Tori sneezed. She narrowed her eyes and rubbed her nose. She looked around the plaza and the flowering plants in the gardens and pots. Her lips pulled into a frown. She didn’t think this body had seasonal allergies. Wait, is someone talking smack?
“Should we go whale watching first or should we do a cruise around the islands and maybe go upriver?” Ilyana paced impatiently beside her. Her stepmother, the Baroness, and little brother had left their inn early that morning and were scheduled to arrive in the midafternoon.
Ilyana had been antsy since breakfast. She’d gone to the resort tent on the beach that she reserved for them twice to make sure that everything was ready, and she had to restrain herself from calling the Baroness every hour to see where they were.
Tori sat on a wooden bench beneath a small pergola placed by the curb of the lot so guests could sit comfortably and wait for their carriage. Tori chuckled.
“Ilyana, they’ve been traveling in a carriage for hours. Your brother may be excited and want to explore immediately, but your mother will probably want to rest,” Tori said. Speaking as someone who was once physically forty, she knew how it felt to be traveling for so long and then want to relax as soon as she reached her destination. Her older body didn’t bounce back as fast or as well as when it was younger.
It wasn’t that she wasn’t excited, but her body needed to rest and re-energize before she could dive into activities.
Ilyana stopped and stood up straight. She snapped her head towards Tori and looked at her with wide eyes. “Should I have the carriage bring them closer to the resort tents?”
Tori raised a brow. She looked past Ilyana. The closest carriages could get to the resort tents, which were across a small creek, was to park on the other side of the lot they were currently waiting by. Tori scrunched her lips.
“I don’t think it makes a difference,” she said. “We’ll have the valets bring their things to their tent and then let them have something to eat and drink to refresh themselves at the restaurant.” She waved her hand towards Henrik’s restaurant in the plaza just behind them.
There were just a few guests present, all of whom were somehow connected to social circles Tori, Henrik, and Albert were part of. Guests came in limited quantities to assure that staff could be as attentive to each as possible and had reserved dates. All the guests they were expecting that summer had either reached out to stay at Viclya or had won stays at bingo.
Though the number of guests was expected to be small, they were guests with deep pockets and a decent amount of money was being spent at the restaurant and shops, as well as on the lodgings themselves.
Ilyana looked towards the plaza and nodded. “You’re right! Mom and Riri are probably hungry after traveling all day.”
“You can take them whale watching tomorrow,” Tori said. “It’ll be good to make a day of it and let them familiarize themselves around the area. They’re going to be spending most of the summer here, after all.”
Ilyana nodded. “It’s a shame Dad can’t come. He said he’ll try, but he’s always so busy.”
Tori nodded. In the summer, it took about three weeks to get from Ilyana’s hometown in rural northern Osten to Horizon and Viclya. Round trip would be six weeks and as far as Tori knew, Baron Agafonov ran his business by himself. Unlike her father, who threw march responsibilities at her brothers, Baron Agafonov couldn’t leave his business for extended periods of time.
Tori leaned back against the bench and waited. A carriage was coming down the road and since they weren’t expecting many people, she figured that was it.
“Is that them?” Tori asked. Ilyana turned around to face the road and rushed forward. She craned her neck, and excitement and joy filled her face.
“That’s them!” She jumped up and waved her arms. Tori chuckled and rose to her feet.
She stood to the side and waited as the carriage circled the lot to get to them. As it rounded the corner, one of the windows was pulled open and Tori could see a small arm waving just as enthusiastically as Ilyana.
The dark colored carriage with its shiny metal finishes rolled to a stop in front of them and a footman jumped down to open the door. As soon as he opened it, a small being seemed to fly out and fling themself into Ilyana’s awaiting arms.
“Big sis!” A small voice cried out as a pair of arms clung to Ilyana’s neck.
Tori couldn’t help but smile as Ilyana wrapped her arms around a little boy and hugged him tight. “Riri! I missed you!”
The child rubbed his head against Ilyana’s shoulder as a lovely middle-aged woman climbed down from the carriage with a helpless look on her face. She was a slender woman of average height. Her dark brown hair with a few strands of gray around her temples was swept up into a neat bun just below her hat, and round glasses went over her hazel eyes.
“Riri, you’re not so small anymore. Your sister can’t always carry you.” Tori assumed this woman was Baroness Agafonova based on her fine clothing.
