Chapter 6 Strange Gardens
Chapter six
Strange Gardens
Alaceandra
Iawake the next morning feeling drained.
Physically, the flight to Helomasi was arduous; but it is the emotional burden of the last few days that have me truly exhausted.
I am grateful for Sorin and Sam’s being here, but I had already started coming to terms with the fact I may never see them again.
I am still reeling from the grief of the situation and the surprise of their secretive plans.
Although I know I should be elated they came along, I cannot help also being somewhat upset they did so without telling me.
I hate feeling completely in the dark, but with a future so uncertain, I at least hoped my best friends would loop me in on their schemes.
It is comforting they are here though. I admit to myself.
Maybe we will just need to have a discussion on keeping secrets.
At the very least Sorin seems to be keeping some important things from me and I do not know how to feel about it. I will get it out of him somehow.
Luckily, no spiders were found tickling my face this morning, only sunlight. A loud caw of an elvisera startles me. I blink open sleepy eyes and smile at the beautiful creature taking up the expanse of the large pink bay window at the front of my lodging.
“Yes, yes. You are mighty… and loud… what are you doing outside my window at this hour?” It was late in the morning by the look of the sun, but still far too early for any letters from Areletos.
The elvisera drops a letter on my floor and then, with another loud caw flies off, leaving the window open.
I rub my eyes and coax my aching limbs to move.
They comply, although stubbornly. I make my way to the front of the room and bend down to grab the letter.
Unfortunately, the sun’s brightness does very little to dampen the frigid temperatures outside, and I am not dressed nearly enough to withstand the weather for long.
I shiver as a breeze whips through the room.
Snatching the letter, I close the window, then stop in my tracks.
“Not dressed…” I look down at myself to see I am in a white slip dress, something I had decidedly not fit myself with before my exhaustion took me last night.
I cross my arms, uncomfortable. I really hope none of the king’s men changed my clothing.
“I knew this room was not secure…” I groan to myself.
There is nothing that can be done about this now.
I plop back onto the bed and look at the letter in my hand.
“Just great…” I mumble looking at the dagger embossed in the seal. A letter from my father.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Daughter,
I have eyes everywhere, just because you are out of my house does not mean you are out of my grasp. Do your duty, or else you will find yourself in a prison much worse than your gilded cage. I see you, but so do they. Do not make yourself a leaking faucet. Your purpose will soon be revealed to you.
Your King
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I crumble the paper. I knew the room was filled with spy ware. How annoying. “So much for a new beginning.” I mutter. A knock sounds on my door, and I sit up. “Announce yourself,” I yell, hoping it is the new and improved Fadres and Credour.
“Miss, I have come with your attire for today…” a meek voice calls out from the other side of the door. I get up from my bed and pad over to the door, opening it only a crack. A girl a little younger than me peers through the door, her arms laden with clothes. I open the door wider.
“Thank you,” I nod at her and scoop the clothes from her arms. She nods back.
Maybe she can be my first ally. I smile to myself.
Would she be willing to give me more insight on the prince?
Like maybe his name. I blush a little bit at the thought of having to ask someone what the name of my betrothed is but brush off the embarrassment.
I drop the clothes on my bed and open my mouth to ask, but when I turn around, it is to my bedroom door slamming.
I sigh at the sound of footsteps quickly departing.
My shoulders slump in disappointment. Hopefully she is assigned to me, it would be nice to have another female around, even if she does seem a little skittish.
Probably best not to rush people for information though.
Ptheryeth knows if I only have men to confide in, I will go absolutely insane.
I change quickly, hoping to maybe get a chance to sneak around the castle or at the very least explore the garden further.
The shy handmaiden gifted me with a white dress embroidered with little pink flowers up my spine and delicate green ivy flowing down the sleeves.
Although embroidered, the dress is as soft as a cloud.
It barely feels like I am wearing anything.
My favorite feature is the dress' leg holes that allow me to move around freely without having to worry about a stray breeze or too casual of a sit exposing me.
They did not have dresses like this in Tikilium and I find myself grateful for the change.
I leave my room with soft footfalls, taking care to pass by the boys’ room with extra caution.
Although I know they are here to help guide me, I find sneaking about is best done alone.
If I was found wandering the halls with them…
the picture might not land me in a suitable position with this kingdom’s monarchs.
I need to be as unassuming as possible in order to have any cards to play here, especially if father has anyone watching me.
I find myself once again in the gardens.
I know there are listening devices here, but I cannot help but be drawn to the place.
Cameras were not mentioned so hopefully if I can stay quiet enough no one will know of my being here.
Although, I have only just reached my age of majority, I am still unsure of what abilities I possess.
I should feel a spiritual call any day now, but alas my spirit alludes me.
Usually, Pthereyians get their powers in their childhood, but that was not the case for me, much to my father's dismay.
Therefore, I cannot quiet the sounds I make or the devices listening to them.
The expansive garden is a breathtaking sanctuary, filled with majestic trees, delicate pink leaves, and exquisite blossoms I've never encountered before.
