She was the last one to attend dinner. Tori needed a mont to collect herself and lessen the redness in her eyes before she stepped out of her room and faced her family. She put on a bright face and skipped down the stairs to get to the dining hall.
With both her Auntie Lucias family, her Uncle Lorenzo, and Uncle Rom present, as well as Ewan joining them, the dining hall was full and filled with noise whenever dinner arrived. Breakfast was usually a co at your own pace setting. Sotis, shed eat alone. Sotis shed get to breakfast, and her brothers were fighting with Marco and Mateo for food, as if they werent rich and had plenty to spare.
Lunch was similar, with als being brought to her father and brothers if they were busy, or had outside in Presidio if they were wandering around. Ewan ate lunch with the Guevera knights. Dinner was a family affair and the long, wooden table was filled with food and multiple conversations.
Tori took her usual seat next to her mother. Ewan was next to her and talking to her uncles across from him.
Its just a light review and application of what youve learned so far, Uncle Lorenzo told him in a calm voice. He looked like a slimr version of her father, though was slightly taller. His short, curly black hair seed to constantly fall over his blue eyes. You dont have to worry about making a mistake. Theyre an allied family and weve inford them youre coming.
Ewan let out a whimper and Tori cracked a smile. They told you about the Count de Leon ball?
He turned to her with wide eyes. You knew!
Practical application of what youve learned of knightly conduct will help you rember, Tori told him. You have several months until the test. You need to practice every once in a while.
Tori is right, Uncle Lorenzo told him. La Garda will be watching you the mont you walk through its gates. Youll want to carry yourself as a knight as soon as they see you.
Ewan furrowed his brows and slowly nodded. You have a few more days, Sebastian told him. Continue with your reviews.
The al was served and Tori let her curiosity eat at her as she kept a smile on her face and chatted with whoever spoke to her as if she didnt just stumble across a traumatizing secret. She made a point to keep from looking at Kasen, worried that shed be reminded of the notebook stained with tears and begging for her return.
She made it through dinner and wanted to ask, but she didnt know where to begin. She considered cornering Kasen and showing him the notebook, but she didnt know how hed take it. If he denied any such thing and misunderstood, she couldnt force an answer out of him. Kasen wouldnt give in easily.
Tori looked towards her parents and hesitated. She didnt know where to begin.
Tori? a voice asked behind her as she paced down the hall for the third ti. She looked towards the sound of a mans voice and saw her Uncle Rom coming up the stairs. He gave her a curious look. What are you doing?
She quickly put a smile on her face and shook her head. I thought Id walk a bit. My legs are cramped from sitting all day.
His brows rose and nodded. The hallway gets colder at night. Dont linger.
Right, I know, Uncle. Tori nodded and turned around. She continued to walk up and down the hall.
Tori. She turned around once more. Uncle Rom walked past his room and looked at her with concern. Are you all right?
Im fine. She tried to et his eyes, but quickly darted away.
Are you worried about construction at the delta? It is difficult to step back after being so involved.
Oh, no, I left it in good hands. And everyone knows to call if there is a pressing issue that they cant address. Her eyes crinkled up as she smiled. Her uncle leaned forward and seed to study her for any sign of fatigue.
Thats good to hear. I was concerned that you were overworking yourself even while on break.
I have so many ideas I want to try out, its hard to stop myself.
Were you working on more crystal projects?
She nodded eagerly. Yes, Im hoping to get crystals to react at a distance with Old Sulfae. Kasen gave so of his old notes that he used when he was learning charms.
She almost didnt see the flicker of surprise in her godfathers eyes. He gave you his old notes?
Tori nodded.
He lifted his head and seed to hold his breath. Did you read sothing in them?
The calm, pleasant look on her face lted away. She drew her shoulders back. You know whats in them? she asked in a quiet voice.
It took him a mont to finally give her an affirmative nod of his head. Uncle Rom knit his brows together and looked down for a mont, thinking. His shoulders rose with a heavy breath and looked up.
Why dont we go riding tomorrow morning? Tori tilted her head to the side and gave him a questioning look at his sudden question. He offered her a tired smile. You dont often have ti to talk to your godfather. I can answer your questions.
