Cursed by Malignant Magic (Once Upon A Curse)

Chapter 15

Chapter

Fifteen

O nce again, I found myself planning an escape, although this time it was from my own people.

Strange, to be sure. Not easy, since I still couldn’t leave the room. A potential traitor was hardly treated with the most respect on the rare occasions that the guards deigned to speak to me, and yet it was still worlds better than the cell I had just left.

My stomach grumbled with hunger and anticipation. After what felt like an eternity of deprivation, I was finally fed. Simple meals, served on quaint wooden plates and accompanied by rustic utensils, were presented to me a few times a day.

Every bite tasted heavenly, as if the gods themselves had blessed each morsel. I couldn't help but indulge in the delicious food, even though I knew it could make me sick if I ate too much at once. Thankfully, the meals were spread out, giving my body time to acclimate to having sustenance again.

There was no shortage of water to quench my thirst, something I had taken for granted before my time of need. I’d only had that one drink of water during my previous captivity. From Legacy, actually.

On top of having food and water again, I could finally rest properly, and my body began to heal from the aches and pains of being strung up in chains. I could sleep and heal without worrying about being beaten or tortured or killed. As angry as the soldiers were with me, they wouldn’t hurt me without Ehuna’s command.

I was safe here. For now.

The final stage of my plan was in the works when I had another visitor. I jerked back toward the bed, halting my pacing, when footsteps approached my room. I swallowed hard, straightening my shoulders in preparation for whatever or whomever I was about to face now.

“You look far better than last time,” a familiar voice said.

My face broke into a wide grin, and I rushed toward the door. “Varna! I’m glad you’re safe.”

She looked so much better. I had washed up as best as I could with the water in my room, although I still hadn’t had a full bath as of yet. Clearly Varna had, her skin shining with a healthy, clean glow. I did my best not to be jealous of that.

“You look better as well. I take it you’re being treated okay?” I phrased it as a question, although I could see the answer well enough for myself.

Another bout of jealousy surged that I did my best to ignore. It was not her fault Tannin didn’t see her as a threat. If anything, I should be flattered, and maybe I would get an answer from him as to why he hated me so much. Maybe when I dragged him back to Ehuna in chains as proof that her trust in me had not been misplaced.

Varna leaned against the bars on the door. “Yes, I am being well treated, but I am sorry for everything that has happened to you,” she said. “Your Ehuna has made sure I have everything I need, although I’m sure that she will want something from me in return.”

I nodded. If there were guards nearby, it would not be wise to discuss this further. I could only hope that Varna would be able to handle things on her own when I left.

But how should I let her know about that? It would be nearly impossible to outright ask her without seeming suspicious if anyone overheard us.

I decided to take my chances anyway.

“If you are…left to your own devices, will you be all right?” I asked.

Varna's eyes lit with understanding, and she nodded slowly. “I think I will be safe here. If there is something else that needs to be taken care of, I will still be here after it has been dealt with.”

My shoulders slumped with relief. So she did know what I was talking about, and she had all but given me her permission to leave without her.

I hated the idea of it, considering all that we had been through together, and the fact that she was now one of the few friends I had, but it would be best for her if she stayed here. And best for me if I didn’t have to worry about bringing another person with me.

“I’m glad to hear it.” I reached through the bars toward her.

After a moment of hesitation, she grasped my forearm, both of us holding on for a moment before I withdrew. If one of the guards saw, they would likely be angry with Varna. She didn’t need that sort of complication in her life.

After that, there was nothing more to say. Varna left me, and I didn’t wait much longer after that before I decided to set my plan into action.

Well, plan was a bit too generous of a term. There was a single window, barred, peering out into an empty courtyard. I hadn’t seen anyone in that area for several days, which was as close to an abandoned escape route as I was going to find in the midst of a camp where so many soldiers and mages milled about.

I wasn’t entirely certain I could even fit through the window, but I at least had some hope based on the width of my shoulders. They were wider than my hips, so if my shoulders fit through it, I should be fine.

Once again, I turned toward the window, studying the courtyard more closely. I would not have my plan fail because I hadn’t noticed something small yet important.

The dirt in the courtyard had turned more into mud, although I hadn't paid enough attention to notice if it had been raining in the past few days. Overgrown weeds and tangled vines covered the once sturdy stone walls of the courtyard.

A long time ago, this part of the fortress must have been reserved for dignitaries, or other people more important than I was, just based on the cracked remains of the large fountain tucked into the corner. Now, I was the only one around to appreciate its strange beauty.

Stone benches sat unevenly in the mud, not moved back against the walls, just left where they were. Even from here, I could see the carvings in the stone, more intricate than I would have expected from a place so full of military dignity.

The musty scent of damp stone and decaying leaves drifted in through my window, although I could see a few flowers doing their best to struggle through the thick mud. One of them, a thin, white blossom that looked as if it had begun wilting before it had ever properly grown, was close enough to touch, given the slightly underground nature of my room.

I hesitantly reached out through the window and brushed it with my fingers, the petals soft and slick with rain. Part of me was tempted to pull it, to hold on to the one bit of beauty I had seen recently in this place, but I pulled my hand back before I could.

That flower deserved to live as much as I did, or maybe more. That poor thing had done its very best to grow, despite its harsh conditions, and I had to smile at it. It had certainly given me a lot to think about. If a flower so pale and stilted could grow in harsh conditions, did I truly have any reason to complain? I should take inspiration from it.

My heart rose in my chest, and my grin didn't fade as I went to the desk against the far wall. I carefully poured a small amount of water into the bowl, watching as it swirled and settled. The liquid was crystal clear, reflecting the rays of sunlight that filtered through the bars behind me.

I dipped my hand in and gently washed away the specks of mud that clung to my skin. A remnant from when I had reached out to touch the delicate flower, but I didn't regret it in the slightest. Besides, my little exploration with the flower had shown me something else. Something far more important than a simple flower, no matter how much that plant lifted my spirits.

If there had been a guard posted anywhere in the courtyard, they certainly would not have taken kindly to me reaching out through the window of my room. The fact that no one had moved to stop me told me that there was no one out there, and getting out through that courtyard might be the best option.

I had also noticed one of the benches pushed against the wall, unlike the others, and it would certainly be close enough for me to step onto it and do my best to climb over the wall. What lay on the other side was a mystery, but at least I had a plan for how to get out of my cell and the fortress. Far better than I'd had before.

Now all I had to do was wait for night to fall and then use my power to bust out of here.

Hopefully not as difficult as I feared.