Cally shrugs. “You seem to have a great time with him. You guys were all over each other when we went to the pub last week.”
“Yeah. We have fun,” I admit. “I just don’t know if he’s someone I want tobewith. There’s just…there’s something missing.”
It’s something I’ve been grappling with since I first met him. We have great chemistry, but the emotional connection still hasn’t developed after months of dating.
“You don’t have to marry him. Just see how it goes. You’ve never dated someone for this long before. Why not just give it a chance?”
“What about your relationships, hmm? Want to talk about that?” I retort, instantly regretting it.
She glares at me from across the table before getting up and going inside, mumbling something about getting food. When she comes back out, she has strawberries in one hand and an envelope in the other. She stands in the doorway for a few seconds, her gaze flitting between me and the envelope.
“Um. This was just propped up in the middle of your dining room table,” she says, handing me the envelope and setting the strawberries down.
I take the envelope from her. It’s the same one from the store earlier. “I had some mail in my bag earlier and tossed my bag on the table. It must have fallen out.” I toss the envelope on the table and reach for a strawberry.
“Are you joking? Do you know who that’s from?” she asks, staring at me like I’ve grown a third antler.
“No,” I say, brow furrowed. “Do you?”
She rolls her eyes and huffs a deep breath. “Are you serious? Look at the crest on the wax seal!”
I pick the envelope back up and flip it over to look at the forest-green seal once more.
“What does it mean?” I ask.
She gives me an exasperated sigh before saying, “Were you raised in a barn by a human? It’s the High Court’s crest.”
What could the High Court possibly want with me?
I look up from the letter. “No. What? Why would they send me a letter?”
“I have no idea! Maybe it’s not really from them? I don’t know. Open it before I lose my mind!” she squeals.
Hesitantly, I slide my finger under the seam, breaking the wax seal and pulling the letter out of the envelope.
Mae,
You have been summoned to appear in the presence of the High Court tomorrow morning. I will accompany you to the castle and will arrive at your house tomorrow promptly at first light. Please be ready at that time.
Regards,
Ivan Lockewood
Chief Advisor
Fumbling, I hand the letter to Cally to read.
“Did I do something wrong?” I ask, fear creeping into my voice as I watch her read the letter. When she finishes, she seems just as confused as I was.
After several seconds of silence, she says, “I don’t know…I’m sure it’s nothing.” She glances at the darkening sky and says, “It’s late. This is not something you can miss. Don’t you dare think about ignoring this.”
My stomach drops at the thought of having to close the store tomorrow. This has already been a slow month for us, and we can’t afford to lose any more revenue. “But what about the store?”
“I’ll open tomorrow, don’t worry. You have to go to this,” she says somberly, which is enough to unfurl a ball of anxiety that’s slowly been building in my gut.
The High Court. The Woodland Kingdom’s governing body. I inhale and say, “Okay. I’ll go.”
She helps me clean up before hugging me tightly goodbye. I stumble into bed, but sleep doesn’t come easy for me. My thoughts race as I lay there, wondering what the High Court could possibly want with me.
