Chapter 3 Knowledge #2
“We’re lucky to live in a kingdom safe from not only them, but all of our enemies, known and unknown.
Before the protection arrangement with Nina, the whole Kingdom of Grythorn lived in fear.
Everyone kept their doors locked and prayed that their home would not be targeted by the unicorns or other monsters that roamed the night. ”
When Luna had previously asked what the arrangement had been between Nina and the king, Demetrio had refused to answer her. He told her she shouldn’t be so nosy, and that was the end of the conversation.
Luna fiddled with her necklace. “So why did the last protection ceremony fail? How was the intruder able to get in?”
Emily twirled a curl around her finger. “I think there’s a possibility that some unicorns aren’t that bad.” As she spoke, her gaze floated over to Luna, her eyebrows raised.
Luna glared at her. It was borderline treason to suggest that unicorns were anything other than a bunch of monsters. So much for Emily being Angie’s perfect daughter. Didn’t she realize how much trouble she could get in for even suggesting such things?
Besides, as far as Luna was concerned, all unicorns were evil.
“I’m just saying,” Emily said, glancing at her nails as if to inspect them. “He only knocked the guard out, he didn’t kill him.”
Demetrio leaned against his desk, waving his hand in the air, dismissing Emily’s comment. “Do not let Nina’s kindness mistake you. Thousands of our people have met their deaths because of those beasts.” He made a point of holding Luna’s gaze as he said, “They’re all evil.”
Luna sank into her seat, shrinking into herself as her thoughts spiralled. How unfair he was. If she had dared to suggest such things, she’d be forced to write a ten-page essay as punishment.
He then turned around, grabbed two books off the shelf beside his desk, and passed one to Emily, and the other to Luna.
“Nina is getting older, which means her magic isn’t protecting us as long as it used to.
We believe it needs to be done more often now to provide the same level of protection.
” Nina was the only unicorn Luna knew of who had ever helped protect a human kingdom.
Everywhere else struggled against attacks from their kind.
Demetrio pointed to the books they were holding.
“As dangerous as the unicorn creatures are, their magic makes them valuable.” He spoke with his hands, moving them through the air like his lecture was an orchestra.
“It’s common knowledge that a unicorn horn can be ground up and consumed for its healing properties, but we also extract the magic from other parts of their bodies and use it in many different potions.
For today’s homework, I want you to read chapters eighteen to twenty which further explains this subject. ”
Then Demetrio excused himself, explaining he’d be right back, leaving Emily and Luna alone.
With a devious smirk on her lips, Emily turned to Luna. “I have a hypothetical question for you.”
Luna raised her eyebrows. “Oh?”
“If you were a unicorn, what kind of powers do you think you’d have?”
Luna’s soul left her body. “It’s blasphemy to even think such a thought. Are you trying to get us in trouble?”
“Always,” she teased, her voice light and airy despite the heavy topic. “But answer me this. If you could decide to be a unicorn, would you?”
“No,” Luna said with a small laugh. “I want a normal life, not a magical one. I’d sooner run off a bridge and fall to a horrible death than be a unicorn.”
Emily chewed on her bottom lip, seemingly deep in thought. “I suppose that’s fair . . .”
Demetrio returned with a stack of papers and a big smile, passing a portion to Emily and then Luna. She stifled a groan at the dreaded Latin grammar assessment and wondered if Demetrio took evil pleasure in creating the world’s longest exams.
She stared at the first question for an unreasonable amount of time, swirling her pen in her hand as she tried to focus.
Grammar in a language she couldn’t speak seemed so very unimportant.
By the time Luna had finished the exam, Emily was long gone.
Demetrio gave her papers a quick glance, then without saying a word, took the pages and dumped them in the trash.
Wide-eyed, her face boiled with embarrassment as she stared at the discarded pile of papers. She knew she had done poorly, but not that bad. She muttered an apology, promising to study harder, and fled from the room. The fabric of her skirt swished around as she ran out of the building.
Servants swarmed her before she could feel the warmth of the sun shining down on her skin.
As if preparing to dive underwater, she inhaled deeply as the servants’ umbrellas created a canopy overhead, their beautiful colours a mockery of the sun’s attempt to reach her face.
Clyde and another unknown guard, as well as the servants, escorted her about the grounds.
