Chapter 10

Kat and I were woken up before sunset by Lauren for morning training. She dragged us out of bed quite literally dragging us by our collars into the training field. Raine was already out there half asleep in a pair of shorts. He sat silently on a rock kicking at the gravel beneath him a pile of swords laid in his lap.

Lauren passed each of us a sword before dragging Raine up off the rock. She seemed tense her own sword tightly grasped in her hand. I had never seen her like this usually she was the embodiment of calm around us, but she was nervous. Kat seemed to notice it as well looking over at Raine to see if he knew anything. He just shook his head at her preparing for a fight.

That was several hours ago now, Lauren still looked nervous despite knocking us to the ground faster than a pin could drop. She kept running her hands through her hair while we prepared to go to the palace. One of the leaders was with us making sure we were okay and trying to calm Lauren who seemed annoyed by his presence.

None of us were sure why she was upset even the doctor seemed concerned and they told each other everything. He had stayed with us while we packed talking to Kat in private while we saddled our horses.

When we were ready to leave Lauren came over to us pulling all three of us into a tight hug, “Be careful, I want you all back safe by sundown,”

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The ride to the castle took just over two hours including a short stop at Madame Dorine’s to pick up drinks. Raine had went and ordered them last night so we wouldn’t have to wait too long for them. She had presented us with three metal flasks filled with some form of tea.

Large stone walls greeted us when we arrived at the palace the sun reflecting gently off the limestone. Guards stood on every angle and inch of the palace watching over everyone who dared to approach. Thin spiked towers peaked over the tops of the walls looming over the rest of the grounds.

As we approached two of the guards stood alert their spears held crossed over each other, “State your business.” One of them yelled to us.

Kat pulled out the letter we had from the queen inviting us to the castle. The guards took it to inspect it before their entire demeanour changed. One of the guards smiled warmly at us thanking us for what we had done.

We were promptly let in; one of the people who passed by being ordered to take us to the queen’s office and alert her of our presence. He took us to drop the horses at the stable introducing us to the stable hand who assured us they would be taken care of. The horses were taken in and given food before we left them to head into the palace.

The inside of the palace was gorgeous dark wooden floors covered most of the floors. Long red and purple rugs ran through the halls. Each wall had some form of painting or portrait hung from it. The man who was leading us was answering every question we asked patiently.

I stopped when we were near the office staring up at a group portrait that hung proudly above the rest. The queen sat in a throne in a long blue dress which pooled at her feet. She was the definition of royalty sitting straight her head tilted up slightly.

Another woman stood behind her a hand resting on the queen’s shoulder. Her piercing blue eyes stared directly forward her mouth formed into a smile. She wore a suit her navy blazer held in one arm and the sleeves of her shirt rolled up to her elbows.

 A young girl sat cross legged in front of them her golden hair pinned back to not be in her face. She couldn’t have been much older than ten in the painting her features youthful as she stared off to the side. I felt like I recognised her but wasn’t entirely sure why.

The man who was leading us stood silently while I inspected the painting, “It’s the first portrait our queens had done with the princess.” He eventually said dragging me out of my thoughts.

“It’s beautiful,” I replied before continuing to follow him to the office.

We passed through a few more hallways before being led into a room with a grand oak door. The large room was more like a study than an office; the right side of the room being organised as a reading corner filled with bookcases and sofas. On the left there was a large desk with three high back chairs placed around it.

It felt like forever until the queen showed up followed by the other woman from the painting. When they arrived Kat, Raine and I bowed to them in greeting. Kat spoke for us thanking them for meeting with us and apologising for showing up unannounced. The queens however shushed her with smiled.

“I invited you here there is nothing to worry about.” The queen we had met said her arm linked with the other woman’s, “Now please take a seat on one of the sofas so we may speak.”

We went and sat on one of the sofas Raine in the middle of us. The queens sat opposite us. They hadn’t brought a guard in with them instead it was just them sat in the room with us. I guessed there was one just outside in case anything happened.

 They seemed relaxed and the queen’s injuries had almost entirely disappeared which was a relief. “So why did you wish to meet with us?” Kat asked looking directly at the two women before us.

The woman who we hadn’t met before moved her arm away from the queen sitting forward, “My wife asked that you all be rewarded for your efforts to keep her and her guard alive.” She replied softly looking over us with a smile.

