A night in a Royal garden

(Co-op story by TheFlax and TdC)

It was night. A warm breeze came from the Bosphorus, bringing a thousands scents from the city below the Palace. The man fully dressed in black had gained access to the gardens on which opened the latticed windows of the Princess’ apartments.

His heart was racing madly in his chest, not so much from the exertion of climbing walls and avoiding the patrolling guardsmen but from his proximity to Her.

Hiding in the bushes, his face upturned to the balcony where a feeble candle burned in the room, the man saw the lithe body of a small boy climb the wall, getting grips in between stones. The boy seemed to carry a heavy burden on his back, but apparently, this did not hamper his climb in any manner.

The black-clad man tensed, his hand going out of reflex to the dagger at his belt, his fingers tightening on the hilt.

The boy reached the balcony. The man began to move to follow, loosening the blade from its scabbard. The boy parted the curtains and stepped into the room. The man took some quick steps forward. He was almost out of cover when suddenly the curtains parted anew and the boy reappeared, his burden gone. He vaulted over the balcony’s rail, landed rolling and began to run as soon as he regained his feet. The boy passed a mere two feet from the man not noticing him, while the man took note of the boy’s face, intent on finding him again if anything happened to Her.

Thinking of Her, the man’s gaze returned to the window and he stood transfixed. She was standing on the balcony like a Greek goddess, a Christian Icon bathed in candle light. She peered at every inch of the balcony, seemingly searching for something. For a moment, she was visibly tense, yet once the futility of her search became obvious she visibly relaxed. Turning to face the man, she gazed absently at the night sky. In her arms she was holding the package that the boy had carried with him. The size and shape of the green-clothed packet reminded the man of a book.

That puzzled him. Who would deliver a book in such a way ? Unless it was some forbidden book… No, that was not possible, She would never meddle in these matters…

Before the man could move, She retreated as quickly as she had appeared. The man remained a few more instants. The candle still burnt brightly in the room when he left.

He managed to see Her… That was more than what he had hoped for…