Dorothy

Chapter 13

Thayer was the first to step over the threshold of the house, revealing to Dorothy a long entrance hall, opening into a majestic room. The walls were blue.

The woman closed the door quickly behind them and beckoned them all into the wide room. "Come, sit, make yourselves comfortable, I'll go put on some tea," and with that, she swept out of the room. Dorothy noticed that she was wearing a long, flowing blue dress.

Thayer laid Dorothy on a long blue couch and took a seat in a blue chair. Auden hurried forward to arrange some pillows under her head and shoulders to prop her up, and sat down in a chair near her head. The others settled around the room too, Rosie by her feet, Auden by Rosie, and Ronan on Thayer's other side.

Dorothy finally took in the room. It was lavishly decorated, plush carpet, satin furniture, a glittering chandelier, and it was all blue. Well, not the chandelier, but the carpet, furniture, and walls were. Aside from the chandelier, the only non-blue things in the room were a stack of books that must have been from before the fourth world war.

The group sat in silence for a few moments, then Ronan spoke. "So, she was expecting us. That's a tad odd, I'll admit. And, who's going to do the talking?'

"Dorothy should," Thayer said. "In your, well, current state, you will be the most convincing."

"I agree," said Auden.

"I suppose," said Ronan, though he didn't look entirely convinced.

"But what exactly am I supposed to say?"

"Well, you need her to get you off Luna, right?" Auden said.

"But what about you guys? I mean, you can't exactly go back to your normal lives. Auden, you'll be put back in a tank; Ronan, you can't just waltz back to your job; Thayer, what did that thaumaturge even do to you back there?"

Ronan snorted. "You understand very little about Lunar politics."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't worry about us," Auden said, "Let's just worry about getting you home."

"No. What did you mean?"

The three looked awkwardly at each other.

"Well," Auden started, "The Lunar crown isn't very forgiving."

"What do you mean?!"

"He means that trials have a high fatality rate," Ronan said.

"Oh," Dorothy said, understanding at last. "Well then, you will just have to come with me. I'm sure that my sister won't mind."

Auden and Ronan gave small smiles. "We'll see. I hope so," Auden said.

"Thayer, you're being awfully quiet," Dorothy said.

"I have my own reasons for believing that I will not be able to leave Luna."

Before she could ask further questions, the woman entered the room carrying a tray full of teacups. "Elwyn told me that you would be coming. She said that you need help with something. I'm your person, but I must warn you, I never work without pay."

"We don't have any money," Dorothy said.

"I didn't think that you would. No matter, I'm sure that you have something that you will be able to exchange for my services."

Dorothy glanced awkwardly at her companions, the woman didn't seem to notice.

"Tell me your names dears."

Ronan made brief introductions.

"Very good. Very good. Well, I'm Cressida. What do you require?"