Silver: The Lost Royal

23 | Lady Idyna

"DINNER is ready," she heard Salome's voice from outside the door and glanced at the wall clock. Five minutes past seven.

Her eyes drifted back to the full-length mirror and accessed her choices. She wore a deep blue gown that fanned out in a graceful flare below her waist with lacy, transparent sleeves, and a delicate bow at the right side of her waist. She'd paired it with a sleek pair of white pumps and had her hair swept up in a ponytail.

With a firm nod of approval, she stepped out with a sense of confidence but stopped in her tracks when she found the hallway empty. She was about to head back and ring the bell beside her bed when the door next to hers swung open and out came Gema in a lacy burgundy dress that stopped at her knees. Her vibrant red hair spilled down in fresh waves, bouncing with every step she took.

Gema was quick to compliment Karyn's dress before she said, "Come on, we'll go together," and linked arms with Karyn at the elbows.

They had walked some steps down the stairs before Karyn asked, "You seem to get a kick out of setting things on fire, don't you?"

Gema laughed. "You're talking about the house at Emerfield?"

"And The City Hall."

"What can I say? We get abilities so we can use them, right?"

"And what of the things in the house? The library, the books. You burned all that."

"Jamie would freeze me alive. He used his transformation magic to seal all the important stuff in a box that's with him before it all fell to the fire."

"Oh."

The gentle click of Gema's heels punctuated the surrounding silence until Gema spoke.

"Karyn, I know these past few days have been a lot, and you've not had the space to collect your thoughts and decide what to do. I cannot even imagine how confusing everything must be and I understand if you don't trust us fully but." Gema stopped walking and turned to face Karyn with her brown eyes holding a tenderness in them as they peered into Karyn's.

"As wielders, we swore an oath to protect Wlerden, its people, and the royal family. Once we took control of the gems, we swore our lives to the good of our nation. As for Zack, we don't know him, and trusting him would be an arduous task. I know what he said about Wlerden hunting Endoni must have your head spinning and I know it sounds suspicious that we didn't know about it. I couldn't believe a word Zack said until I spoke to Lady Minerva and she confirmed it."

"She'd come here looking for a fresh start and that was why she built this mansion, for people who were looking for the same. I admit our communication with The Golder hasn't been as transparent as we thought. I know asking you to trust us is a lot, but we are ready to go on this journey with you, to train with you, and help you become who you are. Who you've always been. A leader and a princess," Gema said with a small smile, one Karyn couldn't return.

"I'll let you mull on that a bit," Gema said.

They continued their walk in contemplative silence until they arrived at a door. A man in a suit opened it and gestured for them to enter. They stepped into a long hall with a long rectangular table in its center and chairs on both sides. Lady Minerva sat at the head of the table.

"Karynanda! Gemannua! Come, come, your seats are right beside me," the lady gestured to the two empty seats beside her.

As Karyn headed to the left side of the lady, she scanned the table in search of the stranger she met in the hallway but couldn't find the unappealing scar. She thought back to the rucksack he had with him and wondered if he had gone. She found the seat beside Jamie empty as well. At the sight, her mind drifted to Marcela, and made a mental note to ask either Gema or Jamie about Marcela's health later.