"What do you mean?" I asked lightly, wondering how any of them could possibly have known me.

"They said, I mean, each one of them told me that you were part of India…. part of their earth." He gazed at me intently, asking me to explain.

"What do you mean?" I scooted backwards, not understanding either.

"I thought you would know what they meant," he said, letting me go.

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

"Me either," he mused.

"Maybe because of the Walk?" I guessed, wondering if 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," Kiran mumbled, pulling me to him again and turning silent 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 of my experience with him…. with anyone. Something about the wind spoke to me, telling me that it was mine alone, that not even Avalon would understand the entirety of what happened. The wind was 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 home. After Kiran and I arrived back from the village yesterday we parted ways, he on some important Kingdom business, me to roam the empty corridors alone.

I had a new servant, an Immortal servant. She was Indian, in her mid-twenties, with silky black hair pulled tightly 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 my own.

She had brought dinner to my room last night and then told me about a private movie theater inside the west wing of the palace. Ricasah explained that since none of the royal family would be using the room, I was more than welcome to.

I swallowed my irritation with her phrasing, knowing 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 boredom and fell asleep in the plush reclining stadium style chairs.

I woke sometime early in the morning and zombie-walked my way back to my room, where breakfast had been waiting for 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 climbing 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 and my Dream Walk world, complete with far off mountains sitting as a backdrop. I stayed there a while, with my feet in the soft current wondering if this was where Kiran had drawn inspiration from.

On my way back from the brook, I stumbled upon the stables for the elephants and had fun walking through, and interacting with the trained beasts from the ground. They were massive, I had never felt so small or delicate standing next to their leathery tree sized legs.

In the center of the palace were more gardens and a huge atrium with elegant stone statues and fountains. The atrium housed all manner of wild and exotic birds, including colorful but very territorial peacocks that chased me out of their home with haughty indignation.

When I finally found my room again I was exhausted and starving. I 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 my door.

"Come in," I hollered through a muffled voice, face down in my pillow.

"Pardon me. Your presence has been requested for dinner with the King and 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 my arms across my face with exasperation.

"Why?" I sighed.

"Excuse me?" Ricasah asked, assuming my question was directed at her.

"Why me?" I clarified, still not really talking to her, but too frustrated to care. I didn't want to eat dinner with Lucan and pretend I was someone I wasn't and worry about my food being poisoned or passing some secret test proving I was completely average. 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 completed," she walked further into the room carrying a long white box that I noticed for the first time. "Granted, there are usually hundreds of candidates attending and the dinner is more of a ball than a private setting, but I suppose your circumstances are unique." She finished with an air of dignity.

"Oh, of course. I'm sorry, I'm new to all of this," I sat up, forcing myself to smile even though I truly hated using that excuse.

"I am aware," she smiled forcefully back. "The Crown Prince sent this over, suggesting that you might not have anything appropriate to wear this evening." She set the box down on the bed and opened it, revealing a silk sari in soft pink, the same color of the dress he sent me for the Fall Equinox Dance. I rubbed the luxurious material between my fingers, feeling differently about this gift than I had the last.

"He was right about that." I eyed my carry-on suitcase with a little bit of contempt, wishing I would have been prepared for meeting Kiran's parents at least emotionally. Although, I realized that since neither Amory nor Kiran had warned me before now, the dinner might actually be a surprise to everybody.

"I will be back in an hour to help you dress," Ricasah finished and then left me alone in the room with my thoughts and new sari.

I stood outside the dining room doors not ready to go in yet. I was told dinner would be served promptly at six and I had a few minutes before I would be late. I swayed back and forth feeling like I would be sick, watching my reflection in one of the few glassed windows around the palace.

The pink sari was exquisite, with silver stitching outlining delicate flowers and loopy designs. I opted for minimal makeup, not wanting to draw attention to myself; so other than mascara and a little lip gloss, my face was plain. I was afraid that my hair would draw unnecessary attention, so I had pulled it into a side braid; but now I wondered if I should have gone Ricasah's route and chosen the low bun.

