“Right, of course. We’d love some.” He went along with it almost reluctantly. He was full!
“Perfect! Help yourselves, and then come sit with us.” Only then did Jade notice what she should have seen first! They had delicious plates of food on the little end tables next to them, as if they were eating while chatting. She wholeheartedly approved of this!
Will led her over to the side table and she started to choose the tastiest looking things to put on her plate. Will didn’t seem to want any, so she indicated a few things he should take; she’d steal his plate later. With exasperation, he sighed and whispered, “Where do you even put it all? I don’t understand how you can still be hungry...”
She merely smiled at him serenely as they walked back to the others. He purposefully took a seat where he could put his plate between them so she could sneak the food as she liked. He seemed like a good chap, Will. He was giving her food! Smiling, she began to munch while listening to the conversation going on around her. There was distinctly no mention of zombies to be had.
“But Papa, I need a new dress for the welcoming ball!” Tisha’s voice was plaintive as she begged Derrick for new attire.
“You’ve got several closets of dresses, Tisha. I’m sure you can find something appropriate,” Ashanna interjected, tsking at her youngest daughter.
“But…everyone has already seen them! Please? I know! I can take Jade with me! She needs a new dress too!” Jade was startled, caught mid-motion putting something in her mouth when everyone turned to scrutinize her clothes. Self-consciously, she quickly chewed and swallowed.
“I’m sorry, what?” She had been spacing out on sugary goodness and only half paying attention to Tisha’s whines.
“It’s actually a good point. Where have you been getting clothes? Do you have the necessities?” Ashanna was scrutinizing her with concern now. She could almost see the whole, ‘she’s a multi-mage, we need to keep her happy here’ thought bubble over their heads.
Jade shrugged a little self-consciously again, then intoned quietly, “There were some things for me in the closet of the room I arrived in. I’ve just been using those. I uhm… I have a pocket watch and a library card that Eric gave me?” She realized her personal belongs were a little on the pitiful side, now that she was listing them out. It wasn’t like she’d had much more than a laptop, headphones, and some clothes at the hospital either, though. She was used to living without many accoutrements.
“That’s...it?” Even Camille looked aghast at her words. She nodded mutely, putting something else in her mouth so they wouldn’t expect her to say anything. And because food. Camille turned to Ashanna. “Mother, can we…?”
Ashanna nodded as she trailed off. “Of course. Make sure she gets what she needs.”
Tisha squealed happily. “Shopping trip!” Jade stared blankly, slowly chewing as she watched what felt like a live action drama unfolding in front of her. It seemed Tisha was getting her new dress. And now—Ahhhh, here she comes! Protect the food!—Jade quickly pushed her plate to the side so it wouldn’t be smashed when Tisha landed on the couch right next to her, bouncing happily. “When do you have time? Can we go now?”
“Tisha,” Derrick’s voice rang out, warning her. She drooped a little as she peeked at him.
“Yes, Papa?” Her voice was reluctant, and if puppy eyes had a tone, she used it.
He sighed. “First, give her some space. You can go after we finish here.” Tisha squeed happily and bounced back to her original spot, while Jade happily reclaimed her food. When she believed everyone else was watching Tisha bounce away, she sneakily exchanged her plate with the one Will had put between them. Derrick turned back to Jade after Tisha was settled and prodded, “What classes will you be taking at Dracona?”
Jade startled for a moment, digging out her pocket watch and noting the time, sighing with relief when she realized it was only 11:30. Smiling, she shrugged. “I’m not sure. I believe that’s why I’m supposed to meet with Eric at two.”
Ashanna was frowning again. “Hmmm, that doesn’t leave you much time.” She got up and walked to the door, opening it. A butler appeared out of seemingly nowhere, and she ordered naturally, “Send a messenger to Eric at the library. Tell him to move Jade’s appointment up to noon.” Jade, who had heard this whole thing, was now the one looking alarmed. That was in half an hour! It had taken them almost twenty minutes just to walk up that giant hill to get here! She started trying to eat a little more quickly, realizing the food was going to be taken away from her soon.
Ashanna had returned complacently, “There. That way you’ll have plenty of time to get your shopping done. The dressmakers are probably swamped with orders for the ball, so the sooner you get in, the better.”
Jade stopped eating long enough to ask, “Uhm, when is this ball?”
Tisha tittered happily, “It’s next Sunday, of course! After the first week of classes has ended. Papa always says it’s to reward the students for making it through the first week!”
And for figuring out who the best seeds are, no doubt. That’s enough time for instructors to do in class assessments of the new students. Her introspections were probably a tad more realistic than Tisha’s. Either way, apparently she was going to have to attend a ball, which meant… “Dancing?” She couldn’t keep the tinge of worry from her voice.
Tisha replied first, dreamily, “Yes! Dancing all night long! It’s the most wonderful thing in the world!”
Camille questioned smartly, “Did you not dance in your world?”
Jade winced, mutely shaking her head. When they were still gazing at her with confusion, she explained, “There was dancing in my world, but my legs didn’t work there. I didn’t even walk for the first time until I came to this world two days ago.”
“What!? Why didn’t they just use magic to heal you?” Tisha’s surprised cry encapsulated their reactions. Shock and pity played across all their faces. Jade stared at the ground, not wanting to see it. It was the same look that she got every time anyone new had walked into her ward.
Jade mumbled softly, “We didn’t have magic.” Silence greeted her little statement as they stared in awe. A few of them seemed to be thinking about the fact that she hadn’t walked or known magic until two days ago, but now she was doing both... She thought the silence might go on forever until Will suddenly spoke from beside her.
“I’ll teach you to dance. It’ll be fine.” She glanced at Will, a grateful smile on her face. He smiled comfortingly back at her, then turned to his father. “Dad, do you need anything else? If we’re going to make her new appointment with Eric, we’d better leave soon.” She smiled a little more broadly now, happy that he wasn’t going to abandon her to find her own way back.
Derrick shook his head, standing up to walk them to the door. She cast a regretful eye at the plate she hadn’t managed to clean off entirely before allowing herself to be led away by Will. “It was lovely to meet you, Jade. My daughters will meet you at the library at around one to take you shopping. I look forward to seeing what you can accomplish here.” Jade smiled up at him. It seemed like the most kingly thing she’d heard yet, with the undertones of, ‘hey, I’m going to give you stuff, so serve the kingdom.’ Whatever. As long as they treated her well, she didn’t mind staying. This royal family wasn’t anything like what she’d imagined, after all, unless all the shiny was hiding a deep, dark underbelly.
“Thank you, King Derrick. I appreciate your kindness.” She didn’t know what else to say after that, but Will jumped in and hugged his dad.
“Bye, Dad. I’ll probably come back for dinner tomorrow.”