“I’m not heavy!” Ilyana’s little brother puffed out his cheeks defensively. Tori bit her lips to keep from laughing. Ilyana puffed out her cheeks, too.
“Mom, welcome to Viclya!” Ilyana, still holding on to her brother, closed the gap between herself and the Baroness and extended her free arm to hug her. Somehow, she still managed to hold on to her brother.
“I missed you, my sweet girl. I’m glad we could come this year,” the Baroness said, holding on to Ilyana tightly. She didn’t seem to want to let go. “Your father says that if he can finish his work, he will try to come and meet us here before we return.”
“Okay,” Ilyana nodded and shyly pulled away. She glanced at Tori, who remained quietly waiting for her introduction. “Mom, this is Tori.”
The Baroness’ eyes widened as she turned towards Tori. She seemed to take a deep breath as her eyes crinkled up. “Lady Guevera!”
Tori smiled gently. “No need to be so formal. Tori or Lady Tori is fine.”
The Baroness’ face filled with warmth as she stepped forward and extended her arms. “Lady Tori.”
“Oh!” Tori found herself enveloped in an embrace and let out a slight laugh as she lifted her own arms to hug the woman back. “Baroness Agafonova, welcome to Viclya.”
“Thank you!” The Baroness stepped back and held Tori at arm’s length. Her eyes went up and down, as if committing Tori’s image in her mind. “It’s good to finally meet you. You’re all Ilyana ever talks about when she’s home.”
“Mom!” Ilyana flushed and quickly tried to squeeze between them. “I don’t talk about Tori all the time!”
“Most of the time,” the Baroness said with an amused smile. She looked at Tori and winked. “Ninety percent.”
Ilyana let out an embarrassed groan and almost hid her face against her brother. Tori stepped forward and craned her neck.
“Are you going to introduce me to this handsome little man?” Tori asked with a grin. Ilyana gasped, as if realizing she had forgotten. She quickly put her brother down and seemed to urge him forward.
“Tori, this is my little brother, Illarion. We call him Riri, so please call him Riri, too!” Ilyana gently prodded her brother forward.
Tori looked down at the pale, chubby six-year-old with big brown eyes and thick brown hair. She could see his resemblance to Ilyana and nodded approvingly. Sure enough, since his big sister is a beauty, he’s a cutie, as well. Tori knelt down to greet him. “Hello, Riri. I’m Tori.”
His cheeks reddened under her gaze, and he tried to step back and hide behind Ilyana, but Ilyana wouldn’t let him. “Riri, greet Tori properly, like Mom taught you.”
His little brows furrowed, and he seemed to be gathering his courage. He took a deep breath and daringly looked up to meet Tori’s eyes.
“Hello, I am Illarion Agafonov and I am six-years old.” He fumbled a bit before trying to give her a bow. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Tori.”
“Lady Guevera,” the Baroness corrected. “She is the daughter of Marquis Guevera.”
Riri looked embarrassed by his mistake and repeated the bow. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Guevera.”
Tori chuckled and stood up. She took a fluid step back and lifted the corners of her skirt. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Young Lord Agafonov.” She straightened up after her curtsy. “But you may call me Tori.”
With conflicting instructions, Riri looked at the Baroness for direction, who gave him a nod. He looked relieved.
“Mom, you must be tired. Come and rest at the restaurant first,” Ilyana said as she gently pried her little brother’s hand from gripping the cloth of her dress.
“I’ll have our staff bring your things to your tent,” Tori told them. “I’ll meet you at the restaurant.”
“Thanks, Tori!” Ilyana took her mother’s arm and led her towards the plaza.
Tori quickly gave instructions to the awaiting staff and stepped back and watched to make sure her orders were followed before turning around and heading to the restaurant. She found the small family seated in the outdoor dining area.
Riri’s chair had been moved close to Ilyana and the chubby little boy was clinging to his sister’s arm as she looked over the menu with him. Tori quietly approached and took a seat across from them.
“This is your friend Henrik’s restaurant?” the Baroness asked. “He is the merchant guild master’s son, am I correct?”
Tori nodded. “Yes, my lady. You’ll be able to meet them soon. Henrik’s project is this restaurant, but he also does the bulk of the paperwork for Lions Gate.”
The Baroness nodded, appearing impressed. “You all are so young yet you’re doing so much!”