"Did they not tell you we eat supper in the dining room?" Kiran's amused voice came from behind me; I turned to meet him. He looked especially handsome in a white seer sucker suit and soft blue dress shirt underneath, that was unbuttoned at the top in lieu of a tie. His hair was tousled underneath his crooked crown and he fidgeted with it, trying to get the elaborate piece of heavy gold to stay on correctly.

"Oh, and not out in the hallway?" I tried to make a joke, but still couldn't get my nerves under control. I had been having visions of Lucan slamming his fist down on the table screaming, "Off with her head," all afternoon. If I could get through this dinner without being arrested, I would probably be in the clear. I would be able to make it out of India alive and still a free girl.

"Come along, it shan't be all bad," he smiled and held out his bent elbow to me, gesturing with a nod of the head.

I linked my hand daintily through his arm, trying to recall my fairy tale knowledge and how exactly a guest of the King should behave.

We walked through the doors of the dining room and I was a little surprised to see the long table I had eaten breakfast at the day before gone, and a smaller, more intimate table set for five. I wondered absently how they managed to move the larger table; it seemed like a permanent and very heavy fixture.

The small table, in its place, made the room seem extra-large. Underneath the table was a wide rug with a colorful mosaic pattern covering the cold, stone floor. The fireplace on the east wall had been lit, but even though the room needed the opposite of heating, I couldn't feel any warmth across the expanse of the room. The chandelier hanging from the ceiling had been dimmed to provide a more intimate dinner setting. An exotic floral arrangement adorned the middle of the table.

Kiran walked over to the table and pulled out a chair for me. We were alone so far in the room and I was thankful for that.

"You look exquisite by the way," Kiran said softly to me, sitting down to my right.

"Thank you," I smiled, but rushed on. "Ok, what are some rules I need to know? Like guidelines? Um, do I need to bow or whatever when your father comes in?" My face flushed red, I felt sick again.

"Relax, you'll do fine," he smiled patiently at me. "When Father enters, you need to stand; a small curtsy will do fine. Make sure you keep your eyes down until Father has been seated and then you are allowed to sit and lift your head. Do not eat anything or even drink anything until Father has taken his first bite. And, don't speak unless spoken to, that is very important, Eden." Kiran finished quickly, giving me a worried glance before standing at the opening of the doors.

Lucan and Kiran's mother, Analisa, entered the room with all of the demeanor I would expect from a King and Queen. Lucan was dressed in a cream colored suit with a white dress shirt underneath and was the perfect older version of Kiran. He had the same tousled blonde hair sitting underneath his crooked but larger crown, only he didn't mess with it the way Kiran did. He had strong blue eyes that swept over the room in an irritated, disapproving manner that made me nervous.

Analisa, Kiran's mother, was breathtaking. She was dressed in a turquoise sari that had silver stitching like mine, but was so superior in beauty she made mine look plain. Her long dark hair flowed about her as she walked. She had turquoise eyes that matched her sari; they were kind and not nearly as unpleasant as her husband's. Her dainty golden crown was the only one that seemed to fit exactly on the top of her head.

Behind them, followed a young girl, probably no more than eleven or twelve. She was also dressed in a sari; hers was in a fun magenta, and had gold beading all over the front sash. Her eyes were a golden brown that reminded me of someone but I couldn't put my finger on who it was. She was wearing a thin band of gold with a large diamond in the center, around her head; her crown was very age-appropriate.

I moved to the front of my chair and curtsied awkwardly, wishing I would have anticipated this moment and practiced the movement earlier this afternoon. I stared at the ground afraid of lifting my head and even more afraid of doing something wrong.

"All right, that's enough of that," Lucan declared gruffly, "Eden, as I remember, you don't have much regard for the Monarchy at all," he took his seat and everyone else followed, Kiran laughing to the right of me.

"No, please forgive me, I have the utmost respect for the Monarchy," I sat down and cleared my throat, defending myself and afraid my previous beheading fears would actually come true. "I was um, I was just raised...."

"Human," Lucan finished for me, his frown turning briefly into a reassuring smile. "We are aware."

"Yes, that's right," I confirmed softly.

"Father, don't be so hard on our guest," Kiran said in good humor.