Tori tensed. She wanted to ask more then and there, but she didnt want to force it. She paused and frowned. But they wont let ride a horse....
I will be with you, he said with a soft chuckle. They wont protest.
All right, Uncle. Tori gave an affirmative nod. I will see you in the morning, at sunrise out in the courtyard. She turned around and quietly returned to her room.
She fell back on her chair and looked at the charms and notebooks. She reached forward and picked up the notebook with Kasens scribbles. She doubted he would rember even making them.
Tori looked through the pages once more before closing the notebook and tossing it on to her desk. She leaned back on her chair and took a deep breath before diving back into Old Sulfae.
Despite her efforts, she couldnt concentrate. Shed copy a few characters and her thoughts would return to an image of her brother frantically trying to figure out how to use charms. Sleep didnt co easy, either.
Tori tossed and turned in her bed, oftentis getting close to drifting to sleep only to jerk awake and stare up at the dark canopy.
Her uncle didnt seem at all surprised to see her with bags under her eyes and a pale complexion when she ca downstairs. The sun was just rising, but the horses were prepared and he made sure she was on safely and wearing a riding helt before he mounted his bay horse and led her out of the Fortress.
They went around the back of the gardens, going along a cliffside trail that overlooked Presidio below. A few knights followed behind them, all older, seasoned n. They remained a few lengths behind, allowing the two to have a conversation.
Where are we going? Tori asked. Since she woke up in Soleil, she had never gone down this route before.
A scenic route around the city, her uncle said. He looked over at her and smiled. Do you not rember? It was your favorite trail.
I still have so gaps in my mory.
You liked the view, Uncle Rom told her. He took a deep breath. But thats not why I asked you to co ride with this morning.
Tori gave him a little nod. Is it all right to ask?
His shoulders rose and fell with a heavy breath. I think you have every right to know, but...the subject is very difficult for your parents and brothers. No one was to speak of it.
She looked at him with a hint of concern. Will it trouble you?
Uncle Rom shook his head as he stared ahead of them. Even if it troubles , it must be addressed now. You must already have an idea that sothing is wrong. I told your parents that you found Kasens notebook.
Tori drew her head back. What did they say?
Her uncle pursed his lips. They are worried about how youd take it. Your father debated whether he should speak to you and tell you youre mistaken, but your mother finally agreed that perhaps it is ti. I told them I would tell you. I dont think your parents can tell you clearly. Although, I also hoped that you would never have to find out about what happened. Very few people know. Knights involved were sworn to secrecy. He glanced over his shoulder at the six n following them. Until now, they have held their tongues.
Tori looked back at the knights, then towards her uncle. What happened?
You were abducted the night of your fathers succession ceremony.
She felt herself suck in a sharp breath, but no air seed to reach her lungs. Her hands tightened around the reins as she narrowed her eyes. Abducted?
Her uncle nodded; his eyes still fixed ahead as they seed to glaze over. You went to your cousins succession ceremony in Moss Hill and mustve noticed the security. Not only are marquis and their families considered targets because of their positions, but at such events, there are other important guests attending. Safety is a priority. Gregorios succession ceremony had both knights and a portion of our army stationed around the Fortress and Presidio. The protection of the family is always important, but none of us expected you to be snatched from your cradle in the middle of the celebration.
His voice grew tighter and Tori swallowed hard. With so much security, how did soone take ?
You said the notebook you found was in the box with Kasens old charms? he asked and looked over at her. She nodded. Kasen was trying to use charms to detect hints of particular minerals on the servants of the Fortress. When three particular minerals are combined, they react to create a gas. It slled sweet...very sweet to the point that it was overwhelming.
The gas puts people to sleep? Tori asked, recalling Kasens words the day before.
Uncle Rom nodded. You were a baby and so Nanny Rey brought you to your room to sleep while the celebration continued. We found all the knights in that wing, Nanny Rey, and Sebastian unconscious.
Toris head perked up. Sebastian was there?
