Gossamer in the Darkness (Fantasyland)

In the midst of this, he’d received his summons from his king and had to leave her.

It was a summons from a king, he could not say no.

It also expressly asked he come alone.

As such, he was frustrated.

That frustration dissipated when he arrived at their suite to see True, Farah, Cora and Circe were not there, but a redheaded woman wearing an attractive, but very strange garment was with his king and the ruler of Korwahk.

She studied him, thoroughly, and then smiled a small smile that was both spectacular and terrifying.

“Lore, we need you to sit down,” Tor said quietly.

“Satrine is—” he began.

“Please sit down,” Tor said, still quietly, but now firmly.

It was then, Loren took full note of the look on his king’s face.

And he sat down.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Everything Turned Good

Satrine

Friday Morning

Idina tucked a curl more firmly into the fluffy chignon she’d crafted at the nape of my neck. It had escaped after she’d dressed me.

But with that curl tucked away, I was now ready to face the day.

And I was petrified.

It was a natural build up to the terror I’d been experiencing more and more each day as Dad-not-Dad’s trial got closer.

It was also more.

A ton more.

I had spent the last weeks preparing for the biggest project I’d ever present.

A presentation that would last the rest of my life.

I’d read snippets to long passages of everything I could get my hands on, history, fiction, poetry, to give me a greater sense of this world I lived in. I’d also made a catalogue of which of those to return to when I had time for more study.

I read the papers from masthead to obituaries to understand what the people of this world found important. Although I skimmed the articles simply to get a sense of the news, I turned my focus to the things I hoped really mattered in the day to day. I picked apart the advertisements. I taught myself the scoring for the games. That being, after I taught myself what the games actually were.

I especially combed the society pages and memorized names, titles, who was married to whom, and any tidbit I could consume to assist Mom and me not to put our foot in it when the time came, we met people she was supposed to know.

But now, I’d done what I’d done with our darling Carling and Beacher and lost it in front of kings and queens, and in doing so, I didn’t guard my words (I mean, I’d called him a badass, in front of kings and queens).

And although Loren had been his usual wonderful after it, his king had then summoned him, and I hadn’t seen him since.

He’d sent a note, as was his way, even if things had gone south, he wouldn’t neglect me.

No, he’d say it straight to my face.

The note shared that the king had something he needed Loren to assist with, and he had to do that. But he assured me he’d be there that morning at nine with his father to collect me and Mom (and Aunt Mary, who had decreed she was coming with) to go to the magistrate’s court where King Noctorno would be hearing, and deciding, Dad-not-Dad’s case.

It was the first night in precisely thirteen days I’d slept in my bed at Mom’s house, alone.

With the way he treated me, loving and romantic and attentive, I couldn’t believe Loren left me alone the day before…well, what was going to happen today.

So…

Yup.

I was petrified.

“You don’t need to worry,” Idina said.

I came into the room and looked at her through the mirror, seeing her hand on my shoulder, and having been so deep in my thoughts, I hadn’t felt her touch.

“You must live your life.” She gave me a small smile. “And you’ll be away with your new husband soon.”

What was she—?

“And your mother must live hers as well,” she went on. “I know you both make it so one of you is in the house with her at all times. But she is used to us too, and she cares for us. We will be here for Lady Maxine.”

Oh.

She was speaking of something Mom and I did, indeed, do for Maxie.

“I’ll take her to the park with her paints and easel. She’ll be lost in her pictures. She won’t know you’re gone,” she shared.

I felt tears sting my eyes.

“You’re…you’re incredibly lovely, Idina. So much so, I’m sorry I haven’t mentioned it until now.”

“One doesn’t have to say such things amongst family,” she said shyly.

I lifted my hand to hers at my shoulder, covering it to share my agreement (about the family part, that was), and we heard a knock on the door.

I tensed.

Loren was here.

It was time to go.

Gods.

“Come in!” I called as Idina and I broke the contact of our hands and turned toward the door.