A couple of ladies overheard her and wrinkled their noses, but I shot them a glare, and they hastily looked away. Delmare’s mouth was nearly as hard to control as my own, but I approved of her boisterous opinions. It fended off some of the more aggressive ladies, who worried Delmare might humiliate them if they got too bold with their backhanded compliments to me.
As the tea party ended and the women flooded out of the garden, my brother wove through the hedges. He was carrying a note, and bowed to me when he came to my side. “My queen.”
I rolled my eyes. “Arthur, really.” He was my brother. He didn’t need to put on a show.
“I’m only being proper for the public’s sake. You don’t need another reason for the press to tear you to pieces,” he stated.
He handed out the note, and I took it. “I went to our grandparents’ house today, and came by this letter,” Arthur said. “It’s inscribed to you.”
I took the letter carefully, my stomach churning with worry. What was going on? I unfurled the letter. My heart sank as I took in each word.
Dear Emma,
We are sorry we could not say goodbye in person, but this could not wait. Something has come up in Ireland, and it needs our attention urgently. We know you want us at your side as queen, but we believe you are smart enough to rule by your own judgement. Our guidance, though I’m sure is longed for by you, is no longer needed.
We will wait for you when what will come has since passed.
- Bapa and Babcia
I let the letter fall to my side. My grandparents were gone, far away in some other country when I needed them most. How could they abandon me at a time like this?
Arthur took the letter from me, and read it. His eyes narrowed behind his glasses before he looked up. “It’s code,” Arthur said. “Bapa and Babcia are in Ireland to do some work on your prophecy.”
My mind went blank. “How do you figure that?”
“Look at the last line.We will wait for you when what will come has since passed. They’re going ahead of you, to prepare the way,” Arthur said. “They must be expecting you in Ireland at some point.”
“But why would they think that? They’re notdryca.They have no ability to assess the future,” I said.
“I don’t know.” Arthur gave a shrug. “But they wouldn’t leave you unless they had to. Whatever they’re doing in Ireland, it’s important.”
“Where do you think they went?” I asked.
“There’s an estate in Ireland that has been passed down through Babcia’s family.Dumhcha na Rósanna.It’s where I grew up, before I came to Arcanea University and our grandparents relocated to Dolinska,” Arthur said. “They’re staying at the estate for sure, until they figure out whatever they need to.”
I suppressed a noise of frustration. “It would’ve been nice if they’d stopped by before they left. Though I suppose nothing is truly in my control.”
Kiara put a hand on mine. “Being queen isn’t everything you hoped for?”
“I just want a break,” I admitted to my friends quietly. “Being queen is great and all, but I haven’t had a spare moment in two months to relax.”
“You need to have somefun!” Odette popped up. “This is all too dull. Let’s go visit the Hall of Wonders!”
“What’s that?” I blinked. The palace was so large, and there were so many rooms inside that I hadn’t visited even a fourth of them. Ethan had told me even he hadn’t seen them all, and he’d grown up here.
“It’s a secret illusion room in the palace. Theo and I found it the other day when we were messing around,” Odette gushed. “It’s amazing, I’ll take you to it!”
It sounded like fun, something I hadn’t had in a very long time. I had a couple of hours of free time before I had to go back to entertaining that evening. “Okay, let’s go.”
Odette skipped back into the palace, leading us through a twisting set of winding hallways. She hurried to a spiraling staircase that went downward, until we came to a simple, plain wooden door at the base of the stairs. Odette opened the door, and hurried inside.
“Guard the door, Towman,” I told the guard as I slipped behind it. He bowed, then took a wide stance beside the door, like he was preventing Droga himself from getting through.
When we stepped inside the room, my heart became light. The room itself had an illusion placed upon it, so that it appeared we stepped into another world, a forest that had an open
sky and a bright sun. Trees that grew amongst the space had long fronds like willows, swaying in the slight breeze. Large butterflies that were the size of books fluttered around the room, their wings creating a rainbow against the purifying light.
Through the room ran a red river, one that began at a marble fountain. The fountain spilled over into a pool, and tiny creatures drank from it. The creatures were pink, pale blue, and yellow, with insect wings and glittering black eyes. They appeared to be made of flower petals, and were no bigger than my forearm. They reminded me of Tyrgys.
