King Ludlum looked at me. “Cora, the Gracious,” jeez, I totally loved that, “it is my understanding you came to know my son of the other world.”
“Yes, your grace,” I replied.
“Is it his wish to be bound to this Cora?” he asked, tipping his head at Cora.
Oh dear.
“Um…” I avoided looking at the other Cora’s parents and then said honestly, “No. He’s not that into her.”
I felt Tor move and I looked up to see his head tilted slightly back but I could also see him fighting a smile.
“Not that that into her?” King Ludlum asked, taking my attention back to him.
“He doesn’t like her much,” I explained.
“He loves me!” Cora exclaimed. “He’s devoted to me! Totally devoted to me.”
I looked at her. “Uh… not so much,” I muttered and I heard Orlando stifle a chuckle.
“She lies!” Cora shrieked, my body got tight but not as tight as Tor’s.
“Careful, Cora,” he warned low.
She wasn’t careful. “She does not know and you do not know what we shared.”
“I’m afraid we do. He was a member of their city guard. He was investigating illegal gaming and using you to do it,” Tor told her and she gasped. “When my Cora returned and broke things off with the other me, he said nary a word and explained later to my Cora that he was relieved to walk away. He said you were not very bright, you were lazy and he held disdain for your incessant gaming…” Tor’s eyes swept her pointedly, “amongst other things.”
Her face had paled before she whispered, “That cannot be.”
Oh dear. She was into Noc. She did try. And she failed.
Poor Cora.
Tor didn’t reply.
“That can’t be,” she repeated softly, her eyes searching Tor’s face.
Then she saw the truth, dropped her head and her shoulders slumped as she looked to the floor.
“Cora, your king demands your eyes,” King Ludlum commanded and, slowly, she looked at him. “You will be sequestered in solitude, except for your guard, at Merrygate for the rest of your days.”
The air in the room changed again. Both of the Goodes, I noted, looked relieved at this announcement. Orlando sent a dark look to Tor who was also glancing at his brother so I couldn’t see his reaction. After I caught Orlando’s look, I turned to Cora to see she was about as happy as Orlando.
“Merrygate?” she whispered.
“It is a lovely property with vast gardens. You will be happy there.”
“It’s a five day ride from anything!” she cried.
“Indeed, and also surrounded by sacred land which means it will be difficult for you to find trouble,” King Ludlum replied.
“But –”
“I could give you a choice,” King Ludlum interrupted. “You can live your days in Merrygate or you can live them in the dungeons of Castle Tristrom. Your choice.”
She snapped her mouth shut.
Well, with that reaction, I guessed Castle Tristrom wasn’t Club Med.