He claps suddenly, and the loud sound fragments the heavy emotions wafting around us. I jump from the noise and then try to not look like such a scaredy-cat.
“Ory, call the families,” Tok orders. “Announce that one of ours has returned home.”
I expect Ory to mouth off about the command, but he takes off into the air before I can even look his way.
“Come, Vinna, let us show you around. All this is yours now, and you should get familiar with it,” Tok states, and I try to cover up a choking sound with a cough.
“I hope you will join us,” Tok offers Sauriel in invitation.
“I’d be honored,” he answers back.
Tok puts an arm around me, and I try not to stiffen. He doesn’t say anything if he notices and proceeds to lead me into his house. I renew my plea to the universe that somehow this won’t take a turn for the worse as I take in the ornate entrance with my grandfather’s arm around my shoulder. So far so good. Here’s to hoping it stays that way.
22
“Are you thirsty or hungry?” Marn asks me as we make our way up a massive staircase. “Grier always liked caro water and zah. Would you like caro water?” she presses.
“I’m okay,” I tell her politely. I have no idea what either of those things are, but I couldn’t eat or drink with my stomach all in knots the way it is right now.
“You guys want anything?” I ask Bastien and Knox. They just shake their heads as they look around.
We’ve toured the elaborate stadium sized main floor and are now venturing into the upper levels of the First Palace. They don’t call it that, of course, but a spade is a fucking spade. I’m pretty sure the railings are solid gold, and everything about this place is well past over-the-top. They open the door to a room on the right, and my eyes light up with recognition and excitement.
“Grier insisted we have it close by her room. She said it helped her think when she moved and pushed herself,” Tok tells me, and I take in the combat equipment in the room.
It’s not state of the art punching bags and combat dummies like my space back home is, but it’s the Sentinel version of all that. Padded poles in all sizes and heights, pulleys that would make targets move, another large mechanism that looks like it would refine agility, all fill the room, and an odd sense of giddiness and belonging trickles through me. I can picture a girl in here working out her frustrations, and I feel a sense of camaraderie with my mother that I’ve never felt before outside of us both being Sentinels.
Tok closes the door and leads me further down the large hall. He opens another large gold door, and he and Marn show me into a room that’s light and airy with pastel colors. There’s feminine touches in the bedding and wall fabrics, but other things, like well-used targets spread out on the walls, give me a peek at the depth of the woman who grew up in this room.
“This is Grier’s room,” Marn tells me reverently, confirming my hunch.
She runs her hand over a dressing table lovingly and blinks away the emotion I see pooling in her eyes.
“We’ve kept it ready, just in case,” Tok informs me as he studies the space. “We’ve arranged for your belongings, which should arrive shortly, and if there’s anything else you need in here, just let us know and we’ll get it sorted,” he tells me matter-of-factly, and I choke on a cough again.
“Say what?” I ask as I slap a fist to my chest in an effort to clear my airway of shock.
“You’ll be staying with us now,” he declares, and I study his face for a beat, not sure what to say about that.
“You are of the First House and should be here with your family, where we can protect you and guide you. The Sovereign’s castle is not your place yet, and until it is, this is where you should be,” he adds.
“I don’t have any belongings,” I croak out awkwardly, shooting Bastien and Knox an uneasy glance.
I don’t know if I want to stay here. I especially don’t know if I want to stay in my dead mother’s old room. I want to spend time in it and get a feel for her, but sleep here? I look over at the bed and realize it will fit me and about one and a half of my Chosen. Yeah, that’s not going to work.
“Well, then moving you here won’t be too difficult,” Tok tells me with a smile, answering my previous statement.
“Um...how are my Chosen supposed to stay here? The bed wouldn’t fit…” I trail off, not sure how to say,yeah this room is not right for me.
“Your Chosen…” Marn repeats, trailing off as she glances at Knox and Bastien and then quickly looks away. “Right, yes. Your Chosen. We can arrange accommodation for them in the guest wing,” she adds, quickly sharing a look with Tok that I can’t discern.
“Oookay,” I answer, feeling like I’m missing something. “We can stay in the guest wing, that’s not a problem. I’ll need space for my Shields too though,” I add.
“Youallwill stay in the guest wing?” Marn questions, looking from me to Grier’s room, like she’s searching for the reason I wouldn’t want to stay in here.
Shit.
“Yeah, well, I stay with my Chosen. So if they’re in the guest wing, then I’m good to be there too,” I explain, hoping it’s enough and doesn’t hurt her feelings.
