Court of Flowers (Sutherland Book 1)

IV | A Proposition

Her heart skidded to a sudden stop. "A weapon? For what?" she asked, mortified that she sounded ignorant, and feeling incredulous as well. A weapon? Her? A woman?

Gabrielle sighed and shook her head lightly, smiling. "To protect the Kingdom and therefore protecting Belcourt. Being a previous Librarian has made you ignorant of the things Belcourt does. You are only focused on your studies and research that most of you are unaware of the threats that Belcourt gets every single day. You do not know it, Sasha, but the Court of Flowers works closely with us."

Sasha was in disbelief. She had been out of the Common Court for five years and had not heard of this?

Gabrielle turned to grab her cloak. "I should get going. I can already imagine Lady Eastwell's revulsion at this situation... Lady Mariam ought to have at least oriented you on your duties as a Belle."

"But—"

"You will have more of your answers on the morrow, Sasha, I promise."

In one fluid motion, the woman swung her emerald green cloak around and over her shoulders and back.

Gabrielle fastened the cloak around her neck and pulled the hood over her head, shadowing her face, the ends of her red locks the only indication of the beauty the hood held.

"We shall see more of each other soon."

*****

Sasha had no time to spare musing over the conversation she had with Gabrielle that morning because a fellow Belle and someone she was familiar with from the Common Court arrived to take her to her gown fittings.

Ruby was a chatty woman. She always had been.

She was three years in age ahead of Sasha, but she had been in Belcourt all her life, left at the Common Court when she was merely a day old.

It was no surprise that Ruby was courted into the Court of Flowers and became a Belle seven years ago for the woman was amongst the most stunning. Everyone knew where she would land.

Her straight black hair was a stark contrast to the white snow around them. Her deep-set blue eyes and full lips perfectly matched her oval face that seemed to have been smoothed and polished with fine grit. She had a mole just under the outer corner of her left eye and for Sasha, it was the woman's most stunning feature. An imperfection that perfected her face.

Like Iyana, Ruby was impressed that Sasha managed to get re-courted.

She did not tell the woman she had no choice on the matter for it would potentially lead to a series of questions she was not allowed to answer.

Ruby took her around the town center which was surprisingly crowded considering the heavy snow that morning and the cold wind.

But it was the holidays. Everyone was seen carrying holly, rosemary, Christmas Rose, and other decorations which would soon be up before Christmas Eve.

It only occurred to Sasha that she would be celebrating differently. For fifteen years, she always celebrated Christmas in Belcourt which would start with the lighting of the Yule Log and a few games and singing.

Tomorrow, the children in the Common Court would enjoy a lavish meal of turkey, pudding, gingerbread, and many of their favorites. The boar's head would be remained untouched for the adults to enjoy.

The four Christmases she spent at the Library were quite memorable as well. Not as grand as she heard the other courts celebrated theirs, but it was a few hours of respite from their active minds, veering back to the children that they once were before they left the Common Court.