“There is no need for rewards we were there to find one of our own.” Kat replied sitting forward to imitate the woman’s posture.

“Even so you did something that leaves us in your debt. If you had not shown up, I would most likely have succumbed to their attacks.” The queen replied her arm snaking back around her wife’s. Her partner seemed to calm down at the touch her shoulders visibly dropping.

I smiled at that they were close unlike most nobility we had heard of. Arranged marriages were common in royal families until a few years ago. I looked between them thinking about the idea of a reward, “Then what do you suggest we do?” I asked.

They both looked at me for a moment smiling, “Well it’s more what we can do for you, you’re travellers correct?” I nodded silently to the queen’s question, “Well then, I assume property wouldn’t be of much value to any of you. Would a title be of use, or would you prefer money?”

“An official title may make things difficult and once again we aren’t looking to be rewarded.” Kat interrupted the queens rambling folding her hands in her lap as she spoke.

“If you insist on still rewarding us despite that it will probably be better to give us money or something that will benefit the caravan.” I added Kat nodding along.

Someone knocked on the door loudly the queens looking over telling them to come in. The short woman with raven black hair walked in with a tray. She carried a pot of tea with several cups and biscuits laid around. Silently she placed the various items down pouring each of us some tea before silently leaving the room.

The queens sat silently watching us none of us willing to touch the tea before them. Deep mahogany swirled softly steam rising gently from the cups and spout of the pot. Raine broke the silence with a cough. The tension in the room becoming too much for him to handle he apologised quietly looking over at Kat.

“We will have a member of staff organise sufficient repayment for you.” The woman said picking up her tea blowing softly over it.

 Kat and I followed suit picking ours up to take a drink Raine and the queen just waiting for a moment. Eventually the conversation shifted the queen had gotten up to ask one of the passing maids to request a significant amount of money. When she had come back, she had begun discussing the fight with us. She seemed suspicious of our ability to fight off so many people but was calmed when we explained exactly who we are.

Apparently, Lauren had once made a name for herself in the capital after participating in a martial arts competition. The queens had never met her, but her name had made its way to them. So, it wasn’t too unbelievable that her children would be able to fight a few guys off with difficulty.

The queen seemed shocked when she realised, we had run in with half a plan her wife just laughing at the entire situation. She was also really entertained by the fact we didn’t realise we were talking to the queen until we got back to the city. Somehow, she just wasn’t convinced anyone could be that out of the loop.

At some point during our conversation the door opened creaking loudly. The queens looked over both smiling warmly at the visitor. I looked over seeing Alexis stood by the doorway. She looked beautiful her hair styled into braids, her blue eyes looking down at the ground. A light blush covered her face, “I’m sorry for interrupting I didn’t realise you had guests.”

The queen shushed her with a smile, “You’re always fine to interrupt dear is there something we can help with?”

She shook her head with a smile not looking up to the two powerful women in front of her. I was confused why was she here? I mean I was happy to see her but why at the palace. My breath hitched in my throat as I stared at her Kat nudging my arm gently, “Alexis?” I asked my voice coming out in barely a whisper.

Her head snapped to me her eyes wide and mouth agape. She stood there in silence for a moment the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Who was she really? Had I been that oblivious to not notice any of this. The light blue dress she wore scrunched up in her hands as she stared at me.

I dropped my gaze to the ground after a while the tension becoming too much. She didn’t say anything instead the queen spoke up, “Do you two know each other?” she asked.

“We are friends mum,” Alexis replied her voice wobbling slightly.

It took me a moment to process what she had said. She called the queen ‘mum’ that meant she was the princess. I realised why I recognised the child in the painting earlier a lump forming in my throat. She lied to me. She didn’t tell me this. Why would she I’m just a friend.

Kat laughed when Alexis called us friends, “Ah yes friends definitely spend the night cuddling.” She said Raine joining in the laughing.

I looked at both of them shaking my head I couldn’t speak my mind was racing and they were making it worse. Alexis was a bright red mess in the corner her eyes trained on the ground.

“I don’t appreciate being lied to Alexis,” The woman said looking between the three of us, “May I ask that you two leave I would like to speak to my daughter and her ‘friend’ alone.” She stressed friend which just made the other two laugh more.

Kat and Raine got up still laughing and left the room. The queen told Alexis to sit, and she was immediately beside me her head down and palms in her lap. This was going to be a long conversation.