wider, shaking her head. She turned and skipped across the field, towards the palace.
As she did, she cal ed out over her shoulder.
“Why, Marie Antoinette, of course!”
*
Sam walked at Pol y’s side, up the endless marble staircase, heading towards the front doors of the palace.
As he went, he took in al the sights around him. The magnitude and proportions of this place were astounding.
Al around him, strol ing the grounds, were people he presumed to be royalty, dressed in some of the finest clothing he’d ever seen. He couldn’t get over this place. If someone had told him he were dreaming, he would believe them. He had never been in the presence of royalty before.
Pol y hadn’t stopped talking, and he forced himself to focus on her words. He liked being around her, and enjoyed her company, even if paying attention to her was real y hard. He thought she was pretty, too. But there was something about her that made him unsure whether he was real y attracted to her, or whether he just liked her as a friend. With his past girlfriends, it had been lust at first sight. With Pol y, it was more like a camaraderie.
“You see, the royal family lives here,” Pol y said, “but we live here, too. They want us here. After al , we’re the best protection they have. We live together in what you might cal a friendly harmony.
It serves us both. With this huge forest, we have unlimited hunting, a great place to live, and great company. And in turn, we help protect the royal family. Not to mention that a few of them are our kind, anyway.”
Sam looked at her, surprised.
“Marie Antoinette?” he asked.
Pol y nodded slightly, as if trying to keep it a secret, but unable to.
“But don’t tel anybody,” she said. “There are a few others, too. But most of the Royals are human. They want to be among us. But there are strict rules here, and it’s not al owed. It’s us and them, and we’re not al owed to cross that line. There are certain members of the royal family we don’t want to have too much power. And Marie insists on it, too.
“Anyway, this is just the most fabulous place. I can’t imagine it ever coming to an end. There’s party after party, endless dances, bal s, concerts….There’s going to be the most fabulous one this week. An opera, actual y. I already have my outfit picked out.”
As they approached the doors, several servants scurried to open them. The golden doors were massive, and Sam looked at them, awestruck, as he walked through.
Pol y marched right down a huge, marble corridor, as if she owned the place, and Sam hurried to keep up. As they walked, Sam looked al around, amazed by the opulence.
They walked down endless corridors made of marble, with enormous crystal chandeliers hanging low, reflecting the light off of dozens of gilded mirrors. The sun poured in and reflected the light in every direction.
They went through door after door, and final y entered a huge parlor, made of marble, with columns al around it.
Several guards stood at attention as Pol y entered.
Pol y just giggled, apparently immune to them. “We also get to train here,” she said. “Their facilities are the best. Aiden has us on a hard schedule. I’m surprised that he let me break to come get you. You must be pretty important.”
“So where is he?” Sam asked. “When wil I get to meet him?”
“My, you are impatient, aren’t you? He’s a very busy man.
He might not choose to meet you for some time. Or he might summon you right away. Don’t worry, you’l know when he wants to see you. Give it time. In the meantime, I’ve been asked to show you to your room.”
“My room?” Sam asked, surprised. “Wait a second. I didn’t say I could stay here. Like I said, I real y need to find my sister,” Sam began to protest—but at that moment, a huge set of double doors opened before them.
An entourage of royals suddenly entered, surrounding a woman in the middle, who they carried on a royal throne.
They set her down, and as they did, Pol y bent low, gesturing for Sam to do the same. He did.
A woman who could have only been Marie Antoinette, slowly got down, took several steps towards them, and stopped right before Sam, gesturing for him to rise. He did.
She looked Sam up and down, as