I sigh. "Fine."
"Good. Sweet dreams, Alaceandra."
"Sweet dreams."
I wave at her lazily as she exits my room and, of course, locks the door again sealing me back inside my boredom. I sniff the air and my stomach growls.At least I am left here with yummy food.I drag myself from my prone position on the bed and retrieve my stew from the nightstand before sitting back down and digging in. I am about halfway through my bowl when I hear a slight tapping on my window. At first, I ignore the noise, thinking it is a branch or maybe an animal but then it starts to get louder. “Maybe another letter?” I wonder aloud, walking over to my balcony.
Looking out, I spot a shock of bright red tresses. Sorin.Of course, it is.Opening the golden glass doors, I give Sorin an amused look.
“Oh Zyphel, oh Zephel, may your hair become vine! Long and thick and easy to climb!” He scream-whispers at me.
I roll my eyes. “What are you doing here? You are going to get us in trouble— again,” I reply to him in much the same way. Trying to hide a smirk.
“We still need to talk.”
“Now?” I frown.
“Yes, now, please it’s important.”
“I am not allowed to leave my quarters, especially with you. I am sure you know that.” I look behind me and then back at him, anxiety settling into my chest.
“It’ll be quick, I promise! They won’t even know you’re missing, and look! I brought Sonny!” He gestures behind him, and I peer out into the darkness to find my mare munching on some grass.
“Where are we going that we would need horseback?”
“It’s a surprise, besides talking back and forth out here like this is much more likely to get us caught than a quick little talk out of your quarters.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. He has a point. “Fine, but how will I get down? My door is locked." My chamber is on the top floor of the castle, which is the only reason my father even allows me to keep the balcony doors unlocked.
He smirks at me and touches the ground below my window. A long, velvety vine with lobed green leaves extends itself upwards and circles itself around my iron railing.
“You want me to climb down?” I look at him dumbfounded. I would rather not go sliding down vines at this hour, especially in my pajamas.
“Yup. Why? Don’t think you can make it?”
I narrow my eyes at him. Not that he could see the expression very well in the low light. “No, I can do it.” I start to descend the plant—which is surprisingly soft and yet not slippery—when the vine suddenly starts to grow in circumference. It is now free standing, no longer needing the support of my railing, and startsto wrap around my middle like a harness and gently sinks itself back into the ground. I wiggle a bit and glance at Sorin who looks hyper focused and on the verge of laughter. Once my feet touch the soil, all that is left of the plant is a big green stump-like form that transforms itself into a pumpkin. I glare at him.
Sorin smiles wide and flutters take over my core. Walking towards me, he extends his arms for a hug. “I knew you could do it, but do you know the trouble we would have been in if you fell? I thought this would be much safer.”
I continue glaring at him and push at his arms. “Whatever. Where are we going?” His vines have caused my golden nightdress to be streaked with green. I wipe at the stain I know is forming and look at him impatiently.
“This way, my lady,” he says teasingly and points towards Sonny.
We walk over to my favorite mare. I mount her and watch as he mounts the other horse, I missed standing next to her, an obsidian Clydesdale named Nightshade. Although mares usually are not one for male riding companions, Sonny and Nightshade, much like their riders, are unlikely friends. The journey into the woods starts as a gentle walk. I watch as Sorin seems to get more and more agitated as we continue on.
"Hey, are you—"
Sorin urges Nightshade into a trot then a gallop. I gasp, clutching onto Sonny for dear life. Sonny follows their lead increasing her own speed until she too is racing through the forest. After a couple minutes, we reach a little clearing.
“Slow down!” I shout towards Sorin. I am not dressed for riding so the saddle is chafing my thighs, making it hard to stay balanced. He comes to an abrupt halt, and I have to stop myself from falling forward as my horse follows suit. We both dismount. “Why the fuck were you going so—”
He rushes towards me, and I go to take a step back, but he catches me with a firm grip.
“Look Alaceandra, you can’t go through with this marriage.” He grips my shoulders, his tone desperate.
“Sorin…” I try to shy out of his grip, but he only holds me tighter.
“No, you don’t understand. He wants to kill you—” A bird starts to caw in the distance and Sorin chokes a little on his words. The sentence seemed to almost take the wind from him and he releases me abruptly before almost falling against a tree.
