It’s #BookQW and Fern ‘owes’ Cor, but needs reluctant help.
More from Chapter 8:
Lady Pina hugged Fern around the shoulders, her frown dissolving. “I understand about your keen interest in plants, dear, but do try to be more careful. You don’t”—her gaze cut to Cor—“know your way around.”
No point in keeping it quiet. “Ma’am, he knows how pitiful my ability to find my way is. I owe Cor a huge favor for getting me back. If you could help out with that, he’d like to study our pines…”
Lady Pina had already begun shaking her head as she stepped toward the line to see the armory.
Fern grasped her arm. “But he really rescued me,” she whispered. “A couple of wizard guys had me cornered.”
Lady Pina stared past Fern toward Cor, still managing to look down her nose. “This is the truth? You didn’t orchestrate some—”
“How would I have done that?” Cor spat, and immediately a look of horror flooded his face.
Fern cringed. That wasn’t the way to talk to an elder, and he knew it.
“I-I was working,” he said, trying to recover. “For the conference.”
“He had no way of knowing when I would wander off. Give him a break.” Fern crossed her arms. She shouldn’t say it, but… “You’re being unreasonably stubborn about blocking outsiders from a resource everyone admires.”
“The very reason it’s still a resource,” Lady Pina huffed and bestowed another frown on them. “I suppose we can make an exception for a visit. This young man’s project did outline a deep interest in trees.”
“Very deep.” Cor nodded. “Like, my life.”
By now, Fern could tell he meant this, but Lady Pina smiled a rather patronizing smile, her gaze pausing on his shiny boots and the phone stuffed into his blazer’s breast pocket.
~~~
Will Cor get access to the closed island? Seize adventure with Cor and Fern! Buy Guardian of the Pines in ebook or paperback.
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In my author’s life:
I’m getting ready for my next book festival!
I’ve gotten another shipment of paperbacks I’m checking through to make sure none have printing errors. If no one has told you, this weekend is a good time to buy paperbacks – next week the printing price on Amazon is going up, raising the price for everyone. So…
Come to the Fredericksburg Independent Book Festival this Saturday!
Saturday, June 17, 2023, 10 am – 4 pm
Riverfront Park, Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Follow the festival event page on Facebook to see the latest updates!
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