Chapter 1- Leviathorp and Beyond

“Peggy!” Mrs Jones, the royal tutor, shouted down the hall. Peggy giggled and sprinted away. For all her years growing up in the royal castle, Peggy had never quite fit in with the royal family. Perhaps it was because she was only a cousin to the regent princess. Maybe she was just different, as the court liked to call her. Peggy didn’t much care either way. She was allowed a great deal of freedom, especially compared to other human royal courts. Songtar had always been a permissive kingdom in the continent of Albiontё, even before their marriage alliance with the werewolf pack to the North.

She scrabbled up the large plum tree in the gardens. She might be a young lady who had just had her debut, but tree climbing and running away from schoolwork was still an entertaining game.

“Get down!” Mrs Jones screamed, red-faced.

“I don’t want to do math!” Peggy shouted back.

“This is disgraceful behaviour!” Mrs Jones replied.

“Maybe I could step in.”

Peggy felt her stomach drop as she heard her cousin’s lilting voice. Her cousin, Aurellia, was everything a princess should be. Wise, kind, elegant, well-mannered, and graceful. Nobody dared mention she was a werewolf hybrid anymore. Her parents had made sure that was just a trait, and not a scandal. Her long lavender dress brushed over the grass as her pale eyes looked up at Peggy. Aurellia’s wolf ears twitched on top of her head, each side of the circlet resting on her black hair. Peggy immediately scrambled down from the tree and curtsied to the regent princess.

“Your highness-” Mrs Jones stuttered, but Aurellia held up a hand.

“You’re not in trouble, Mrs Jones. I think I need a word with my cousin, though,” she said softly. Mrs Jones nodded and stepped back.

“Come, Peggy, let’s go for a walk,” Aurellia said, taking Peggy’s arm.

Peggy walked stiffly next to her cousin. She had never been a graceful person, but Aurellia’s presence seemed to amplify that many times over.

“I’ve been meaning to catch you for a conversation,” Aurellia said gently. “But seeing your escapades today has made that more pressing.”

“I didn’t-”

“I know,” Aurellia said gently, carefully plucking a leaf from Peggy’s wild curly hair. “Arithmetic is important.”

“I’m not good at it, though,” Peggy sighed. “And I don’t think I’ll even use it in the future…”

“You’d be surprised,” Aurellia chuckled. “Speaking of your future…”

Peggy looked up at Aurellia. The regent was deep in thought for a moment, looking out amongst the garden that bloomed in pastel shades.

“I think it’s time we spoke about that,” Aurellia said, returning her attention to Peggy. “I understand you don’t want to get married yet. I can hardly blame you. I’m five years older than you and still have no interest in the subject,” she grinned. “But, you are seventeen now. And you are old enough to have your Excursion.”

Peggy’s eyes lit up. The Excursion was a tradition in the royal family in which members who were not closely in line for the throne were allowed to leave the palace walls to see the world, often with a job to do for the main branch of the family or to gain additional skills. It was seen as a great honour and a mark of maturity.

“Really?” Peggy asked eagerly.

“Indeed,” Aurellia nodded. “And I have just the task for you.”

Peggy nodded, looking eagerly up at her cousin.

“What is it?”

“I need a letter delivered to the sisterhood of Lynata,” Aurellia said, taking the letter from her sleeve. “It is of vital importance, and I have reason not to just hand it over to the royal postal service.”

“So… I’m going to be your postie?” Peggy asked, scrunching up her nose.

“Oh, don’t think of it like that,” Aurellia laughed. “The sisterhood is some ways away. Think of it as getting to travel to a new land as your Excursion.”

Peggy nodded slowly and paused her walking.

“One question,” Peggy asked.

“Of course,” Aurellia nodded.

“... What is the sisterhood of Lynata?”

Aurellia blinked and then laughed.

“Oh, my dear cousin, you really have been skiving from your lessons…” Aurellia said, putting the letter back into her sleeve. Peggy’s cheeks flushed.

“I- well-”

“The sisterhood,” Aurellia started. “Are a group of priestess werewolves who serve the moon goddess.”

“Ah,” Peggy nodded. “And these priestesses need a letter because…?”

“They’re over the Draconic ridge mountains, and further North. I need to ask them an astrology question, about what my mother said about the stars before she left, and they are the experts. At least the experts who will respond to me. I sent a letter to a Lycan astrologist and well…” she trailed off.

“No reply?” Peggy asked.

“Indeed,” Aurellia nodded. “I cannot tell why that would be the case.”

“I mean… Your pa wasn’t exactly nice to Lycan’s,” Peggy pointed out.

“He was married to a werewolf,” Aurellia sighed. “But he had responded in the past… So either he’s not responding, or my letter was never sent.”

Peggy nodded slowly as she took in Aurellia’s hardening expression.

“You think someone is trying to sabotage you from the inside?” Peggy whispered.

“Maybe,” Aurellia sighed. “Maybe mother’s disappearance has made me paranoid but…”

Peggy nodded. It had been almost six months since the queen disappeared.

“I think you have every right to be,” Peggy said.

“You’ve heard things?” Aurellia asked.

“A few, but I mean, I shouldn’t gossip…” Peggy said awkwardly. Aurellia giggled.

“My dear, your ability to hear and spread gossip would have made you an excellent spy master if only you could apply yourself to your studies. Now come on, what have you heard?”

Peggy grinned.

“Well, some of the noble houses seem curious about developments to the south. Apparently, King Kurnich has been sending out invitations. Some sort of celebration-”

“But he hasn’t invited me?” Aurellia asked.

“Exactly. Most think he’s just trying to snub you. Anyway, Lady Franciene is trying to make some new friends within your mother’s pack, maybe considering a coup? I think she’s just hopeful. Her youngest son has gambling debts, and all that, and a coup needs coin. There’s also some commotion with folks in the east of the kingdom. I think your mother may have been spotted, but nobody seems to have the right information on if it’s her or just a wolf,” Peggy explained. Aurellia nodded and pinched the bridge of her nose.

“And they didn’t tell me because…?” Aurellia asked.

“They don’t want to admit they can’t tell the difference between a wolf and a werewolf,” Peggy shrugged.

“When will the court stop being so difficult?” Aurellia sighed. “That’s all good for me to know… See if you can’t hear anything else while out on your Excursion. Consider it a secondary goal.”

“Of course, your majesty,” Peggy smiled, her heart racing as she thought of the adventure to come.