Chapter 133 - Very Generous (1/2)
Mariela called for some tea and waited until it was served with a plate of what appeared to be a variety of doughnuts before speaking. ”I do believe these are from your world, correct?”
”Yes,” Abby said cautiously. ”I can't believe Katie told you about that.”
The queen laughed lightly. ”And I cannot believe you are actually here. Katie told me that the land of Arizona was too far away to visit. Is this your real body or did you end up inside someone else too? You look like you could be from Annalaias. How did you end up in my homeland?”
”…this is my real body. The author sent me here.”
Mariela tilted her head in confusion. ”Author? What author? Come to think of it, how did you know to find me? She said contacting you was impossible.”
Oh great. So Katie told her she was from another world but didn't bother to tell her they were inside a novel?! This would be difficult to explain but she did her best, starting from finding the book with details of her dead sister's life and ending with her desperate plea for the author to write her into the story.
The queen pursed her lips. ”Your story is even more fantastical than hers was…yet I find myself wanting to believe you because I cannot think of another way you would have been able to know the things that you do. You say Alamar knows this as well?”
Abby nodded. ”Yes, Katie told him shortly before the court passed the law to allow commoner representatives.”
”That explains…a lot, actually. That girl! No wonder she wanted to run away. She did not wish to ruin the plot of that novel. I do believe she will find it amusing that it was completely changed after all.”
Mariela snapped herself out of her silent reminiscing following that statement a few moments later and smiled at Abby. ”Tell me. What do you wish to know about your sister? I shall endeavor to do my best; we were quite close while she lived here.”
This woman was way too accommodating! But she wasn't about to turn down free information. ”Everything,” she said firmly. ”Please tell me everything you can.”
An hour later, Abby left the side room full of new information that left her an emotional wreck. Katie had such a hard time adjusting here! It must have been terrible shouldering all of that alone. At least she had let Mariela and Al know at least parts of the truth eventually.
The queen had given her a letter she had been planning to send with the next batch of merchants headed to the mountains to deliver to Katie. And a warning. The road to the main Kanta settlement, known as Ilmir, was treacherous and difficult to travel.
She even gave Abby a doc.u.ment stamped with the royal seal that would allow her to purchase a horse to get up the mountain once she got closer. When she asked why Mariela was so willing to help her, she said something that broke Abby's heart.
”She has missed you more than you could possibly know. As her friend, it is my duty and honor to help the two of you reunite.”
Abby couldn't even imagine. Thinking someone was dead and missing them was completely different than being thrust into a new place where you have to hide your identity and know you have no chance of returning home.