Chapter 3

Chapter 3

She had barely gotten through the door of the high palace when Issy raced up to her, and embraced her. As she really looked at Issy’s Face Andy could see the terror and worry that Issy felt.

“ what happened out there? We heard you were attacked I was so worried that something had happened to you, when you weren’t with the rest that fled to the trial grounds.”

“ I am fine really. It just all happened so fast and I am capable of defending myself. You and the other guardians have taught me well Issy.”

“ Andy I know you can defend yourself… But we have talked about keeping that a secret. You know how things can change for you if … Well you know what I’m trying to say, the reasons for all the secrecy.”

“ I know but, Issy I couldn’t just run with my tail between my legs. I just couldn’t do it the idea of fleeing scared me more than standing my ground.”

As Issy Stepped back and broke the hug they fell step and step heading toward her suite. They didn’t speak instead enjoyed the silence of each other’s company. This suited her just fine as she was still going over things in her head being very careful not to let her thoughts just wander.

As she entered her suit she was restless just pondering everything that happened in her mind. She tried to sit and read, but ended up pacing her sitting room. Back-and-forth she paced thinking very afraid that somehow something had followed her back from the chasm.

Issy was worried about Andy not just because of what happened during the ride but the stress of being back in this place seemed to be wearing on her more than usual. She knew this was always a stressful time for Andy but somehow been here in this time and place seems so much more.

She was still wondering what was going on Andy’s mind when she lightly knocked on the door to her sitting room. It was mid day and she was hoping to cokes anti-into eat in a little bit before delivering the news that she knew was not going to sit well.

“ I thought you might want to little Mobile… It’s not a full meal just little tidbits of things you like.” Issy said with a wobbly smile.

“ thank you, that was really thoughtful but I’m really not hungry.”

“ Andy you have to eat something, please if not for yourself do it for me.”

she rolled her eyes at Issy But sat down at the small table that looked out over her private garden. It made her smile to see that her guardian hadn’t been for fibbing, because on the platter was some slices of bread, cheese, olives and a variety of pickles.

Slowly picking things off the platter to eat she stared at the private garden thinking how unlike the gardens she had at home. It was like everything else in this place perfectly manicured an extremely fake. It was this perfection and lack of real I was that weight on her soul every time she was here.

Issy stood back watching Andy pick up the items on the platter as she stared out into the garden. She knew that and he hated the garden here but was not allowed to change it in anyway. It pleased her to see that Andy did try to eat at least some of the items on the platter. However, she was quick to remove the platter when she was sure Andy was done.

“ there is something I need to tell you” Issy started with some hesitation “ and I’m sure you’re going to be less than thrilled about it.”

And he looked at her and raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She continued to watch Issy With an almost bored expression on her face waiting for her guardian to continue. Her expression gave nothing away it was kind of unnerving to see.

Issy swallowed hard not wanting to see what she needs to say but with a giant sigh “ everyone that was in the Radion party this morning is required to be interviewed by the king and queen. Since you’re a member of the high royal family not only do you have to report but you have to stay as everyone is interviewed.”

She knew that Issy was expecting an outburst or some sort of resistance but to be honest she had expected this. Honestly she didn’t blame her parents for wanting to get to the bottom of this attack, but it scared her to have to go before them. What if she caused this, all the other members of the court already thought she was strange this would only make it worse.

looking at her guardian she could see the worry on Issy’s phase. She wished she could tell her guardian everything but having grown up the way she did she knew there were some things it was better to lock away. Groaning she got up from her chair and walked to the balcony doors. Just wishing for the peace she got from her gardens back home, and wishing she could just Leave this place without any consequence.

Without turning around to look at her guardian she said “ I suppose if I’m to sit through these interviews I should be presentable.“

Issy replied somewhat sarcastically trying to lighten the mood “ your idea presentable or the courts?“

“ honestly whichever you think is best for this“

That statements concerned Issy more than anything else Andy had said and done up to this point. Her total lack of faith on her clothing was a clear indication to Issy that something serious was going on inside her awards head, somethings she clearly didn’t want anyone to find out. Given who And potentially what her ward could be that was cause for concern.

