Chapter 11: Separated Twerklatwins
~Flerbery’s P.O.V.~
On our way to the dining hall, Woande and I run into Father. Marcus the butler walks behind him carrying his suitcase and carpet bag.
“Where are you going, Father?”
Woande opens her mouth to say something but Marcus speaks first. “Your father has important affairs to take care of and must travel to Minimoia to meet King Minimoi about a trading problem.”
“Oh.” I say, “Good luck Father, I hope your travels are safe.”
Woande nods and we walk off toward where Stellan and Cadarum are sitting. Woande bats her googoo eyes at Cadarum and acts weirdly flirtatious. We sit with them at the table and Woande tries to make small talk with Stellan but he abruptly excuses himself and leaves.
That’s oddly convenient. I think.
“So Cadarum, we have something to talk to you about...” Woande says.
I explain to him all about our mother and Gorongl’s wrongdoing. He looks stunned.
“So…My brother is pretty evil, I knew that already.” He says. Then I tell him what I want to do. “I won’t say anything about the plan to him, I promise.” Cadarum tells us.
Stellan re enters the room and apologizes for leaving so rudely. While Woande flirts with Cadarum I bring up the topic of our marriage arrangement as subtly as I can.
“I’m guessing that Cadarum and Woande…” He begins.
“Yeah.” I agree. “So that means…”
He finishes my sentence. “You and me…”
“Yeah.” I say. “This will all be very unfamiliar. I’ve never even been to Goronglia before…”
“Really? Well if Cadarum stays here with Woande, which i think he will, you’ll live in Goronglia with me.” He says, as if just thinking about it for the first time.
I respond that he’s correct.
“Well maybe you should come visit for a few weeks before we officially announce our engagement and then if you don’t like it there we can figure something else out.” He says surprisingly tenderly.
“What if I do like it?” I ask.
“Then we can get married and live there.” He says simply. I notice that Prince Cadarum and Woande are no longer present. They’re probably off
“Okay.” I agree. “When would we leave?”
“Now.” He says, “I mean, if you want.”
I say yes, and then I go and pack my things. It’s a good think Minimoi had business with Father because I doubt Father would let me leave. I pack my belongings, almost all of them. Stellan helps me gather everything, and I get to know him, too. As I throw in a few books, one about twerklatwin magic similar to Woande’s and mine falls open and I catch the words ‘long distance telepathy so I read a couple pages.
When I’m done I write a note to Woande apologizing for not saying goodbye and telling her about the long distance telepathy. Then I write another note to father explaining where I am and leave it on his desk. I tell him to write to me once he gets the note.
Finally, I change out of my evening dress and into clothes for the trip. It’s about a half-day journey so I dress for comfort; thin, soft pants under a light green skirt and a long, loose blouse covered by a leather corset. I don’t look fancy, but I at least look presentable.
Then I ask Stellan, “Are all your things packed?”
“Yes.” He replies. “Are you ready to leave?”
I answer. “Yes. Is it okay if we take one of our carriages and leave yours here for Cadarum?”
“Sure if that makes you happy.” He says affectionately. I smile.
Am I falling for him? I ask myself. I hope not. That could ruin everything.
I tell one of the maids to have Byronn bring the carriage around front, and she runs off to tell him.
“Thank you!” I call after her, but she doesn’t hear me.
We turn and carry our bags to the main entrance of the castle. Byronn is waiting for us outside. We put our bags on the carriage and climb inside, settling in for the long ride to Goronglia.
On our way to the dining hall, Woande and I run into Father. Marcus the butler walks behind him carrying his suitcase and carpet bag.
“Where are you going, Father?”
Woande opens her mouth to say something but Marcus speaks first. “Your father has important affairs to take care of and must travel to Minimoia to meet King Minimoi about a trading problem.”
“Oh.” I say, “Good luck Father, I hope your travels are safe.”
Woande nods and we walk off toward where Stellan and Cadarum are sitting. Woande bats her googoo eyes at Cadarum and acts weirdly flirtatious. We sit with them at the table and Woande tries to make small talk with Stellan but he abruptly excuses himself and leaves.
That’s oddly convenient. I think.
“So Cadarum, we have something to talk to you about...” Woande says.
I explain to him all about our mother and Gorongl’s wrongdoing. He looks stunned.
“So…My brother is pretty evil, I knew that already.” He says. Then I tell him what I want to do. “I won’t say anything about the plan to him, I promise.” Cadarum tells us.
Stellan re enters the room and apologizes for leaving so rudely. While Woande flirts with Cadarum I bring up the topic of our marriage arrangement as subtly as I can.
“I’m guessing that Cadarum and Woande…” He begins.
“Yeah.” I agree. “So that means…”
He finishes my sentence. “You and me…”
“Yeah.” I say. “This will all be very unfamiliar. I’ve never even been to Goronglia before…”
“Really? Well if Cadarum stays here with Woande, which i think he will, you’ll live in Goronglia with me.” He says, as if just thinking about it for the first time.
I respond that he’s correct.
“Well maybe you should come visit for a few weeks before we officially announce our engagement and then if you don’t like it there we can figure something else out.” He says surprisingly tenderly.
“What if I do like it?” I ask.
“Then we can get married and live there.” He says simply. I notice that Prince Cadarum and Woande are no longer present. They’re probably off
“Okay.” I agree. “When would we leave?”
“Now.” He says, “I mean, if you want.”
I say yes, and then I go and pack my things. It’s a good think Minimoi had business with Father because I doubt Father would let me leave. I pack my belongings, almost all of them. Stellan helps me gather everything, and I get to know him, too. As I throw in a few books, one about twerklatwin magic similar to Woande’s and mine falls open and I catch the words ‘long distance telepathy so I read a couple pages.
When I’m done I write a note to Woande apologizing for not saying goodbye and telling her about the long distance telepathy. Then I write another note to father explaining where I am and leave it on his desk. I tell him to write to me once he gets the note.
Finally, I change out of my evening dress and into clothes for the trip. It’s about a half-day journey so I dress for comfort; thin, soft pants under a light green skirt and a long, loose blouse covered by a leather corset. I don’t look fancy, but I at least look presentable.
Then I ask Stellan, “Are all your things packed?”
“Yes.” He replies. “Are you ready to leave?”
I answer. “Yes. Is it okay if we take one of our carriages and leave yours here for Cadarum?”
“Sure if that makes you happy.” He says affectionately. I smile.
Am I falling for him? I ask myself. I hope not. That could ruin everything.
I tell one of the maids to have Byronn bring the carriage around front, and she runs off to tell him.
“Thank you!” I call after her, but she doesn’t hear me.
We turn and carry our bags to the main entrance of the castle. Byronn is waiting for us outside. We put our bags on the carriage and climb inside, settling in for the long ride to Goronglia.