6.

Luckily, the docks were not as busy as she had thought. Though it was 1am, the time when ships docked and cargo were unloaded. There were only a few ships docked and left unattended at the port. Atarah had her hood up. The blackout helped her face hidden from the few people who were already there. She spotted the white long ship with Antares’s flag on the head of it and walked towards it. There were four men attending the ship, their faces gloomy and empty bottles of whiskey kept neatly aside on the deck. Atarah stomped her feet on the deck, making as much noise as she could to wake them up. One man looked at the stranger, making a noise at 1 am. He put down the box and walked towards her. “Can i help you?” His voice was slurry. Atarah didn't take off her hood. “how much for Antares?” The stranger blinked his eyes twice and slapped himself awake. He yelled, “3000SAR” 

“When will the ship leave?”

“When everyone is aboard.”

“How much time?” 

“You running from something?” 

Atarah looked up at the man, all of a sudden he was sober. No wonder everyone was up on their toes. The king just died. 

“5am”

I’ll be in prison by that time, or dead if Delroy gets his hands on me. 

“Here” she threw a heavy pouch at the man, he grunted upon catching it. 

“10'000SAR, take me now.”

The man took out a circular diamond mirror and held it up over the few coins in his hands. He inspected them one by one. Atarah kept looking over her shoulder, her face hidden, but the constant tapping on the deck gave away the anxiety. The man noticed it and stopped inspecting. “You know the king just died.” Atarah jerked her head back to meet his eyes. “Yes. Very sad. Will that be all?” The man kept those coins in his pocket and straightened his shoulders. “And the soldiers are swarming the kingdom.” Fuck, he wants more money, Atarah thought. But she couldn't spare anything more than 10000SAR. Why was everyone so greedy? “I don't need to explain. 10000SAR or else i take the boat.” She looked left at the boat tied to the docks. 

“But the soldiers are giving away 20000SAR reward to anyone who catches a suspect.” Atarah backed away as the rest of the crew approached her slowly. “I simply want a ride to Antares,” she said, planning an escape. Her hand automatically hovered over the hidden blade under the cloak. But before anyone could engage, the man simply yelled. “I GOT HER. I GOT THE SUSPECT.” He waved his hands in the air like a madman. Atarah turned around, three soldiers were running towards them. Shit. There was only one thing she could do to get out of this situation. One soldier pointed the rifle at her, and the other two had their swords out. “You are under arrest as a suspect in the murder of the King. Reveal yourself.” 

Atarah took each step cautiously. She knew her soldiers; she had trained them. If they see a single threat in her body, a bullet would pierce her shoulder. She just wanted to get under the moonlight. The soldier cocked the rifle, and Atarah took off her hood. There was an expected gasp from the soldiers. The one on the right gasped the word out loud. “Your highness.?’ he then clamped his mouth, realizing that there were commoners present on the scene. But Atarah didn't care. She had a plan in her mind. But before that, she needed to make these greedy people kneel before her. 

“Is this how you treat your queen? Richard?” And all the men went on their knees, with their head bowed in shame.