After Molly’s turn, she whispered, “Have you seen the king’s mistress?”
I shook my head.
“I only saw her from afar, but she looked...young.Our age.”
I tried not to gag. “Well that’s....” I decided it was best I just not finish that.
Molly wrinkled her nose. “Wouldn’t it be justoddif the princes’ new stepmother was the same age or younger than they were?”
I ran a hand down my face after taking my turn. “That’s disturbing. We need a new topic.”
Renna kicked me under the table as if to ask if I was good with my magic. I sent her a look saying that I was fine. A bit disgusted, considering we were also discussing a potential future mother-in-law of mine, but fine.
Tea and snacks were brought in while we continued to play, well into the hours of the afternoon. It was a long and close game, but the rhythm and mind-numb of a decent card game was a welcome change to the worries as of late.
The card game finally ended, and I had barely snuck away the winner. But even that felt good. The focus and clarity to win a game of cards without panicking about my magic.
“Renna, would you rather the Assemblages run until summer or end soon?” Gwen asked. We were asking each other “would you rather” questions, a game Molly had started us on since none of us had been in a hurry to leave.
I tried not to smirk because I already knew her answer. “Well that’s an easy one. End soon. The sooner the better.”
It was Renna’s turn next. “Jorah, would you rather go to a ball or a royal family dinner?”
“Umm, I’ll just go with no? Can I choose neither?”
Molly laughed. “No. You have to pick.”
I sighed. “I guess a dinner, but only because there aren’t all those extra watchful eyes whispering about how I could possibly still be here because I’m from Nerede.”
Gwen nodded from across the table. “I’m with you there.”
Molly added, “The king calling you ‘Jorah of Nerede’ like it’s your title definitely does not help matters.”
It was my turn to think of a question next. So far I’d done all desserts and I didn’t see a reason to veer from that. “Hmm. Gwen. Chocolate truffles or chocolate cheesecake?”
“Gah!” Gwen moved her head back and forth from one shoulder to the other. “Truffles. If I have to pick, but only because they are easier smuggled.”
I laughed. “Gwen! You aren’t supposed to steal them.”
She glared at me. “Don’t even try to tell me you haven’t at least thought about it.”
My shrug apparently showed my guilt on the matter.
“Jorah,” Molly began. “Would you rather have a crown, or would you rather heal the forest?”
I grinned. “The forest.”
Renna added, “I got to see the trees you healed, by the way. News of your work is traveling fast.”
Gwen asked quietly, “It’s really your tears?”
It wasn’t entirely a lie, but I still felt bad telling her, “Krew makes me cry and then I randomly heal things. Flowers happened the first time. It has to do with my Iron Will, but we aren’t sure exactly how. I still don’t quite believe it all myself. And now I’m the king’s blood bank while he works to figure it out.”
Gwen gave me a pitied look. “So even if you were to go home, you are likely not going home?”
I gave her a shrug. “I imagine not.”
Molly clapped her hands gently. “We got way off topic. Okay, whose turn is it? Gwen’s?”
