A sharp sting on her face and the ringing that followed caused Marigold to rouse. She had not realized she had not returned to the indentured quarters. She had slept on the cold marble floors of the temple, her tattered clothes being the only thing keeping her from catching a dangerous cold. She rubbed her cheeks which still stung as she came to realize that the sting came from a slap. A slap was probably gifted to her by the rough hands of the guard that towered before her. He was speaking but Marigold couldn't hear him. Her senses were just coming to life and the only thing her ears seemed to carry was the ringing which was the aftermath of the sting. But the more the man's face contorted and twisted, the better her hearing got.
"Why are you not in the indentured quarters?" The guard barked, his voice echoing against the stone walls.
Marigold rubbed her bleary eyes and struggled to focus on the guard's face. "I-I don't know," she stuttered, her heart racing with fear. There were rules that needed to be followed in the faith of the unblemished and she had just broken one of the ancient ones. The indentured were supposed to be inside after dinner. But Marigold had been recluse under the watchful gaze of the statue of Adora. Marigold had forgotten what time was and had been there all through the night. She knew what was to follow. The guards making their rounds were not always lucky when it came to finding delinquents who flouted the laws of the temple. Why would they? Indentured were seen as the property of the temple and horrendous torture was allowed as long as the indentured suffered no serious bodily harm and could still work the following day. The reason why the law was never usually broken wasn't because the indentured were that keen on keeping the law. It was simply because the guards were inhumane and cruel. Any fault in the law of the temple meant the defaulting party would go through hell and back literally. Though, many would argue that Marigold was lucky because she had lady parts. She had heard the indentured girls she never talked to gossip about it all the time. If they ever stayed out too long of the quarters and were caught, all they needed to do to get out of that predicament was offer their mouths or their hands and help the guards relieve their stress. Looking at the angry stout man, Marigold was unsure she could do it even if the opportunity showed itself.
"Are you the one called Marigold?" The guard continued, which made Marigold's blood freeze in her veins. That was not good. She was not popular. Solely for that reason, a lot of red flags bled into Marigold's mind.
Why did this man know her name? The mark on her back itched in response as if teasing her. Marigold swallowed and looked the man in the eye. He couldn't know she was Arcan. It had been years and almost nobody remembered she was. If they did, they wouldn't have waited for years to strike. She was overreacting. The man knew nothing. He had to know nothing.
"Yes," She answered, knowing it was better than to test the man. "I did not mean to sleep out here. I was ordered to clean the whole place with a small brush as punishment." Marigold added. What good was an indentured who couldn't conjure lies on the spot? The bored look on the man's face told Marigold he did not believe a word he said. But that did not matter. All she needed was to stick with the story. It did not matter whether there was no brush present to solidify her tall tale. If the man still refused to buy into her lies, Marigold was willing to do it. It would last only a minute or two. If the man needed a cheap thrill to let her be, she would offer her hand or her mouth if need be. It was a matter of surviving.
"There is a carriage from the Renold house outside," The man said. "They have the seal of the priestess and claim they are here to pick you up. Get your things and meet them outside."
"What?" Marigold was confused. Her father, Birley Renold might have promised to come back. But a part of Marigold was of the idea that the man would not come. The information the guard relayed to her also exposed the severity of the situation. The King's hand was in a tight spot and he really had no choice but to use her. Marigold wondered if it was predestined. She wondered if this was how her life was destined to play out from the start. It sounded like something out of those fairytales that the sisters of the temple read to her when she was a lot younger. Except Marigold was not so ecstatic to be the main character of those stories. In reality, the situation those characters had been put through was beginning to sound more like a horror story.
It was clear the guard had no time for her antics. He sighed and immediately roughly pulled Marigold to her feet. When Marigold fell into his temple, she could smell sweat and ale. The perfect fusion cementing the man's role as a Temple guard. "Get your things and go to the gate!" The man spewed in her face. His lips reeked of ale. They smelled so bad, Marigold had to actively try to keep the contents in her belly…well, in her belly.
"I have nothing to pick up at the quarters." Marigold replied, shrinking as the man continued to lean into her. It was the right answer too. If she was really going to be getting married to some knight to save the family name, there was no point carrying her rags when they would instantly be disposed. Another reason was that she did not want to walk in there. News spread fast. The indentured in the quarters would already have some tea and questions. Marigold could not handle that.