“Lycée requires it of us,” Tori said as she raised her arm. “And we are very lucky to have the resources to do what we’re doing.” A server rushed forward and Tori asked for an iced coffee with sweetened milk. The man bowed and rushed away.
“When are we going to go on the boat?” Riri’s eyes were fixed past the fountain in the plaza and on to the water.
“Tomorrow,” Ilyana assured him. “We will go look at whales and then circle the islands and shore.”
Riri nodded. “Can I draw the whales?”
“Of course you can draw the whales!” Ilyana said. “You can do a lot while you’re here. Go play in the water, go on boats, go fishing, sleep on a hammock.”
“What’s a hammock?”
“A large swing you can sleep on!”
Riri’s eyes widened, as if he’d just been told something shocking. He whirled around to look at his mother. “Mom, did you hear that!?”
“I heard, I heard,” the Baroness laughed as she reached forward and stroked her son’s hair back. “But you can’t bother your sister all the time. She has work to do while we’re here.”
“I won’t!” Riri looked determined.
Their beverages and a light meal arrived. Tori told the Baroness about what they were planning and what activities were available for them. In the afternoon, they’d take a tour of the encampment and shore so they could be familiar.
As they spoke, Riri began to grow impatient. He fidgeted in his seat and looked at his mother and sister pleadingly. “Can I see the fountain? Can I walk to the water? I want to see the beach!”
Finally, Ilyana gave in. “Mom, I’m going to take Riri around the promenade. Do you want to come?”
“I’m going to sit here a bit longer,” the Baroness said, happily leaning back against her chair. “I’ll wait for you two to return.”
“I’ll keep your mom company,” Tori said, sipping on her drink.
Ilyana gave her a thankful look and led her excited little brother out into the plaza. The two remaining ladies watched them go and the Baroness looked thoughtful.
“Thank you for having us this summer, Lady Tori,” she said. Tori smiled and shook her head.
“I’m happy to have you. We all are. I know Ilyana misses home, but with the work that we’re doing right now, it’s difficult for her to go back,” Tori said. She giggled. “She has been looking forward to your arrival for weeks.”
The Baroness laughed and looked towards the fountain, where Ilyana and Riri had stopped to inspect. “Tell me, Lady Tori, how is my daughter in school?”
Tori’s brows rose, a bit surprised but at the same time not. Many parents wanted to know how their children were doing, especially at a boarding school like Lycée du Soleil.
“She’s doing very well. Constantly at the top of our class rankings. Everyone in our year crowds her review sessions before exams.” She felt a bit like a teacher at a parent-teacher conference.
The Baroness took a deep breath and nodded. “Has she...met any trouble?”
Tori cocked her head to the side. “Trouble?”
“Being away from home for so long, I can’t help but worry that she’ll have a difficult time and won’t tell us,” the Baroness said, lowering her eyes. “Ilyana is always happy to share good news, but hesitant to tell us if something is bothering her.”
Tori furrowed her brows. Ilyana complained to her often, but she supposed it was different with a friend. She could see Ilyana not wanting to tell her parents if something was bothering her for fear of making them worry.
“Ilyana is very popular and well-liked,” Tori said, truthfully. “The entire school knows who she is, and she receives confessions and love letters weekly. When you meet our friends later, they can confirm this.”
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The Baroness let out a relieved breath and nodded. “That’s good....”
“Were you worried that Ilyana would be bullied so far from home?” Tori asked. There was always that possibility. If this was the original game and Ilyana was Victoria’s roommate, that could certainly be the case. This time, it didn’t seem like it. She and Ilyana were often attached at the hip. She frowned and lowered her gaze. Was something bothering Ilyana that she didn’t notice?
The Baroness shifted in her seat uncomfortably and reached out to take a sip of her fruit juice. “Ilyana didn’t have many friends growing up.” She paused and shook her head. “No. It was more that Ilyana didn’t have any friends.”
Tori jerked her head back and blinked. That was surprising. When she first met Ilyana, she had been nothing but amiable and energetic; eager to make a connection. Tori’s shoulders sank. Then again, having no friends prior to Lycée could’ve been the reason Ilyana was so firm in her decision to befriend Tori.
“You don’t believe me,” the Baroness said with a sad chuckle. “I can understand why you wouldn’t. She has such a cheerful and kind personality. One would think she would have many friends. Back home, Ilyana was privately tutored.” She looked back towards the plaza. “Gorask is a mining town, and the local schools aren’t as sophisticated as those in larger cities. They have basic education, at best. So, the Baron hired private tutors for Ilyana up until she left for Lycée.
