cheated

[mute_pen]

The castle is livable indefinitely. Etty flies over the space around it, but she's not as fast as the Baron was in his owl form, and she can't fly for very long if she's hungry and can pack nothing if she travels as a swan; she doesn't range farther than she can travel in a half-day, and she doesn't find Astgabels or anyone who knows where it is. (Not many people are willing to talk to a girl in a feather dress from out of nowhere, but a few are.) She flies home to Nona after each failed journey. They feast on what appears on the dining table. They snuggle. They pick through the library. Etty writes her thoughts. They sleep, curled up together in Nona's bed.

One morning they wake up together and are lying there in comfortable silence when Etty scoots up and kisses Nona.

Comments

[subtly_artistic]

"I'm also excruciatingly tempted to just look."

[pythbox]

"I don't know why you're not, but in case 'she might kill you' isn't one of the reasons already: she might kill you," says Celo.

[subtly_artistic]

"That's a reason. Also it would be unethical."

[pythbox]

"Yep," he says. "And she might kill you."

[subtly_artistic]

"Yes. I do not at all doubt her ability to kill me."

[pythbox]

"Good, 'cause she could so do it," says Celo.

[subtly_artistic]

"Anyway." Bella pushes open the door. It is their hall again.

[pythbox]

Out they go, into their hall.