True to the king's word, Attaly's father and brothers arrived the next
morning. She greeted them gleefully.
"Father! Cal! Griffith!" She ran to them, letting herself be enveloped in her family's arms. Griffith lifted her from the ground. She laughed in joy. Cal hugged her tightly, as well as her father. As she walked with them back to the palace, the king met them at the front gates. Attaly's smile disappeared. She looked at the ground as Raleigh welcomed her family.
"Ah, honored guests. Welcome, to the imperial palace." He gestured broadly to it.
"I have been waiting to meet you." He glanced at Attaly.
"Please, come in. I will have servants show you to rooms, and, if you will give me the honor, take the midafternoon meal with me." Cadafan bowed deeply, waiting until his sons had done the same. Straightening, the man said, "My sons and I would be honored to take the midnoon meal with you." Cadafan did not notice the distressed look on his daughter's face. His sons, however, did. When they were settled in their rooms and their father rested, the two boys went to confront their youngest sister.
"Attaly, what's going on?" asked Griffith. Attaly couldn't look at them. Her eyes filled, and she blinked rapidly, trying to clear them. Cal took her by the shoulders.
"Attaly, if something's wrong, you can tell us. We're your brothers."
"Nothing is wrong, Cal. I was simply not feeling well. However, I am better now." In an attempt to change the topic, she said, "So, how has life been? Have you been excepted into the guilds yet?" The brothers glanced at each other, then answered.
"Yes, " said Griffith. "I am now a warrior." He showed her his sword.
"And I'm now a wizard." Said Cal. They both smiled smugly. Attaly bit her lower lip. The wizards! She thought. I hope he doesn't know… She smiled up at them.
"Congratulations." A runner knocked at her door.
"Lady Attaly, m'lords Cal and Griffith, the king is takin' his lunch now. If ye'll be comin' whif me, I'll show ye te the luncheon hall." He bowed them out of the room.
Attaly walked behind the three men. Watching her brothers, she thought sadly, They've changed so much. They're so tall now, and they look so much older. They'll never be the same to me again. They entered the luncheon hall.
"Father! Cal! Griffith!" She ran to them, letting herself be enveloped in her family's arms. Griffith lifted her from the ground. She laughed in joy. Cal hugged her tightly, as well as her father. As she walked with them back to the palace, the king met them at the front gates. Attaly's smile disappeared. She looked at the ground as Raleigh welcomed her family.
"Ah, honored guests. Welcome, to the imperial palace." He gestured broadly to it.
"I have been waiting to meet you." He glanced at Attaly.
"Please, come in. I will have servants show you to rooms, and, if you will give me the honor, take the midafternoon meal with me." Cadafan bowed deeply, waiting until his sons had done the same. Straightening, the man said, "My sons and I would be honored to take the midnoon meal with you." Cadafan did not notice the distressed look on his daughter's face. His sons, however, did. When they were settled in their rooms and their father rested, the two boys went to confront their youngest sister.
"Attaly, what's going on?" asked Griffith. Attaly couldn't look at them. Her eyes filled, and she blinked rapidly, trying to clear them. Cal took her by the shoulders.
"Attaly, if something's wrong, you can tell us. We're your brothers."
"Nothing is wrong, Cal. I was simply not feeling well. However, I am better now." In an attempt to change the topic, she said, "So, how has life been? Have you been excepted into the guilds yet?" The brothers glanced at each other, then answered.
"Yes, " said Griffith. "I am now a warrior." He showed her his sword.
"And I'm now a wizard." Said Cal. They both smiled smugly. Attaly bit her lower lip. The wizards! She thought. I hope he doesn't know… She smiled up at them.
"Congratulations." A runner knocked at her door.
"Lady Attaly, m'lords Cal and Griffith, the king is takin' his lunch now. If ye'll be comin' whif me, I'll show ye te the luncheon hall." He bowed them out of the room.
Attaly walked behind the three men. Watching her brothers, she thought sadly, They've changed so much. They're so tall now, and they look so much older. They'll never be the same to me again. They entered the luncheon hall.