Alliana, Girl of Dragons by Julie Abe

Author:Julie Abe [Julie, Abe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2022-08-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE ROYAL INVITE

Alliana was sweeping the main room when the front doorbell rang. It chimed through the chatter of the handful of inn guests devouring the fluffy soufflé pancakes she’d made for breakfast. Reizo was so busy stuffing his face that even he didn’t have time for his usual barbs.

“Go,” Stepmother said curtly, wiping crumbs off her lips and tossing the dirty cloth napkin at Alliana, her new enamel bangles clanking loudly. “If it’s the diner boy delivering bread, remind him again that he isn’t supposed to go through the front.”

Alliana gingerly pinched the filthy cloth off her shoulder by the corner, holding it at arm’s length until she could toss it in the hallway laundry basket, trying not to gag. As she hurried past the grandfather clock and to the front door, she hungrily breathed in the aroma of the pancakes, almost tasting the thick brown sugar syrup on her tongue. Stepmother had hovered around her the moment after she’d decided the menu, just to ensure that Alliana couldn’t steal one. Her stomach growled. The thin gruel this morning was nothing compared to the sweet and airy confections that Isao had taught her how to make, but perhaps her friend would have a treat for her. Alliana tucked a few stray hairs back into her braid and pulled open the door. “Isao, thank goodness—”

An older, dignified gentleman in a sharp sky-blue uniform stood on the doorstep, his dark hair beginning to speckle with lines of gray. Behind him, a horse nibbled at the scarce grasses on the road leading up to the crossroads. The man gave a kind smile and swept into a bow. “Hello, resident of Narashino. I am here to deliver this message on behalf of the Royal Advisor.”

“H-hello? Um, hello!” Alliana stammered, trying to bob into a comparable bow.

Extending a gloved hand, the man proffered a thick envelope stamped with a heavy blue seal. “For the three of-age children in this household, according to the past census. There are still three children, correct?”

“Yes—me, Reizo Enokida, and Reina Enokida.”

“And your name?”

“Alliana. Alliana of Rivelle.” She had no parents of her own, not anymore.

Pity flickered in the man’s eyes as he quietly pulled out a small notepad and a stick of charcoal. “Understood. We’ll expect—”

“There will be two children in attendance.” A claw descended on Alliana’s shoulder.

Stepmother towered above Alliana; Reizo and Reina flanked her. Reizo snatched the envelope out of Alliana’s hand and tore it open, pulling out three stiff parchment invitations, and Alliana caught a glimpse of gold-hued ink, her breath catching. Her invitation to the ball.

Her stepbrother growled, “I’ve been waiting for this. That stinking Royal Advisor took way too long to send the invite. Slow as molasses. He needs me to set him straight.”

The man cleared his throat. “Ma’am, I see three of-age children here. Barring illness or their personal decision not to attend, we expect all three at the ball.”

Hope glimmered in Alliana’s heart. Including her?

“He’s right, Alliana should go.” Reina smiled widely, flashing the gap between her front teeth.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.