Chapter five
Spyware and Spiders
Alaceandra
The woman who greeted us finds us again in the hallway. “Oh! Great timing, your rooms are all finished.” She looks a little frazzled and oddly guilty. She runs her fingers through her hair. “Do you remember where to go?” She directs the question at Fadres. He nods. “Good, well then if you’ll excuse me.” She walks past us and then turns down another hall, disappearing from view. A moment later a man strolls down thehall, also looking a tad bit disoriented. He gives a smirk before disappearing down the same hall as the woman.
“That was strange,” I mumble to myself looking after them.
“Definitely weird,” Credour echoes.
“Well...” Fadres trails off.
“Yep,” I finish the thought. Whatever she has going on, at least at the moment, is not our problem.Maybe Philos will have some insight on this kingdom’s rumors...I promise myself I will inquire about it after finding my own footing here in Helomasi.
We make our way back to our rooms.
“Lace,” Credour stops me before I enter.
“Yes?”
“Do remember we are right next door. Tikilium rule no longer holds sway here, which is helpful to us in the sense we no longer have to watch out for the king’s wrath and manipulations, but that does not mean the danger here is not present. Fear unknown can be more sinister than that that is learned. It can also be a door to a better future for us all. Let us hope for the latter. Please be careful and do not underestimate your captors...or our willingness to knock down a wall.” He gives me a wry smile.
“Noted,” I reply, returning a small smile. They walk into their rooms, and I enter mine, now thoroughly exhausted. The first thing that catches my attention is the bed. Not only due to my state of exhaustion but also due to its magnitude. It has to take up a third of the huge room and is set up on a marble pedestal step as if it is a holy offering. The bed has four posts and is draped in pale pink silks. Teal sheets hug the mattress and a thick fluffy comforter sits folded at the bottom of the bed. To my left is a large dark wood wardrobe and a door I presume leads to a closet. To my right sits another door, this one open, leading to a bathroom. I take a step inside and gape at the large porcelain clawfoot tub. My quarters in Tikilium were nothing to turn anose up at but these accommodations were almost ridiculous. Not necessarily in monetary grandeur but in size. It looked as if this room was made for giants.
As I am taking all this in my body decides this is the perfect time to force a yawn to overtake it. I welcome this, remembering my earlier exhaustion. I can wonder at the political play being made here later. The night was made for sleep, and I am not one to turn my back on that. No, tonight I will enjoy the beauty of the bed and try not to drown in its linens. I make my way over to it and plop my aching body onto the soft mattress before sprawling out. Looking upward I notice the fairy lights adorning the ceiling and the vines winding themselves around the room's interior.Those are probably riddled with spyware... and spiders.I think absentmindedly before sleep overtakes me.
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 camealong, 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
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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 peoplefor information though. Ptheryeth knows if I only have men to confide in, I will go absolutely insane.
