The Portal

I 1.4 We'll be together

Island, 1133

- "This Weekly had no explanation of how the rani would pay to attend Shailaja." This must be a joke!

- How are you going to pay after all? - Bia joked.

- Don't be ridiculous.

Hannah was reading the Weekly lying on a large cream velvet sofa, covered with colorful cushions and surrounded by comfortable armchairs. Her left arm swayed lazily, hanging from the couch, and her fingers almost touched the hardwood floor. The curtains that descended from the high ceiling were the color of the sand on the beach, which extended soft and warm to the water. Through the wide window, she could see the last beams of light that were setting on the horizon, where the sea seemed to end. The lighting now came from a rich chandelier, covered with crystals, which hung right in the middle of the room. There was a bookcase with old books, a white grand piano and a card table, where Bia, Serena and Chris played.

- You shouldn't care about that nonsense. I think it was Gaetana who sent that report - Serena said, calmly, without looking up from the cards.

- Really? But what for? Don't they already have enough ammunition for gossip?

Hannah left The Weekly on the couch and went to the balcony. It was almost night on the Island. The tide was calm, and the breeze was light. It could be another quiet night, but she was nervous. I'm not going to let it show, she thought. In fact, she was going to try, but everyone there had known her for years, they knew her too well. Her gaze was lure to the outside staircase on the balcony, which ended right on the sand. If she left now, she could take her horse and go for a ride on the beach...

- Do you already know how your disguise will be? - asked Cris.

Hannah sighed in resignation. She had forgotten about the disguise. It was necessary, however. That was the year of the Ceremony. She couldn't risk another proposal. If they insisted that she participate, by the rules, she would not be able to say no and that would generate an unnecessary conflict. In addition, they were playing a double game. She collected enemies, it would not be safe to disclose her whereabouts in this way. They needed to think it was a distraction, a scam.

- Gaetana said something about looking for an apathetic image. She doesn't think I should be ugly. If I'm too ugly, I can be teasing material and we don't want that attention ... I'll be already shorter than everyone else, which helps. She said she is not going to change my height. Everyone already knows that I am not a giant.

Finishing the game with a deserved victory, Serena dropped the cards and went over to Hannah. Leaning on the balcony, they faced the sea.

- We'll be together.

- I'm not nervous ...

- I know it won't be easy. But you must protect him.

- I know. It is important. I want to do this personally.

- No one better than you.

They heard a knock at the door, followed by Gaetana's footsteps. Among the Island's masters, she was the youngest. With little more than 30 years, she was a tall woman, with brown skin tanned by the open weather of the Island and sported her curly and unruly hair. She wore a long, cool white dress, a green shawl like her eyes, and was carrying an old brown suitcase.

- Good evening, girls. We must align everything for tomorrow - she announced, going to a long table, covered with papers, maps, books. The master pushed everything away and put the heavy suitcase on top.

- What's that old thing? - asked Chris.

- It's Hannah's suitcase. Leila set out suitable clothes for you, Mani - said Gaetana, reaching out her hand across the table and placing it on Hannah's with a squeeze. - It is necessary to dress accordingly to the image that we want to convey. I imagine you read the note in The Weekly.

- Was it your idea? - asked Hannah.

- Yes. Since you don't own any more land, and they don't know you live here, they will speculate on any indication of your origin. We must say that you were raised in Tegalaan, on a farm, by a family linked to your parents. Everything in that suitcase will confirm this version. Okay?

- Okay - she confirmed. She was already prepared for this.

- I arranged every detail with Enzo Yezekael, and he decided that you, as we expected, should stay in the Mavi accommodation, which is more secure. Our object of protection will be there. You will be divided into four rooms, but they are connecting rooms. The accommodation will have a common lounge for all guests. Remember, our main objective is the protection of the heir. We don't need to be intimate with him for that. We'll keep an eye on him and that's enough. But ... If someone feels comfortable to risk an intimate contact, feel free - she completed with a look at Chris. They couldn't help laughing. When the moment passed, Gaetana just added: - It wouldn't be bad to have his confidence, would it?

- Master, Leila said something about us going separate ... - started Chris.

- Yes. Chris, you are known at the northern nobility. They know you live here on the Island, there are no surprises there. They believe that Shailaja is the safest place in Adij Alim. This is our excuse to send you there. Chris and Bia will be together in one of the connecting rooms. Serena, you're on the other one with Mani. Remember what we talked about this week: nobody knows Hannah. That includes you. You three will leave tomorrow morning and will arrive there in the late afternoon sou you can attend the first dinner. Mani will arrive alone at night and go straight to the quarters. Thus, we avoid the presentation ceremony.

Gaetana took two small bottles out of the suitcase. Both contained clear liquids, but one had a slightly blue stopper.

- Hannah, here's your disguise. The ideal is to take the first one tonight for adaptation. It has the effects you already know. In this other bottle, the second, is the antidote - informed Gaetana, pointing to the bottle with the blue stopper: - I asked Leila for a disguise for six months. We can renew it if necessary.

- If necessary? - repeated Bia.

- I imagine we'll have a war in less than six months.

~*~

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Ps: I am a brazilian author and a dear friend is translating this book for me. Please feel free to point out any mistakes. Hope you like it!