Chapter 4

"Get up. The sun's been up for almost two hours. You're going to miss breakfast." A voice cut into Jemima's sleep.

Jemima opened her eyes to see Oscar sitting at the foot of the bed, fully dressed in a loose collared shirt and brown pants.

"Oh- right! Sorry." Jemima scrambled out of bed to get dressed, while Oscar walked out and waited respectfully outside the door.

Quickly Jemima joined him outside and they made their way to the dining hall.

"So what are our plans for today?" Jemima asked curiously as they walked down to breakfast, their footsteps echoing in the corridor.

"There's a meeting of the assassins in the town hall tonight." Oscar shot back, look straight ahead, half lost in his own thoughts.

"Are we attending?"

"What do you think? Sometimes I wonder if you even use that brain of yours." Oscar smirked as he looked at her. The two boys, Oscar and Oliver, were pretty much the same height, and it was weird to Jemima, being so tall. Oscar's smirk seemed to be his trademark expression, along with the crossing of arms.

A few steps behind them, the shadow rolled its eyes at their playful teasing. It had to make sure that it told the King about the meeting. It sounded important, sounded like something that the King would want to know.

"I'm taking you into town today. We don't have any plans, so I thought I would show you around." Oscar announced after a quick breakfast of fruit and some leftovers of dinner.

"Oh, okay!" Jemima skipped alongside Oscar.

"Don't sound so excited. You're still playing the part of Oli, remember?" Oscar shook his head in mock disapproval. "And stop skipping. You look like a five year old."

Jemima ignored the last comment Oscar made, but dropped back to walk normally.

It was a fine morning, Jemima thought as they walked out of the castle. There was a light breeze that ruffled their hair and the sun shone down on the cobblestone steps. The lone tree grew in the side of the stone paved path, which looked weary with use and age.

"How long does it take to get to the town?" Jemima asked curiously.

"About an hour's walk. Feel free to ask the rest of your questions." Oscar replied briskly.

"Okay." She fell silent, admiring the nature around her. Then, Jemima remembered her family. Mum and Dad, Tracey, her older sister, and Ginger, her little red cat. I hope they're alright, Jemima thought. And Oliver. He doesn't have anyone like Oscar to help him, unless Tracey believed him, which was very unlikely to happen. She never believed a word that Jemima said. Then she remembered her questions.

"So, what normally happens during the meetings?" Jemima asked, breaking the silence.

Oscar hesitated for a moment, visibly debating how much to tell her.

"They just discuss plans and ways to throw the King out of power. You've actually arrived at a good time. Tonight they're going to figure out when to put one of their plans into action. We must act quick before the King tightens security and makes it way harder to attempt to bring him down."

"Oh."

Oscar's eyes darkened as they made their way along the path. No more words were exchanged until the two of them reached the town.

"Woah- it's so big!" Jemima gasped. The town certainly was big. As the path widened, shops popped up on each side, flaunting their goods and services. As they passed, Jemima stared wonderingly at the range of jewelry, plants, food and clothing.

"Can we have a closer look?" She asked Oscar.

"Fine, but don't take too long."

"Is there somewhere we have to be later?"

"Not really but- agh, just go already."

Jemima rushed over to the nearest jewelry stall. Laid out on the table were assorted bracelets and necklaces and rings, each carved with its own unique design.

"Hello young sir, how may I help you today? Are you looking for a necklace for a sister? A bracelet for a mother? Or perhaps a ring for that special someone?" The stall owner smirked. "Surely a young man as handsome as yourself has a damsel out there waiting for you? He laced his hands together. "Take your pick!"

Jemima narrowed her eyes at him. He was a short, round man with red cheeks. "That's Noble Greyleaf to you." She started in a chilly tone.

The man's eyes widened with sudden shock and fear. "Oh! Noble! I'm sorry I didn't recognise you. You don't come out into the city much." He clamped his mouth shut, his fear obvious on his face.

"What are you so scared of?" Jemima asked in an uninterested voice.

"O-oh nothing! Is there anything in my wares that piques your interest?"

Jemima pretended to study the items again. "Not particularly. You might want to work on the presentation and the quality of your crafts.

"Of course!" The man stuttered nervously.

With that, Jemima stalked back to where Oscar was waiting, amusement plain on his face.

"A nice old scene you made back there. Oli would have never been so rude." He mock sighed, and snickered at the look Jemima made at him.

"What was I supposed to do, stand there and let him disrespect me?"

"Don't sound so outraged, it's true!"

Jemima whacked him on the back of his head.

"OW! What was that for?" Oscar laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "Just kidding, that didn't hurt because you're too weak-"

"Oh shut up."

A couple nearby looked at them disapprovingly. "Children." Jemima heard one of them mutter.

Oscar snickered, then handed her a slice of bread, slathered with butter. "I bought this for you while you were having fun bullying that poor man."

"For the last time, I was not bullying him!" Jemima yelped, seriously tempted to smack him again.

"Whatever you say. Come with me."

Jemima sighed, and quickly hurried after Oscar as he made his way through the crowd.