Saving Summer

Chapter Twelve: Inside the Summer Kingdom Palace

Penelope walked side by side with Sir Domnahl as they made their way to the throne room. Servants dressed in beige scurried by them as they walked down the marbled corridors. Some of the servants offered greetings to Sir Domnahl and he greeted them warmly back. All of the servants eyed Penelope suspiciously as if they thought that she was a criminal, but they did not do anything else. 

“Why are they looking at me like that?” Penelope asked Sir Domnahl in a lower voice.

“Beats me,” grunted Sir Domnahl. Seeing the look on Penelope’s face, he added, “It could be because you are a stranger here and no one knows your name. We do not get many strangers in the Summer Kingdom. Hell, I don’t know your name and I am suspicious of you.”

“Penelope. My name is Penelope Wallace.”

She did not know why she told him her name. Why should she care about what he thought of her? He was just as much of a stranger to her as she was to him. Penelope thought that she should be wary of him. 

“Ah, I knew that I would get it out of you eventually!” Sir Domnahl thundered. “Well, Penelope, I don’t know what brings you to Prinaes but I plan on taking you to meet King Agostino and Queen Yesenia anyway. They will want to know about a foreigner in their land.”

“So you are going to have them lock me up?” Penelope questioned, sounding slightly fearful.

Sir Domnahl chuckled and shook his head, “No, that isn’t why at all. Unless you have done some nefarious deeds that deserve punishment?”

“No, I have not,” she stated. “I don’t even know why I am here. I was…..”

Penelope hesitated. She did not know how much to tell Sir Domnahl. Would he believe her if she told him that she was pushed into her television? Did he even know what a television was? She did not even know who the strange cloaked figure was that pushed her into the television nor did she know their current whereabouts. There was a good chance that Sir Domnahl would think that she was crazy if she admitted to these things. He might even decide that she was dangerous and try to lock her away in a dungeon. 

As she turned her grey eyes back towards him, she saw that Sir Domnahl was looking at her expectantly. He was waiting for her to continue but Penelope shook her head. She tucked a strand of her honey colored hair behind her ear before saying, “Nevermind. The point is, I don’t know why I am here but perhaps your king and queen can help me find a way home.”

To Penelope’s immense relief, Sir Domnahl did not try to press her for answers. Instead, he replied, “We will see.”