I walk back to my friends and engage with their conversation, but my heart is stuck on Wrenley’s words.
There have been so many blessings in my life, and I’ve had to fight for each one.
Nothing, not even the Queen herself, will take them from me.
73
Rosalina
Imust go up the mountain.
The thought strikes me slowly, creeping through my mind as I attempt to follow Eldy’s words. I’m still standing in a circle with him, Marigold, and Astrid in my bedchamber, and we were having a conversation about something, but this thought keeps creeping in.
I must go up the mountain.
“Up the mountain! Come on, darling! Up the mountain!” It’s a woman’s voice, light and ethereal, calling to me through the door. Well, I can’t keep her waiting. Whoever she is, I know she’s important.
I open the door and walk out into the hallway. Distantly, I notice my friends walking beside me.
“I must go up the mountain,” Marigold says.
“Indeed. Up the mountain,” Astrid responds.
Eldy nods. “Up the mountain. Up the mountain.”
Oh good. We’re all going up the mountain.
We walk out of the keep and past the guards.
“Lady O’Connell!” one calls. “High Prince Ezryn requested you have an escort if you leave the keep.”
“Up the mountain,” I tell her.
The guard looks around. “Majordomo, shall I call for an official escort?”
Eldy’s eyes stare straight ahead. “I’m going up the mountain.”
The guard places a hand behind her head. “Well, if you’re together, then I suppose that fulfills the High Prince’s request.”
We leave the keep behind, shuffling forward. Florendel is huge, but I know the way. Distantly, I think about how I rode up to the monastery on an ibex. But that doesn’t seem necessary now. I’ll crawl to the top if I have to.
“Hurry, Rose! We’re waiting!” a different voice calls to me.
Papa! It’s Papa! He’s better! He must have decided to surprise me.
I can’t wait to get to the top of the mountain to see him.
I want to move faster, but my legs seem in their own determined rhythm, one step in front of the other. My friends are still with me, equally excited.
We start upon the trek leading up the mountainside. Within a few minutes, my lungs feel on fire and my legs are sore. I’m wearing slippers and a dress with two petticoats. Silly clothing for trekking up the mountain, but there was no time to change.
Far, far ahead, I see the silhouette of two people waving at me. It is Papa! I can tell by his height, the width of his shoulders, the curve of his face. He has his arm around a woman.
“Hurry, Rosalina,” she calls. “We will finally meet. But you must come to the top of the mountain.”
“Mother?” I whisper. “Mom, is that you?”
Excitement bubbles in my chest. Now, I truly want to go faster. Nevertheless, I can’t get my legs to change pace. And actually, I could use a moment to catch my breath. I realize now I’m heaving and sweating, the trek strenuous. But my feet won’t stop. Beside me, Marigold’s face is bright red, and Astrid’s white hair is plastered to her forehead. Eldy’s panting.
