughter you're talking about! She will be skilled at archery like her mother one day and she will be the highest person in our land. She looks like her grand parents. No such rumours will be heard!' As the mother scowled at the child I listened in, listened and tried to see if it were true that I had been adopted. The rumour had been spread for about a year now. I followed them for a bit but the conversation died down. I cursed not talking to the girl before. Her and her gossipy ways. I hated her but I had to know. I was old enough now. My long white hair flowed down and contrasted with my tanned mountain skin. As I walked the streets of the mountains I saw prosperity in ever corner. Markets, beautiful buildings and caring families. It was an honour to be part of such a society. </span><br/>I feel the group stop and accidentally bump into the girl in front of me and receive a heavy growl. I sigh, she didn't even look back so I didn't say sorry. I sat down but my back ached from all the whippings I'd received. I was essentially a fallen royal. Fallen from grace. That's what the mountain people believed.<br/><span style="font-style: italic"> I run out the back of the palace. "Mother! Father! Please; servant. Let me return!" He clasped his free hand over my mouth and I bit it. "Don't do that again." I huffed but continued on in slight tears. What was I doing at this ungodly dark hour?<br/>'Water?'<br/>"Huh?"</span><br/>I snap out of my daze.<br/>'Drink up.'<br/>I nodded and thankfully and drunk greedily from the spoon. The overpowering guard moved on. I noticed how the sitting was helping the aching in my legs and feet. They ached like crazy. Finally my shackles were doing horrors to my wrists and they painfully ached.<br/><span style="font-style: italic">I walked out of my overnight hideout. As I covered myself and walked discreetly down the streets I knew people were looking for me. I didn't see pristine chapels or prosperity. I saw families being torn apart and reunited after men serving many months to years in the mines. They wouldn't get a long break until they went back in there. It's just the way it worked. I hadn't seen that devastation and corruption before then but it was clear. Sad that the last memories I had of a place I had called home for many years was such a horrific feeling. It didn't matter, I was going, secretly, to the desert and going to get out of this place forever. </span><br/>Now that would be true , but not the way I wanted it as my life would be at the service of a madman who is cruel to his spaces. I scowled and listened to a man saying hello in a language that was commonly used on the streets of the Patriarchy. I smile at him.<br/>"Aloina' hen shau tou in?" (Do you speak the language?) I was interested to know if he knew it. I earned a nudge on the back from the hard in the form of a hard kick.<br/>'What did you say? You scum shouldn't speak.'<br/>"All he said was hello in a language you don't understand. I could curse you in the same language if you like."<br/>'Scum like you shouldn't talk to me like that.'<br/>"Boishou goin!" (Fuck off)<br/>I received another couple kicks in the back and tried to cough but couldn't.<br/>"Shinoui" (Bastard) I whispered.