CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX—SNAKE IN THE GARDEN

Keeping out of sight as best he could, Debaku kept close to the hedges, circumnavigating the brighter patches of light from the lamps along the paths.

But it wasn’t only the paths that were lit, as the gardens were meant to be enjoyed during these night hours and lamps had been strewn about on long cords, lighting the fountains and flower beds.

Debaku never considered that the placement of lights could be an art form, but seeing these gardens, and similar ones before these, he had come to understand that it was indeed an art.

Even he could appreciate it.

Looking up toward the palace, some of the trees obscured his view, but he could see the magnificent structures well enough. He would have to traverse a long way before he reached his destination.

And even here, far from the palace itself, there were visitors striding along the paths. But at least the gardeners were—or so it seemed—only working on the edges of the vast sculpted landscape in order to keep out of sight.

Debaku moved up along a thick hedge that blocked any possibility of him being seen from the other side.

There was a cap to the next row of hedges leading along an oblique angle. He would use that to then traverse farther to his left.

But right now a man and a woman were in the throes of a passionate kiss. Should either one of them glance up for even a mere moment, they might spot him crouching low as he crossed the bare space between hedges.

So he waited.

And waited…

The couple giggled together, continuing to fondle and caress each other between kisses. Rolling his eyes and the lengthy time he had been waiting, he reached over and grabbed a pebble.

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With a quick glance over the hedge, he tossed the small rock. It hit the flagstones behind the couple and they separated as the woman pulled away from the man and glanced about suspiciously.

“Did you hear that?” she asked.

“What? I heard nothing.”

“No, there was certainly something. I heard it…” She pointed. “Just there.”

The man searched the hedge where she pointed. “There is nothing. Now come here, you wily woman and stop trying to get away from me.”

She giggled and their talking ceased as their mouths became occupied with another task.

Deabku frowned and picked up another pebble. He tossed it into the flower bed behind them with some small measure of force so that when the pebble struck, it made a cracking sound.

The couple pulled apart again as the woman glanced about in sudden alarm. “There is something here!”

There was a pause between them.

“Did you not hear it this time?”

“I think so,” the man said with a nod.

“It was just here.”

“I know. I heard it this time.”

“Let’s go from here,” the woman said. “I don’t like this.”

The man laughed. “It’s probably nothing—just a tree rat.”

“No! Someone is watching us.” She turned. “Come out, you sneak!”

“It is nothing.”

“I want to go from here.”

“Then come,” the man said. “I know where a magnificent fountain is. It surrounds that of a naked woman.”

“Not a real woman?”

“A statue, of course,” the man said as he chuckled.

There was a pause.

“What?” he asked. “You are not jealous, are you?”

“Of course not. Now take me to this statue. After I have seen it, I will show you the true meaning of naked beauty.”

“Oh?” the man asked.

“Perhaps,” the woman said. “If we are not caught and flayed in this garden.”

If I continue at this pace, it will take me the entire night to get to the palace.

They both laughed, and Debaku heard the sound of their receding footsteps on the pathway. He wasted no time in coming out of his hiding place and making the journey to the next hedge.

Continuing to move with speed, he cut around this new hedge and moved to another. There were hills farther on with a stream and some trees to his left that would supply him with excellent cover.

Just then, he noticed a stumbling man with tall boots and a shimmering jacket.

Drunk.

Tilting his head slightly, Debaku thought that the man’s jacket could probably fit his frame quite well. But more importantly, provide him with a disguise.

The Black Cobra of Mar’a Thul grinned, a thing he did rarely in the presence of others.