The Short Trip
POV: Alexandra
I had calmed Lucien down enough that he promised he wouldn’t raise a fuss about it. I had to show him logically that the council would question why he knew about my orders. He saw the rationality in it and in the end, he left quietly. I spent the rest of the day with my family, talking about our trip to Kastilidan Glades. I purposefully left out any news on Tilly since Lucy was present. I didn’t want to upset her. We spent a pleasant day talking about all the things going on in Blackwood while we were gone. Nystasia found a blaze fox pup and my parents let her take it in to be raised by Lucy. Lucy decided to call her Peyton but when I asked her why she chose that name she shrugged, “I don’t know. Looking at the orange in her fur reminds me of the name Peyton.” I giggled to myself knowing that in Terre that orange and the name Peyton had some significance where I was from. Perhaps she had already formed a psychic bond with me and we both weren’t aware. My mother took a liking to Lucy since she was the very definition of polite. She sat next to my mother eating a piece of toast with strawberry jam and some tea with cream. I had to reach over to her with a napkin to wipe the jam off the tip of her nose. She smiled at me, “Thank you, Alexandra.” I nodded at her, “No problem, Lucy. So how is taking care of Peyton going? Is it any trouble to raise a blaze fox?”
Nystasia spoke up, “It shouldn’t be any hassle since the pup already imprinted on Lucy. It was almost instantaneous. It makes me wonder if the child has a natural inclination to be a beast tamer.” My father shrugged, “That would be rather rare since there hasn’t been a beast tamer in Vellum for over 40 years. Master Helm died and left no known children. Beast tamer magic is handed down generationally. I highly doubt our Lucy is a beast tamer.” Nystasia rubbed her chin, “Does Vellum have a test for that?” My mother nodded, “Yes, Elder Enzo can check a child for what magic they possess if they think she would be highly talented. Perhaps if we get a recommendation from His Majesty, Elder Enzo will conduct the test on our Lucy.” I nodded, “I can write to His Majesty but I will also be seeing the Elder later today. Would it be possible to ask him myself?” My father took a sip of his tea and looked at me, “You would have to bring it up delicately and only if he engages in small talk. You know what I am talking about, right?” I nodded, “Like, how is your family?” He nodded back, “Yes, that is exactly what I mean. You have to be delicate with this since you are a Queen candidate and he is your evaluator.” I finished the pancake I had on my plate and swallowed the last bite, “I know and he told me he isn’t quite ready to throw his support behind me just yet since he was considering between me and Rayla Ligidew.” My mother dropped her silverware, “Rayla Ligidew? I heard she wasn’t really taking any of this seriously. You’ve spoken with her, do these rumors have any substance?” I sighed, “Yes, they do. She’s told me as such. She’s in love with Derek’s brother and she has never wanted power. The Ligidews don’t strike me as a family that aspires to have power.” My mother shook her head, “They do not have such ambitions, no. They believe as we do that as long as we can serve the realm, we are happy. You being a legitimate candidate to win is purely on your own merit and hard work.” The rest of breakfast was small talk about different things but nothing major.
We all finished up our breakfast and went on with our day. I had to pack a light bag and so did Jess. I placed my vial of medicine in my lock box in my vanity since I would not be able to give it to Jess until we came back. We had agreed that this was a priority and that we would have time later to get her back on the mend. We both came down the stairs with our bags to find my mother, father, Lucy, and Derek in the foyer. I looked at my father, “What is all this?” He smiled, “We all decided that we wanted to see you off.” I giggled, “We aren’t leaving for very long, probably a few days.” He shrugged, “You don’t even know where you are going.” I looked around, “Where is Nystasia?” My mother looked down at Lucy who looked up at me, “She said she had something to do and that she would be right back. She wasn’t very specific.” I shrugged, “That’s okay, I wasn’t expecting you all to be here anyways.” I turned to Jess and she nodded, “We have to get going since the hour that we are supposed to show up at the hall is quickly approaching.” We walked out of the house to find that a carriage had been sent by the Elders to pick us up. The trip over was silent since neither of us knew what to talk about at that moment. Jess was, no doubt, thinking about whether this potion that I made would actually heal her or not. She was going to take it but this order came suddenly this morning and she couldn’t refuse since it was an official order. I was thinking about the same thing because I was upset that my business took her away from healing and resting properly.
