the beast of burden

 ChaCha hadn't slept well in weeks now. It was coming. She knew. It was what this pugilist world did. Cause trouble. Couldn't anyone listen? Try to make peace?

Her father kept talking of a great cause. Of course, she was only a concubine's daughter. Not a real princess. Her brothers went to war. The real prince only conversed at the brothels instead of the scholars. Life wasn't that easy at the palace.

It was true, someday she'd be sent to live at some other palace and put in her place like a game piece. Not much to look forward to, really. God knows who her father might choose for her. He would do whatever the Queen said. There would be no questions asked. She'd just have to look pretty and cry herself asleep.

But here was a ghost. Someone without status. Was it a blessing? or just a trick of the trade? 

She kept a closed mouth as he came near to look at her. His eyes so black and hair long and stringy. He hadn't bothered to put it up in any sort of fashion.

"I don't know you." She was very still thinking a guard or her nanny would charge in at any moment.

He smiled with a shrug. He took the candle and turned the light toward her table where she drew and did lessons with ink.

"Would you have anything to eat?" He asked.

"Who are you?"

"Do you know how long I've starved?"

Now was the chance to knock him out in the back of the head, but just then she heard the foot soldiers about. She grabbed the bag of nuts under her pillow. She wasn't quite sure to hit him or let him have them.

"Do you think they're coming for me or for you?" His smile was genuine. He put out his hand as if he was certain he could help. But first, she needed shoes. She was always dressed to run away in the night. She slipped on the embroidered white boots.

"Shouldn't I know your name?" She asked the stranger.

"Can't we talk about this later?" The foot soldiers were moving fast. He grabbed ChaCha's hand and off they went through the back way. He got a running start and out of nowhere lifted her off the ground and flew above the trees ever so light-footed. He might as well have walked on water and he did for a bit when they met the river past the palace roof and into the moonlight.

She heard of those like him, but she'd never met one. Wasn't he a myth? Or was she just not a believer.

"Who sent you?" She wanted to know as soon as they landed on a cliff above the winding river. The wind was cold and she couldn't help but shiver.

"I haven't a clue," he told her he was Milo and he'd only accidentally found her. He looked to the stars. "Perhaps someone greater knows."

ChaCha looked back at the city. The palace was on fire.