“I’m not worried about Ilyana’s studies. She has always been a brilliant and studious girl. However, as a result of having private tutors, she had limited exposure to children her age. To make matters more complicated, we Agafonovs are new money. My husband bought the title after gaining some merit for his work that benefited the empire. Other wealthy families in Gorask are much more settled. They are willing to do business with my husband, but it’s not a secret that they look down on us. That’s rather common in rural areas.” The Baroness looked down and smiled bitterly.
Tori didn’t know what to say. While she didn’t have a good relationship with her peers in Presidio, it was a personal problem; not one with her family. Victoria was a little tyrant and others still had to give her respect.
“Are there many other wealthy families in your town?” she asked. If I ever visit, let’s see how they fare against Ilyana’s best friend being a Marquis’ daughter. I should bring Axton and Piers. Triple threat.
“A few, but I am also uncomfortable dealing with wealthy matrons. I’m sure that rubbed off on Ilyana. She’s always been such a well-behaved and gentle child. When she was left out of the social circles and ridiculed, she didn’t complain. She simply spent more time at home.”
Tori nodded. “I can understand why you’d be worried.”
The Baroness looked towards her and smiled. She reached forward and grasped Tori’s hand, squeezing it tightly. “All I’ve heard since she came to Lycée are good things. She speaks of you so much and I am sure that she is happy here because she made a good friend.”
Tori’s eyes reddened a bit. “Actually, I’m the one who made a good friend.”
They heard a shout come from the plaza and they looked out, towards the fountain. Tori caught the Baroness’ face lighting up.
Riri was clinging on to the top of Ewan’s bald head as Ewan carried him on his shoulders. Chatting along with Ilyana was Sonia, their arms looped together, as JP, Henrik, and Constantine followed behind. The little boy was laughing as Ewan ran forward, letting him bounce up and down and cry out in excitement. Henrik chided him to slow down.
“Mom! Mom! Big Sister’s friends said they will take me horseback riding!” Riri shouted.
The Baroness’ eyes glistened over, and she nodded as she watched her children approach, surrounded by friends. Tori smiled and patted the Baroness’ hand comfortingly.
Yeah, I get that feeling, too.
[https://static.wixstatic.com/media/334114_6091e4325c304c4d9804d3c53f9887d3~mv2.png] The sizzling steak in front of Piers received the most hateful glare from Sebastian despite the fact that he also received a steak. Tori sat across from her brother and gave him a look of dismay. She had gone out of her way that night to prepare food for them, which differed from the seafood jambalaya and burrito bar the twins and Henrik requested that she oversaw in the kitchen.
She’d worked hard for her friends’ birthdays and to try to keep Sebastian from being irritated with Piers.
“It’s the same dish,” Tori said. “I told you, it’s his prize for the pinecone challenge.”
Her brother still glared at the plate in front of Piers. “It’s larger than mine.”
“No, it’s not. I weighed them. Piers’ steak just isn’t cooked as well done as yours,” Tori said. Her brother didn’t appear convinced. “Sebby, if you don’t want to eat it, I’ll take it back-”
“I’ll eat it!” Sebastian sat up straight and grabbed his steak knife, almost stabbing the meat in front of him. Tori drew her lips into a tight line.
“Seb, don’t complain. His Highness won it,” Lady Idunn said calmly as she scooped up some jambalaya and put it on her plate. “Do you want some?”
“No, I’m going to eat the steak my sister made me,” Sebastian said proudly.
Piers quietly ignored his master and began to eat. “Tori, do you want some?” he asked after cutting some slices.
“I’ll have a little.” Some steak would be good with her jambalaya-burrito hybrid she was making on her plate. One of the benefits to overseeing and cooking the food was getting to make her own monstrosity. She pushed her plate forward. “Put it on top.”
Piers dutifully put three thick slices on top of her small mound of food to be wrapped up. Tori could see her brother glaring at the three pieces of meat, as if they were offensive.
Tori ignored him and proceeded to roll her mega-hybrid-burrito. She had made a tortilla that was larger than normally specifically for this. She held back a maniacal chuckle as she brought the forearm-sized burrito to her mouth.
