Beyond Orion by Laura D. Bastian

Author:Laura D. Bastian [Bastian, Laura D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Astraea Press, LLC
Published: 2015-03-02T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

A Picnic

Marcus returned from the latest project on his revised schedule and sat back on his couch, closing his eyes with a sigh of relief.

“I’m beat. Let’s not work anymore today.” He looked out the window to the evening shadows spreading across the city below. After the banquet last night, the visiting dignitaries were all taking a day off from their politics, so we didn’t even have dinner planned with any of them. I had been planning to work till bedtime, but the idea of quitting for the day was appealing.

I tucked my pen in the file and closed the folder. “Wouldn’t that be lovely.”

“I’m serious. We should take a break. Do something that isn’t on the schedule.” He sat up and leaned forward.

The hope in his eyes made me want to give in. To throw off the role of queen and just be me. Whether he saw my moment of weakness, or he just really wanted to take a break, I didn’t know, but he joined me by the desk and offered me his hand.

“Come with me?”

I hesitated just a moment before placing my hand in his. The smile he gave me as my fingers touched his palm was reward enough.

“I know just the place.”

Marcus kept hold of my hand as we left the office. The guards surrounded us as usual, but Marcus didn’t seem to notice them anymore. He led me to the kitchen and helped me sit in a chair.

“Hang on a moment.” He winked at me and turned to the kitchen staff. “I know my way around here pretty good. Any issues with me gathering some stuff?”

The head cook shook her head and smiled indulgently. I wondered how many times he’d been to the kitchen. The smells in the room reminded me I hadn’t eaten since lunch, and my stomach rumbled in protest at being ignored for so long.

Marcus looked at me with one eyebrow raised then turned to the cupboards. He gathered a variety of items: bread, crackers, drinks, cold meats, cheeses, fruits, and some dessert. He tucked them neatly into a wicker basket he pulled from a shelf and hooked the handle on the crook of his elbow. He offered me the other arm and I joined him eagerly.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“Just come with me.”

“The guards won’t allow us out of the palace grounds,” I said, eyeing the soldiers around us. None of them commented or refuted me.

“We aren’t leaving the palace.” Marcus led me out of the kitchen and down a side hallway. We reached an elevator and Marcus placed his hand against the panel. The elevator door opened revealing a spacious box with enough room for us and our four guards.

The four soldiers placed themselves at the door as it closed, and Marcus reached around them to press the button labeled RG.

When the elevator slowed, the guards stood ready as the door opened. One stepped out, weapon drawn and apparently finding all well, allowed the rest of us out.

I gasped in surprise at the garden before me.

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