Her uncles eyes glistened. Sebastian had gone upstairs to check on you. He was the first to see the knights and Nanny Rey. When he went to your cradle, you were gone. Sebastian was the first to find you missing.
Her eyes began to sting and she looked everywhere but at her uncle to try to blink them back. Is that why Sebby is so protective of ?
He blad himself, Tori. He and Kasen were obsessed with finding you. Kasen wouldnt sleep unless we forced him; he was so focused on trying to track down who brought those minerals to your room. Sebastian was wracked with guilt. His hands almost bled during that ti, as the only thing he seed to be able to do was wave a sword.
My parents?
Your mother had a breakdown. She wouldnt eat, she was bedridden and blad herself. Your father blad himself for his failure to keep you safe. He had his most trusted n combing the march for you. Siobhan and Olivers personal knights were also searching for you.
Tori looked towards him. They know?
Uncle Rom nodded. They were present when it happened. We are family, Tori. We had to help each other. The news of your abduction couldn't leave the Fortress. Im sure you understand why.
Tori nodded. To protect the appearance of strength and stability. She wrapped the leather reins around her hand. How did you find ? When did you find ?
Kasens charm worked and we found the servant who brought the minerals disguised as gifts to your room. We dont know if he knew what he did or if he was simply putting a gift there. Through him, we found a trail that led us to the kidnappers. She was an elderly raider leader we thought had retired who wanted her sons back.
Did the family have sothing to do with her sons? Tori asked.
Uncle Rom nodded. Your father, Renzo, and I had swept through our southern coastline to clean up pirate havens and find illegal trading networks. We captured their leader, the old womans son, and her grandsons. They wanted four lives for one.
Tori narrowed her eyes. Then...you gave up four criminals?
A dark look graced his face as his jaw seed to clench. We gave them up alive. They didnt stay that way for long. None of them did.
Her heart tightened in her chest. Then theyre dead?
Her uncle nodded. We exchanged you in the desert south of here. His breath beca uneven. When they gave you back to your father...when they put you back in Gregorios arms...it had been a month since you were taken. You were nothing but skin and bones. You wouldnt make a sound. You wouldnt cry. You wouldnt gurgle. You laid there...staring and barely breathing. She watched him swallow as a streak of liquid slid down his cheek. We thought you were going to die.
Tori lifted her hand and wiped at her eyes as her uncle tried to calm himself. Did my brothers see like that?
Sebastian was present during the exchange. We had to hold him back from attacking the raiders with the rest of our knights. He took a deep breath and looked at her. You know Master Ramos, yes?
Yes...was he there?
Has he taught you how to connect and trigger crystals youve charged at a distance? Uncle Rom asked.
Tori narrowed her eyes and nodded. Yes....
He used that to burn the raiders. They dropped their guard and we attacked. The leaders of the largest illegal trading network in Soleil were killed in one afternoon, Uncle Rom told her. And when we returned, doctors and Master Ramos struggled to keep you alive and feed you to try to get you back to a normal weight. Your mother, who was malnourished, hated herself for being unable to feed you when you ca ho. Maurizo and Cia stayed to try to nurse her back to health, as well. It took months to bring you back to the weight you were when you were taken. You still didnt make a sound. When you started to talk, Antonia couldnt stop crying.
Tori continued to wipe at her eyes as her voice shook. So, this is why.... She swallowed the lump in her throat as her shoulders trembled. Her family was so overprotective, so doting to an insane, obsessive degree...this was why.
I know they can be overbearing...even as far as marquis families go, Uncle Rom told her beseechingly. And if you are upset or bothered by it, it is understandable, but now you know why they are the way they are.
Tori nodded. Thank you for telling , Uncle Rom.
Tori, I understand full well that death is inevitable. That is a reality all those from marches understand, but we should not be afraid of living our lives the way we wish, he told her. Your parents and brothers will kill for telling you this, but since we all die, we should have as little regrets as possible.
She gave him a wry smile. I understand.
And it never hurts to be prepared.
Is that the strategist in you, Uncle?
It is the godfather in , goddaughter. He reached across the space between them and stroked back her hair over her shoulder. Do what you want, but know what youre doing.
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