“Why is Tori’s burrito so big?” she heard Albert ask from one table over. He sat with Ewan, Ewan’s mother, and grandmother. Many of Ewan’s siblings and their children wanted to come, but there were work constraints and his siblings didn’t want their children to bother Ewan just before the exams.
“She said she was going to experiment,” Ilyana replied, as if it were expected. Ewan craned his neck and looked down at his own burrito.
“I’m going to try that.” He opted to use the jambalaya as some of the filling.
“Better try it while you can,” Henrik said from the table where he sat with his parents and younger sister. Annika had apparently been very reluctant to come, as it was an overnight trip, but since it was her brother’s party, their parents made her. “You won’t be able to get food from Tori so easily from now on.”
Ewan froze as his mouth opened. His eyes widened and Ilyana shot Henrik a glare. “Tori only cooks on weekends. She can invite Ewan then!”
“Stop teasing him,” the guild master said.
Henrik chuckled and happily ate his food. Due to the limited resources, only their few tables had the food prepared for them. No one else in the restaurant had a chance to try the dishes as they were having a ‘private party’.
“Do you always eat like this?” Claire asked. She sat at a larger table with Sonia, JP, and their parents.
Sonia shook her head. “Not always. Sometimes, Tori experiments and will let us try. Her Karap-style brunch is also delicious.”
“We’ll be having it in the morning,” Tori said. “Constantine and I will be preparing it here tomorrow.” She looked over at Constantine, who was seated with Ilyana’s family. He nodded in agreement.
“Whose birthday is next?” JP and Sonia’s father asked.
“Albert’s, but he’s working,” JP said with a grin. Albert tilted his head back and groaned.
“Not only that, but Ewan is in the middle of his La Garda exams and Tori is visiting the Tetri Duchy,” Henrik grinned. Albert let out another groan, as if each reminder was a physical blow.
Tori laughed and reached over to pat his shoulder. “He’ll be celebrating his birthday with me, and I have a special cake in mind,” Tori told him.
Albert’s face lit up and he looked at her with hope. “Really?”
Tori nodded. “You’ll like it, don’t worry. I got Mama J’s son to agree to come to help and I got some imported sauces. There will be a lot of meat, but I promise you, it’ll be worth it.”
Albert bit his lower lip. “Finally...some good news.”
They continued eating and Tori had to remind everyone to leave room for dessert. Three cakes were rolled out in three tiers, and each topped with sixteen candles.
As they passed Ilyana’s table, Riri’s eyes seemed to double in size as he watched the three-tiered cakes roll past. Tori called up the three birthday celebrants and each of them stood in front of a cake. Sonia was in front of the fruit covered cake in the center with JP and his tea flavored cake on her right, and Henrik with a crème brulée themed cake on her left.
“On the count of three, blow out the candles and make a wish!” Tori said. “One! Two! Three!”
All three blew hard across the candles and once they were all extinguished, a round of applause filled their corner of their restaurant. Even a few guests sitting further away clapped.
Tori handed each of them a plate and a cake knife, reminding them to give the first slice to their most important person.
Henrik cut his slice and placed it between his parents.
“Boo!” Ewan shouted, earning a laugh from the others.
“Shut up, or you won’t get the second slice!” Henrik snapped. Ewan wore a lopsided grin as Henrik carefully sliced him a large piece and placed it in front of him.
The twins finished plating their cake slices. It was assumed that they’d give one slice to each parent. Instead, the two turned towards each other, grinned, and exchanged plates.
“That’s cheating!” Albert cried out.
Ilyana let out a snort-laugh. JP and Sonia brought their slices back to their table, but instead of putting it on their place settings, they put the small plates in front of their parents. The couple looked up at their children, moved.
Once the first few slices were distributed, servers came to cut the remaining cake.
“Ilyana, ask for small slices so Riri can try all three,” Sonia said as she walked past.
Ilyana nodded and looked at her brother. “Riri, you want to try all three?”
“Yes!” The little boy was almost drooling and hadn’t taken his eyes off the cakes.
As the cake was being cut and served, Tori checked her timepiece. She looked at Piers. “It’s almost time.”
Piers nodded and picked up the slice of Henrik’s cake he’d selected and stood up. He quietly rounded the table and headed out of the restaurant’s outdoor dining area. Sebastian narrowed his eyes.
“Where’s he going?”
