Other carriages followed. The periodic stops along the way allowed them to disembark and wander the many trails. Prince and Alessandro had been waylaid by other guests. Frankly, Cinderella relished the reprieve. She'd spied them on their horses toward the front of the queue.
She, Essie and Pricilla decided to walk for a bit. Bright varied foliage of hibiscus, crocus, sage, and edelweiss filled the air with an indescribable fragrance. Cinderella breathed deep. This particular path hosted the largest pond Cinderella had yet seen. Hestia, the Virgin Goddess was molded in fine detail. Cinderella was awed by the intricate chiseled wraps she wore.
"What has you so fascinated by this figure, Cinde?" Essie asked. "Not just this one, I suppose, but they seem to all capture your attention in a way that I have never seen." She waved out a hand.
Cinderella smiled. Essie was speaking of two smaller ponds they'd already seen. One with Demeter, the natural goddess of the Harvest; the other Hermes, the cunning god of the Trade.
"Well," she said slowly. "I suppose 'tis not what I see, but what I feel. Don't you remember when Papa would pull us in his lap and regale us with stories? I suppose once my bed was relegated to-" She stopped, mortified by her words. "I just loved the their mythical nature," she finished weakly.
"I remember a little," Essie said slowly. "When he read to us his chest would vibrate deep with laughter."
Pricilla frowned. "Well, I don't remember." She sounded angry. "Who is this? And why does she hold a tree in her hand?"
Cinderella cocked her head toward Pricilla whose gaze was riveted on Hestia. Someday, Cinderella supposed, perhaps she might cease worrying of their ridicule. She turned and considered the statue in question for a moment. "Hestia," she said. "She's the goddess Hestia. She was the eldest daughter of Cronus and Rhea." She grinned at their blank expressions. "Well, that's neither here nor there. Hestia personified the 'fire hat.' It burned in the hearth of every home. The hearth fire was only allowed to be extinguished by ritual."
Essie and Pricilla laughed.
Cinderella turned back to the statue. It appeared golden even with the gray clouds hovering. "Hestia was worshiped in every temple. She loved because of her kind, forgiving soul."
"How apropos," Pricilla whispered softly. She didn't sound sarcastic.
Cinderella wasn't so certain, so she ignored her and went on. "Oui. She never participated in any war or disputes."
Pricilla spun, reaching out. Cinderella flinched before realizing Pricilla only grasped her hand. "I-I hope you will someday find it in your heart to forgive us…me…" she said, then looked at Essie. "I have been a frightful sister, I vow." She turned back to Cinderella, squeezed her hand. "Frightful, and I am profoundly sorry."