"If you say so," That was all the convincing the guard needed. "Follow me." The man then took her by the hand and led her outside.
The sun had just begun to rise, casting a warm glow over the surrounding landscape. Her heart was pounding with anticipation and anxiety as she wondered what fate awaited her outside.
As they emerged from the shadows of the temple, Marigold saw a grand carriage waiting for her. It was adorned with intricate gold designs and a crest with the symbol of the king's hand. Two hands cradling the crown. Marigold had always dreamt of this day. The day when she would be able to step outside the temple grounds, to feel the sun on her face and the wind in her hair. A luxury that had been hammered into her head that she could not afford. She was an indentured servant, bound to serve the goddess Adora and the church until the end of her days. But a miracle had happened. A miracle she did not want. But it was one nonetheless. There was something different about the air. With the rough nudge of the guard, Marigold took a step forward.
"That is her," She heard voices say from above her. So she looked. "I told you she was leaving this hellhole." Familiar faces stared right back at her. It was the other indentured she had spent her whole life with. All of them fighting tooth and nail to get a good look at her. Some had smiles plastered on their faces. Others waved at her when their eyes crossed. It confused Marigold because these were the same people that had never struck up a conversation with her. These were the same people that had ruthlessly bullied her from the moment they learned she was Arcan. The only reason they were staring at her with a strange new love in their eyes was simply because of the presence of the carriage. A smile somehow found its way to Marigold's mouth despite the gloom that consumed her mind. There was a silver lining in the rain that beclouded her thoughts. The performative bout of farewells seemed to completely take over Marigold as she raised her hand all smiles and waved back at them. In the back of her mind, Marigold couldn't help but concede to what Ten had told her. Maybe this marriage was not just another cage her father was content with throwing her in.
Marigold approached the carriage, her eyes in awe at the sight in front of her. The intricate gold designs and the crest with the symbol of the king's hand were truly magnificent. She had only heard stories of the luxurious carriages used by the royals, but she had never actually seen one up close.
When she was close enough to the vehicle, the rider who was seated in front stepped down, ran over, and bowed deeply in a show of respect.
"It is wonderful to finally meet you, Lady Marigold."
It was even stranger and Marigold couldn't help but feel a sense of confusion. Why was this man bowing to her when she was clearly dressed in rags and looked like she was of lowly status? There was no way Lord Birley would have revealed her identity when he had spent so much time and money trying to keep her a secret. Marigold stood there, awkward and unsure of what to say or do in response. This was all new to her. The silence stretched for an uncomfortable amount of time as the man continued to keep his head facing the ground and she just stood there, fondling with her fingers and praying to Adora that the awkwardness of the situation would end.
The servant quickly composed himself and opened the carriage door, gesturing for Marigold to enter. She hesitated for a moment, taking one last wistful look at the temple that had been her home for as long as she could remember. As she gazed upon the familiar walls, she noticed Sister Julianne at the gates, waving softly at her. Marigold's heart ached with a pang of sadness. Leaving behind the only place that had ever felt like home was a difficult decision, and the sight of her friend only made it more painful.
She knew she couldn't afford to hesitate any longer, but the memory of the temple and the life she was leaving behind brought fresh tears to her eyes. It was easy for others to judge her for leaving behind the cold stone walls that had confined her for so long, but Marigold understood the true cost of her decision. She was leaving behind security, stability, and the only normal she had ever known. She had no clue what this man she was being forcibly paired with was like. She didn't know what life would be like on that side of the world.
Tears streamed down Marigold's cheeks, a silent testimony to the pain of betrayal. She had made a choice that would alter the course of her life forever. The security and comfort of the temple, where she had once dreamed of becoming a sister of the faith of the unblemished, were now but a fleeting memory. As the carriage began to move and the sound of hooves on brick grew louder, Marigold stole a final glance at the only home she had ever known. Fresh tears welled up in her eyes, a testament to the depth of her sorrow.
She raised her trembling hand to wave back at Sister Julianne, her only friend. Julianne's form grew smaller and smaller in the distance as the carriage picked up speed. The thundering sound of the horse's hooves echoed in her ears as she struggled to keep her composure. It hurt--it hurt to say goodbye to the temple, the only normal she had ever known since birth.
Marigold could only hope the goddess would have mercy on her this time around. She prayed Ten was right about the world and how beautiful and wondrous it was.