She gave a quick nostalgic smile, then scurried from the door and pulled open a long thin drawer on the desk. She rummaged through the pens and papers until she found a small blue envelope and tucked it into her palm.
She closed the drawer and tapped her fingertips on the desktop. “It would be nice to have some of that magic right now, don’t you think?”
I sighed. “Yeah, it sure would.”
“But I guess those days are long past now. I’ll let you back to your reading.”
"Mom—" I reached my hand out toward her then grabbed the air and let it drop to my side. Another opportunity to ask her about Edwin Macario's journal and the lies he claimed my parents had told me. But I couldn't do it now. My father’s disappearance already forced her to endure so much pain, I couldn’t add to her struggle. Once they found my father I could try again.
"What is it, dear?"
"Never mind." I grabbed the back of my head and stretched my neck toward the skylight. Maybe I should just take a chance and ask her.
“Okay.” She looked me over as if waiting for me to continue, then her questioning stare hardened and pierced through my skull. “There is something I need to tell you though."
I pulled my head right again as she crossed her hands politely in front of her, the true queen commanding my attention.
"The Council has asked to see you. With your father's disappearance, the kingdom is vulnerable and we need you to step up and take a more active role in the day to day operations."
An ache burned in the bottom of my stomach and I winced forward. “Shouldn't we wait a bit longer? He’s only been gone a few days.”
"The kingdom needs stability now. He's been battling the curse for a while and even if we did find him soon… I mean…when we find him soon, no one knows how long it will be before he is himself again. Or how long it will take to reclaim the trust of the Aborians.”
I huffed, the low sound of my breath echoing through the tall room.
"Fine. If that's what I need to do.” The ache twisted. Deeper. Sharper. The red splatter of pomegranates on my white gloves flashed in my brain. “But I don’t think it’s a good idea. I mean, I doubt anyone is going to listen to me. I might just make things worse.”
Mom crossed the room and sandwiched my face in her delicate hands. “You’ll do just fine. And I’ll be there to help. I know this isn't how you might have envisioned taking over the throne, but I really need you to step up and take on the challenge. Not only me, but Aboria desperately needs a leader right now. The kingdom needs you.”
I tugged her hands from my face and clasped them tight in my own. “The kingdom needs you too, Mom."
She sighed and turned away. "I am afraid the demands of your father's search are taking up more of my time and energy then I expected. Besides, deep down I am just a village girl, when times get rough, the kingdom is quick to remind me of that fact."
"Well, just tell them all to take a flying leap off a cliff. You’re one of the strongest, smartest women in all the kingdom, probably even further than that. Anyone who doesn't see that is blind."
"You’re sweet, but I'm afraid that's not always how things work. Fair and politics rarely mix well. Now don’t let me interrupt you any longer.“ She pulled her hands away and hurried out the door before I could continue to argue. Arboria needed someone like her on the throne, not someone like me who could barely keep their head when controversy struck. I didn't have her strength or conviction. The kingdom didn’t want me. They had already made that very clear the last time.
I collapsed back down on the floor and turned up the lantern light. I had no idea what time it was, but it didn't matter, the pile of books wouldn't get any smaller until I finished going through them. If a tiny library on the side of a mountain had one journal holding the secrets of my entire family, there had to be something in this museum of literature that could help break the curse or at least give me some answers as to who I really was and what happened all those years ago.
I scanned the pages of the book in my lap, my eyes already hazy from the dusty books and the hours of strain, but I blinked and kept going. It was going to be a long night.
Click. Click. Click.
The clack of my dress shoes against the stone echoed through the corridor as I paced just outside of the war room. The rhythmic, repetitive sound helped slow my racing pulse, but even it couldn’t fully take the nervous edge off.
Didn't the Council realize what a mistake it would be for me to take more responsibility right now? I didn't have the respect of the kingdom, how would anyone expect me to have their loyalty?
"I say, Your Majesty, you’re looking very regal today." Griswold appeared at the end of the hall, as a proud smile beamed across his lips. "Your father would be so impressed to see you like this, sir." He brushed his hands over the embellished shoulders of my coat and tugged near the golden buttons so it sat properly against my chest.
"Trust me, I'd rather my father was here in general. That way I wouldn't even need to consider being king.“
Griswold chuckled, the light knowing sound tugged my mouth into a frown.
"Just nerves, my prince. Don't you think your father was nervous the first time he met with the Council too?”
My pulse started to quicken again. I wiped my hand across my
