Masquerade - Chapter 5 . By Jhanvi (Gabbie) .

The remainder of the week was filled with much rushing and dashing as the servants prepared. The head cook, ever worried about having enough, set the kitchens alight; figuratively speaking, of course. Then it started to drizzle, making the air heavy and wet.

"Perfect ambush weather," I heard one of the guards remarking to another one morning. "It's harder to spot anyone in this, and they can't get away in the mud."

"But it would be miserable to sit around waiting in this," his companion replied, yawning. "Everything would be cold and damp." Their voices faded into nothing as I walked on to the library, my constant shadow, Jerod, trailing behind me. I had nothing left to do except rest and gather strength for tomorrow.

~.~

The library was quiet and peaceful, despite the drone of rain outside. Walking through the aisles, I waited for something to catch my eye, but none of the books jumped out at me. Maybe I won't read today. I returned to where Jerod sat and took the seat beside him. "I changed my mind. I can't read right now!" I turned to stare out the window, surprised at what I felt bubbling up. "Oh, I don't want to go to court!" Fear. "I know I say I can't stand being trapped here. I suppose saying and doing are two very different things."

Wait. Why am I telling Jerod this? I turned slowly to see his face; a face that seemed at that moment to understand exactly what I was feeling. "We all have to do things we're afraid of," he said softly, studying the bookshelves.