Issy watched Andy for a few minutes, before exiting to the sitting room and heading for the wardrobe. As concerned as she was about her ward the best thing she could do to help in the moment was to get her ready to sit with the higher court.

Andy Heard Issy leave the sitting room but she didn’t turn around. All she could think about was sitting through these interviews and wondering what she was going to say during her’s. How was she going to keep her secrets standing before her mother, because nobody can keep a secret from the great lady.

She knew that her guardian would never understand her reluctance to stand before her mother, but then again her guardian had ever been called to stand under that gaze and be judged ... To have every inch of one’s soul put on display.

With a sigh she knew that she needed to get ready to sit with the other members of the royal family, But all she could think about was how she could get out of this interview. With trepidation she walked into her bedroom knowing and by this point that her guardian probably had something pulled out for her to wear and would insist on her bathing yet again.

Issy peeked her head Out of the wardrobe as she heard Andy enter the bedroom. She didn’t speak a word just pointed towards the bathroom, which Andy took to mean that her bath was already drawn. She really didn’t want to bath again but looking down at her clothing and her skin she realized how dirty she really was.

Stripping off her clothes she entered the bathroom she realized that some of what she thought was mud was actually blood from one of those wolf creatures. As she studied the blood on her clothing it dawned on her that even the creatures blood wasn’t normal. It was thicker, almost like paste and it was so dark I read that looks black, but perhaps the most curious thing of all was even now after all that time had passed the blood was still warm.

Contemplating this new revelation as she stepped into the shower she wondered if she should take the clothing with her to the interview. Mulling this over as she washed and scrubbed she realized that coming from her nobody would probably believe it. It wasn’t the first time she disliked being who she was in the face of her family this time however she really resented that she was who she was.

Laughing scornfully in her head she thought about being in the final of the seven, the unexpected, the unwanted. She was the one nobody expected, the one who defied the prophecy. if only everyone especially her family had thought to ask the questions that needed to be asked; the questions that would clarify things for them. Questioning that was laughable that was like doing something that defied the perfection of this place.

Finishing scrubbing the mud and blood of the mornings events of her skin she left the Regrets wash away as well. It gave her comfort to know that she understood things more clearly than most here but how was she to keep this secrets That weren’t ready to see the light yet.

Grabbing her towel and wrap it around her she marched out to her sitting room. Issy stood there by her dressing table with two maids and a look that said she was taking no guff from her ward.

“ I know you hate the dress expectations of this court, so you and I are going to compromise.“ Issy Stated holding up address that was beautiful yet was something Andy didn’t hate.

She looked at the dress and Issy’s arms and let out a sigh of relief. The dress was a lovely hunter green with silver embroidery that looks like leaves. While it fit the standards of dress expected of this court it was simple in its design. There were no layers and layers of lace, No layers of petticoats it was silk required one petticoat and no corset it.

The look on her face was one of peer relief And that was all Issy needed to see to know she made the right choice. As the maids helped Andy into the dress Issy said “ I see you like the choice, this is what I was trying to tell you earlier I had some dresses made for this occasion… Once I thought you could stand to wear.“

“ thank you it is lovely, and I’m glad you had the foresight to think of this.”

“ The maids will help you with your hair and that will be all we do as I know you’re not fond of the cosmetics most ladies of this court wear.”

Plopping down on the seat in front of the dressing table she let out another side of relief. The idea of being forced to wear that gunk on her face made her sick. She tried hard to not let her mind wander as she stared into the mirror watching the maids brush out her long auburn hair. It was hard for her to stay in the present as she knew that this was going to take a while her hair was waist length And always took a long time to brush out. She tried to stay in the moment by listening to the maids talk quietly under their breath about how sucky her hair is, and such an unusual color.

