73. Seventy-Three - A Royal Introduction
Seventy-Three - A Royal Introduction
Viggo
Loric dug out the same clothes I wore the last time I saw the Queen.
It’s been decades, but the whims of the courts are cyclical, so I am not the only one wearing this irritating cape that crosses over my chest and hangs down over only one of my shoulders.
Hand clasped in mine, Ana fidgets as we wait in one of the enormous halls that open into the Queen’s throne room.
She looks up at the ceiling, its curved recesses twinkle with lights that have been held in place by the same magic for centuries. They bleed and flicker like they’re alive... like they’re dying.
Penny moves his own cape-like coat out of the way, angling himself toward the doors as we wait for them to open.
We are early. I don’t think she’s chosen to make us wait on purpose.
Aprica has never been cruel.
But when Kaelen opens the door for us and I see Kirra’s face, I wonder if we are interrupting an argument.
There’s no one else here.
The Queen sits on her throne and Kirra stands beside her, gaze fixed on the floor.
Aprica looks the same as she always has. Small. Pink, with hair like the sunrise. Confusingly old and young all at once.
Kaelen closes us in, once more and the six of us feel so terribly small in such a large room.
Our Queen smiles at us as though we have not been summoned from our home so that she can tear us apart.
“Welcome back, my forest guardian. I did not expect to see you so soon and I wish that it was under better circumstances.”
Her gaze shifts to me and I don’t know what she can see, but I don’t try to force a smile. I imagine it would come off as hostile.
“You are mad,” she says softly and then glances to Kirra. “I understand that. But nothing is decided yet.” But her gaze shifts to Ana and her face changes. She looks... confused.
“Come here, please.”
She holds her hand out to Ana.
I can hear Ana swallow and I know everyone else can, too, but she doesn’t hesitate.
In slow, measured steps, she makes her way up the dais, almost all the way to the top.
Aprica holds her hand up, making Ana stop and then, she caresses the air, as if she can see or feel something the rest of us can’t.
“I understand your worry, Kirra.” She drops her hand and her gaze travels over Ana before she stands, lightly brushing the apricot pin in her hair.
Tipping Ana’s face up with a finger beneath her chin, Aprica’s brows pinch. “I have so many questions.”
The confusion makes me uneasy. I take Penny’s hand so I don’t step forward.
“Ask anything you wish,” Ana says, a curious look on her face as well.
“Kirra only called you Ana... What is your full name?” But she doesn’t let Ana tell her. “Anastacia Eventide?”
Ana glances at Kirra before she says, “Yes.”
Aprica’s confusion disappears, replaced with... fear? Or maybe grief. I’m not sure.
She looks at Penny. “Oh no…”
But she takes Ana’s hand, looking her over like she might have missed something, and then she stands. “Come with me now. There isn’t much time.”
“There isn’t much time for what?” I ask, but she ignores me, pulling Ana with her, through the door into private chambers.
Ana only glances back at us once before the door closes.
“I’m sorry I had to do this,” Kirra says, “But with that reaction, I had to be right. Something is wrong.”
“I don’t want to talk to you right now.”
“I’m only doing what I think is best.”
“If the Queen tells us we can never see her again, know that it means we will never see you again either.”
She straightens her shoulders, eyes still fixed on the ground. “That is a sacrifice I am willing to make if it means you are safe.”