“The fireworks are loud,” Tori said as she stood up, as well. “I put three layers of noise muffling crystal circles around the bench in the front for him to sit so it won’t aggravate him.”
Her brother tilted his head to the side. “Is it really that loud?”
“There is a circle around the restaurant, but if you really want to hear how loud it is, step outside onto the promenade,” Tori said. “But I’m warning you now, it’s very loud.” She could see some curiosity on her brother’s face.
Tori moved towards Henrik to tell him that it was time. He nodded and stood up to get everyone’s attention while she called Instructor Ignatius. After confirming that Piers was safely seated on the bench surrounded by noise muffling circles, she told Instructor Ignatius to begin the countdown.
Everyone’s eyes were turned towards the water, and they could hear a faint whistle before the first explosion happened.
Riri screamed, but quickly clapped his hands as he looked at his sister and mother excitedly.
Tori returned to her table to get a slice of cake, only to find her brother kissing Lady Idunn while everyone was preoccupied with the fireworks. “Ugh...really?” Tori muttered as she turned around. “In front of my cake?”
She walked towards the remains of the three cakes and asked for two slices: one from JP’s and one from Sonia’s. With a fork stabbed in each, she ignored the fireworks and went to sit with Piers on the bench. As soon as she entered the circles, the noise quieted down.
“Did you get the others?” Piers asked. Half of his cake slice remained uneaten.
“Yes. Sonia has a mixed berry with cream and JP’s is a tea blend,” she said as she sat down. She handed him JP’s and put Sonia’s cake at her side. Piers gave her the remains of Henrik’s slice to try. “I think I like Henrik’s the best.”
“Did they pick?”
“I gave them options and they picked from them.”
“What will your cake be?” Piers asked. “The tea blend isn’t bad. It’s very light.”
“It’s a secret,” Tori said, sitting up proudly. “You’ll see.”
Piers chuckled and ate his half of the slice. “You have a busy few months ahead of you.”
“Tell me about it,” she said, stuffing her face. “My little cousins are supposed to arrive just before my birthday so they can celebrate it with me. Auntie Lucia’s family is also coming down to relax after Uncle Maurizo gets back from Alpine Valley. And I have the Tetri Duchy trip before all that.”
“When are you leaving?”
“In two days.”
Piers nodded. “You can ride in my carriage.”
“I won’t rob you of your carriage, Piers. I’ll take one of the usual ones,” she said.
“You’re not robbing me. I’m going, too.”
Tori looked up with one puffed out cheek stuffed with cake. She slowed her chewing before swallowing. “You’re coming, too?”
“The Tetri Duchy is on the southern border of the Nord March and River View, the seat of the Tetri Duchy, is on the way to Trautingen.”
Tori recognized the name. “That’s the town at the entrance of Traut Valley that flooded.”
Piers nodded. “The relief efforts haven’t been going smoothly and there are still many displaced people, though that should not be the case. Father is sending me and a few people to check and reorganize if necessary. It will likely take a few days, but I can take you there and come back with you.”
“Are you sure it’s not out of your way?” Tori asked.
“No, in fact, it is normal to stay in the homes of high-ranking nobles as opposed to inns when available,” Piers said. “Duchess Tetri is already expecting us.”
“All right,” Tori said. “Are you leaving from Horizon?”
“We can leave from here and meet the rest of the party at River View,” Piers replied. “While we are going, I would like to discuss with you some logistics on dealing with the displaced villagers there.”
Tori gave him a dull look. “Are you giving me more work?”
“Just a few questions.”
She wrinkled her nose. “All right, that’s fine. We have several days. Is Albert coming with us?”
Piers shook his head. “No, while I’m there, he will be taking some classes on scheduling procedures for official events and learning to use the reference halls. There is a strict process, and he only recently became authorized to access the mid-level reference halls as an aide-in-training.”
“How is he doing?” Tori asked.
“I am very satisfied,” Piers looked ahead of them and nodded. “Mr. Martin was the correct choice. He already has the etiquette necessary, is serious when given instruction, and quick to learn and apply his knowledge. I also took him to a luncheon yesterday and he did well.”
Tori was pleased, although was amused that the Albert who worked as an intern for Piers sounded much more mature and competent than the Albert who was lamenting being left out of the summer fun in the delta. “That’s good. What about when you go to Trautingen? Who will accompany you?”