It is easy for me to be swept up in its beauty.
I depend on the lush ground to quiet my steps as I wander further.
Luckily, nothing cracks under my weight and I am able to make it to a large clearing.
Small winged creatures flutter away as I get closer.
Their wings are iridescent and shimmer in the sunlight.
It is there I realize I am not alone in my wandering.
The prince sits with his back against one of the large trees.
His eyes are closed and the winged creatures are dancing around his form.
He looks so peaceful. His inky black hair is adorning his shoulders in waves and, for a moment, I marvel at his beauty.
I come back to my senses in a rush and position myself behind a tree, before taking a slow, quiet breath.
I hope he has not noticed me yet, although it will be hard to escape him now I am aware of his position.
It is much easier to be quiet alone than in the presence of another, especially when the consequences of being caught could be disastrous.
As I go to take a step away from the prince, I hear his voice ring out “I know you are there, Alaceandra. I’ve known since you entered. Why don’t you join me?”
Fuck. Of course, he did. I lick my lips and take a small step away from the tree still wondering if I can escape.
He chuckles a deep, elegant sound and I hear a rustle from his direction.
“Alaceandra, you are behind the tree. There is no reason to hide from me, this is my garden, you know. When I am connected to it, I see all. Now, come. No use hiding from your betrothed.” He says the word betrothed with a little bitterness and I wonder at the tone.
Maybe he is not as enthused about our arrangement as father made him out to be.
That would suit me best, I suppose, but I cannot help being a little offended by the notion.
Well, no point in being miffed over a blessing.
I purse my lips before making my way over to the prince.
His eyes are still closed, but he has now crossed his legs, his fingers dance across the ground as he waits for me to approach.
I do, cautiously. There is no getting out of it now.
When I get within touching distance his eyes open.
They flash a pretty lavender color before fading back to their grey green and he smiles.
“Nice to meet you without your escorts,” he says, wryly.
I choke back a snort. “Yeah…” I mumble “same goes for you.” I cock my hip out, doing my best to project confidence.
He snorts. “Fair, I seldom am without my own.”
I nod awkwardly. Why have I not left yet?
I am standing in front of him and am starting to get uncomfortable by his gaze raking over my form.
Covertly, I look for the best escape route.
Returning my gaze back to his, I eye him warily.
He meets my gaze, tracking me with intensity.
I start to edge away from him, but quick as lightning he snatches my hand and pulls me to him causing me to ungracefully fall into his lap.
What the fuck? I scramble away, once again grateful for the leg holes in this dress.
Once I feel like I am safely away from his grabby hands, I sit across from the prince, warily. “What…why did you do that?”
He chuckles again. “Why do you keep trying to leave? You’ve not been focused on this entire conversation. Need to get back to those men of yours?”
I bristle at his insinuation. “What, no,” I say, maybe a little too quickly.
“We have only just started talking, I was just taking in the scenery.” I really hope my new dress is not now covered in dirt.
I look down to check for any spots of dirt, but also to break eye contact, and am stunned when the dress is completely unmarred.
“Right… That’s why you were eyeing the tree line like it was your only salvation.
” He rolls his eyes but then lets out a chuckle causing my stomach to flutter with excitement.
I bite my inner cheek willing my hormonal body to behave.
The prince was an attractive man, I could admit that, but his arrogance left something to be desired.
“You are cute when taken off guard, it’s too bad…
” he trails off, his chuckles melting into a frown.
“Too bad?” I snap my gaze away from my dress and back again to the prince’s eyes. I hate feeling toyed with. He is making me feel unbalanced, which is frustrating. If he has this much power over my emotions after one conversation, that can only mean bad things for my future.
“Too bad you are merely a pawn, although I will enjoy playing with you.” He smirks. His eyes suggesting there was a lot more meaning behind those words than anything purely political.
I wrinkle my brow and squeeze my legs together trying to stay collected. “Playing with me?” I squeak and then become annoyed with my pitch. Ignoring any double entendres that can possibly be associated with that phrasing, I clear my throat. “As if you are not a pawn as well?”
“Pawns do as they are told and believe what they are told… I have other plans.”
“And you assume I do not?”
“Do you?” I cannot help but feel like there is an underlying condescension to his tone.
“Maybe I do, but that is for me to know and you to find out,” I bite back at him.
“Oh, I hope to.” He smiles again.
He stands offering me a hand. I take it, hesitantly.
Once I stand, he traces his fingers over my arm, before pulling me forward and placing a gentle kiss on my forehead.
I inhale a quick breath, my body tightening at the contact, and I internally scold myself for being unable to maintain control.
This encounter alone proves he is not to be mistaken as trustworthy.
His arrogance and aggressive manipulation of my body should surely make me disgusted with his touch. So why the fuck am I so turned on?
His body tenses at something and he once again leans back against the giant tree behind him, closing his eyes. I look at him quizzically.
“Here come your men,” he states before I hear hurried footsteps approach.