Welcome, you’ve stumbled onto part 7 of The Tori Story Series. If this is the first time you have visited this realm you might want to get caught up.

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“Hannah!” Tori called from afar and sprinted up the path to meet her. “Look at you. You are positively…” between breaths, “glowing.” She stopped short, doubling over. With one hand she grabbed her knee and the other she rested over her heart. “So out of shape.” She mumbled.

After catching her breath she stood upright, “I always say pregnancy suits you.”

The two embraced and then continued the rest of the way to the cabin, arm in arm. Old friends, or at least that is what it felt like to Tori even though they only just met eight moons ago.

Have you ever felt that way? Upon meeting a stranger for the very first time. Like you had just found a long lost friend. But how can that be, when you only just met?

Another life maybe…

But that is exactly how it was with these two. For these weekly check ups were more neighborly visits than anything. As Tori certainly knew that once a bun was in the oven there wasn’t much you could do but wait. She did offer Hannah plenty of tinctures and teas often calling them potions, and assigning them with various magical powers. It was easier.

The people of Andor clung to many silly superstitions. So primitive. Tori knew that often the belief in a thing is what makes the thing so and she used that to her advantage. Still, with Hannah’s history, Tori chose to err on the side of caution or was it that she was just desperate for company?

“So… give me the tea.” Tori said. “Fill me in on all that’s happening in town.”

All at once Hannah’s bright smile darkened and her countenance clouded over with concern. “Tori, there is talk-“

“Ha! Talk. There is always talk.” Tori interrupted as she was prone to do when Hannah was around. After all, Tori spent most of her days alone with no one to talk to but the trees.

Hannah laughed. “Yes, you speak true, but-”

Again Tori interrupted. “Listen to you going all high court on me. Getting uppity with castle speak, eh? Spending too much time tending to the queen’s ne-”

“Stop.” It was Hannah’s turn to interrupt. She spoke sternly, like someone who was very much in charge. A side of her Tori had never experienced.

It took Tori by surprise, but accomplished its purpose.

Tori shut up.

Hannah continued. “I need you to listen. I overheard the other day…” 

And here, it is I who interrupt. Because I think it is important for you to know this – Hannah overheard nothing. It was Patrick, her brother, who was Hannah’s eyes and ears outside the castle walls. Outside her prison. He overheard the chitter chatter that scurries and scuttles about the town and it was he who brought it to the Queen’s attention.

“… anyway, the boys mean to do you harm, Tori. I know they are just boys but the one, Hunter, is mean. Horrible. He skinned a cat alive once just because. There’s no telling what harm they mean to bring you.”

Tori pulled at her long brown braid and smiled. ‘Boys.’ She thought.

If being the mother of one of the most mischievous boys ever born taught her anything, it certainly taught her how to take care of boys.

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