Debts and Death

I paced around my room again, fiddling with the blue handkerchief that the Prince had left me with.

At the Duke's command, Dilera had stayed with me in my room until late. She sat and watched me pace in silence. It seemed that she wanted to comfort me in some way, but she likely wasn't sure how. And it wasn't like I was going to open up about my thoughts to her, anyway. She was probably more loyal to the Duke than she was to me.

Around 10 p.m. she finally agreed to leave me alone. At which time, I went and got the handkerchief that I had stashed under my pillow. I wasn't really sure what my plan was. At this point, I was probably out of luck. Through my conversation with Altan, I could assume that escaping this Palace on my own was near impossible. Especially now with my new bulky guard that followed my every step that I took out of my bedchambers.

~At this rate, I will marry the Duke or be murdered before I get the chance...~

There was only one option left that I could think of. One possibility that likely even Altan could not imagine. But it was also an extremely dangerous option. And, in all honesty, I wasn't even sure if I even had this option at my disposal....

I found myself on the balcony again. My pacing had been leaving me there all evening. But each time my feet brought me there, I didn't have the courage to do what I ought to.

~No. I have to do it. ~

I took the handkerchief and tied it to the balcony railing, then stared at it.

~Will this work?~

My hope was that if the Water Mage Prince were to see the handkerchief tied up on my balcony, that maybe he would come back. Maybe it could somehow signal him... And if he came, I could beg him for his help.

Altan proved to me that when it comes to strategy, he has me out-witted. But, what if it was not my own strategy that he was working against? What if it was the strategy of a Prince of the Water Mages? And a stealthy assassin, at that? Surely, Altan would never see that coming... right?

The only issue. The only reason I had yet to actually find enough courage in me to tie the handkerchief to the railing and wait, was because I feared that, like last time, he would refuse to help. But if he refused to help, and he was aware that I was out of options for escape... he might actually kill me.

I could be inviting my murderer into my own room.

But then again, I had no idea if this plan would even work. What are the odds that he would be keeping an eye on my balcony? Or that he would notice a small flapping piece of blue cloth in the wind? I felt like it was unlikely.

~But I have to do something... No. I can't just accept this fate. I can't give up now. Especially considering that if I can't escape there won't be a life for me to live, sister-wives or not. Because if I don't escape before the wedding, the Prince will be back to kill me.~

I swallowed and took a step away from the handkerchief.

~I have to do this. It's my only option.~

I waited.

Hours past.

Or at least I assumed it was hours. I wasn't keeping an eye on the time because I was waiting on the balcony. Finally, when my legs tired, I found myself sitting on the ground and leaning against the wall of the palace.

I waited.

My eyes began to feel heavy.

I thought that I might fall asleep, when...

*FLICK*

"Ouch!" I sat up when a sharp pain hit me between my eyes.

Squatting in front of me with his fingers prepared to flick me in the forehead again was the Water Mage prince. He looked the same as what I remembered: crystal blue eyes and long flowing black hair. Tonight he had the majority of his hair pulled into an indelicate bun atop his head, long strands of his hair still fell down his neck and over his left eye.

~Did I really fall asleep? How did he get up here so soundlessly?~

"Oh my god, it worked." the words fell out of my mouth at the sight of him. "You saw my handkerchief, and you came."

The prince watched me silently, then turned his head to spot the blue handkerchief that lay limply against the railing. "you think I came because you tied that up there?"

I opened my mouth.

~Wait, he didn't come because of the handkerchief?~

"Then why did you come?.... Yo- your Majesty." I tacked on at the end.

~Wait, is he back to kill me already!?~

The Prince stood, pulled the handkerchief from the railing, and then was squatting in front of me again. "I gave this to you so Jala would not forget you." He sounded annoyed. And it surprised me when he grabbed at my arm and began to tie the handkerchief around my wrist. "Not so you could summon me if need be." he sighed as he tied the knot tightly, then leaned back and looked at his handy work. "As for why I came." he stood suddenly, and I found myself scrambling to my feet as well. "I saw you on the balcony and thought perhaps you were dead."

"Dead?" I blinked.

~And your first instinct was to flick a dead girl on her forehead?~

The Prince shrugged, and I realized how little he would have cared if I was actually dead. "I thought perhaps the Duke took your life for colluding with me, or that you killed yourself."

My eyes widened, "Why would I-" I stopped my first question as a more pressing one came to mind, "Wait. Do you think the Duke knows I met you? Do you think he'd kill me for that?"

"No." he answered quickly and crossed his arms over his chest. He leaned his back against the doorframe of my balcony and lowered his eyes to the streets below us. His eyelashes hooding his Caribbean blue eyes. "I doubt he knows. Although your fiancé is well-known for his strategy and wisdom. It would not surprise me if he were to find out." I swallowed nervously, "I don't think he'd kill you either. He needs you too much. In all honesty, I thought it far more likely that you had taken your own life."

My mouth felt dry at our conversation, "I don't plan on taking my own life, Your Majesty." I said hoarsely.

"Is that so?" He eyed me suspiciously, and I attempted to keep from meeting his gaze. "It's just, when you said you had your own escape planned, I thought that death may be it."

I wasn't sure what to say to that. "Your Maj-"

"Stop calling me that." he cut me off shortly. "His Majesty is my father, or my brothers. I may be a royal, but I don't wish to be spoken to like one."

"Oh." my mouth closed tight, "Then what should I-"

"Just call me Cai." he looked away from me as he spoke, and I couldn't tell if he was annoyed or not, "Now, why did you want me to come here?"

"Oh, yeah," I blinked my eyes at the change of topic and felt a nervous bubble grow in my stomach as I realized what I had to do now. "I need your help."

Cai's eyes drifted to mine, and I quickly looked away. Aside from the fact that I now knew this was a gesture I shouldn't share with someone, his gaze was far too intimidating to hold even under earthly circumstances. "With what?"

"The Duke found out what I was planning." I said and squeezed my fists tight, hoping that I wasn't currently digging my own grave. "He's increased security around me. There are guards now that follow me everywhere I go." I shook my head as I was getting to the point. "I don't know how I can escape before the wedding."

"I understand." Cai said.

"You do?"

"Yes." he bent down and reached for the knife I knew was attached to his leg, "You wish for me to take your life for you-"

"No!" I put up my hands and his hand halted near the knife on his calf.

He lifted his head and met my gaze. And this time, I didn't look away. I needed to show him how serious I was.

"I want you to help me get out of the Palace." I said.

He stood slowly, "I already told you, I can't do that."

"You don't have to take me with you." I said, "You said I would slow you down and you would get caught. But, all I need is help getting out of the Palace, I can do the rest. You don't have to worry about me following you around."

The prince tilted his head, perhaps at my request or perhaps because I was still looking him in the eyes. "I can see why the Duke is so infatuated with you."

"What?" his remark caught me off guard.

"Fine, I'll help you." he took a step closer to me and in the closing of distance my eyes shot to the floor. "But after you are out of the Palace, you will owe me a debt. How does that sound?"

I paused, but only briefly...."Deal."