Free Veiled Dreams by Gill James Page A

you yet!’
    Imigriana pushed Christina behind a screen in the corner of the room. The door creaked open. Through a crack between the two panels, Christina saw a tall figure dressed in royal reds and blues.
    ‘Imigriana!’ Christina shivered. It was Mum’s voice. She moved so that she could see the speaker more clearly. But this lady didn’t look like Mum. Her hair was swirled up round her head into an elegant knot. She was far taller than Mum, and unlike her, she didn’t have a single grey hair on her head. A dozen or so heavy silver and gold bracelets dangled from her wrist. A huge silver comb glistened in her hair. Christina watched as Imigriana and her mother flung their arms around each other.
    ‘My goodness,’ she thought, ‘I haven’t let my mum do that for years.’
    ‘Mother, it’s good to be home. And I’m beginning to remember a few more things now. But I’ve forgotten the prayer ritual!’
    ‘The Prayers? Oh dear!’ The queen looked worried and Christina felt the panic start. This whole day was going to be important.
    ‘But it won’t matter,’ Imigriana continued. ‘Oh Mother, I’ve found a new companion. Christina. She looked after me when Iwas lost. And we could be twins. She can stay, can’t she?’
    Queen Benelov stroked Imigriana’s hair and smiled.
    ‘I’m sure she can. Everyone will understand about the prayers. Will Christina know the Prayer Ritual?’
    ‘Of course.’
    ‘Then, you can follow what she does. Hurry now. The Silence begins in fifteen minutes. We can breakfast together. At least we can see Christina even if we can’t speak to her.’
    Imigriana curtsied. Queen Benelov nodded her head slightly, swished round on her heels and marched smartly out of the room. Lydia’s lips were tight and she was frowning as she followed the queen out.
    ‘Thank goodness for the Silence! It will save a lot of questions. Now, help me get this dress on. And we must wear prayer veils. Now let me see – ah here we are. And a prayer book. …Yes, we won’t arrive a minute before the Silence begins. And it’s okay to move your veil in front of His Majesty so that you can eat, because the king is allowed to see anyone. But don’t worry if he keeps looking away from you – oh it’ll be me he looks away from – because it embarrasses him to look at young girls without their veils.’
    Imigriana was rushing around from the wardrobe, to the chair and back again. Christina joined in the panic and ran around with her, but she didn’t know what she was looking for or what she was trying to do. Both girls giggled. But there was an ache and a fluttering in Christina’s stomach. Something strange was going to happen. And she didn’t know whether to be excited or scared.
    ‘We’ll wait for the Silence gong,’ said Imigriana, ‘and then we’ll go to the patio. We always have breakfast on the patio on Prayer Days.’ Imigriana suddenly grabbed Christina’s hands. ‘Oh, we’ll have such a great time – once this day is over.’
    The gong boomed. Imigriana put her finger to her lips, smiled and shrugged her shoulders. She gestured to Christina to followher. The two girls made their way through complicated twists and turns in the corridors, until they came to an archway, which led out to a bright patio. A crisp white cloth covered the table which was laden with inviting breads, fruit and cold meat. Christina felt too nervous to eat, though. Queen Benelov and King Tutoralph were already sitting at the table. The king motioned the two girls to sit down. Imigriana curtsied deeply. Christina wasn’t sure whether she should or not. Before she had time to think about it too much, the king came over to her, smiled, stroked her hair affectionately, and held out the chair for her to sit down. Imigriana emerged from her curtsy. Queen Benelov smiled at her, touched her arm gently and with her eyes indicated that Imigriana should sit down.
    So, the formalities were over. The queen handed round the