“Go away,” murmured Cordelia from beneath her pillow.
“Not until you pull yourself together.”
Cordelia sat up straight, her blood boiling. “Will everyone stop telling me what to do! Practise diving, place in the championships, plan a party, go to Meren, find your real father, Meren needs you, pull yourself together, enough!”
Nixie looked startled. “I didn’t mean...”
“Leave me alone!”
Without saying another word Nixie left through the wall. Immediately regretful of her outburst, Cordelia closed her eyes and buried her head in her hands. She didn’t mean to upset Nixie but she did want to be on her own. She felt empty and uncertain. The two people she loved the most were now living and working together away from her. This upset Cordelia far more than she would ever say. How could she? Flynn was Breck’s father. Cordelia was distracted from her train of thought by an itch on her left shoulder blade and reached an arm behind her to scratch it. No matter how much she stretched, she couldn’t quite reach the spot. She picked up a large conch shell that was sitting on display by the fireplace and used it to scratch herself. Then came a knock at the door.
“Cordelia, it’s us, are you in there?” said Lana.
Cordelia took a deep breath and opened the door to find Lana, Masika and Nerissa staring at her with wide eyes and even wider grins.
“Aren’t you going to invite us in?” asked Nerissa, chirpily.
Cordelia stepped aside and her three friends waltzed into her chamber.
“We’re here to plan your birthday,” said Lana, smiling and gesturing to the note book and pen clutched in Masika’s hands.
“You’ve been talking to Nixie, haven’t you?” asked Cordelia.
“Perhaps,” said Lana.
“She was worried about you,” said Masika.
“But that’s not the only reason we’re here,” chirped Nerissa, “we haven’t seen you much lately, we miss you.”
Cordelia finally cracked a smile. “I’m sorry. I haven’t been a very good friend.”
“It’s okay,” said Lana, “we know you’ve had a lot going on.”
“Which is why we want to make your birthday really fun,” said Nerissa, who looked close to bursting with excitement.
“What do people do around here for their birthdays?” asked Cordelia.
“There’s a couple of options,” said Masika, “we can decorate the dining hall or we can plan something in the amphitheatre. Morwen’s rules are usually quite strict on location.”
Cordelia wasn’t thrilled about either of these ideas and certainly wasn’t going to follow Morwen’s stringent rules.
“Is something wrong?” asked Lana.
“I’d like to spend my birthday with family and good friends,” said Cordelia.
“Of course,” said Lana.
“So then we need a venue where all those important to me will be welcome,” said Cordelia.
“Where did you have in mind?” asked Nerissa.
“The tavern in town,” said Cordelia, “I’m sure it won’t be a problem.”
“Morwen will never allow it,” said Masika.
“Then it’s settled,” said Cordelia. “I’ll speak with Breck this afternoon.”
“How are things with Breck?” asked Nerissa.
“Good, thank you,” smiled Cordelia.
“There’s something you’re not telling us,” said Lana.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” said Cordelia, returning the conch shell to the fireplace. “Masika, you’d better not be reading my mind.”
Masika sheepishly shook her head.
“You did, didn’t you?” said Cordelia. “Seriously, stay out of my head.”
“What is it?” asked Lana.
“I think you should tell them,” said Masika, “they’ll find out sooner or later.”
“Tell us what?” asked Nerissa.
“Alright, alright,” said Cordelia, pacing across the chamber. “I found out that Flynn had a son, before he found me.”
“What happened to him?” asked Lana.
“It’s a long story,” said Cordelia.
“Is his son still around?” asked Nerissa.
Cordelia nodded.
“Have you met him?” asked Lana.
Cordelia nodded.
“For the love of God just tell them,” said Masika.
“It’s Breck,” said Cordelia.
“Breck?” gasped Nerissa.
Cordelia nodded.
“Now it all makes sense,” said Lana.
“What d’you mean?” asked Nerissa.
“The energy field around Flynn the day he escaped the island,” said Lana. “Flynn’s an energy carrier too.”
“Did Breck know that Flynn was his father?” asked Nerissa.
“No,” said Cordelia.
“But he does now,” said Masika, “and now they’re living together at the tavern.”
“Where does that leave you and Breck?” asked Lana.
Cordelia shrugged. “Nothing’s changed between us.”
“Does Flynn know about the two of you?” asked Lana.
Cordelia shook her head.
“What d’you think he’ll say when he finds out?” asked Nerissa.
“That’s what I’m worried about,” said Cordelia. “What if I lose both of them?
“You won’t,” said Nerissa.
“What if I already have?”
“Now you’re being ridiculous,” said Lana.
Cordelia raised an eyebrow at Lana.
“What?” said Lana. “We’re friends. If we can’t be truthful with you then no one can.”
“If we’re being truthful,” said Masika, “then I’d like it known I’m not keen on the choice of venue for your birthday.”
“Why not?” asked Cordelia.
“I’m not sure that Morwen would take kindly to us mixing with drunks in a tavern. What if word got out about us?”
“Morwen can think what she likes,” said Cordelia, “it won’t change anything.”
“What if people find out about us?” said Masika. “What then?”
“They’ll only find out if we tell them,” said Cordelia.
“Let’s vote on it,” said Lana, winking at Cordelia. “Those in favour raise your hand.”
Three of the four raised their hands without hesitation.
“Oh alright,” said Masika, “but if anything happens, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“As long as we’re on our best behavior there won’t be a problem,” said Lana.
“Have you thought about what you’ll wear?” beamed Nerissa.
Cordelia shook her head. “Not yet.”
“If you want help deciding, you know where to find us,” said Nerissa.
“Thank you,” said Cordelia.
Later that day Cordelia rode Réalta into town. The weather was glorious and the town was packed with visitors who had flocked to the coast for clean air during the first weekend of May. Cordelia attracted several disapproving glances as she stopped outside the tavern; a young girl revealing her legs was shocking and unwomanly and to see her straddling a horse outside a drinking house was an affront to Victorian decency. If that wasn’t enough to catch the attention of onlookers then her mane of shimmering grey hair would do the trick. She would certainly be deemed unsuitable marriage material by respectable families of so-called polite society. They whispered and laughed behind her
