Chapter 71: Flowers of Protection

Cora was sitting on her hill out in the east lawn where she had taken to being alone after the dinner that went all wrong. 

This expanse of land before her was supposed to be a vast, brilliant garden, but she couldn't bring herself to even begin on it. Now the green grass she had started with was slowly turning yellow, unaided in its survival by her magic and with no sun or rain to nourish it. 

She ran her fingers over the softening tips of the yellow blades apologetically. The creation that always felt like it was bursting to escape from her felt like it had died inside. 

"Can I sit with you?" Her mother's voice asked softly behind her. 

Cora sighed. She wished she had not followed her out here. She didn't want to talk about anything.