The Ring Master's Fair

PART 7

The Ring Master's Fair - Part 7

The rain poured, soaking Atticus to the bone. He ignored the shivers the scuttled up and down his spine like mice. He sat there on the slippery ivory bench, head tilted back, eyes closed. The rain drops dripped down his face as if they were his own tears.

While some people found the rain gloomy and the sun cheerful; Atticus saw the opposite. The rain calmed him, showed him that there is a dark side to every bright side. He found peace in the dark side of things, tried to make it lighter, if possible.

When they were sitting out there, in the garden on the bench, Atticus wanted to show Lark the bright side of the rain. He wanted to help her get over her fear. But the only thing he helped with was scaring her off.

He stood up and strode through the garden and up to the patio where afternoon tea originally was to be held. He strode with a confidence that only some people could hold in situations like this.

Atticus was confident in thinking that Lark would easily forget and forgive the incident that happened in the rain. He needed her to stop resisting, to obey him.

But little did he know; the way Lark had been raised caused her to not trust easily and to not go down without a good fight.

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"King Alkis has requested to see you before supper, Miss Lark," a young woman exclaimed as she burst through the wooden doors. She was dressed in a maid outfit with an excited look on her face.

"Nadine! How rude of you. You must knock first, then only enter once they say you may," an older woman who came from behind Nadine chided. "I am sorry Misses and Mister, Nadine is new here," she explained apologetically.

"It's okay, Riva," Chrys soothed the older maid. "No harm has been done."

"What might father want with Lark?" Rylan asked no one in particular.

"I don't know. King Alkis only told me to tell Lark that she must go to the drawing room right before supper. Which is going to be served at 8:00, your Majesty," Riva answered to Rylan.

"Lark?" Rylan asked, "Do you think you are well enough to meet with him? Or to even attend supper?"

Lark's muscles were still cold and sore from the rain seeping into her bones; and all she wanted to do is crawl under the cover and cry. But her curiosity as to why the King of Olilith might want to see her win by a long shot. So, she responded Rylan with a weak "Yes."

"No offense to you, but you cannot see the King dressed in a wet dress like that," Chrys frowned.

Lark blushed and looked down. Her hair had come out of the braided bun and now lay in an awkward mess along her shoulders. The once beautiful baby blue dress was now a soggy, ruined mess. The cinched waist was now hanging loosely. The water had caused the dress to become heavier, making the already low neck line even lower, traveling more of her chest than should have been revealed.

Lark squeaked in surprise and hurried to cover herself with the fluffy gray blanket that Chrys had provided her with.

Rylan looked away to save her from further embarrassment. "I-I'll go n-ow," he stuttered as he shuffled out of bedroom.

Chrys giggled at her cousin as Riva shook her head at the lad. "You too, Nadine," Riva said, shooing the younger maid away.

Nadine frowned at the thought of being excluded, but made her way out of the room anyway.

Once there was only the three of them left in the room, Chrys and Riva set to work. They fussed over Lark; what to do with her hair and the ruined dress.