𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞 | ✎

iv.

On silent feet, I padded my way through the elaborate, dark courtyard. Instead of having blooming flowers like the Sun Clime or paths made of starlight like the Star Clime, the stones underneath my feet were an onyx black, littered with speckles of iridescent silver. The courtyard was a disorienting maze of sorts -- but instead of trimmed, perfected, green hedges, the walls of the labyrinth were lined with dark, roping vines that reminded me of clawing hands.

I knew every path of this maze, knew where every guard was stationed at every minute and all the alternate routes they took. I knew the gives in the dark cobblestones, the ones that alerted the guards, and the ones with traps set underneath them. I knew which of the vines I could slide behind undetected and which ones led to secret passages. It was this knowledge that allowed me to slip, undetected, into the back entrance to the servants quarters -- the door that I had timed down to the second to be unguarded.

I sucked in a silent breath as the door creaked shut, but knew I had to work fast to avoid being caught. I made use of the darkness and sheathed my dagger while grabbing a breakfast tray set for the Ambassador, falling into the role of a servant. With my free hand, I brushed a hand through my hair, which I dyed temporarily black with the spare coloring I kept in my pack.

The black leathers I had donned earlier weren't much different from the servant uniform, and I knew that in the early hours before dawn, no one would be able to tell the difference between my leathers and the slightly smoother and looser fabric the true servants wore.

With the tray in hand, I kept my head low and nodded as I passed other servants on my way up the stairs toward the Ambassador's Hold. I could've walked this path with shut eyes knowing the amount of times I had traced it in my head.

Right. Right. Open the door. Up the stairs.

I followed the trail in my mind until I found myself at the servants entrance to the Ambassador's Hold. I took a pin from inside my sleeve and picked the lock, then stepped inside the antechamber.

Too easy. I almost smiled.

I'd watched the servant's patterns, so I knew the exact routine the Ambassador expected me to follow. I glanced into his bed chambers, listened for the sound of slow breathing, then pulled the small vial from the hidden pocket at my hip. I clicked it open and poured its contents into the drink.

Leaving the tray on the table in the antechamber, I floated into the bed chamber with the light steps that I knew his servant had. Before moving to the windows, I moved to the right of the Ambassador's bedside, silently slipping the spectacles from the nightstand into my sleeve. I flicked open the blinds and noted where the sun stood in the sky.

"Good morning to you, sir," I called, keeping my tone light and airy and in the dialect of the Night Clime. "Did you have a well rest?"

The ambassador stretched on his bed, and I kept a keen eye on his build and any potential weak areas in case the initial plan went awry. In his drowsiness, he clumsily reached for his spectacles but only sighed after failing to find them.

"Meriss, I'm quite famished. Do you have my breakfast?"

I fell into a curtsy. "Of course, sir. One moment." I floated back toward the antechamber, grabbing the tray, then made my way back to the ambassador.

Keeping my head to the floor, I handed him the breakfast. He took it greedily, taking bites of his food before reaching for the drink.

He took one sip. Then another. His face contorted, no doubt at the altered taste, since I knew the poison would take a few minutes to work in. As he became preoccupied with his food and nothing else, I slid the spectacles out of my sleeve and into the pocket of loose trousers laying on the floor. I curtsied, then made my way out of the Hold. Once I heard him begin to cough, I knew I had limited time left.

I exited back out of the servant's entrance in the antechamber, careful to lock the door on the way out. A flick of my mundane powers, and I wiped away all traces of evidence that could lead to detection of my interference.

I flew back down the stairs, but took a different path in order to intercept Meriss -- the Ambassador's true servant. I was silently cursing myself when she didn't appear where I expected, but practically sighed with relief as I saw her turning the corner with another servant, conversing in hushed tones.

I feigned haste and rushed into Meriss, slipping the empty vial into her front pocket while doing so. I muttered apologies, saying how I'm needed by the princess, all while keeping my face obscured from view. She was kind enough to let me by without a harsh word, and I almost felt bad for the punishment the Clime would surely ensue upon her.

I made my way back to the servants quarters with little interference, but I knew the exit would be the harder part. I donned a small hood to hide my hair and most of my face from view, then grabbed an empty basket. I made my way toward the exit that servant's used to get to the town square, when a voice from behind stopped me.

"Where are you off to?"

I knew, by simply the voice, that the woman who stopped me was Chamberlain Kirla.

Biting the inside of my cheek, I turned around and curtsied deeply. "The market, madam." I made a small, unnoticeable step into the shadows, if only to hide my face from her scrupulous gaze.

"Who sent you?"

"The princess."

"To fetch what, exactly?"

"A pin for her hair." The rehearsed lie came smoothly from my tongue. "I truly must hurry, madam. She gave me strict orders to return as quickly as possible." When she didn't budge, I added, "It would be a shame to inform the princess who stopped me from retrieving her needed item."

Kirla stiffened at the threat, then stepped closer to me. I refused to back down, even when her gaze turned predatory. "How come I haven't seen you before today?" she drawled.

"New," I answered. "From Dreven's estate. The princess requested me."

She stared at me for a long moment, before stepping back. "Be back within the hour. If I hear otherwise--"

"You won't," I assured her, spinning on my heel and exiting out the servant's entrance. It was only when I made it past the castle walls and back to the town square that I allowed myself a small smile of victory.

guess who's back!!

after some contemplation, i decided to switch around chapters 4 and 5, which is why i unpublished 4 and replaced it with seren's point of view. this way, it makes more sense for the plot and adds to the slow burn between the characters.

school will be out for me in a week, and i'll be writing MUCH more frequently from then on. like i've mentioned, i plan on publishing this book, so i'd love any feedback or support you guys have for me!

thank you for reading and ill see you soon in chapter five <3