Page 42 of Grave Flowers
“No, I’m originally from Crus but came here to make better money.”
“And you work in the garden?” Just as Luthien couldn’t stop the twitch in his eye, I couldn’t hide the tautness in my tone. Our bodies both seemed to have delicate inflection points, giving away beneath our secrets despite ourselves. “I’m wondering—how would one enter the garden at midnight? I assume it’s locked securely?”
His eyes, as green as springtime grass, stared down his long nose at me, as though it were a guiding line of sight. “The garden is locked to the public, but you may still gain entrance to it from inside the palace on the ground floor. You may also ask the prince if you’d prefer to have a different entrance unlocked. He would order to have you let in, I’m certain.”
“Oh.” I gave a fake laugh. I made it sound as hollow as an empty cask. It was easy to sound like I was lying because our whole exchange was based on lies. Little did he know, though, which lie was which. “I’d rather not bother him. I wish for some solitude amid the flowers. Nothing more than that. Thank you. The ground floor, you say?”
“The ground floor,” he affirmed. His lid continued to jump, practically swallowing the white orb of the eye only to release it seconds later. “If you wish for privacy, the guards make rounds through it only twice. At nightfall and at the dawn hour.”
“Wonderful.” I released my top hand first and then the bottom one. Luthien’s fingers closed around the coin, and he slipped it into his pocket—but not before I saw that his palm was unblemished from the tarnished coin. “Please tell Annia I’d love to meet with her tomorrow to discuss the care of my belated sister’s starvelings. It’s of the utmost importance, as I’m afraid they haven’t received the proper treatment.”
“I certainly will.”
“Thank you again. You may go.”
He bowed, backed up a few steps, and then turned and briskly left the chamber. I walked over to my new bouquet. The Acusan flowers reeked of sugared fruits and honeyed frostings.
My hand moved of its own accord. I tore two of the petals off and crushed them hard in my hand. There. The scent was stronger and more complex when compressed and forced from its natural state. Just like me. Taken aback by my own action, I released the petals. I looked at myself in the mirror. A flush suffused my face.
Luthien was lying about who he was. Annia said he’d started at the palace after the announcement of Inessa’s betrothal. His hand was unaffected by the coin. What’s more, when my wrists, laden with Radixan perfume, had come close to him, he hadn’t sneezed once. He wasn’t from Crus; he was from Radix.
My kingdom, it seemed, had followed me here.
There was yet another test, a final confirmation.
If he was Inessa’s killer, or a renegade of some sort, he would act in accordance with his role. Knowing I would be alone and seeking solitude, he would come to the garden tonight. Perhaps to spy on me; perhaps to kill me.
No matter what his motive, I would be ready.
LOSTSOULS
Grave Flower Experiment Five
Appearance
These blossoms look most like chandeliers, with several pendants hanging from one central stem. Each blossom is heart shaped and has two red petals, two black petals, and two pink petals. A gold stamen extends from the center. They are a wistful type and always seem a little sad.
Behavior without invocation
When you walk by them, they often turn all red or all black or all pink. They also, though, tend to get quite confused. They forget which way is up and which way is down and sometimes tear their petals off, burrowing in the soil because they think it’s the way to the light.
Invocation
You will not always be lost.
(Simple! I like it!)
Results
For such wistful flowers, they took a bloody turn. They grabbed the prisoners’ arms and legs and pulled in opposite directions until… pop! Arms and legs and torsos were everywhere. An arm was flung at me, and it knocked my crown off! Perhaps the meaning is deeper. Perhaps they are supposed to help you find your way by showing what’s in your heart. Because, as I watched those bodies being torn in two, I couldn’t help but be a little bored. It turned my thoughts inward, and my true desire solidified within me. I do wish to be king forever and never die. Also, the Fely prisoner arrives tomorrow, and I look forward to seeing what insight he might offer into the grave flowers and this quest of mine.
Complications
Once again, there simply is no way to control these beasties! And they were strong. They began to climb up to me, which was quite terrifying, but at the last moment, they became confused and went sideways instead. I don’t understand. Why does the Primeval Family torment by giving me these grave flowers but no way to properly use them? It’s not fair, not fair at all. If I were an immortal king, I would replace the need for the Primeval Family, and everyone could worship me. Hmm, I’ll have to research starting a new religion and how one does that.
Applications
If there were a way to control them, it’d be wonderful to set them in opposite directions to create hoists for construction. We could add onto the palace! I’d love a new wing to store my night robes. I must admit, though, I am growing weary of seeing the possibilities of power with no way to harness it. It’s like being offered everything and nothing at once. It drives me mad.
