Acclayne Book 1: The Game Begins

Darkness had fallen over the little hut, but Prince Fofana barely noticed that no light shone from the poorly boarded up windows. He kicked open the flimsy, half-rotted door in a rage – only to find the room empty. The place had been turned over and was a complete mess; as if a tornado had swept through. The Prince growled; his face burned with anger. Striding across the room he kicked the toppled furniture out of his way. The bathroom door had been left open- there was no one there. He punched the wall and the whole building shook. He didn't notice that his hand began to bleed, or how the blood was now slowly dripping down the bathroom wall. They'd gone.

Had the Prince arrived mere hours earlier then he would have arrived to a much different scene. Alox and Stella, having formed a pseudo-friendship, had been passing the time by playing three in a row. Stella had already won eleven games out of fifteen and Alox refused to give up until he had won at least one game where he didn't feel as if she'd let him win. This was proving to be somewhat difficult as out of the four times he had won she had 'accidentally' made a mistake every time. He just couldn't get his head around the game, and rather than find it tiresome, Stella found it rather amusing.

They were just about to start their sixteenth game when the door was knocked; that is that it was knocked twice, kicked once and then knocked again – the secret code. Alox looked at Stella who quirked her eyebrow at him.

“Better get that I suppose, we would not want to keep the big bad boss waiting.” Alox sympathised with her, he did, but he didn't have to appreciate her sarcastic tone. He grunted as he got up off his chair. This sitting around stuff wasn't doing anything for him; he was stagnating, and it was making him feel his age. Opening the door ajar so that she could not see out , he slipped outside. It was still daylight and the bright light blinded him momentarily.

“You need to move.”

“Wha-?”

“You need to move. He wants her moved.”

Alox blinked; it was not Fofana. Good, he could be a right little brat. “Does 'e now? Since when did you become his messenger?” Alox rubbed his bristled chin; barely feeling the bristles through the callouses on his fingers.

“He does. The plan has changed. I'm sure you can appreciate that he is a very busy man.”

“Right- an' you jus' expect me to move 'er now do ya?” His friend sighed; exasperated. He had that same stroppy air to him that the Prince had – even if he wasn't as arrogant.

“You will be duly compensated.” He produced a bag of coins and tossed them at him. Alox caught the pouch in one hand, the weight was substantial and he began to salivate. He wiped the corners of his mouth with his thumb and forefinger before speaking.

“An' where am I takin' 'er to?”

“There is a safe house -an Inn - just inside of Cortharen-”

“Cortharen?! Tha's a bit risky innit? What if I'm spotted?”

“You will not be spotted. You have my word.”

“Hmm...”

“Please, the circumstances have changed; the plan is in jeopardy. She is – you are both, in danger.”

Alox felt queasy. It was an unfamiliar feeling. He had been prepared to kill the Princess himself when he had accepted the job, but now, somehow the idea of it had lost it's appeal. As annoying as she was he couldn't harm a hair on her head. He'd do it.

“Right, an' how do ya suggest I move 'er?”

“The same way you brought her here I would imagine.”

“Ah. She's not gonna like tha'.”

“And I suggest you move quickly; they are coming for her as we speak.”

“How will I know the safe house?”

“He's expecting you.”

“Who is? I thought this was all Hush hu-” Alox never finished his query; instead he was left standing alone outside the hut, talking to the air. He sighed, it wasn't the first time and certainly wouldn't be the last. He turned and went inside.

“So, what now?”

“We're leavin'” he said, busying himself throwing things into a bag.

Stella visibly brightened; “Oh goody! I could do with stretching my legs!”

“Ah-”

“What do you mean ah?” She watched in horror as Alox crossed the room and picked up what looked suspiciously like a big sack. “No. Just no.”

“You have to.”

“No.”

“Come on.”

“I am not getting in there.”

“You'll be killed... or worse.”

“Worse than killed, or a burlap sack? Really?”

Alox stared at her; “Jus' get in.”

It took half an hour and countless attempts to get Stella to cooperate; eventually Alox settled on rendering the girl unconscious. He didn't think he'd done her any serious damage but she'd probably have a bit of a bump when she came round. He was hoping that it wouldn't be for a few hours at least- he was rather enjoying the peace and quiet.

The Prince had arrived too late; their trail had already started to go cold, and it was now completely dark. He would not find them tonight. He gritted his teeth and growled, his anger bubbling up beyond his control.

“That greedy bastard-” He snarled at the empty room. It was clear to him; the treacherous leech had grown impatient with the girl and had traded her for a reward. He knew he should not have trusted such a low life with this important task.

He punched the wall again and bits of plaster flaked off, floating to the ground. He would find them, both of them, and he would kill them himself.

He strode angrily from the abandoned hut, letting the front door hang open. The cool night air flooded in and the fresh blood on the wall began to congeal.