In All the Other Worlds

You've Grown Up, Blair.

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The sun, a dear friend, greets me in the morning. She brings me light streams through glass windows, birds dancing outside, and warmth. She also brings a warning, a cautious tale of the rest of the day. 

When I fully open my eyes, Santi is nowhere to be found, so I go across the hall to the room I claimed last night. In the once-empty closet, rows and rows of clothing, all my size and for varying occasions, sit atop hangers, on shelves, and neatly folded. 

I'll see you tomorrow for dress shopping. This should hold you over in the meantime, princess. Good luck at Queen Aselda Academy this morning. I'll be there later in the day if you need anything. If not, I'll see you at dinner. 

-- Mom. 

Of course she'd been here. That woman rose before the sun even before I had left. The king failed to mention any dress code for the day; however, I imagine public appearances warrant an outfit I'm far too unmotivated to put together now. I quickly hop in the shower and fix my hair to look like my mother's--sleek and curled, her signature look. 

"Having clothing trouble?" Annora prances into my room, a yellow ankle-length dress adorning her body. She looks like a queen, even this early in the morning. 

"Yes, but now that you're here, I've got a better idea. Being a public figure isn't my forté." I reach for a deep red dress, similar to hers, that flows to my calves, with straps that cover part of my shoulder and a square neckline that shows off the Garradin family signet necklace my mother left for me. 

"Well, it seems you've got it all figured out. Let's go. I am absolutely starving." Our arms link as we make our way towards the kitchen. We look like what we are supposed to be: mighty, smart, and brave, but nothing could stop me from missing the cloth sparring uniforms we typically wear. 

Breakfast is a daze, I'm left with my thoughts as everyone around me talks about their first night back here. Alexi enters the room for Luca, but I'm only focused on the wall in front of me. The food on my plate is touched only enough so no one can mention it. A haze has set itself upon me.

"We've got to go now, our escort is outside waiting for us. I imagine the other three are heading there now, hopefully." 

Snap.  

I can feel the haze break as my feet move in step with my friends. The touch of the city-car's seats brings me down to reality. 

"So, we just go and watch training and have meetings? I'm not sure what watching training will do for us." Annora's gaze floats out of the window to the old city architecture. 

"We're watching training because I'm sure my father wants us to see how they run things when it's these two over here's responsibility," Ezra's fingers point between Santi and me. 

"Technically, Judas Binning runs things," I say. 

"Well, really, he listens to me, and I work with you, so by default, Princess, we run it." Santi pokes my leg, leaning back to join his counterpart on the opposite side of the car. Outside, people stop and watch as the city-car takes us to our new duties.