It was that thought she latched onto the fact that her hair was auburn color strange I’m on the gods and goddesses. Most of the others had blondish white hair as pale as moonlight, or hair as gold as the sun Or black as midnight. Hair like hers was rare among mortals but it was almost are unheard of among the gods. She was pondering this when she looked in the mirror and realize that the maids had finished they had bound her hair up in a series of intricate braids that suited her and left a lot of hair flowing down her back.

They have even placed her diet them on her head without her noticing. With one last glance in the mirror she picked up her necklace off the dressing table and place it around her neck. Looking at Issy she nodded and the maids open the door to her sitting room she’s swiftly followed her guardian the main doors of her suit. Standing at the main doors she waited as the maids open them and she entered the corridor behind Issy.

Andy tried not to let the shock show on her face as she stepped into the corridor and realized several of her father’s guards were waiting for her. Raising an eyebrow at the guards and then at Issy Who had fallen in step slightly behind her.

“ it’s on your fathers orders Lady” Issy responded to the raised eyebrow showing nothing but the proper conduct in this public setting.

shaking her head as she continued on towards the throne room thinking to herself that she should’ve expected this. Her parents would never take a chance with one of the cauldron born, even if it was her and she guessed that all of her siblings probably had armed escort.

Without another thought about the escort she continued onto the throne room. She was just about to the doors of the library when she noticed a fluttering shadow and one of the alcoves, uncertain if her eyes were playing tricks on her she stopped and turned to stare into the alcove. She was sure she saw something moving in the back of it she turned to get Issy’s attention to see if she saw it as well, but before she could the shadow disappeared.

Completely stopping much to the annoyance of her escort she stepped forward until she was almost into the alcove. With a wave of her hand she’s summoned the lamps in the alcove to light revealing only empty space. She knew she had saw something but how had it just vanished into thin air like that. She ran her hands all along the walls seeing if she could trip some sort of hidden passage, because in her mind that was the only explanation.

She sat down on the bench in the alcove going over what she’d seen in her mind. It wasn’t unheard of for gods and goddesses do have the ability to transport it was however something that cannot be done inside the high Royal Palace. Long before her parents became king and queen There have been protections and spells put on this palace to prevent anyone from coming and go in unnoticed. So what had she seen and we’re headed gone these thoughts were running rampant in her mind When one of her escorts cleared his throat.

Looking up at him she waited to see if he would speak. He looked nervous but stood up straightly as he said “ Lady… With all due respect the High Court is waiting for you, and we had orders not to be late. If it would please you could we continue on to the throne room now.“

She looked at him realizing that he was a very young guard and this was probably the first time he had ever been assigned as an escort to anyone of “real” importance. Smirking as she got to her feet as she could tell this young guard took his duty very seriously and she would hate to get him in trouble.

Casually as if she had never stopped she fell back in the step and continued on the way to the throne room. The mysterious shadow was still in her mind but she figured it was a mystery that could wait a few minutes, as there was plenty to deal with right in front of her. Standing in front of the great doors of the throne room she realized how nervous she was; the last timesheet actually stood in front of the high throne was when she was sent away it was a memory that she will never forget.

Glancing at Issy she took a deep breath and try to steal her self for this interview process. There were some things she truly knew about herself and one of those was that she was not a coward but she would be lying if she said she wasn’t afraid. Standing there staring at those silver and wood doors she could feel her hands shaking terrified that her secrets would be laid bare once again before the court.

How was she going to get through this because there are definitely things she didn’t want this court to know about her and she couldn’t shake the Audi is he feeling that this was all somehow her fault. What about the shadowy figure she stayed in the alcove she wasn’t sure she wanted anyone to know about that yet either because what if it was just her imagination playing tricks. Taking one more deep breath know when she can install the moment any longer she placed her hand on the door.

The door felt warm beneath her touch as the spells in it recognized her. Waiting she stood there concentrating on breathing and not throwing. Mentally she was giving herself a peptalk that she could do this she can make it through this. Really what was the worst that was going to happen that the court was going to think she was even stranger than she already was, she honestly didn’t think that was possible at this point. Just as she was starting to feel calmer the door to the throne room swing open and the guards move aside to let her in.