A few moments (and another wave of nausea) later, she was back at the table with Ivy, the green-hued woman by her chair with a concerned look on her face. "Are you ok?"
Astra felt that a full explanation would be too difficult. Besides, she was none too sure about precisely what had occurred. "I felt nauseous for a moment, but I'm fine now," she said. "Perhaps you'll feel better if you have something to eat," Ivy said. She piled a plate high with food and set it in front of Astra. "I'll never eat all that," Astra protested. "Just eat what you can then," Ivy said, favouring her with another brilliant smile. Astra began to eat. "Mmm, this is absolutely delicious," she said appreciatively. "I'm glad that you like it." "If it isn't rude, can I ask you if that is really your daughter?" Astra said, indicating the girl asleep in her chair. "She introduced herself to me as Erica, but she seems absolutely identical to Princess Exotica of Allaria. I admit that she doesn't talk like a princess, though." "Let me refill your plate before I answer you," Erica said. Astra saw that her plate was almost empty. How could she have she eaten so much so quickly? The food was too delicious for her to refuse a second helping, though. "Thank you," she said. As she refilled Astra's plate, Ivy said: "To answer your question, yes she is my daughter, Erica. But that's not really important, is it? All that matters is that you keep on eating." She fixed her brilliant emerald eyes on Astra and, gazing into them, Astra knew that she was right. As Astra continued to eat, she began to feel increasingly sleepy. She wasn't really aware of Ivy telling her that she (Astra) was Erica's sister, Alice. Afterwards, she couldn't remember whether it was while eating that second plateful that she had fallen asleep, or whether she had managed a third and maybe even a fourth.
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5/31/2012 11:53:59 AM
Extending Enabled
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