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"What do youhow any of them could possibly have known me

"They said, I mean, each one of them told azed atme to explain

"What do youeither

"I thought you would knohat they o

"I don't," I said simply, innocently

"Me either," heif I should take their words literally, and believe that I had become a part of India's earth or at least the wind

"Yes, the Walk," Kiransilent for the rest of the ride to the palace

It was in those moments of silence that I knew I couldn't share the extent ofabout the wind spoke tome that it was mine alone, that not even Avalon would understand the entirety of what happened The as mine and mine alone and I would bear the secret the same way

Chapter Twenty-Four

I had one more day left at the palace I was frustrated and just wanted to go hoe yesterday we parted ways, he on sodom business, me to roam the empty corridors alone

I had a new servant, an Immortal servant She was Indian, in her htly into a bun, and a British accent Ricasah, was proper and polite but had a strong air of dignity about her that made it hard to believe she was a servant I liked her, but I didn't really need her around I wasn't used to a servant; I could do things on ht and then toldof the palace Ricasah explained that since none of the royal fa the room, I was more than welco she had nothing to do with the laws and by-laws of the Monarchy In the end, I opted for the movie out of sheer boredo stadiu and zombie-walkedfor me at the vanity After I sufficiently stuffed myself from the same delicacies I enjoyed the day before, I decided to explore the gardens

I got lost, both literally and figuratively, wandering around the palace grounds discovering walled gardens with beautiful cli flowers and ancient shade trees I found a stone pathway that led to a crystal clear brook that reminded me exactly of the one in Kiran andas a backdrop I stayed there a while, withif this here Kiran had drawn inspiration from

On my way back from the brook, I stu through, and interacting with the trained beasts froround They werenext to their leathery tree sized legs

In the center of the palace were ant stone statues and fountains The atriu colorful but very territorial peacocks that chased nation

When I finally foundI missed lunch and was in desperate need of a nap But only seconds after collapsing face forward on the pillow-top king-sized bed, Ricasah knocked softly at h a muffled voice, face down in my pillow

"Pardonand Queen this evening," Ricasah announced politely

That got my attention I rolled over to make sure she was serious and when I realized she had no reason not to be, I threw hed

"Excusemy question was directed at her

"Whyto her, but too frustrated to care I didn't want to eat dinner with Lucan and pretend I was so poisoned or passing soe I didn't want to have to be polite and call upon the table manners Aunt Syl had drilled into my head as a child; I really just wanted to sleep

"Why you?" Ricasah asked very perplexed "Well, because of the Eternal Walk There is always a dinner in the King's honor after the Walks are co white box that I noticed for the first time "Granted, there are usually hundreds of candidates attending and the dinner is , but I suppose your circunity

"Oh, of course I'that excuse