Chapter Two: A Queen, A Luna And A Mother Superior

They say that only the gods could stop time but Lord Tirion was able to do that with his presence.

As he walked down to us, the clicks of his heels muffling against the red carpet, my breath ceased.

His eyes were as cold as ice, yet they held a remnant of fire ready to burn anyone that stood in his path.

He was like a delicate flower with a poisonous thorn, with eyes as blue as the ocean and hair as black as a Raven's feather. He had a face that seemed to have been sculpted by the moon goddess herself and moved with an air that made both the weak and mighty tremble.

And as he came to us, he looked at the girls with an nonchalant expression but paused as he got to me.

.

Only for a moment.

“Your majesty,” Begritta bowed as she and the other mother rushed to him. “You did not tell us you were coming?”

“I own this land and the kingdoms beyond, Begritta.” He said disdainfully. “Do I need your permission before I take a stroll around my castle?”

Begritta's eyes darted uneasily as she coughed. “No, my Lord. Forgive my excesses.”

He scoffed and rolled his eyes. Walking down the hall when he paused.

“I would be gone for the whole evening.” He announced, turning back to us. “Tell Mother not to look for me.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.” The mothers nodded. “The queen will be acquainted.”

He shrugged and walked out of the hall, my eyes flickering like I had been snapped out of a daze.

The mothers shuddered.

“Well,” the other woman smiled. “That was a rough start. Shall we begin girls?”

“Yes Mother.” The other girls answered as they bowed. I looked like a moron as I tried to join them.

Begritta scoffed at my attempt. The other mother shaked her head before continuing. “I am Vera Albera, Mother of the shadow Clan.” She said.

“And I am Begritta Starkof,” Begritta inserted, “Mother of the Pack Clan.”

Mother of the Shadow and Pack Clan? The two most powerful packs after Golden city?

My stomach twisted.

"As you all know," Begritta said, pacing slowly in front of us, "you are here for the Luna Trial.”

I blinked. Luna Trial?

She continued, “A competition to determine who amongst you is worthy to become Luna of the Red Wolf Pack, Queen of Golden City, and Mother Superior of the Four Kingdoms."

She said the words with cold emphasis.

"For a thousand years," she went on, "only girls from the Pack Clan have claimed the Luna title. This year..."

She smirked, a glint of mockery in her eyes. "Some of you might just have a chance to change that."

The smirk deepened. "But be warned. Women like us do not fall easily."

Vera shifted uncomfortably.

"You will have two months of training before the Trial," Begritta said. "During this time, you will learn to think like a queen, fight like a Luna, and lead like a Mother Superior."

Vera took over, "These two months will be the hardest of your lives. Your titles, family names, and wealth means nothing here."

Some of the girls shifted uneasily.

"You are equals now," she said. "Enjoy whatever luxuries you find tonight—it will be your last for a long, long time."

Begritta clapped her hands once. "Now, proceed to the dining hall."

The girls bowed again. I once more missed the cue and stumbled after them.

"For Moon’s sake," Begritta scoffed, glaring at me. "Even a Falme girl should know how to bow properly."

The hall erupted in laughter and I wished the ground would swallow me whole.

"Enough!" Vera snapped, "Mockery is a disgrace to the Mother Superior."

Begritta only snorted and marched out. Vera beckoned us to follow

The dining hall was a large space that could fit three hundred people. There was a large oval table carved with stone with twelve stone seats surrounding it. Five facing east, five facing west, one facing north and the other facing south. Only the ones facing North and South had a back rest.

“This is the maiden hall,” Vera announced as we entered. “It would be your dining hall for the next two months.”

“As you all have noticed,” Begritta now stated, “ There is no furnishment in this hall. Only a table and chairs made of stone. As a Luna in training, it is expected that your soul and thoughts are as plain and maudane as this hall.”

“And as a mother Superior,” She paused, peering at us one after the other, “it is expected that you have no bearing to the luxuries of life.”

Vera took over, “A queen, A Luna and A Mother superior have different expectations. As a queen, you are expected to be a firm ruler, a custodian of the law and a judge to the people. As a Luna, you are expected to be a fierce warrior, a proud daughter of the moon and always ready to answer to the drums of war.

