I’d been looking forward to it all week. I had even front-loaded my chores in the week to make sure I would be free for most of the day.
At this rate, though, we won’t make it back to the house by noon. When I don’t show up to the field, it’ll be yet another friend I lose.
By the time the sun is high in the sky, it’s evident that this trip is going nowhere, not that I ever thought differently. My parents decide that someone else beat them to the falling star, and ultimately agree to call it quits and return home.
“They’ll be another adventure,” my dad consoles my mom.
Always the optimist. Never the realist.
It takes us the rest of the afternoon to make it back to our farm, an entire day wasted. My body aches with fatigue. I want nothing more than to curl up in my bed and forget this happened. However, there still are daily chores that need to be completed, so I grudgingly start.
To my surprise, Jenny does visit me, wondering where I was that afternoon. My parents tell her the story about the star, and how I can’t talk because I have chores to finish. She throws me a gentle smile that’s laced with pity and never asks me to hang out again. I’m sure the rest of the village children filled her in on the girl from the crazy farm.
When I at last crawl into bed, I pull the blankets tight around me, hoping to escape back to the comfort of sleep. When I dream, I dream of a schoolhouse filled with tittering children. Of a birthday party, blowing out candles while being surrounded by friends. Of a small cottage surrounded by lavender, no farm animals or wheat fields in sight.
I dream of everything I wish were memories instead of fantasies.
Chapter 8
Elia
My head is on something so soft that I don’t want to move. Actually, my whole body feels like it’s floating on a cloud. I yawn, nestling into the comfortable cocoon. I allow myself to linger in the peaceful sensation until the events of the past couple days come flooding back to me.
My eyes pop open. I’m in a room in the castle in Ashven. I was so exhausted last night that I collapsed straight into the four-poster bed without a second thought.
A knock sounds at the door. I have no idea what time it is, but based on the sky out the window it must be late morning. Another knock.
“Come in?” I invite hesitantly, wondering if it’s Callum. I imagine he must be wanting to start this hunt as soon as possible.
The door creaks open, and an elderly woman with an uneven gait walks in, carrying a tray that I can only hope has coffee on it.
“I brought your breakfast, miss,” the woman beams, placing the tray on a table near the large window. “I’m to bring you to the library once you’re ready.”
I blink twice. “Uh…who are you?” I shake my head. “I’m sorry, that came out rude. I mean–”
The woman chuckles and finishes my sentence for me. “I take no offense, miss. I’m Claudia. I’m the housemaid for this floor, and I oversee the rest of the staff of the palace.”
She’s rummaging in the wardrobe, pulling one outfit out at time. With each outfit, she glances at me and then hangs it back up.
“Why this floor only?”
I reluctantly climb out of bed and sit at the table with the tray. I see the cup with the steaming brown liquid and eagerly reach for it, groaning once I take the first sip. This is so much better than the sludge they called coffee back at the camp.
“Callum doesn’t trust many people, if you’ve gathered that yet. And Imust admit, I’m glad to have someone else to tend to on this floor!” Claudia smiles at me warmly, her wrinkles crinkling at the corners.
She settles on a bright yellow dress with short puffy sleeves and lays it on the bed. It’s simple, which I appreciate, and I’m eager to wear something other than my tunic and breeches. I can’t remember if I’ve ever worn a dress before. Maybe when I was a child. Definitely not as a teenager or as an adult.
“Shall I do your hair for you, miss?”
“Elia, please.” I remember my manners and focus on Claudia once again instead of my almost empty cup. “That would be lovely, thank you.”
Claudia comes behind me in the chair as I finish my breakfast and starts brushing my hair. It’s an odd sensation, as not even my mother did this for me when I was younger.
“Did Callum tell you why I’m here?” I ask curiously, taking the last sip of coffee.
“Oh yes, you’re here to help him with his Hunt. There’s not much that goes on around here that I don’t know about.”
I mull that over. “He was very secretive on the trip here. He wouldn’t tell me what exactly it is that he’s searching for.” I turn my head slightly to peek at Claudia. “Do you know what this mysterious relic is, Claudia?”
