Page 99 of Enchanted Kingdom
I squealed and gave him a quick hug. Mother went for the food we were delivering while I rummaged through our bakery closet for our hooded coats. It wasn’t quite chilly enough to need them yet, but the hoods might make it easier for my mother and me to walk the streets without people needing to greet me and interview me about castle life.
Mother and I walked arm in arm, Owen behind us, as we made our way to the orphanage. We set a brisk pace, further signaling for people to leave us alone. I didn’t remember the last time I had walked with my mother. Usually one of us had to stay at the shop while the other one ran the errands. It had been years, possibly since father died, that we’d actually walked these streets together.
“Jorah! My dear!” Hattie exclaimed at the front door. “Get in here, honey!”
I gave her a huge hug. “How are you, Hattie?”
She smiled. “I am well.” She nodded to my mother. “Eleanor.” Then she put her attention to Owen, her eyebrows going up. “Mr. Raikes.”
“Hattie,” he nodded.
I had been about to introduce the two of them, but they clearly already knew one another. It must have been from those trips the princes made to Nerede or something.
“JORAH!”
It was Gavin, and he was now barreling toward me.
“Jorah!” another yelled.
And then I participated in the largest group hug of my life. Not that I didn’t usually hug these kids, but I hadn’t seen them in so long that not a single one could bear to wait as soon as they saw me.
I picked up Alani and smiled. “Hi, smart girl.”
“Hi!” she said as she patted my cheeks. “You are not even green yet!”
“Nor do I eat flies,” I told her with a wrinkled nose that had her giggling.
I kept her on my hip as I hugged and greeted them all, asking about their day.
It ended up winding up the children so much that Hattie demanded we all go outside for fresh air before they broke something.
I headed outside with Alani in hand before I realized that I still had not seen Warrick.
I spun to Hattie. “Did Warrick finally get adopted?”
Her eyes went big. “Oh. No. He’s upstairs. Playing a game.”
I found that odd. “Okay, thanks.” I let go of Alani’s hand. “Go on, Alani-girl, I’ll be right there.”
I spun for the stairs for the boys’ bunks when I noticed Owen wasn’t really following behind. “You coming with?”
He gave Hattie a look I couldn’t quite decipher. “Yeah. I’ll be right there.”
I took the creaky steps and spun the corner, hearing voices. I hadn’t realized that Warrick maybe had a visitor and that’s why he was playing a game up here by his lonesome, but still. If I wasn’t going to see these kids for a few more weeks, I was not going home without seeing him. Even if he was with some potential adoptive parents.
I peeked my head in the door of the room and stopped in my tracks. There sitting on the floor of the room was Warrick. Warrick and Prince Krewan.
“Jorah?!” Warrick exclaimed as he flew toward me. He hugged me so hard, I almost lost my balance while I wondered why Prince Krewan was here. And not only was he here, but he was also sitting on the floor playing a game with Warrick.
Prince Darkness.On the floor.
“Hi, Warrick.” I smiled down at him as I hugged him back. “How are you?”
“Better now that you’re here!” he responded as usual. “Two visitors in one day, best day ever!”
I looked back to Prince Krewan, a flash of emotion on his face that I couldn’t quite decipher, and then as if he reset himself, his face went blank.
“I did not realize you had a visitor,” I smiled at him. “I just wanted to say hello. I can leave you two to your game.”
