Chapter 7

Emerging from the heart of the maze, the path guided her in a sharp left turn, around the width of the shrub wall, which was the thickness of three strides. Once around that curve Aketa went no more than five steps before she was faced with her first choice. A break in the wall at her right showed a long corridor of green. A break in the shadow cast by the walls indicated at least one opening down that path. In front of her the path continued a shorter distance, where it dead-ended in a “T.”

Aketa turned right. She walked all the way down the long corridor, a length of sixty-two steps. She knew now that the place the guide had left her was most likely at the center of the maze, which meant that the wall she faced was one of the exterior shrub walls. She’d hoped to follow this exterior wall, but there were no openings here. Aketa backtracked down the corridor to the opening she’d first predicted from the shadows. Passing through she found herself in the center of a long path that stretched out to her left and right. Breaking perpendicularly off of this path were four others. Ignoring these, Aketa turned to her left, counting her steps until she again reached what she was sure was the outer wall. One of the perpendicular paths ran along this wall, and Aketa followed it, only to reach a dead end. Frustrated, she retraced her steps, and this time followed the path to the right of the opening. When she reached the end of this path her counting told her she was back near the center of the maze.

She took the opening closest to the end of the corridor and followed it all the way down, delighted to discover that, according to her steps, sixty four in all, she had once again reached an exterior wall of the maze, and best of all, there was a path branching off to the right, following this wall. Placing her left hand on the exterior wall, Aketa started walking, counting her steps as she went. When her chosen path turned right, forcing her back into the maze, Aketa kept her hand on the leafy wall. She stayed true to this course of action, never lifting her hand even as her steps told her she was back towards the center of the maze. Soon even her counting failed her, as the path wended and wound, her determination not to lift her hand bringing her in and out of dead ends.

Determined to stay this course of action, sure that what she touched was an offshoot of the exterior wall, however twisted it may be, and that it would eventually lead her back, Aketa turned a corner and came upon something she could not have imagined in her wildest dreams.

There, in an open space in the maze, was a pile of treasure.

Trunks full of fine fabric, boxes of jewelry and coins, and a table laden with delicate foods filled the space, the riches glittering in the sun. The air here smelled not of growing things but of fine wine warmed by the sun, soft cheeses, and well-seasoned meat. Aketa’s stomach rumbled, not in real hunger but in instant craving for the exotic fare.

The cases of jewels were open, ridiculously so, as broaches and gold coins had tumbled from the box to lie amid the grass. Embroidered fabrics glinted with gold thread while soft velvet soaked in the light.

Looking away from the treasure, Aketa saw the openings of at least three other paths centered around this clearing. Trying to ignore the glitter of gold, Aketa kept her left hand in place, following the wall, until the wall turned right. Eyes on her toes, Aketa kept moving forward until her toes bumped against a trunk of fine fabrics.

Her path led her right to the treasure. Leaning into the prickly shrub, Aketa considered what she faced. They had put this here for a reason, of that she was sure, and looking around she suspected that many paths ended here. Was there some trick in the treasure, a way to open the hidden entrance? Aketa stepped back, looking at the shrub against which the treasure huddled, but could detect no uneven break. With the tables of food, stacks of trunks and chests, and even a rack of fine swords, the treasure destroyed any possibility of Aketa continuing to follow the same wall, as the wall she wanted was the same that the treasure rested against. Stepping back she looked for a continued opening on the other side, but could see none, instead the rack of weapons rested against another corner.

Without thinking about it, Aketa had drifted to the table of food. She stopped there, hand reaching for a succulent turkey leg.

She snatched her hand back. This was not her food. Swallowing the saliva that had pooled in her mouth, Aketa picked up several platters and moved them to the far end of the table. With a space cleared, she carefully tucked trailing bits of velvet into a trunk and slammed the lid closed. She hauled the heavy trunk up onto the table, grunting in effort. Next she reached for a smaller chest of jewelry. A diadem of gold, worked in the shape of vines, was hooked over the edge. Aketa picked it up.

It was stunning, and Aketa, who had never before coveted gold or jewels, for they had no place in her life, wanted this beautiful thing. It was small enough to tuck into her sleeve. If needed she could break off one of the gold leaves, the money from which would buy meat for a year.

Aketa placed it carefully into the chest and closed the lid.

She climbed onto the table, hauling the chest of jewelry with her. She set the chest atop the trunk and then, praying it would hold her, climbing up the makeshift tower. Balancing atop the chest, which was barely wider than her feet, Aketa stood straight and tall, looking out over the maze.

Aketa located the entrance to the maze and traced a path to where she now stood. When she was sure she knew the way, Aketa climbed down and headed out of the maze, leaving the treasures behind.

* * * *

Standing on the balcony, overlooking the maze, Moregon watched the green-eyed girl climb down from her improvised lookout. He’d watched in rapt fascination as she navigated the maze. Even from the start she had set out with purpose and determination. Her self-possession and quick mind were evident from her actions.

And she had not stolen any of the tempting treasures.

There were other temptations placed throughout the maze, though the one Aketa had faced was by far the largest. Half the girls who’d entered the maze had not been able to resist, and had slipped something valuable into their clothing, failing the test.

Those who succumbed to thievery had been escorted first to a chamber where they were divested of their loot, and then out of the Palace. Promises were made that no word of why they failed would go forth. The reason for their elimination would be their own shame to bear.

Every girl thus far had made it out, though Aketa had been the only one to employ this unique solution. Others had torn bits of fabric from their clothes and used them as markers, or broken off branches at corners to denote that they had come that way already. Moregon had no love for those who hurt his precious shrubs, though in fairness the shrubs had done some damage of their own. Two girls had attempted to climb the shrubs, either to look out over the maze as Aketa had done, or to get to the other side of the wall, but the shrubs were not meant to climb, and both girls had given up, nursing scrapes and bruises as they finished the maze.

She’d removed her head scarf. Moregon had nearly tipped over the edge of the balcony trying to see her face, but she was hidden in shadow in the maze, and when she climbed up to map out the maze she had been facing away from the Palace. As much as he regretted not seeing her face, Moregon knew that had she turned she would have seen him watching her.

The gnawing ball of anxiety that filled his belly loosened as she emerged from the maze, laying the scarf over her head as the guard approached her. He would have greatly regretted it if Aketa had gone home.