The Curse of the Gift

Part 8

I couldn't sleep that night. My mind was filled with moments of Marian not being able to help the prince, and her asking me for help, and me failing miserably. And then my imagination was running wild, and the sleep was gone.

But to my surprise, I didn't feel as bad as I thought I would. It was still dark outside, and the sun would be up in a few hours. But I suddenly had so much energy, and I wanted to do something. So after a quick rinse with cold water, I decide to go out to stretch a little, as I used to do when I lived with my grandmother. I remember every morning, we would get up before sunrise and walk into the woods, where she would teach me how to wield a dagger, and most importantly to use my body. Even in spite of her advanced age, she had more strength than a healthy man, and sometimes, when I was distracted, I got hit so hard that I bruised up for a week afterward.

I put on my comfortable clothes-a black shirt and tight black pants-I go quietly out into the hallway, trying not to make too much noise.

There's a dead silence in the palace. But I'm sure life is already in full swing downstairs in the kitchen. So as not to attract unnecessary attention when I wander through the labyrinth of corridors, I decide to use the secret passages, reserved exclusively for the servants. They are well hidden, but I, as one of the representatives (and I insist, a very respected one) of their commune, know where they are.

It was chilly outside, and I wished I'd brought a cape or a kaftan. I wrapped my arms around my waist and headed deeper into the garden, away from prying eyes. While working with Ryan, I happened to stumble upon a hidden clearing, almost at the end of the palace's vast grounds. And since I didn't have any weapons to practice with, like a dagger or at least a knife, I decided to take a stick along the way. And that turned out to be no easy task. The gardeners are doing a great job. Not a single pebble or even a twig! Not to mention a whole stick.

After looking around the clearing, my gaze stopped on a lone tree in the middle of it. Its trunk was thick, and as I moved closer, I tilted my head up to get a better look at its crown. Its branches were long and opened in all directions, creating a sort of canopy. Why hadn't I noticed it before? I couldn't think of anything better to do, so I decided to climb the tree and get a branch there.

But it was harder than I thought it would be. After sweating and grunting loudly, I managed to break a good, fairly thick branch. But I hadn't thought of one detail.

How do I go down now?

"Oh, shit!"

I was so immersed in thinking about how I was going to get down the damn tree that I didn't even notice the approaching footsteps.

The unexpected clapping startled me so much that I almost fell down. But when I heard the laughter, I cursed myself even more for leaving the room in the first place.

"Good morning to you, too, honey." Allan doesn't even try to hold back his laughter. "And I thought there was nothing else to surprise me in this life. But you keep proving me wrong."

"I'm glad I brought so much variety into your life, honey." I said the last word through my teeth, which amused the guy even more. "Now, if you're done admiring, would you... help me get down." I whispered the last words because I was too embarrassed to ask him to help me.

And why, of all people, did he have to be the one to help me?

"I'm sorry, what did you just say?" The guy asks, but I'm pretty sure he heard exactly what I asked him.

I took a deep breath and shoved my pride away, because I couldn't be here all day.

"Can you help me down from the tree?" I ask as politely as possible. And I have to exercise some self control skills I'd never known before, so I don't have to swear at Allan right in his handsome face.