The Traitor of Tyiku by Edeline Wrigh

Author:Edeline Wrigh
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2020-05-22T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Those working for the empress knew how to attract a crowd.

A mere three days after Minndi declared she was going to give a speech, crowds flooded around the designated building a few blocks down from the slums. The organizers had rented out a decrepit two story building with a balcony, and they renovated it in less than two days. What had once been brown, crumbling granite now appeared to be the finest turquoise, embellished with gold, silver, bronze, and crystals.

Magic could work wonders. Jaklyn was convinced that was all they had done to it. There was no way she'd believe they'd done that high quality of work in such a brief period.

It seemed a different kind of magic had overtaken the crowd. The building was not only selected for its balcony but also for its location. Unlike her predecessors, Minndi recognized there was a potential ally in the slums population. She made it a point to allow them information about what was happening at the palace—at least, as much access as the nobles were allowed, which was selective.

Even so, with everyone dressed up, it was apparent who was affluent and who wasn't. The poorer people gave a better showing; part of this was because of the larger number of people in poverty, and part of it was the percentage of nobles who refused to put themselves in such company.

The few nobles in the crowd stood out like gems in dress clothes against the old and tattered clothing of those less fortunate. Though they had shown up to be members of the eclectic crowd, they were reluctant to mingle with the slums people around them. They had reason—when ever a noble made eye contact with the wrong person, groups of poor people would descend on them. The more generous nobles gave handouts to the first four or five groups, but by the tenth, even they grew frustrated.

Jaklyn had convinced Alikos to allow her to dress down for the occasion—way down, in fact, so that she could more easily blend into the crowd. As a noblewoman, people would watch her, would wonder about her, and would even approach her. She'd be in the spotlight.

As a slums girl, she'd be noticed by no one but those whose job was to pay attention to her. This, she argued, would give her the ability to read minds for potential dissenters.

Really, she just wanted to be left alone.

Now, she waded through the crowd, always within sight of Alikos but without giving him much thought. As she passed by those she had attended school with, she cringed. She was falling further behind with every day, and her penalty homework assignments were stacking up in her absence.

With a sigh, she turned on her magic. She was determined to make herself useful.

Wow... I didn't know this place even existed... She sure is taking her time, and in this weather, too... Just like her parents... I bet people will drop things as the leave, I should move toward that group in the dresses.

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