cascade | kotlc

26. Queen Hylda's and Marella's Requests

Biana had heard about aurification, and how the goblins used alchemy to turn bodies to gold. But god, was the real thing much more horrifying than she'd expected.

The figure was too, too lifelike. Gold had covered everywhere, down to the very last curl of hair, and the soft smirk in the lips, or the steel in the eyes. Everything was gold, and it was much creepier than any funeral had the right to be.

But again, this wasn't a normal funeral. It was much less of a goodbye and much more of a welcome to new futures, just like Calla's transformation into the Panakes that stood in front of Havenfield.

"It was wise for you to attend," Sandor told them when everyone stood to leave. "I can tell it meant a lot to my people to see that the elves care about the soldiers who protect them."

"It did indeed," a deep, throaty voice said behind them, making Biana jump as she almost stumbled back into June. Sandor immediately dropped to one knee, holding out his hands, almost like he was proposing.

"Your Highness," he mumbled. "I didn't see you there."
"That's because I snuck up on you," Queen Hylda said, tossing her intricately plaited hair (which was, somehow, also gold) and smoothing the golden lapels of her military-style jacket as her gray eyes focused on them. "Please, no need for such formalities," she told them as Biana hurried to bow as well. "You are not my subjects."

"We still owe you our respect," Grady said as he straightened. "You and your warriors have been invaluable allies."

"The elve's knowledge and innovation have been equally precious for our world," Queen Hylda responded. "I consider the whole arrangement to be a crucial partnership, which is why I was hoping I might borrow young Miss Foster and Miss Vacker for a few minutes."

"Wait," Biana interrupted. "Me as well?"
The queen smiled at her, and Sandor shifted nervously behind her as Biana glared at him. "Yes, you, indeed. Has the Council not informed you yet? The gnomes have all voted to include both their previous elder, Thales the Sower, and you in the Lumenaria proceedings."

Biana blinked, everyone did. Nobody spoke for a moment, everyone gawking at Biana, and she was trying to gawk at herself.

"Why?" she eventually asked. "I- I may be a Vacker, but-"

"It's because Calla chose to give you the ring," Sophie realized, her smile more like a goofy grin and probably bigger than she'd intended. "That's why all the gnomes want to hear your opinion."

"Well," she mumbled, messing with her ring as she rotated and slid it along her finger. "Um- I can't say I'm good at these types of things..."

"You do not have to be," Queen Hylda assured her. "Thales the Sower, and all the gnomes have made it abundantly clear he is content doing the majority of the signing, which, in all due respects, the gnomes never object to. They purely want you there for your opinion. After all, you knew the gnome savior better than anyone."

"Sophie did," she corrected. "Calla was more acquainted with Sophie."

"You were the one that understood her better," Sophie reminded her. "Really, Biana, learn to take the compliment, will you?"

She flushed a deep shade of red, nervously fiddling with her tunic and fussing with her hair.

"It's just, it's a lot of pressure. I don't know if I'll be able to handle it..."

"Are you kidding?" Linh raised an eyebrow. "You're you. Of course you'll be able to handle it!"

"I don't really think so..."

June laughed. "Isn't she adorable when she tries to pretend she isn't a big deal at all? She's so bad at taking compliments it's actually funny. She's almost like my sister, but at least she's not oblivious."