“Six of my usual imperial knights, one of my father’s aides, and two members of his staff. There will be another dozen knights escorting them from the capital,” Piers said. “I will travel independently of them.”
Tori leaned back against the bench. “You’ve traveled outside of Horizon before, haven’t you?”
“Not far.”
“Hmm...you won’t be used to the long journey,” Tori said, rubbing her chin. “I suppose there is a first time for everything.”
They finished off their cake just as the fireworks ended. There was a sound of applause and they returned to the restaurant to return the plates and utensils. There was another bingo night happening at the deck by the tents that was reserved for guests of their party.
Sebastian looked quite interested, but Lady Idunn said she was going to go for an evening walk on the promenade, as was her habit. Sebastian followed her without question, though Tori caught him looking back at the deck a few times.
“Are you going to walk or play?” Piers asked.
“I’m going to the Den workshop,” Tori said, once the game was going well. “I put in a personal order and want to see if it’s ready. They tend to stay open late, so I want to see.”
“I will accompany you.”
“Okay.” They crossed the creek to get back onto the promenade. Although the sun had set, it was still very lively with people doing their evening walks and a few children running around.
“Where is everyone getting the hats?” Piers asked as he noticed several men wearing them.
“The haberdashery,” Tori said. It was obvious. “Don’t buy one. I already have some for you and Axton.”
“Why didn’t you give one to me?”
“I’m saving it for my birthday,” Tori said.
“Axton can’t come.”
“Well, we can celebrate with him at another time,” she insisted. “I also got you both a set from our delta collection. I think it’ll look great on you both.”
They passed by the temporary Lions Gate shop and Tori pointed out the shirts she had chosen for them. Piers squinted.
“My father wore that shirt the other day,” he said. “Did my mother buy it?”
“Probably. The Empress bought a lot of clothes when she was here with your brother,” Tori told him. The woman nearly bought one of everything in their new collection, as well as several straw sunhats for herself and her husband. It seemed as if she didn’t buy anything for her sons.
Piers narrowed his eyes, but didn’t complain. “That is likely where the dresses she’s been wearing at home came from.”
“I’m glad she likes them.”
They reached a large store that displayed home furnishings. The wood workshop was just behind the storefront and Tori walked through without question. She waved and greeted the woman at the storefront, who told her that her father and husband were ‘out back’.
In the yard behind the store, there were piles of lumber and strips of wood to one side. Partially finished furniture was piled to the other side and under the bright glow of light crystals, two men were finishing some pieces.
“Lady Guevera!” A man with graying hair looked up when they entered and smiled. “And Your Highness! Welcome!”
“Good evening! I came to see if the box I ordered is ready?”
“Ah! Yes, I just finished the lining today,” the woodworker said. He stood up and dusted off his hands. “Follow me, my lady.”
Tori clapped her hands together, excited as she followed the man. They walked into one of the indoor work areas, to a large bench where smaller detailed work could be done. On the bench was a slim wooden box about half the size of a briefcase. It had leather on its corners and a sturdy, leather wrapped handle. Tori’s initials and the Guevera crest were burned into the leather handle.
The old man pushed it forward and opened the two latches that held it closed. As he lifted the lid, a tray divided into compartments was pulled up and below it was another tray with deeper, larger compartments. All the compartments were lined with soft leather.
Piers furrowed his brows and looked at it. “What is that?”
“Crystal carrying case!” Tori said, gleefully as she pulled it towards her and began to examine it. “I wanted something that I can open and see all the crystals I can use at once, and also be useful for travel. The leather cushions the crystals to keep from being damaged and the compartments keep them organized.”
“How do you know which crystals are in which compartment?”
Tori gave him a deadpan look. “I can tell my own crystals apart, Piers. Master Ramos wouldn’t accept me as a pupil if I couldn’t even tell them apart.”
Piers looked back at the box. “You had this custom made?”
Tori nodded. “There is a place for a selenite charging plate on the underside of the lid and there is enough space to put my carving utensils.” Tori closed the box and brought it against her chest, hugging it. “It fits my needs perfectly!”
Piers nodded. “It is very useful.”
“Isn’t it?” Tori beamed. “Tomorrow, I’m going to Anahata Island to get help deciding on what to put inside, and get the additional crystals that I can put on my bracelet.” She lifted up her arm to show him.
The corner of his lip curled up. “Impressive. You are a force to be reckoned with.”
Tori grinned. “That’s the plan.”