“As a mother Superior,” Begritta now said, “You are expected to be the mother to the four kingdoms, the link between these kingdoms and the moon goddess and the only female sitter in the council of Elders.”

She clapped and the door opened, an entourage of maidens stepping in. The maidens wore white gowns with white scarves. Their faces were bare and the only bit of colour they had on them was a green thin braided thread that they roped around their bellies.

“These are the maidens of the moon.” Vera stated as they walked in with food trays. “They are in trainings just like you and will be assigned to each and every one of you after they pick the threads tomorrow.”

Thr other girls murmured.

Vera raised a hand and the murmuring seized. “You can save your questions for later, “ She said, “but for now we eat.”

She and Begritta walked to the table and we trailed behind.

“Oh, how I wish that I could have a maiden from the house of Cheng.” One of the girls from the pack clan whispered to another as we sat on the chair facing east and west.

“Save your wishes, Anya,” the other girl asserted, “I heard that only one maiden emrged from the house of Cheng and that is Lia. I am sure she will be bonded to Morgana. After all Morgana is the most powerful breed of this century. Only someone with Morgana's strength can get someone as Lia. We will be lucky to get a second tier maiden. ”

“At least, we will be better than the Falme girl.” Anya said.

I sighed as I listened them. The maidens of the moon were like bodyguards to whomever they were bonded to. They were skilled in combat, wielding swords and the act of pleasure.

Unlike us, they were humans and were divided in three categories,

The first tier, which is the house of Cheng.

The second tier, which is the house of Tian Chan.

The third tier, which is the house of Min.

Their tier level represented their combat skills.

In two steps, they stepped towards us and each of them placed a Calabash in front of us. Another murmuring broke out in the hall.

The "food" in the Calabash was a watery soup with scanty vegetables and for the first time since I met these girls, I was on their side.

“Vegetables, Mother.” A girl snapped with a sharp tone. She was pale skinned and held a sharp gaze that told she was used to power. Amongst us all, she had the most elegance and charm.

“We are bloody wolves for Moon's sake,” she continued.

Vera grinned, “May I remind you, Morgana that this is not your father's palace neither is it the pack clan. As Mother of the three kingdom, I remind you to check your tone. I can snap your wolf in one blow. Do not test me.”

Morgana gritted, “Yes Mother.”

We all ate in silence.

A quarter hour glass later, we all moved out of the hall when Vera stopped.

“Your new quarters would be at barn wing.”

Another murmur ensued.

“Silence! You parrots!” Begritta commanded.

Vera continued, “Each Clan would share a room. You will be given your new uniforms. Make sure you have a good night sleep. Your trainings begins fully tomorrow and if you need anything.”

She looked directly at me, “I will be at the hall of scrolls. Waiting.”

With that she walked away, Begritta and the maidens trailing behind.

Maria walked in, her scrowl ever present.

“Follow me.” She ordered.

We moved with her, our shoes echoing down the hall when a girl taped me.

“Hi,” The girl said with a wide smile. I had noticed her before, quiet, looking. She had an auburn hair and pale skin. She looked no older than eighteen.

“I am Benita, daughter of Lord Magnus. I and Morgana are cousins.” She rolled her eyes.

"Actually, every girl here from the pack clan are all related.”

I smiled, “Good for you.”

“I heard you are from Falme?” She asked, peering at me curiously. “ How did you get here?"

I sighed, as the memories flooded. “The same way you got here. Dragged, kidnapped, watched my mother die by the king's sword.”

Benita stopped walking. “Your mother was killed,?”

I shuddered, “Yes.”

“That is strange,” she said. “We received a letter summoning us to the palace three days ago. Nobody was kidnapped, or dragged. And nobody's parent died by the sword. Are you sure of what you are saying?"

I blinked, my mind as I stared at her. If no one's parents were killed, then why was mine killed?!

Who ordered her death?

What in the bloody Moon's name was going on?!

And as I turned to Benita, my heart raced. Not because of my thoughts but because for a moment,

I saw a shadow fading behind her.