CHAPTER 36:
Lyra's POV:
It was finally dinner time and we all gathered in their huge dining room.
The table was long and set with a beautiful red tablecloth and flowers here and there.
There were plates and cutlery that were all silver; making it look even more grand.
Everyone took a seat.
Rayhan and Eri sat together which irritated me to no end.
"hey urmm Imogen? Why is Rayhan suddenly attached to Eri? I mean they just met" was I the only one that was bugged out by it?
"I don't know what's gotten into my brother either; he's normally not this attached to girls"
"and Eri hasn't had a crush on a guy before! this is weird"
"I don't have a problem with it" Jaja said out of nowhere.
"you don't have any idea what we're talking about do you?" Imogen rolled her eyes.
"ahem..." the queen cleared her throat and it suddenly became silent.
"let's bow our heads and thank the great priestess for providing for us" she and everyone else put their hands together and bowed their heads.
Everyone except me.
"thank you for providing for us" her voice was small and everyone rose their heads.
"now...let's eat" the king declared and the servants brought in so many trays of food.
"is the food always this...much?" I stared at everything overwhelmingly.
It was too much for everyone to take in.
"even if it is much, the remainder is given to the servants and the poor" Yura answered.
"it's what the priestess would want us to do"
I looked at everything still stunned.
There were so many different types of food and vegetables as well as meat.
Sam had already began eating as well as the rest of the royal family.
I took a bite out of the fish in front of me; it was delicious.
Everyone ate happy while making small talk until the queen asked me a question.
"Lyra why didn't you join us to pray and thank the priestess?"
Everyone turned to look at me.
I didn't know how to put it.
"well urmm...I don't know how to say it exactly but I don't believe in the priestess"
Everyone froze.
What did I say?
"that's not possible" the king stated.
"In all my years, I've never come across a single person who doesn't believe in the priestess* the king drank his wine.
"well I don't. I feel like she hasn't been there for me or for anyone I love or care about. She took my me-maw from me"
Everyone looked shocked at that name.
"de'ma gohay un doumai! Re ho ke ahu n'haka"
(this is outrageous! How can she not believe?) the king turned to his wife.
He seemed angry for some reason; most likely about what I said.
"mer nai jeh ai'ra zulo"
(I don't know but she will soon) his wife answered.
"hon ne zeni colu kwar j'ma beh. Dra con ula jeh'zo bu"
(it's true, though she can't run from it. All she needs is time) Imogen added and the king began calming down.
The table was pretty much silent after that.
"you don't really mean that do you?" Imogen whispered to me.
"yes I do...and nothing can change that"
There was little to no chatter at the table after that and everyone went to their rooms.
My room was big enough for like 10 but I was more than comfortable.
Everyone had their own room which bugged me.
I had never slept alone before and now this is the first time in a strange land but there hasn't been any sign of danger so it's all good.
I picked the nightgown that was lying on the bed and wore it before calling it a day.
"hello Lyra" the hooded lady greeted.
I didn't want to speak with her; I had remembered I was upset with her.
"why would you lie to me?" I asked with arms folded.
"how do you mean-"
"I mean back in the forest; you told us if we split up, we'll all be safe and yet Nadia got captured" my eyes began to sting.
She could be going through a lot right now.
"Nadia sacrificed herself to save Eri and the rest of you. If she didn't jump, they might have caught you all. Besides, she's happy where she is"
"how could you say that?! She was taken back to those who made her a slave"
I don't know why anyone would think that she would happy where she is.
"you've become very difficult; since you got here, you haven't even said thank you. I guided you is through the forest! Told you where good food and clean water is and you still claim to be upset!"
She did have a point; I was being selfish and upset for no reason.
"I'm sorry" I turned to apologize but I discovered I was alone.
"hooded lady?!" I called but there was no response.
It suddenly began to get colder.
"hooded lady?! Where are you?!" I still called out but she didn't respond.
I was truly alone once more.
Then I opened my eyes.
Normally, I would feel her presence deep inside me but she was gone.
I sigh escaped me as I kicked my legs off to the side of the bed.
Well I had to start the day and see what was in store for me.
Just then I heard a knock on my door.
"hey Lyra, how did you sleep?" Imogen asked, poking her head through the door and looked at me.
I didn't want to tell her or anyone about the hooded lady and the dreams I've been having.
"it was good, the bed is soft and comfortable" I partially told the truth.
"glad you rested well; it's time for breakfast so get ready so I'll give you a little tour of the kingdom" she closed the doors behind her.
well, let's see how this go's I told myself standing up and stretching.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At breakfast, the mood of yesterday wasn't there.
We all ate happily and made small talk amongst one another.
Eri looked better and some of her scars were healing rapidly unlike me.
The huge scar the king had left on my neck was still there but barely healed and a reminder of months of suffering that will never happen again.
"Lyra are you done so we could start the tour?" Imogen stood up from her table.
"tour? What tour?" the king took a bite of his eggs.
"well I'm taking Lyra and her friends for a short tour of the castle" she smiled while dragging me out of my chair though I wasn't don't with breakfast.
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