Chapters 1-12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Empress Ranessa
The first time I laid eyes on Valoria, something inside of me just settled into place. I felt whole. I felt…right. And she has always been the best thing in my life. I have done my best to help her navigate the sometimes thorny world of palace politics and encourage her empathy for the people she will one day rule.
I know I can never explain this to anyone else, but we are connected.
This is why as much as I missed her when she disappeared, I have not actually been concerned about her wellbeing. I know that she is happy because I feel it. I know that she did not tell me she was leaving so that I would not be forced to lie on her behalf and I know that she will send word to me as soon as possible. I would bet my life a certain stablehand has run away with her too so at least she's not alone.
It's the waiting that kills me. My only child is out there in a dangerous world so different from her cloistered palace existence. It benefits me to allow people around to assume my mood is because I think some harm has come to her so I am in no hurry to correct them.
As word reaches the castle that Graxoth has rescued Valoria from the extraterrestrial monster, I can admit to a moment of uncertainty. But when he enters the castle carrying what appears to be a very battered Valoria in his arms, I feel a strange macabre sense of relief.
I have no idea who that poor creature is but, Valoria she is not.
So ends Chapter 15. Any questions or comments? I'm almost at the point where I'll finish the rest of this series offline and polished it for publishing. But I'll try to get another out soon enough, definitely eventually.
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