Inheritance

Chapter 23: King Laurence

Kori did as Eory asked of her and went to see the king alone. She knew she could do little else, as Eory had his heart and mind set on going to the ball and proving not only his own innocence, but Pollyanna's too. Kori took a deep breath ats she stood on the drawbridge and gazed up at the castle looming over her which sat upon slighty raised ground.

She had been to the castle so many times before, but it never felt this imposing.

No matter how positive she tried to be, she knew that nothing good could come out of tomorrow night. Nonetheless, she knitted her eyebrows determinedly, hiked up her dress, and crossed the drawbridge. She waited for the guards on the inside of the outer wall to open the portcullis blocking her path once they recognized her as the Redeemer. They turned the winch on the inside and the metal bars groaned as they were slowly lifted in front of the waif's face. She stepped onto the grassy, outer bailey where the castle city lay.

Many of the human peasants going about their business bowed and curtsied to Kori as she walked past them and greeted her fondly. "Greetings, Redeemer."

Kori curtsied in response and was glad that none of them recognized how disheveled she looked or that anything was wrong with her.

She wiped her sweating forehead and walked past the many gray and stony peasant houses with thatched roofs and many outdoor vendors selling their wares.

About half-a-mile ahead of her lay the inner bailey which was blocked off by another portcullis. She sped up her pace and dashed through the outer bailey as fast as she could.

Many of the peasants, both fairy and human, moved out of her way as she went and had curious looks upon their faces. They wondered why she was in such a hurry.

Kori stopped in front of the portcullis and tapped her foot impatiently as the two guards raised the heavy, clanking partition for her; she thanked them and passed through to where the keep and great hall stood.

She smiled for a moment before continuing and couldn't help but enjoy the cool breeze in her ears that whistled through the glistening grass.

To her left was a stable boy attending to some well-groomed horses. She tapped him on the shoulder. "I need an audience with the king right away. Please go fetch him for me."

The boy nodded and ran off.

Kori collapsed on a pile of snow and took in deep, jagged breaths. She was exhausted from having to use so much magic to keep Pollyanna at bay. I need to find another butterfly...

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The king, Laurence, sped up his pace when he saw Kori sitting on the grass next to the stable and looking exhausted.

He was dressed in a heavy, red, satin cloak with fur trim which dragged across the ground. He had a golden crown atop his head that displayed his wealth.

"Kori! I was so worried! I expected you back two days ago! I sent guards to find you, but they never came back! What happened?" Laurence helped her to her feet and she leaned against his side, panting.

She had a feeling that those guards had run into Pollyanna and Pollyanna had dispatched them.

Kori tried not to cry in fear at what she was about to ask, and decided she couldn't do it on an empty stomach. "I have to tell you something, and I need you to keep an open mind. But first, please... I need food and water. I'm exhausted and I haven't been able to put my magic back."

Laurence nodded and helped her to her feet and then kindly guided her toward the Great Hall where she would be fed whatever she wished by the kitchen.

Kori looked up at Laurence and then looked away. She could never quite describe how being in his presence felt, but awkward always came to mind.