Page 53 of A Rose Among Snakes (Gardens of Ruin and Revival)

Chapter Fifty-Two

Kezara

M id-morning turned to early afternoon and the pit in my stomach grew with every passing minute. The maids came back in, announcing they would return after the midday meal to get me ready. I couldn’t think of a reason for a change in dress. Not a good one anyway.

I didn’t touch my meal. I was still nauseous and my lip hurt from Leoro's violating kiss. My stomach was churning with anxious knots that only multiplied when the maids showed up with an enormous, extravagant gown. They stripped off the black dress, wrapped me in a dressing gown, and sat me on a stool in front of a mirror. They got to work arranging my hair in another style that was almost the same as the one they’d done that morning. My head already ached from the tension of the tight style, and it only got worse as they moved the bun to the top of my head.

“Can’t I wear my hair down instead?”

The maids shared an irritated glance, then shook their heads. I sighed, resigned to my fate. Marriage it was, then. I stared at my reflection, not recognizing the sad, sallow girl. I glared at her.

It was time to rekindle that inner flame. I had a plan, but if I became too resigned to my fate, I would stay stuck in this horrid castle forever. The people I loved may not have been aware, but they were counting on me, so I had to keep my chin up. Leoro had too much control, but if I tried to escape now, I risked their lives. I just needed to bide my time and let the king think I was compliant.

The maids laid the gown on the ground and I stepped into it. They pulled it up around me, letting the considerable weight settle on my slight frame. The gown was white with a gold lace overlay. The sleeves were long, and the lace extended to drape over my hands. Its high neckline looked regal, and the skirt was full with an extended train. They placed white slippers trimmed in gold embroidery on my feet, and a gold veil of the same lace as the dress rested on my head, cascading behind me.

I looked at myself again, and through the veil I noticed the shorter hair around my ears was starting to curl and spring out sideways. I felt a spark of triumph in knowing I had been right all those weeks ago when I insisted Mihrra should accompany me to the ball. These maids were useless. In any other circumstance, it would have upset me, but I had no interest in looking pretty for the king.

When they were finished with me, the maids led me to the door, knocked, and I was handed off to the guards. While walking through the halls, we passed several gawking servants. I kept my chin lifted, not deigning to glance in their direction until we passed the library and a familiar silhouette came into view. Leoran stopped in his tracks, mouth agape and eyes full of guilt. His shock made reality sink in, and tears pricked my eyes, but I blinked them back and pretended I didn’t see him. Once I passed, his running footsteps echoed down the silent hallway; I wondered what he was up to.

Entering the throne room for the second time that day felt more foreboding than before. Leoro was standing on the dais in front of the thrones, still clad in black, but with a heavily embroidered cape draped from his shoulders. He spoke quietly to a man dressed in long, white robes, and they both turned upon my arrival. Leoro smiled at me in what I assumed was supposed to be an inviting manner, but it only served to chill my blood.

“Kezara, please join us.”

When I hesitated, his eyes flashed a warning, a promise of violence if I disobeyed. I took a deep breath and walked up to the dais, my heavy dress swishing as it trailed on the burgundy aisle runner leading to the throne. I stared up at the angry lion in the stained-glass window above the wooden throne, wishing it would come to life and take me out of my misery.

No .

I was choosing to protect those I love, putting aside my own desires of anything other than marriage to Leoro. I was going to make Velian proud. Mihrra, too.

Mihrr a

At first, it seemed that the castle guards were not going to let us through the gates, but Denzen produced a folded piece of paper with the royal crest stamped on it and the portcullis was lifted. Velian kept his head down to avoid recognition as Denzen cracked the reins and the oxen plodded through, snorting and grunting, exhausted from the strenuous climb up the hill. Once through, Enverro leaned forward and said something to Denzen, directing him where to go. We pulled off to the side near the stables, and the men jumped out of the wagon, while Velian helped me down. Paolef removed a cloth to reveal a pile of weapons underneath and they set to work exchanging the instruments with the weapons to smuggle them inside the castle.

Enverro handed me a stack of sheet music and said with a teasing smile, “You can pull your weight, too.” He looked around the grounds and said quietly, “Alright, we’ll go through the servants’ entrance, which is back this way.” He pointed to a small door at the closest end of the castle. The men all grabbed an instrument case and headed for the door. Though I had killed three men mere days ago, I was placed in the middle of the group for protection, but it was not the time for me to cause a commotion.

A moment after Enverro knocked, the door flew open where an apron-clad young woman stood.

“Who are you?”

Enverro sketched a bow. “My lady, we are this evening’s entertainment for His Majesty.”

She eyed him while thrusting forward a waiting hand. “Papers? ”

Denzen pulled the paper from his pocket. Her scowl lifted as she looked at him, and once she noticed the royal seal she handed it back.

“Very well,” she said. “This way.” She held open the door and waved us in, locking it behind us. She guided us down the hallway, stopping in front of a door and saying, “Cadma will listen to you play before you go in front of the king. Wait here and he will arrive shortly.”

My stomach dropped and Enverro’s smile wavered before he thanked her with another exaggerated bow. As soon as she closed the door everyone wheeled on Enverro.

