Everything happened so suddenly that there was no time to react. The image of the golden sparks that shattered and swirled around Sofia’s body was nothing compared to seeing her best friend falling to the ground. Cara feared that her friend was about to combust in a magical fire when the boys’ father airlifted Sofia.
Each brother quickly followed their father, with the youngest picking Cara up as they flew through the endless twists and turns of the underground palace tunnels. Although she would’ve loved the thrill of the wind on her face, Cara buried her face in his armor to avoid getting sick from the impromptu flight. She didn’t have the stomach to face each curve and dip head-on.
She was quickly abandoned by the Sawaan family and placed in a secure room, feeling shut away in a prison cell but with all the amenities of a luxury suite. The comfy sofas, cozy floor rugs, marble floors, and warm, amber-colored walls meant nothing without Sofia by her side. Cara paced back and forth, and her heart threatened to burst at the seams. She drowned in worry, like chocolate syrup over an ice cream sundae. Cara heard an endless parade of people rushing in and out of the double doors, but no one spoke a single word to her. She overheard that the samun attack was much more serious than everyone was letting on, and Cara’s mind was a jumbled mess. When the pacing failed to settle her down, she tugged on her hair to calm her nerves.
Cara stopped in front of the massive double doors and tried to open them again for what felt like her hundredth attempt. This time, however, it finally slid open. Peeking through the opening, Cara saw an enormous bedroom twice the size of their school’s auditorium. In the center of the room, on a raised platform with a set of grand stairs, stood the biggest bed Cara had ever seen. She was about to slip inside when the sound of voices stopped her in her tracks. Cara moved aside and closed the door, leaving only a fraction open to continue spying.
The most dazzling woman she had ever seen stormed by the door in a frantic rush. Her hair was a dark blackish brown, like the richest of soils, and had soft curls that she kept tucked behind her ears. The curls cascaded from her head all the way past her waist, and behind her rose the most delicate set of silver gossamer wings that shimmered in the light. The visitor carried herself with grace and poise, even during an obvious panic. She demanded that something be brought to her immediately, and a palace servant rushed out of the way.
“How could she bring her here like this!?” the woman shouted. “She’s not nearly ready for any of this. Mai and Art were supposed to protect her for a few more years. What happened?”
“It may take some time to reach them as they were getting settled in the new province today, Your Majesty,” a male voice responded. It sounded like Mr. Sawaan, but Cara couldn’t see him from her hidden position. That woman was the Queen! “Somehow, Muet knew they were moving. There must be a spy hidden within the palace.”
“A spy!” the Queen replied, aghast. “Within the palace walls? That’s impossible. We rarely communicated with the Luanas while they were in Lok Klang. Was Mai communicating with Muet? How else did Muet intercept this one message?”
Cara covered her mouth to silence her gasp at the mention of the Luanas. What did Sofia’s parents know about this place? How did the Queen of this world know about them? And who was Muet?
“My sister, Mai, was the best royal guard in the palace, Your Majesty. You know she would lay down her life for the jao ying, which was why you selected her and her husband as guardians. I ask that you wait to hear Mai’s story before passing judgment.”
“Of course, Daaw. I would never rush to judge anyone, but this is all too much and too sudden. What about the other girl who came with Saengfaa? Who is she?”
“We don’t know yet, but perhaps Mai will be able to shed light on the situation.”
“I hope so.” The Queen glanced up the stairs of the platform. “This was not how we were meant to meet, Saengfaa, but…welcome home, teerak.”
The Queen exuded a motherly aura under extreme despair and shock. She disappeared from the doorway and out of Cara’s line of sight.
“P’ Ra, taam arai, krub?” a voice squeaked behind her.
Cara slowly turned around, expecting to have been caught snooping by an adult, but she was startled to find a young boy, no older than five, with bushy, expressive eyebrows and inquisitive brown eyes looking down at her. Cara felt like she was staring directly at a tiny Sofia with those eyes.
“You’re jao ying’s friend, right? I think she’s still sleeping.” The little boy grabbed Cara’s hand and dragged her to the sofa. “Sit here,” he said sweetly to Cara, who was still startled by the surprise visitor. “She’s okay, you know? I can take you inside,” he offered.
“Thanks, I guess? How come you can go in?” Cara asked.
“Because it’s my house,” the boy answered.
“Your house?”
He nodded nonchalantly as he sat next to her, dangling his feet, which failed to touch the ground from this seat.
“You mean…this palace...is your house?” Cara uttered as it occurred to her that she was sitting with a royal family member.
“You funny. I like you.” The boy was mid-giggle when someone suddenly slammed through the door in a breathless huff.
Cara flinched but attempted to protect the small boy with an outstretched arm. The worried woman shook out her wings and stormed over to him. She was dressed like Chai and his brothers, so Cara assumed she was also a royal guard.
“Saengdaed! Taam arai naey nee?” the woman scolded the boy. He tried to hide behind Cara but wasn’t very successful. “P’ bin ha Daed thuk thi.” She collapsed into the armchair beside the sofa, clearly exhausted from her search.
“Khaw toht krub, P’ Phung,” he apologized sheepishly.
Confused by their interaction but sensing no threats, Cara sat quietly, feeling the woman’s eyes inspect her.
“I thought I asked you to wait for me,” the Queen’s voice echoed through the doorway where Cara was eavesdropping moments before.
“I’m not here,” the young prince, Saengdaed, whispered to his companions as he pulled his wings over his face to hide.
The three were silent as a pair of footsteps got louder and closer.
“Saengdaed, you are not supposed to be in here, and you know it,” the melodic voice sang out as the Queen appeared before the group.
Under his breath, he sighed, “I’m so busted.”
“Yes, you are, young man. P’ Phung told me all about your antics today,” the Queen said, pointing at the royal guard next to Cara.
Without a word, Saengdaed slid off the sofa and trudged over to his mother. His eyes never left his feet as he stood next to her, as guilty as a naughty puppy caught stealing a tasty treat.
The visitor slowly reached down to pick up the boy. She ruffled his hair, kissed his cheeks, and gave him a great big hug before setting him back down.
“Ugh, stop it! You’re messing up my hair, and you know I’m too big for kisses.”
The Queen’s infectious laughter chimed through the room and brought smiles to everyone’s faces. “Daed, go back to your room with P’ Phung. Don’t make any stops. Don’t try to escape, and don’t cause any more trouble. If I get word that you’ve done anything else, you won’t be dealing with me. Understood?”
Daed nodded and flitted to his waiting guard, grabbing her hand to leave. The two walked towards a wall with a huge set of curtains. The guard pushed the curtains aside to reveal a hidden door. She entered a code into the adjacent panel, and it slid open. Turning around once, the young prince waved goodbye to Cara before disappearing through the wall, leaving her alone with the Queen of Tropos.