Threat #2
I also saw hope (even if I didn’t say it out loud, she totally knew I was into Tanyn (the holding hands and lip brush thing gave it away), and since she always thought Dad was a genius, it was clear she took this latest as further evidence of that fact, along with feeling relief there were indications I was going to be happy with this arrangement, and she was happy just thinking I would be, and me being that way would mend fences with Dad).
Through this, I carved out time to send a text comm to my head sales associate, Lua, so she’d know I wasn’t going to come into the gallery, sharing I’d send an e-comm later to explain (though I wouldn’t actually explain, just make up an excuse).
A member of staff came during this to share breakfast would be served in the king’s dining room, also to share where the king’s dining room was.
When we were about to leave the bedchamber to go to breakfast, more members of staff showed with six hover-crates (six!) filled with my clothes, shoes and accessories.
At seeing them, I sent an irate look to my mom because that was overkill.
She lifted a shoulder and mumbled, “I know how you like choice and never know what you’ll be in the mood for.”
True.
But totally lame.
Mom had always been a terrible liar.
From the size of those crates, I was practically moved in with Tanyn!
I didn’t have the energy to discuss it then.
I needed breakfast.
Mostly, I needed coffee.
We had both (Mom had spent the night organizing her packing, Dad’s packing, my packing and then journeying to Abyssinia, and she didn’t eat in all that time, and although she didn’t share this, I realized she also didn’t sleep because, tardily, I noticed she looked tired).
During breakfast, another member of staff told us that even another member of staff would be there after breakfast to give us a tour of the castle and “a brief briefing on etiquette and protocol.”
“Catla was in Queen Calisa’s court for two years,” Mom sniffed. “She doesn’t need a briefing on etiquette and protocol.”
The staff member bowed to her and murmured, “Of course, milady.”
Mom wasn’t a lady but neither of us corrected this being.
We ate.
The new staff member showed.
We were given a tour of Berg Castle, replete with a great deal of history thrown in, so by the end of it, it had lasted three hours, and since I was in heels, regardless of the fact that I wore them all the time, I didn’t wear them standing up for three hours, thus my feet were killing me.
Not to mention, adding to the overall vibe of confusion that had settled in to be my new resting state, I found the place gorgeous.
Mom was right.
It was precisely my aesthetic.
Classic. Uncluttered. Open. Bright. Luxurious.
Even the administrative area we were shown (with a mention from the staff member to me of, “This is where your aide will have an office”) that occupied the below-ground level was elegant and tasteful.
After the tour, fortunately, we were seated for a light lunch (again in the king’s dining room, which was twice the size of the one at the citadel, and it was like all the rest: lavish, but not ostentatious, and done up in the colors I noticed were bespoke in Berg Castle, lots of blues, purples, silver and opalescent whites, with some grays and black thrown in as accents, and particular to the dining room: blues and grays—it was all very un-demon-like, which was shocking, but it was still coldly glorious).
During lunch, Mira, who I’d already noted during our earlier meeting was a black-haired curvy demon with a no-nonsense demeanor, came in and introduced herself.
She gave us every indication she had no time for us, and therefore, gratefully, she didn’t stay long.
About ten minutes after her brief visit, another demon, this one slender, taller, younger and blonde, Jorda, came to introduce herself.
Both of them left me their comm codes so I could get in touch with them.
After lunch, we were escorted to the chamber where Mom and Dad would be staying (it was not close, but also not far from Tanyn’s room, so he was making a statement by putting them in the family wing).
While there, she nabbed her tablet.
And onward to the queen’s study (the queen’s study! gah!), where I was given a lapcomp, and we were told we could relax there or roam the castle, however the king requested we did not go outside.
Since Mom had grabbed her tablet, she sat on the royal-blue silk charmeuse couch (again, edged in silver gilt) in front of an unnecessary (after Sigil, this place felt positively balmy), but still lit fire.
I sat with the lapcomp at a large stunning desk of beautifully grained ash wood, which had ornate hardware, gilding and curved lines, so I could get some work done.
She started reading.
This segued about five minutes later into napping.
And this meant I got up and tiptoed to the fur (fake) blanket artfully thrown over an armchair and carefully laid it over her so I wouldn’t disturb her rest.
I was glad to see her sleep. She needed it.
I logged into my systems, sent e-comms to my boss, the owner of the gallery, and staff to explain an emergency had come up, I’d be out of the office for an indefinite period of time, but available via comp or Palm, and working remotely as best I could.
I was alternately replying to e-comms, while perusing furniture and décor panes, coming up with the brilliant (I thought) idea to check on-pane auctions, and flagged several items to consider showing Tanyn that I thought would work great when the citadel was refurbished.
Yes, I did this.
Yes, I enjoyed it.
No, I did not contemplate what it said that I was doing it.
Yes, I told myself I was doing it solely to keep my mind off all that was happening.
One last yes, I was totally lying to myself.
I was falling in love with a fabulous, huge rug that would go perfectly with the even more fabulous antique tester bed I found on an auction pane, both of which would be impeccable in the king’s chamber on Sigil, when there came a knock on the door.
Mom snorted and sat up, staring around her in confusion before aiming a sheepish smile at me.
Lilith, she was so cute.
Since she’d already been woken up and I wasn’t a fan of that, I snapped, “Come!” toward the door.
It opened, yet another member of staff filled the doorway, and I stood, because, to my surprise, behind her was Laura.
“May I announce Madam Laura Makepeace, the True Bride!” the staff member grandly proclaimed.
I frowned at this.
All right, so I’d been in Queen Calisa’s court for two years, so I did know etiquette and protocol, and of course, one of my besties was engaged to the True Heir, therefore, lately I’d spent quite some time hanging around royalty.
But this whole place seemed over-the-top.
I mean, how many beings did you need milling about, bowing and scraping to you?
She stepped aside and bobbed a curtsy as Laura rushed in.
I rushed to Laura.
We hugged.
When we broke, we stayed close, holding each other’s arms.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
At the same time, she asked, “Are you okay?”
Mom was near, and Laura let me go to give her a hug and a cheek peck, while I said, “I’m perfectly fine. But what are you doing here?”
“Could we have some tea?” Mom called to the staff being still standing there.
The female nodded.
“And if you would, close the door,” Mom said.
The staff being nodded again and disappeared, closing the door behind her.
We moved to the seating area in front of the fire, Laura and I taking the couch, Mom taking a silvery velvet upholstered armchair.