Six

I needed an escape so when I saw a garden behind one of the courtyards, I thought nothing about it as I hurried there. The serenity was amazing, I sat under a tree and that was when the tears started. 

Homesickness. I was just here for barely a day but I was already feeling home sick because this was not the way I had envisioned my life to go. 

I thought that I would be beside my brothers, we protect Dar and then after a while, I would settle down with the person who had my heart from Childhood, Baxter, the Master healer but it didn’t happen that way. 

You would think that after years of watching life present lemons for me, that I would be used to the idea that I should expect the worst from life. 

I thought the worse would be getting married to a weird set of people but it apparently is not. The weirdest thing is getting married to someone who is not your choice only to discover that only you is stuck in that agreement because the other person has someone whom he loves. 

“I heard cries and lo, it is from a little cub who seems like she has lost her way.” I voice said above me and within a flash, I had a knife in my hand, poised to go for the throat of whatever was trying to endanger me. 

“Feisty little cub.” The strange woman who was hanging from a branch of the tree I was crying under like it was a bed with hand woven silk sheets said. “Put those toys away before you hurt yourself or before you make a predator angry enough to want to hurt you.”  

“I will just take another tree, you can have this one.” I said, keeping my knife when I saw that she was just a normal person. I rolled my eyes at those thoughts, like there was any normal Northshorians. 

“The whole garden is mine. You should seek permission before using what I worked hard to create, foreign Queen.” 

“You know who I am.” I froze and she tilted her head looking at me. 

“Everybody knows you.” She replied simply before sitting up on her branch, I stood to the side as I watched her as she gracefully swung from branch to branch until her bare feet touched the ground. “But not everybody should see that you are a cub. How can a cub be a queen?” 

“Who are you?” I finally asked, her words sent shivers down my spine. 

“Silana, your majesty.” She replied as she bent her upper half into a low bow which stated her position. She might be a princess but she was more important than me. 

“Princess Silana.” I stated as I gave her my own awkward bow. 

“I think the best ways to deal with Vipers is to show them that your venom can kill them.” She said. 

Snakes now, Her sisters were not joking when they said she was weird.

“They think that they have won by telling you about my brother and his fledging snake but you let them win actually by hiding while they gloat. They didn’t break you. They just bruise you. Don’t let them think otherwise.” 

“How did you know that this was about Faye?” I asked. 

“Because it is only a husband and a mistress will make a cub who thinks she is a lioness cry. It is not yet time for you to bloom into a queen but you should protect your position until then.” 

“Who are you?” I asked her again. This was more than just a princess. She sounded more like Themis than I was comfortable with. 

“Princess Silana.” She replied. 

“No you are more than that. What are you?” I asked and she jerked back. 

“Well what do you know?” She mused with a smile on her cheeks. “I stay under the same roof as my siblings and they see nothing.” She studied me. “There is still hope for you, cub.”  With those words, she drifted into the courtyard through the same way I came in, her words still rung in my head. 

I couldn’t let them think that they have beaten me down when all they did was made my resolve stronger. If I had to wear a smile and parade around the palace then that is what I will do. 

******************

I changed my mind, when I got lost in the hallways for the second time. I was not ready to smile at every Nisse I see and let them think that I was simply exploring, I was ready for some real damage and I knew the perfect way to cause it. 

The next person I saw was Faye and although, I was not excited at the sight of her but she will make my plans work even more. 

“Your majesty.” She mumbled as she sunk in a half bow. 

“Where I am from, only those of the same rank greet each pther like that? Tell me Faye, are you the same rank as me?” I asked her and she didn’t say anything. 

“I expect an answer when I ask a question, I am not every lenient.” I added and Faye shook her head before clearing her throat. 

“I am sorry, your majesty.” She bowed fully this time. That was more like it. 

“I need you to take me to see the council.” 

“But the council is not in session?” She said confused at me request. 

“Are they in the compound?” 

“Yes, My queen.” 

“Then I want to see them, whether they are in the compound or not. Understand?” I stated and she nodded as she started to walk while I follow her, after sometime, she tried to strike up a conversation. Her attempts were laughable. 

“Your majesty, if I may inquire, what do you intend to do with the councilors?” 

I laughed. “Faye, don’t be so funny, we are not friends. We are not mates and No, you may not ask.” I stated as she bit her lips but kept quiet. 

That was until she saw a Nisse. Grabbing hold of the Nisse, she said. “Take the Queen to the councilors…” 

“She will do no such thing.” I snapped, my voice was like a whip. Faye froze. “I asked you to take me there, you have no authority to give that task to someone else. You may be fucking my husband but that doesn’t not mean you are in the same level as me to redirect my orders, Now you will take me where I want to go and when I get there and free you from my presence, you can run to your bed partner and report my location to him. Got it?” I asked. 

“Yes, My queen.” She whimpered as I nodded with a smile.

“Shall we continue with the journey?” I asked and then she started walking again, until she stopped in a large hall. They are just behind that veil. The Veil represent that fact that they don’t want disturbance. 

“Good.” I replied as I marched right to the veil and removed it, a choked cry arose from Faye but my attention was soley on the angry faces that were in front of me.

“Now, you can go and report to your bedmate Faye.” I said over my shoulders, Faye turned round and ran out of the room. 

“Hello, I want you to know that if anything happen to me, the wrath of Dar Empire will be here.” 

“We would kill them.” 

“True but that doesn’t mean that here would be free from foreigners. You need to endure this foreigner demands or get to appease more foreigners, your choice.” 

The woman of Yesterday, the one who did something that made me unable to breathe, gritted her teeth but didn’t say anything.

“Good, Now. I would be solely vexed if anything happens to my husband while I am away. I know not all of you support his rule just like I know that not all of you would go through legitimate ways to try and remove him. If anything happens to Arius, I swear to whatever god, you worship that I will reign hell of the type you have never seen on this kingdom. Do I make myself clear?” I asked. 

Their frowns increased. 

“And how would you do that?” 

I smiled. “That would be a trade secret.” 

The door banged open as Arius raced inside. 

I turned to face him with a smile. 

Hello Honey, You are late.”