missed you. We hardly get to see you anymore.”
“It’s not been that long,” Ariella muttered.
“Your father and I understand, dear. You are young, and you yearn for adventure. It’s nice you have made such wonderful friends. How are you, Isis?” Queen Crystal asked Isis, though her eyes were still locked on Davin.
“I’m well. Busy, but well.”
King Fathom remained seated on the bench, watching them all with great amusement. Especially his wife.
“What time is your interview?” Queen Crystal asked Ariella.
“How did you know it was today?”
“You wrote that you were going to apply for the position, and all the interviews are taking place today. Everyone knows that, dear.”
Until a few minutes ago, Davin hadn’t known. Then again, no one had ever accused him of being ‘everyone’.
“You will do splendidly,” Queen Crystal continued. “Just remember to go there in clean clothes. And brush your hair. And tie up your shoes properly too. You don’t want to trip over your own laces and fall flat on your face in front of the high king of Elitia.”
“Mother!”
“I’ve brought something for you.” She set a platinum and amethyst band on Ariella’s head. “Perfect.” She smiled. “Just perfect.”
“I can’t wear this. Bringing up my connection to you in an interview is cheating.”
Queen Crystal caught Ariella’s hand as it moved to remove the headband. “Wear it. The other candidates will be pushing their every advantage. So should you.”
“How about you and Father just come with me into the interview,” Ariella muttered.
“If it helps.”
“I was kidding.”
“Ariella, you need to think about this strategically,” King Fathom said from his spot on the bench. “You can’t just walk in like you’re fresh off the battlefield. King River is looking for an aide, not a bodyguard. He needs someone he can bring with him wherever he goes. Your presentation is everything. Listen to your mother. She knows all about turning heads.”
Ariella buried her hands in her face, nearly tipping the platinum band off her head. Davin set his hands on her shoulders and gave them a squeeze. Based on the look she gave him, she seemed to appreciate the gesture.
“Well, then. We’ll see you again at the graduation ceremony next week.” Queen Crystal kissed her on the forehead, then she and her husband walked down the path that would lead them to the temple.
~ 5 ~
525AX April 24, Rosewater
WHEN HER PARENTS were out of sight, Ariella trudged over to the bench and plopped onto it. Isis set the picnic basket down against the building, then sat beside her. There was just enough space for Davin to squeeze in between them, and he did so, wrapping an arm around each.
“How mortifying,” said Ariella. “They always have to interfere.”
“I actually thought they were acting really sweet.” Isis smiled. “And very subtle.”
Ariella pushed out her lower lip. “Subtle? They were strategizing ways to manipulate my interview.”
“Well, remember last summer when we spent a week at Sundrop Loop? They sent us on this wild scavenger hunt that took us all across the kingdom. Then we ended up on the beach and ran into that young man…” Isis’s eyes darted to Davin, then quickly back. “In any case, that was interfering. This here was just being good parents. They care about you, Ariella. They know you want to get the job, and they’re trying to help in the best way they know how.”
“Their ideas were sound,” Davin added. “All the applicants are good fighters. That won’t be the deciding factor. Your presentation will be.”
“I know. I know.”
“I’ll be done with my exam well before your interview. Let me help you get ready,” Isis said.
It was a good offer. Isis loved dressing people up in pretty things, and she had a good eye for fitting an ensemble to an occasion. In fact, she would have been the perfect choice to be Father’s aide. She claimed
“It’s not been that long,” Ariella muttered.
“Your father and I understand, dear. You are young, and you yearn for adventure. It’s nice you have made such wonderful friends. How are you, Isis?” Queen Crystal asked Isis, though her eyes were still locked on Davin.
“I’m well. Busy, but well.”
King Fathom remained seated on the bench, watching them all with great amusement. Especially his wife.
“What time is your interview?” Queen Crystal asked Ariella.
“How did you know it was today?”
“You wrote that you were going to apply for the position, and all the interviews are taking place today. Everyone knows that, dear.”
Until a few minutes ago, Davin hadn’t known. Then again, no one had ever accused him of being ‘everyone’.
“You will do splendidly,” Queen Crystal continued. “Just remember to go there in clean clothes. And brush your hair. And tie up your shoes properly too. You don’t want to trip over your own laces and fall flat on your face in front of the high king of Elitia.”
“Mother!”
“I’ve brought something for you.” She set a platinum and amethyst band on Ariella’s head. “Perfect.” She smiled. “Just perfect.”
“I can’t wear this. Bringing up my connection to you in an interview is cheating.”
Queen Crystal caught Ariella’s hand as it moved to remove the headband. “Wear it. The other candidates will be pushing their every advantage. So should you.”
“How about you and Father just come with me into the interview,” Ariella muttered.
“If it helps.”
“I was kidding.”
“Ariella, you need to think about this strategically,” King Fathom said from his spot on the bench. “You can’t just walk in like you’re fresh off the battlefield. King River is looking for an aide, not a bodyguard. He needs someone he can bring with him wherever he goes. Your presentation is everything. Listen to your mother. She knows all about turning heads.”
Ariella buried her hands in her face, nearly tipping the platinum band off her head. Davin set his hands on her shoulders and gave them a squeeze. Based on the look she gave him, she seemed to appreciate the gesture.
“Well, then. We’ll see you again at the graduation ceremony next week.” Queen Crystal kissed her on the forehead, then she and her husband walked down the path that would lead them to the temple.
~ 5 ~
525AX April 24, Rosewater
WHEN HER PARENTS were out of sight, Ariella trudged over to the bench and plopped onto it. Isis set the picnic basket down against the building, then sat beside her. There was just enough space for Davin to squeeze in between them, and he did so, wrapping an arm around each.
“How mortifying,” said Ariella. “They always have to interfere.”
“I actually thought they were acting really sweet.” Isis smiled. “And very subtle.”
Ariella pushed out her lower lip. “Subtle? They were strategizing ways to manipulate my interview.”
“Well, remember last summer when we spent a week at Sundrop Loop? They sent us on this wild scavenger hunt that took us all across the kingdom. Then we ended up on the beach and ran into that young man…” Isis’s eyes darted to Davin, then quickly back. “In any case, that was interfering. This here was just being good parents. They care about you, Ariella. They know you want to get the job, and they’re trying to help in the best way they know how.”
“Their ideas were sound,” Davin added. “All the applicants are good fighters. That won’t be the deciding factor. Your presentation will be.”
“I know. I know.”
“I’ll be done with my exam well before your interview. Let me help you get ready,” Isis said.
It was a good offer. Isis loved dressing people up in pretty things, and she had a good eye for fitting an ensemble to an occasion. In fact, she would have been the perfect choice to be Father’s aide. She claimed
Similar Books
