Page 35 of A Rose Among Snakes (Gardens of Ruin and Revival)
Chapter Thirty-Four
Kezara
I t was day twenty-two and I knew I was wearing Enverro down. Restlessness scratched at me, my body begging for fresh air and warm sun. Our routine was the same every day; Enverro would make us porridge and sit in the chair in front of my cell as I provoked him with questions. My favorite time was when I’d asked him why he was making the porridge sweeter and he’d blushed, saying, “I don’t know, I thought you would like it that way.”
This morning was no different.
“What are you so afraid of?” I pushed.
“Who said I’m afraid?” Enverro sat with his ankle crossed over his knee, smirking at me. It wasn’t just the porridge that had sweetened lately, and I decided to use it to my advantage.
“If you’re not afraid, why won’t you take me outside? I’m only asking for a few minutes.” I batted my eyelashes. “I promise to behave.”
Enverro snorted. “Pardon me, Your Majesty, but I don’t believe you.”
Apparently, his heart wasn’t soft enough. Frustration tightened my chest, hardening my tone as I said, “I might die in here and you are going to deprive me of the simple joy of fresh air? I don’t deserve to be locked up!”
Enverro dropped his spoon into his empty bowl. “Look, I just follow orders. I don’t make judgments on the king’s decisions.”
I let my chin fall to my chest, whispering, “Please.”
Enverro sighed and closed his eyes. He groaned, mumbling, “Fine.”
“What?” I sat up straighter.
“I said, fine. Five minutes.”
I scrambled to my feet as he grabbed the keyring connected to his belt. He unlocked the cell and wrapped a hand around my slim wrist as he opened the door.
“One condition, though,” he said, leading me over to a set of shackles sitting in the corner. They locked around my ankles with a click, but I was so elated to be going outside I didn’t complain. He led me to the door, and I made a mental note of which key he used to unlock it, tucking the information away for later. The door opened and we walked out only to be met with blinding sunlight.
Burning and watering, my eyes squeezed shut, and I threw my hand up for extra protection. Enverro led me forward a couple of steps, silent beside me as he gave me time to adjust. It was hot, and running through the dates in my head, I was shocked to realize we were well into early summer. The air smelled of dried grass and freshly tilled soil.
Slowly parting my fingers, I looked down at the ground letting my eyes get used to the brightness. I hadn’t felt like I’d been living in a cave until I was in the open air, a fresh breeze flitting across my skin. My heart leapt with joy, pounding a strong, steady rhythm. Between blinks, I glimpsed a thick forest surrounding a small clearing. An expansive garden sprawled out in front of me, but I didn’t see any signs of neighbors.
Behind me was the house I’d been stuck inside; more of a tiny shack, really, with a worn exterior. I glanced up to see Enverro watching me distrustfully through narrowed eyes, but that couldn’t touch the sheer happiness I felt. Despite that, I marked the narrow path heading into the trees. That would be my route of escape.
Tugging on my elbow, Enverro said, “Alright, that’s enough.”
I cooperated, hoping good behavior would earn more freedom in the future. Once back inside, I held onto that spark of joy, even as he removed the shackles and led me into the cell.
I grabbed the bars and held my face close to his as he locked the door. “Thank you for that. I needed it.”
He looked up, blinking, and I tracked his gaze roving down to my full lips. He swallowed hard and said, “You’re welcome.”
My coy smile kept him dazed for a moment before he shook his head and stepped back, reattaching the keys to his belt. He went outside without another word, and I sat back on my cushions. I was no stranger to flirting to get my way, and I was not opposed to playing the long game if it worked out in my favor. I would be compliant and sweet until he was comfortable and dropped his guard. Then I would execute my plan.