We pulled up to the hall where Elder Enzo and Elder Edgar were waiting for us. Edgar smiled as we approached them, “I’m sorry to have called you out here suddenly when you’ve only just returned from the Glades. We had urgent business that we knew only you could do.” Elder Enzo cut in, “We shouldn’t keep the young ladies standing out here. Come, let’s go inside to the parlor to discuss further over tea.” I nodded, “Of course, Elder Enzo. Please lead the way.” He guided us through a great white marble hall, past a couple of large oak doors until we came to the third oak door to the left. He opened it to reveal a regular type of sitting room with a fireplace, two couches, two chairs, and a coffee table. The Elders sat down on the two chairs after Jess and I took one of the couches together. Enzo poured us tea and sat back down, “How is your family, Lady Alexandra?” I took a small sip of the hot liquid in the ornate blue cup and set it on the table, “They are well. My ward has tamed a blaze fox.” His eyes widened, “Young Lucy tamed a blaze fox you say?” I smiled and nodded, “I was told it was an almost immediate imprint.” Enzo set his cup down, “Would you mind if I paid Blackwood Deep a visit when you return?” I nodded, “It would be our honor, sir.” He smiled, “I am curious to know if the child has special talent. A beast tamer in Vellum would be special. Now, on to the subject at hand. We received a letter from Her Majesty Queen Reina requesting a diplomatic visit. We normally would send other representation but this letter specifically requested your presence. We found it odd but Her Highness Nystasia has ensured us that this was specific for a reason. She has also guaranteed your safety while there as you would only be staying in the Queen’s court. You will only be gone for two days.” I knew that someday I would have to go to Seely but I wasn’t anticipating it to be so soon.
A knock came at the door, Elder Edgar rose from his seat to answer and let Nystasia come into the room. Enzo looked at me, “You are to be escorted by Her Highness herself. I don’t believe there is much more time to waste. You should probably get going to Seely now.” He got up from his seat and escorted us out of the room and down the hall from where we came. We walked outside to find a royal carriage waiting for us. I looked at Nystasia and she smiled back, “I figured it would be best to talk to Lu about what you are doing so he doesn’t flip his lid. He insisted that we go to Seely in style since this is now an official visit.” Elder Enzo nodded, “That was very prudent of His Majesty.” She turned to the Elders, “He said he wants to see you at your earliest convenience. He seemed peeved you didn’t tell him ahead of time what was going on. She is, after all, a Queen candidate and his possible future wife.” Edgar sighed, “I told you His Majesty would not be pleased being the last to know about this, especially with it being a diplomatic trip.” Enzo nodded, “Well, at least we will have use for our carriage that is already out. Let us go now, Edgar.” The two old men walked down the stairs to the carriage that was waiting ahead of the royal carriage.
The three of us young ladies loaded ourselves into the carriage and I looked at Nystasia, “How long have you known that I was going to Seely?” She sighed, “I only found out this morning. Mother contacted me, she said I need to make sure you are safely through the castle’s barrier. You won’t get through otherwise. She also wanted me to report back on the things I have learned about my time in Vellum. Sorry I wasn’t able to tell you sooner. I would have, had I known. I did tell your mother I would be gone for a few days. I wasn’t sure how long I would be gone.” I patted her on her shoulder, “It is alright, Ny. I know you would have told me but are you sure that you will be coming back.” She smiled and nodded enthusiastically, “Oh yes! Mother will probably see the benefit of my staying with you. She will send me back, I just know it!” We spent the ride over to the portal talking about the customs of the court and practicing how to greet the Queen. She even went over the procedure for greeting the King if I had to. I thought to myself that I would like to avoid that scenario altogether but I didn’t speak this sentiment out loud. The King was, after all, Ny’s father, and I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. We finally got to the portal to Seely and we would have to walk through since the carriage wouldn’t fit up the staircase and through the door. Ny assured us that we would have a carriage from the Queen waiting for us on the other side and that Lucien had promised to have one waiting for us when we got back. Ny went up the stairs with alacrity as Jess and I followed behind with apprehension as neither of us had ever been to Seely. She had a hop in her step as she stepped through. Jess sighed behind me, “I wish I had as much cheerfulness about going but I just have this sense of dread in me.” I nodded, not looking back, “I know what you mean. I have just as many, if not more, enemies after me there and I don’t know that place, as well as I did here.” I huffed out a breath, “Right well, this portal isn’t going to jump out and grab me. Here goes nothing.” I stepped through and felt the warm light of my soul father wrap itself around me and I heard him whisper, “I will keep you safe, my child, with my sun magic.”
