was with Talia at all times. Although we were his nieces, I would have this feeling to be weary of him and protect her. I knew
Norok felt the same as he shifted slightly in his seat next to me.
“I am fed up with telling you, Elora. The answer is no, I will not anger the Goddess by using her day as something else. As
it is, we are having trouble with our grain this season, and so we must pay homage to her to bring in a good harvest.”
Father’s word was always final, and Mother did not seem to like it as she pushed off from her chair and stormed off. Her
ladies in waiting quickly followed her as Lady Gelda’s mother asked to be excused, and she followed Gelda closely behind
them all.
“Honestly, has your mother lost her mind?” Father uttered, looking at the three of us.
“I have been asking myself that same question for many years now.” Talia, always quick with her tongue, had both father
and Dorian chuckling under their breath.
“Trust me, Talia, I’ve had to put up with your mother all my life, and I myself have asked myself that very question,” Dorian
said as he continued to clean off the rest of his carcass.
“Ornella, see if you can talk some sense into her. She will listen to you.”
“I doubt that, Father. It’s Norok’s wedding, maybe he should be the one.”
Looking at my father over my glass of water, I tried not to frown. I most certainly didn’t want to be the one to deal with my
mother and her wrath of not getting what she wanted. She would often throw a fit if she was told no, and no one ever wanted to
be around when that happened.
“No, you are the most sensible of the three. You will do it.”
“After the last incident with Ornella, do you think she really is the most sensible?”
Norok said sarcastically as he took a sip of his wine. Talia jabbed him in the side of his ribs, which made him choke on it.
“Then, dear brother, go ahead and deal with Mother. It’s your wedding, not mine,” I repeated again.
“Ornella, just do as I ask please, or do you wish for me to command you?”
Father’s voice became stern, and I knew not to anger him as my fate of marriage lay within his hands. I’d already heard
him, Dorian, and the rest of the council discussing my ‘virtue’ over breakfast this morning. They were drawing up names of
eligible men I should meet, and they were to then decide if I was a fit and well wife. Not wanting to cause an argument, both
Talia and Norok lowered their eyes, averting their gaze from our father.
“As you wish, Father.”
Finishing my food quickly, I bowed and headed towards the castle wing, where my mother took up residence. Although she
and Father shared the same bed most nights, she had her own private rooms where she could entertain guests, sleep, and spend
her days with friends or her children.