Chapter 23:
Kara did just as she was advised. She followed the queen with the ladies in waiting who looked at her quizzically. She caught the eye of the darkling who excused himself from his previous conversation to make his way towards her. He gently caught her elbow and led her behind one of the marble columns by the garden entry. Kara did not know what pushed her to do it, probably nerves, but she leaned her head on his torso, her arms hidden away against her chest. Alexhander seemed surprised but did not pull away. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pressed his cheek to hers to whisper, " Is all well? What did the queen want?". Kara explained what had transpired. The general was worried. " I do not know if it was wise to agree to such a meeting. Many have tried healing the princess to no avail. The king no longer wants to hear of any new trials. He wishes for his daughter to be left in peace, while the queen holds on to hope of finding a cure". He sighed and wrapped his arms around her. From the outside, only a few wondering guests would catch two lovers holding each other. Really, they were talking about political intrigues. " Kara, you cannot interfere in this sensitive subject. The king desires you but will not agree to you using his daughter as a cavy. It might even anger him. The queen is putting you in danger with this request." Kara pulled away slightly to look at him, " What if I could find a way to make the princess better? I find it worth the risk". Alexhander was serious now. " Kara, I know your engagement towards the sick but promise me you will not do anything rash without me knowing. I cannot protect you if I am not aware of your plan". He pushed back a strand of her hair which had caught on a button of his kefta, " I do not want you caught in our majesties' crossfire".
A bell rang in the ballroom. Alexhander caught her arm and brought her back to the crowd, which had gathered around the King's Chamberlain. He was a short balding fellow of jovial disposition. His round cheeks were flushed and Kara wondered if he had had too much wine. " Ladies and gentlemen! May I have your attention please. The King would like to propose a game! As you may have seen, our gardeners and staff have done a wonderful job in arranging our hedge maze outside. The king has hidden somewhere inside that maze, his most prized ornate golden egg. Whomever can find it and present it to the king, will be rewarded and ennobled by his majesty. The winner will be invited to spend the week at the palace for our spring tournaments." The crowd murmured in excitement. The chamberlain giggled and squeaked in delight. " If you wish to participate, I suggest you move to the garden entry and wait for my signal to start your search". Several young maids and men made their way to the garden. Kara noticed they were of poorer relation, to whom being ennobled would mean gaining in status. Those already close to the king and of higher status, staying calmly within the ballroom, talking to other entitled monarchs.
Alexander leaned to Kara's ear, " That is our cue. Come with me". The king and queen had made their way to the terrace, as judges of the event. It was made clear that any cheating would be frowned upon. The king did not seem to look at Kara and the general as they passed to a more remote part of the garden. And yet, Kara could feel his gaze burn the back of her neck. She shivered, the cold air triggering a response that her mind echoed in worry. Once they had reached a willow at the exit of the maze, Alexhander stopped and faced her. " Was the king watching?", Alexhander asked. Kara turned to face the terrace across the garden. The king indeed seemed puzzled by their isolation away from the event. She nodded, " Yes. I think he wonders why we would not wish to play". Alexhander snorted, " It goes to show how well he knows his people. I for one, cannot be ennobled as no grisha has ever been granted that privileged. As for you, I do not see you as the ambitious type." She raised an eyebrow, " Are you saying I have no aspirations?". Alexhander realized he has vexed her. " I only mean to say that you are not blinded by greed. Would you play a game for the sole purpose of entertaining bored nobility? Being ennobled is as fickle as wind. It means nothing. If the king is dissatisfied with your behavior, he can just as easily take it back". They looked at the men boasting at the starting line about finding the egg within a heartbeat and the woman flirting and laughing as they held their skirts. The chamberlain raised a musket in the air and fired. Cries of excitement filled the air as the first participants rushed into the maze. Some pushed each other and tripped at the entrance. One lady fell to the ground and almost got trampled. Kara winced for her and made a note to check on her before the end of the ball.
Alexhander gently slipped his fingers through hers and pulled her closer. Her heart seem to be logged in her throat. " I'm going to start kissing you, once they have found the egg. As the winner will rush to leave the maze, the king's gaze will come to rest on us. He will see that you are taken". She nodded, silent and tense. It was hard to breath with him so close. Why was this affecting her? She knew it was pretense. However, in the light of the candles and paper lanterns, the general looked mysterious and attractive. The darkness concealed a part of his form, and she was afraid he would melt into the night. She wanted to hold onto him to make sure he was real. She tightened her grip on his hands and came to rest her forehead against his, closing her eyes. Alexhander knew that this moment was the culminating point of their planning. The king had to be convinced that they were in love or Kara's protection was forfeit. However, as she leaning onto him, forehead to forehead, he could not help but appreciate the shared moment. It was simple, devoid of any lustful desires. Just the communing of two souls. From far within him, something stirred. A longing he could not name. With that longing came fear. He could not allow himself to feel. She was charming for certain yet he would outlive her by centuries. She would be dust and he would mourn her for eternity. No, he intended to feel for someone of equal longevity.
He pulled away and breathed the cold air to ground himself. At that moment, a cry of success filled the air, "I found it! I found it!". A hand with a decorated egg pocked over the hedge from the middle of the maze. The chamberlain rang a bell. " Ladies and gentlemen, the egg has been found! Dear winner, proceed to exit the maze and join us on the balcony!".Alexhander turned to Kara and was surprised to feel her lips on his, suddenly. Kara could no longer bear the tension and she feared the king. She wanted assurance, a guarantee to her safety and to be free to live as she wished. At the first cry from the maze, she had inhaled a shaky breath and leaning in towards the general. She caught his lips with hers and placed a hand to his cheek. Alehander wrapped his hands around her waist and deepened the kiss. His gestures were calculated. Enough so that the kiss looked very passionate without being too forward for Kara. For a moment, they both forgot that this was for show and lost themselves to the heat, the butterflies and shaky breathing. They heard the winner and followers rush by but payed no further attention to them.
Alexhander pulled away first to press his lips to her neck and she sighed nervously. She leaned in close to his ear so that her breath tickled him. " Is the king still watching?". Alexhander was almost sorry of the change of tune. Had Kara been able to see his face in the dark, she would have seen his disappointment. He pulled her closer and raised his head slightly over her shoulder. The King had been glaring in frustration but had to change his composure quickly, as his chamberlain signaled it was his turn to talk to his guests and reward the winner. General Kirigan could not help it. He felt much satisfaction at having vexed the king in his desires. The man was a foul man and a poor monarch. He only focused on enjoying himself and letting the difficult task of protecting Ravka to him and his other generals. He knew it was only a matter of a few year before his son would access the throne and perhaps things would get worst.
Alexhander smiled and leaned his forehead against hers, completing the perfect image of a happy lover. " Yes, he has seen us. You should be safe." Kara closed her eyes in relief and wrapped her arms around the shadow summoner. The gesture was vulnerable and sincere. Alexhander was rarely hugged, his mother having showed little physical affection in his youth and his past lovers never lasting. She held him as if to ground herself in the moment and whispered, " Thank you". They did not pull away, enjoying each others warmth and closeness. Alexander saw a flash of an image in his mind. Kara was laying on the ground crying, her hands covered in blood. Bodies were sprawled around her, a carnage of war. The image of her turned her tear-streaked face to him and hiccuped, " Our lives are but a fleeting breath in the span of eternity". Alexhander's heart beat fast and he realized he was afraid. He pulled away abruptly from Kara and coughed, " It is late, let me escort you to your room". Kara was puzzled by the change in him but she accepted his offer. She needed to ponder over several events of the evening and she would do so under the security of her duck feather quilt.