Page 150 of I Ran Away to Evil
At least, that’s what I thought.
I stopped by Brownie’s door, but I couldn’t sense the woman inside. She’d been out later than I with the celebrations, and no doubt grabbed a room at Scowls.
I wandered down to the kitchen … and Panlithwasn’t there. My hands immediately reached for Jacqueline, who was still in my bedroom. The entire kitchen was clean and empty ofanyone.
Unease came over me. The castle was quiet.Tooquiet.
I exited the kitchen into the dining area, and no places were set. I told myself that maybe this was a day of rest. Maybe nobody had thought to tell me that in Nilheim, everyone slept in the day after St. Veralyn’s Day and just took time off?
Even the servant’s quarters were empty. None of the lizardkin maids could be seen. Keith’s office was empty, papers neatly stacked, and chairs pushed in.
There was something I was missing, but I didn’t want to bother Keith; it was still hours until he normally woke up. I was wandering about when I sensed movement outside.
My feet carried me downstairs and out into the gardens. The corpse roses had bloomed overnight with some new fertilizer to inspire their buds. The entire place blossomed with color.
“Shhh.”
I heard a sound further down the path and walked that way. As I turned the corner to the nook where Keith and I usually enjoyed our afternoon tea, I was met with a thunderous shout.
“Happy Birthday, Henrietta!”
Keith, Brownie, Gerda, Rufus, Chloe, Julia, and all of the castle minions were there. Even Lady Amy was present.
Keith came forward and wrapped his arms around me. “Happy birthday, love.” He handed me a kerchief to wipe my eyes.
I smiled through the tears. “Thank you, everyone.”
There was breakfast and a private concert from Bronwynn as she regaled everyone with funny stories about my days dressed up as a maid running around the city. The entire affair lasted until noon, when everyone had to get back to work.
I took Brownie and Lady Amy to the drawbridge with Gerda, who scolded me saying she wasnota teleportation hub, but for just this one time she would make an exception because it was my birthday.
The four of us ended up spending an outrageous amount of time having tea and scones. Lunch became afternoon snack, and only when everything was cleaned up did Gerda let us all out at our respective bridges. We dropped off Amy first.
“I’m going to be busy until the Spring Ball.” The bridge troll told me as we waited for Gerda’s perk to cool down. There were still a few minutes until she could connect to the castle drawbridge. “I’m getting my dress made in Peldeep and then I’ll be travelling straight to North Sumbria.”
“You’re going to the Spring Ball?” I was happy she was going, but usually, only the powerful, the eligible, and the important were sent invitations. And youneededan invite. Even I would have been turned away at the door without one.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Gerda assured me.
I hesitated to ask, unless it was considered rude, but Brownie had no compunction. “How’dyouget an invite?”
“I have my ways.” Gerda winked, but she didn’t elaborate. Come to think of it … hadn’t Julia owed Gerda a favor to cross her bridge?”
“I’m going to be performing,” Bronwynn stated proudly, “So that means we’llallbe there.”
“Except Amy,” I added. The poor elf girl still had to fight for time off, and there was no way she’d make it to the ball and back. I wondered if she received an invite; I wondered if her father would even let herknowif she’d received an invite. Maybe I would audit the Hollow this year and find out …
“It’s going to be something. Until next we meet, Princess.” Gerda reached out and magicked the door open to a familiar moat. The edge of the water was very narrow, and I had to hold on to the doorway to not fall directly into the water.
As I left the bridge, the troll called after me, “Have a wonderful birthday!”
And I did.
It was my day off, so I wandered back to my rooms to do some light reading. When I arrived, however, I was met with a team of ratkin.
“This Rinrin greets Her Viciousness.” The ratkin came forward and motioned me to come in. The title made me blush, but I let it slide. It was my birthday after all, and I could give myself a small gift.
“Rinrin.” I nodded. “What’s all this?”