She wandered aimlessly along the path that hugged the side of the academic building.
Lost in her thoughts, she crossed the small wooden bridge in the middle of the courtyard, feeling disconnected from the cheerful scene unfolding in the gazebo, where her sister and the other ladies were enjoying tea.
They sat around an elegantly decorated table, featuring an array of meticulously arranged fresh flowers on a silky white runner.
Dainty teacups, plates, and utensils were in front of each lady, and there was an empty spot at the head of the table honouring the late queen.
Servants stood in line around the gazebo, ready to assist.
Luna couldn’t have felt more out of place if she tried.
She took a seat next to her sister, while her guards and the umbrella-wielding servants dutifully waited to ‘protect’ her from the sun should she choose to leave.
“Luna, you’re finally here!”
Quickly, Luna gave her thanks to the girl who served her tea and then turned to the person who’d shouted.
Cecil was not only one of Emily’s closest friends but also her enemy, and for whatever reason, Cecil liked to pretend she was also friends with Luna.
Her striking presence, auburn hair, and piercing blue eyes captivated almost all of those around her—except Luna.
Her family was known for their sharp mind and talent for navigating the court, too, so Cecil could pretty much do no wrong.
Sliding down the bench, Cecil leaned into Luna. “A little birdie mentioned you were with the unicorn yesterday. Do tell us all about it.” Her mischievous whisper, if you could call it a whisper, broke the chitchat of the other ladies.
Luna quickly looked around to see if any cats had died from all the curiosity looming in the air.
She glanced at Emily, who not-so-innocently shrugged her shoulders, and Luna let out a heavy sigh before telling the ladies about her encounter with the intruder.
She left out the details about the note on her windowsill, and the words the intruder had spoken, believing it prudent.
After she recounted her tale, Cecil spoke next. With her nose wrinkling and her gaze falling on Clyde, she asked, “Is that the guard who got knocked out?”
Luna nodded; the disgust in Cecil’s voice caught her off guard. Did she think of Clyde as lesser, unable to do his job, for getting knocked out?
Before Luna could defend him, Venita chimed in, “If I’d been attacked by a unicorn, I’d be hiding under my bed for a week.
” Venita was the closest thing Luna had to a childhood friend.
Despite King Hendrix’s rules, often limiting Luna’s participation in various activities, Venita always made an effort to include her, something Luna appreciated.
“I’d join you there, Venita,” one of the older ladies said. “I’ve heard it takes an army to take down a single unic—”
Emily clapped her hands together, drawing in the other ladies’ attention. “What I want to know is”—she paused for dramatic effect—“why the unicorn vanished and how?”
Luna had been wondering the same thing. As far as she knew, he disappeared of his own accord. Which begged the question, why had he come in the first place?
“Luna probably scared him off,” Cecil blurted out, laughing. “He probably thought she was a ghost!”
Luna looked down at her hands, her cheeks warming. Being sheltered from the sun’s rays left her complexion pale, borderline sickly.
The ladies at the table began giggling, barely trying to hide their smiles behind their gloved hands. Emily was the only one not laughing. In fact, she was practically scowling at Cecil—which was odd, considering Luna had heard her make a similar joke not too long ago.
Venita’s voice rose above the giggles. “I’m willing to bet that when Luna wasn’t looking, Clyde confronted the intruder before he was knocked out. It’s likely that the unicorn was forced to retreat.”
Thank the high skies above for Venita. The tension in Luna’s shoulders relaxed and she gave Venita an appreciative smile, knowing this was her friend’s attempt to divert the conversation.
Emily might love attention, but Luna was the opposite—especially when the topics being discussed involved her illness or her restrictions.
“Do you think he’ll be back?” one of the other ladies nervously asked.
“Maybe . . .” Luna tried to answer honestly, “It’s odd he was able to get through the protection barrier around Grythorn in the first place.”
“Their kind is the lowest of the low,” Venita replied, wringing her hands together. “I’m glad the king is holding another protection ceremony. I’ll sleep better once it’s completed.”
With her finger raised towards the sky, Emily made an announcement, “Speaking of, Luna is attending this one!”
A chorus of excited voices erupted around the table.
“Oh, Luna! How exciting!”
“Your first time is so memorable.”
“You’re going to love the food—”
“And the dancing!”