Chapter 1 #2
“They don’t have to eat,” Phoebe said. “But they can. Not in their inanimate form, obviously, but when he’s in his polecat form he often does.
” She quickly warmed to her topic. “You wouldn’t believe the things he’ll steal if he can get his hands on them.
He’s the cheekiest thing, and Cook has banned him from the kitchen too many times to count.
” She laughed. “But he always finds his way back in.”
“How fascinating!” Aurelia stared at the creature curiously. “I read a book about them once, but it was very vague on some matters.”
“Probably because we don’t really understand how such a creature can exist.” Phoebe gave Fable an affectionate smile. “If he doesn’t need to eat, what’s the source of his energy?”
“That’s just what I wondered when I read the book!” Aurelia exclaimed. “And how are they indestructible when in their inanimate form?”
Phoebe nodded eagerly. “It’s incredible, isn’t it!
I’ve experimented, you know, and Fable can’t be so much as scuffed.
But the histories all agree that oncaryxes have always existed in Wynkara, just as humans have and the other creatures of intelligence.
Whatever mechanism he uses to gain energy must simply be one we don’t yet understand. ”
Aurelia shook her head in wonder. “We are fortunate in Wynkara to share our kingdom with so many fantastical creatures of intelligence.” She looked down at her book.
“And truly, there are plants hiding in the mountains that are no less fantastic. Our kingdom holds so many wonders. It makes me glad I’m finally getting the chance to see more of it. ”
“That’s a nice way to think of it.” Phoebe smiled at her. “I’ll confess I was a little reluctant to come to Wynvale, but you’re putting me to shame.”
Aurelia laughed. “In truth, I was a little reluctant myself.”
The two girls grinned at each other until Aurelia’s eyes dropped to Fable once more. “But at least you had a friend to bring with you. Does he go with you everywhere?”
“Aunt Ophelia is always scolding me about it,” Phoebe said. “But she might as well save her breath. It’s not as if I could get him to stay behind, even if I wanted to!”
“She sounds like my grandmama. She and my younger sister are always telling me I shouldn’t bring a book with me everywhere I go.” Aurelia nodded toward the book in her lap.
“Do you really carry one with you always?”
“You never know when you’ll get a quiet moment,” Aurelia said cheerfully, and Phoebe grinned at her.
“So true!” Phoebe hesitated, her voice turning soft. “Your grandmother…Not your mother?”
From her manner, she seemed to think Aurelia might not have a mother, so Aurelia answered quickly.
“Oh no, not Mama. She says we all have to be who we are. She says being ourselves is the only way we’ll find the right person to spend the rest of our life with.
” She smiled affectionately at the thought of her mother.
“It annoys Grandmama no end—which might be why Mama says it, come to think of it.”
Phoebe’s brows rose, and Aurelia rushed to defend her mother.
“Not that she doesn’t mean it. There are lots of things she and Grandmama don’t see eye to eye on.
My father’s family used to be horribly poor, and not even particularly well connected either, so Grandmama had high hopes Father would marry someone with both a fortune and high-born connections.
But he chose Mama instead. Her father settled plenty of money on her, but he was only a lowborn merchant, so now we’re even more on the fringes of society than ever, and Grandmama can’t forget it. ”
“She should have been glad to get one of the two, at least,” Phoebe said. “It could have been worse. He could have fallen in love with a penniless girl of no family.”
“Exactly!” Aurelia cried, warming even more to her new friend. “That’s what I’ve always thought. But not Grandmama.” She sighed. “She now spends her time reminding us that we’re fortunate to be accepted into society at all and that none of us can afford to put a foot out of line.”
Phoebe’s nose wrinkled. “That sounds unpleasant. And your sister agrees?”
Aurelia grinned. “Alanna clashes with Grandmama often enough, but she thinks my books will injure my marriage chances. She’s very concerned about my chances because she knows she won’t get her opportunity until I’ve been successfully disposed of.”
Phoebe laughed. “You make it sound like you’re going to be dumped in the river and sent off with the current.”
“If I take too long, Alanna might consider it. So don’t go making that suggestion in her hearing.”
Phoebe laughed again, shaking her head. “I’m glad I met you, Aurelia. It’s my first time in Wynvale, and I didn’t expect to make a friend so quickly.”
“You’d really like to be friends?” Aurelia asked. “I haven’t made too many of them myself, so I won’t be any help where the other girls are concerned.”
“I have been well and truly warned about your dire social standing.” The twinkle in Phoebe’s eyes indicated she was joking.
“But since my parents aren’t particularly respectable either and I have no desire to run around after the Earl of Windward, we can safely dwell on the fringes of society together. ”
Aurelia’s eyes drifted back toward the tall, dark-haired figure beside the pegasus.
“If we’re keeping our distance from everyone’s favorite Earl, I don’t think we’ll have much company.
” She pulled her gaze away and looked at Fable instead, a grin spreading over her face.
“But I, for one, am quite happy with the company we do have.”
“See,” Phoebe said to Fable. “I knew she had good taste. I could tell as soon as I caught sight of her.”
Fable gave such a solemn nod that both girls burst into laughter.
It was already the best social event Aurelia had attended since turning eighteen and arriving in Wynvale. And she would be able to write to her grandmama that she had made a friend, even if she couldn’t yet report any suitors.