“Of course.” She fills a flagon with water and hands it to me.
I thank her again and leave the kitchen behind.
As I continue through the palace with the food and flagon tucked under my arms, I think about how drastically my life has changed. Normally, I would be spending the day with my sisters, enjoying their warmth, friendship, and laughter. And I would be surrounded by nature, books, and seashells. My world was small, but we were relatively safe from the Hematite civil war, and I didn’t fear the unknown.
I reach the entrance of the palace, where two guards stand on either side of the ornate doors. They nod at me as I pass, and I return the gesture as my heart pounds in my chest.
What if they know what I am planning? Or worse, what if they drag me back to Jasce?
A shudder ripples down my spine as I press my bundle tighter to my chest. I can never go back to him. He’s too intimidating.
The bright sunlight greets me as I step outside and lift my face to the sky, allowing the fall breeze to tease my hair. I take my time as I tuck loose strands behind my ears and continue into the palace gardens. If I run, the guards may chase me and haul me back, but if I act like I’m taking a stroll, hopefully, they will ignore me.
Besides, I have always loved nature, and the gardens near the fortress I grew up in are vast. They are one of the only places I am allowed to wander.
A smile tugs at my mouth as I walk down the stone pathway, the sounds of my footsteps and my surcoat swishing against my legs echoing in the morning air. My smile builds into a grin as I step into the next courtyard, surrounded by tall shrubs, and discover flowers of every color and shape blooming in beds bordered by stone.
A fountain in the center of the garden spills water into a shallow pool. I inch closer to it and let my fingers pass beneath the water. As it cascades against my skin, I close my eyes, surrendering to the moment and allowing it to slow my racing heart.
I will escape, and when I return home, I will ask Grandfather for more freedom. I could buy a veil to hide my scars. Plenty of women wear them.
Shuffling footsteps echo against the stone pathway, disrupting the serenity. I snap my eyes open as a young woman approaches me, carrying a basket full of ripe apples.
“Welcome back to Darhavva, My Lady.” She curtsies. "Would you care for some fruit?"
Why does everyone keep saying welcome back?
“Yes, thank you.”
She hands me the apple, and I take a bite, savoring the sweetness and the way it crunches in my mouth.
I smile at her. “What’s your name?”
Her eyes widen as she darts her gaze around. “You wish to knowmyname?”
“Yes.”
“Danika, My Lady.”
“Well, Danika, thank you for the apple. It's wonderful.”
She nods and curtsies again before scurrying away.
At home, we always have a lot of apples. Though, we never have any as juicy as this one. I enjoy the last bite before discarding the core into a nearby shrub.
With renewed energy, I continue walking, and as I turn a corner, a flicker of movement catches my eyes. I freeze in place, my heart pounding in my chest, but as I peer closer, I realize it’s nothing more than a rabbit darting between the bushes. I shake my head and continue.
The further I venture into the gardens, the less manicured they become. The carefully tended flower beds give way to wilder, more untamed foliage.
My excitement builds as I get closer to freedom. It drives me forward and to the palace gates, where a guard lifts the portcullis.
Inwardly, I cheer. Outwardly, I walk with purpose—taking back the part of my life that was stolen from me.
Except...
I lift my hand to my face, touching the smoothness. I can’t return to Grandfather’s fortress looking like the wife of the heir to House of Crimson. I’ll have to find Mazaline and ask her about the painting. Maybe there’s a way to reverse what has happened to me.
The deeper I move into the city, the more my heart races with excitement. This is the first time I have been in a city since the pot of soup fell on me.