“You fool,” Velian growled.

“No, no, it’s fine. We’re in. We’ll just have to fight sooner than expected.” He bent down and opened the instrument case, pulling out a sword. Velian handed one to me as everyone followed suit.

“Can you fight in that dress?” His brows drew together in concern.

I shrugged. “We’ll see, I guess.” I’d picked a lightweight gown intentionally, but after spending a few days in pants, I recognized my current disadvantage.

“Ready?” Enverro asked, one hand on the doorknob. We all nodded and he opened the door, peeking his head out. He held a hand up and flicked his fingers, signaling the path was clear, and we filed out. On near-silent feet, we crept down the stone halls and up the steps that led to the main floor of the castle. The stillness of the castle set my nerves on edge. As we stood at the top of the stairs, footsteps sounded and all our heads frantically swiveled, looking for a place to hide. Velian spotted an alcove to the left, where we all managed to squeeze in.

Velian and I stood face-to-face, bodies fully pressed together. He glanced down at me for a moment and winked, but reverted his attention to the present situation. The fact that he could think to tease me in a time such as this made me wonder how often he flirted with danger. Everyone held their breath as the footsteps grew closer, then released in a collective sigh once they passed.

We waited a heartbeat longer before Velian stepped out. He looked around, motioned it was clear, and as we began moving out, someone yelled,

“You!”

We all turned as Velian swore under his breath. Fingley stood in front of us, scowling with his hands on his hips. He directed all his fury at Velian and began asking, “What do you think you are do-”

Paolef, who had slunk behind him, hit Fingley over the head with the hilt of his sword, knocking him unconscious. He fell to the ground with a loud thump, and Denzen and Corman immediately grabbed him and stuffed his limp body into the alcove.

Before I felt any relief, six guards came around the corner to inspect. Upon spotting us, they sprung into action and attacked. Everyone took on one guard, and I was surprised by the ferocity with which the guard came at me.

I struggled to maneuver in my dress, and while the young guard was not particularly skilled with a sword, he provided more challenge than I had anticipated. I could only stand there and deflect his blows. Every time I tried to launch an offensive, I stumbled on the hem of my skirt. After keeping up with him for a few strikes, the guard grunted and fell to the ground. Behind him stood Denzen, smirking at me.

“Is that how you killed three men by yourself? You parried them to death?” Around us were the sounds of the rest of the men still fighting, but Denzen stepped over the body and walked toward me. “Here,” he said as he knelt. He pulled a knife from his boot and cut the hem of my skirt above my ankles, then a slit up the side.

I took a few steps, testing out my mobility. Four other guards lay still on the ground, bloody and beaten, and Paolef ran over to help Enverro dispatch the last one. Velian and Corman were scanning the hallways to make sure it was clear. I turned back to thank Denzen, moving to wait beside him for further instructions. A low groan sounded behind me, and I spun around, finding myself eye-to-eye with the guard I’d been fighting. His arm was pulled back, ready to strike me down, but Denzen shoved me out of the way, lodging his knife in the guard’s neck at the same moment the guard thrust his blade through Denzen’s abdomen.

“Denzen!” I yelled as both men fell to their knees. I lurched forward to steady Denzen by his shoulders; he panted and stared down at the sword. The guard’s head flopped backward, his hand staying tight on the handle as he slumped to the ground. Denzen cried out as the sword was ripped from his body .

I tightened my grip on his shoulders, gently guiding him to the floor. He stared up at me as I leaned over him, his hand lifting to brush my cheek, a soft smile on his lips.

“It’s okay, you’re going to be fine, Denzen.” My voice quivered with the lie as I glanced down at the blood gushing from his wound, flowing down the sides of his body. I squeezed my eyes shut, but his shaking fingers stroked my cheek again and I forced myself to look him in the face despite the pain.

“Princess,” he rasped, blood bubbling on his lips and dribbling into his beard. His blue eyes lost focus, his hand dropped from my face, and with one last choking gurgle, his chest stopped moving. A tear fell from my eye and landed on his blood-spattered cheek as I reached up and closed his eyelids.

There were running footsteps and then Corman was on the other side of Denzen, feeling for a pulse and frantically muttering, “No, no, no…”

With a shuddering inhale, Corman grabbed his friend’s face and pressed their foreheads together. A hand rested on my shoulder and I looked up to find Velian staring at Denzen, his face lined with sorrow.

“What happened?” he asked, his gaze shifting to me.

“He saved me. He pushed me aside and jumped in the way.”

Velian grabbed me by the elbow and helped me to my feet. I stared up at him, but his eyes were locked on his fallen friend’s body, a sharp crease between his brows and a gleam of silver in his eyes. Paolef and Enverro stood behind him, faces tight with grief. I didn’t see when Denzen pulled the knife out, but it lay on the floor, bloody. Without a second thought, I bent down and grabbed it, wiping the blood on my skirt and tucking it into the top of my boot.

More footsteps echoed down the hall and we all scurried to group together, swords drawn and ready to face whatever came around the corner next. My heart pounded, but I let my breath out in a huff when I recognized the figure skidding to a halt in front of us.