Page 74 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
Keith physically bit his lip and remained silent.
Grand Duchess Calisto said, “Just make sure that whatever you decide is ready for after the Masquerade, Miss Gerda, because you will have to explain yourself at the next Continental Council meeting.”
It was expected after everything I’d done, but I wasn’t looking forward to it. “Of course, Your Grace.”
“We’ll be there for you.” Henrietta put a hand on mine. “Just like you’ve been there for us.”
It wasn’t just the Dark Lady. Everyone in the room felt like they gave some tell of support from a nod or smile.
“Thank you.” I smiled at my queen.
“Do you want to tell us?” Henrietta’s eyes shone. “About being Madame Potts?”
“Alright,” I hesitated, wondering what I should say.
“Here.” Henrietta immediately passed me my cup of tea and grabbed a snack for herself. “When you’re ready.”
It was exactly how we talked around the table in my kitchen, as if we weren’t surrounded by a room of people watching me. I took a sip of my caruleal tea and then spoke.
“I guess I’ll start at the beginning?”
CHAPTER 42
A Distractable Legend
Julian
“It all started the day my ex-husband beat me to death,” Gerda the Bridge Troll explained, delivering that bone-chilling statement with a casual smile.
Julian tensed, grateful he wasn’t holding anything as he felt his nails bite into the flesh of his palm. Henrietta was less fortunate; the Dark Lady was holding a huckleberry biscuit from the snack tray. She turned the pastry into powder.
“He did what?”
“[Cleanse].” Keith waved a hand to help tidy up the mess before asking, “I’m assuming you were not living in the Dark Enchanted Forest at that time?”
“The Baldorin Mountains,” she explained, reaching out a comforting hand and placing it on Henrietta’s arm. “Itoldyou I was divorced.”
“You didn’t tell me what happenedbeforeyou were divorced!” Henrietta laid her own hand on top of the troll’s. “But don’t mind me, go on.”
The Dark Lady said so, but the second Gerda turned away to continue her story, Henrietta shared a look with Keith. Julian felt no pity for whatever she’d do to the fool who had harmed the bridge troll. At this point, he should have reminded Gerda that she was meant to be answering security questions and not the details of her love life, but hewantedto hear Gerda’s backstory. He was invested, as was everyone else.
Madame Potts was a legend. A distractible legend.
“We’d weduntil death do us part.” Gerda took a sip of her tea. “And when he tried to protest the separation, I threw him off a mountain. That’s when I left for the Dark Enchanted Forest.”
“Good riddance,” Henrietta stated. The Dark Lady picked up a new biscuit and stuffed it in her mouth.
“Larry the Bridge Troll was retiring, and I was looking for a home.” Gerda’s face softened. “He taught me everything I needed to know to open up the [Bridge Troll] skill tree. My foresight came later.”
Their Royal Highness asked, “Was that around the time you made your first Crystal Cast?”
“Yes.” She scrunched her nose, drawing Julian’s attention to her white freckles. “While I was questing in the Dark Enchanted Forest, I found the Master Cast Crystal and used that to start forewarning everyone about important upcoming events—such as Your Highness’s death.”
“And my guild leader’s death,” the royal added. “And the dungeon breaks.”
“What about the helpful tips?” Henrietta asked. “Like the broken respawn points or where to get buffs?”
“I overhear a lot of things on my bridge,” she replied. “And I have some dungeoneering knowledge.”
