Page 26 of Legacy of the Heirs
“Are those the only two abilities you know of?” asked Larelle,and Sadira nodded. “And the prophecy your grandmother was gifted—what was shared in Nerida—is that the entire prophecy?” Sadira frowned. Of course it had been. Did the other rulers trust her that little?
“Yes, of course. Why do you ask?” Sadira locked eyes with Larelle in the mirror.
“Just something someone said to me keeps playing on my mind.” She continued moving Sadira’s hair and reached for pins on the table as she did. Sadira relished the moment of having someone other than Caellum or Soren to speak with, and to converse with so effortlessly. Sadira had no female friends on Doltas Island. She had kept to herself. Everyone saw her as the princess who would one day return to Garridon, placing her on a pedestal. Except Rodik. She lowered her gaze.
“I imagine you left a lot behind in Doltas,” Larelle said, and Sadira nodded solemnly. “Did you leavesomeonebehind?”
Sadira blushed at how easily Larelle could read her thoughts.
“I had a partner. Rodik,” Sadira answered.
“How long were you together?”
“Five years.” Larelle nodded slowly as she fluffed out the remaining curls falling down Sadira’s back.
“You gave him up for your realm. That must have been difficult.”
“It was, but it was foolish. I was raised knowing I would one day return to Garridon. I suppose a part of me always pretended like it would never happen.” Sadira admired her hair in the mirror. Larelle had softly pinned overlapping pieces from the front of her face and pulled back her curls. Sadira waved her hand, and delicate white flowers grew from the pot before them. Sadira jokingly questioned whether Larelle had a gift of foresight, too, as she instinctively picked the flowers and placed them in Sadira’s hair.
“It is easy to live in delusion when love is at play,” said Larelle. Sadira examined Larelle’s expression in the mirror, one of faraway longing andgrief.
“I hope you do not mind me asking, but how did you do it?” Sadira queried. Larelle tilted her head. “Move on from him?”
Soren had connections across Novisia; it had not taken long for news of Larelle’s banishment and lost partner to reach them. Larelle offered a sad smile.
“You never move on. They are always there in your heart and in the back of your mind. But with each passing day, it becomes a little easier to accept happiness, even though they are not here.” Larelle stepped back to admire her work.
“Do you think there will ever be another for you?” asked Sadira. Larelle cleared her throat and turned away, reaching for a dress. “Or is there already someone?” Larelle sighed before sitting beside Sadira.
“Honestly, I do not know. If you had asked me a week ago, I would have answered no, but then…” Sadira turned to face her with giddy excitement. She had never talked to a woman about personal matters; her family had only ever cared for the prophecy.
“Did something happen?” Sadira probed.
“I’m overthinking it,” Larelle said. “What about you? How are things with the king?” Sadira noticed the obvious deflection, so obliged.
“I think he will be a good friend,” Sadira said, standing to admire the dress Larelle had picked. It was the dress she kept gravitating towards, but she had been unsure if the statement it made was too bold.
“And do you think that is all he will ever be?” Larelle asked, pulling the dress off the hanger. The kindness on Caellum’s face as he gently held her in the walled garden came to mind then. Sadira could not keep a small smile from tugging at her lips as she relived the moment.
“I think we are both recovering from heartbreak, but there is an understanding there. Regardless of what happens, he will be a good husband.”
“Well, I look forward to seeing the two of you presented at theball this evening. I will leave you to change.” Larelle strode to the door, her gown trailing behind her.
“Larelle,” Sadira called, and the queen paused, resting her hand on the doorknob. She turned back with a smile and a gentle gaze. “Thank you for this. I will see if I can find out any more about the Wiccan for you.” Larelle thanked her, and for the first time since arriving in Garridon, Sadira felt like she belonged.
Chapter Fifteen
Larelle
“Queen Larelle and Princess Zarya of Nerida,” announced the man to Larelle’s right. She reached for her daughter’s hand and helped her slowly descend the steps into the hall. Four of Larelle’s guards followed, though their presence was hardly necessary given the number of Garridon guards lining the glass and stone walls. The ten long tables began to fill with at least twenty seats placed at each. Those who had not yet taken their seat greeted one another on the ballroom floor.
“Mumma! Look!” Zarya said in an excited, not-so-quiet whisper. Larelle followed Zarya’s pointed finger to watch snow-white butterflies sail through the air and occasionally land on the twisted vines and flowers gracing the backs of chairs planted in rows along the long tables to one end of the hall. Larelle gripped Zarya’s hand tighter, who stumbled over the hem of her dress when they stepped onto the stone floor.
Zarya immediately let go to chase after a butterfly, and Larelle hurried to keep pace with her, slowed by her sheer blue cape trailing along the floor. She grinned as she followed her daughter, who laughed in acknowledgement to those who greeted her. They all smiled at the young girl frolicking through the hall, but Larelle noticed the moment people realised who she was and whispered gossip among one another behind feigned smiles. Zarya gave up chasing the butterfly once they reached the last row of tables before it met the dance floor marked by a half moon display of candles in varying heights. Zarya curtseyed to an approaching couple while Larelle reached for a goblet of red wine from a passing servant.Sipping it, she admired her daughter, who twirled to show off her gown.
Larelle had allowed Zarya to pick her dress from a collection of childhood gowns Lillian found in a dusty chest. After trying on every single one, Zarya eventually settled on a seaweed-green dress and claimed it would make Princess Sadira happy because it was green, like Garridon’s sigil. Larelle did not know where Zarya got her sense of intuition but suspected she was right. She already acted like a queen.
“You should be very proud.” Larelle jumped, not having realised Lillian had arrived. She kissed her cheek in greeting.
