Despite sleeping in her own bed again, Flora did not sleep well that night. After checking on Spot once again, she had gone through her usual routine of preparing for bed, something she had neglected these last few weeks. It felt nice to really clean herself off, from her teeth to her hair. While bathing had been a weekly chore as a stable hand, she had to admit that she used her new private bathtub more often than the recommended once a week schedule. By all means everything had gone well, and she should have slept just fine. And yet, she couldn't shake the feeling of uneasiness, never getting truly comfortable while her dreams left her feeling restless.
Flora woke up the next day feeling groggy and lethargic. She found her trusty companion feeling much the same. Dragging herself out of bed, Flora got up to find Spot had moved to the foot of her bed. He gave her a tired wag of his tail when he saw her, but made no move to actually get up.
"My poor, brave boy." Flora said in a cooing tone, bending down and giving her dog a comforting rub. He returned a thankful whine but did nothing more beyond that. Flora's heart cracked to see him like this. This must be what Erick had felt like. Flora reflected, unable to stop the guilt that came with it. She gave Spot one more rub before heading towards her closet to change.
She found that all of her clothes and linens had been freshly cleaned, organized into neat piles or hung on the rack for her. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Flora realized that someone had to have been in her room yesterday to have done that. It was normal, she assumed, that castle servants took care of such things. Why she hadn't realized it earlier was beyond her, but was now a realization that she couldn't shake off. A more agreeable realization compared to the many others of late.
Flora was not thinking about the animalistic nature of shape shifters. The very idea that they were males that could go into rut like witless deer was definitely not causing her skin to itch. It was probably just seasonal allergies.
Flora quickly dressed into her formal wear, making sure everything was best and orderly before heading out. More than a little part of her hoped that the host of King's relatives had left by now so that court meals would be a little less… intense. Not that they were all too thrilling to begin with. Flora thought. That was why King Erick had invited her the first time wasn't it? The one seemingly small yet monumental decision that had inadvertently led them to where they were now. Or perhaps it had been her fault. She was the one who came to the castle to begin with. Not only that, but she had knowingly worked hard to get to where she was now.
Flora shook these thoughts free as she continued down the halls to the large dining room. She was earlier than normal, hoping to find a more appropriate seat this time. Not because she didn't like the King, but the just thought of those continued stares and whispers as she walked the halls made her uneasy.
When Flora arrived, she found that there were more seats available as she had hoped for. Unfortunately the available seats were less than ideal, most being sandwiched between the not-quite-warring clans and one next to old Leon who was giving nearly everyone a stink eye this morning. Woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning I guess. Flora thought absentmindedly. She turned to look down the other end of the table, where King Erick was seated.
Their eyes met, and Flora couldn't ignore the expectation that lingered there. It should have been subtle, but Flora recognized it for what it was. It was a silent question, one she found hard not to answer. After a very brief deliberation, Flora took the seat beside Erick. A tiny upturn at his lips indicated a smile, and looked as if he was about to say something. Erick's demeanor quickly shifted when the rest of the court walked in, his shoulders tensing and face closing off any emotion that might have been there. Flora found it hard to chase away the hurt that came from that look. The last to join the group was King Balder, walking in with a sort of swagger that was more exaggerated than before. If he had been confident and self-assured before, now he walked in as if he owned the place. Flora didn't miss the look Erick cast his brother. If Balder noticed, he made no indication as he took the seat at the other end of the table.
Small talk quickly slung up around them as servants came out with food. Like before, the platters were filled with all sorts of breakfast foods and treats. It might be hard to go back to anything normal if this is how they eat every single day. Flora inwardly thought as food was set out before her.
Before people became too engrossed in their food or conversation, Erick loudly cleared his throat. The room stilled as they waited for him to speak, and even Flora found herself holding her breath. While she had gotten used to his emotionless facade, there was something deeper in his expression that had her heart clenching. Something's wrong. A little voice told her. She tried to ignore it, but the feeling lodged itself in her throat as Erick began to speak.
"As much as I do enjoy family visits," Erick shot his brother a look that Flora couldn't quite place. "I have a terribly busy day today and I really must be going." Quiet chatter sprung around the table, and Erick's jaw ticked from what Flora assumed was frustration. "Regardless," Erick stated loudly, causing the table to go quiet. "I hope you all enjoy the rest of your stay." It was as much as a dismissal as it was a compliment, and from the look on his face Flora got the note that he was more than tired of their continued presence at the castle.
Before Flora could return to her breakfast, she felt Erick's hand gently land on hers. It should have just been a simple gesture, but she couldn't ignore the buzz that went through her at his touch. He leaned in to speak to her privately, and for a moment Flora felt like it was just the two of them in the room.
"I'm really sorry I won't be able to see you off today." He said quietly, his gravelly voice sounding low in his chest. Flora couldn't stop the hit of disappointment before it left her face. She knew she had a job to do, that she had to oversee the animal collection of her father's farm, but the finality of it hadn't yet set in. As if seeing the hurt in her eyes, Erick gave her hand a gentle squeeze of reassurance.
"But I'm glad I got to see you." Erick said quietly. Despite the small smile he held, his face seemed to be full of conflicting emotions. Perhaps he's struggling just as much as me. Flora realized, considering both his duties as king and the current state of affairs.
With a final squeeze of her hand Erick stood up to leave, making a short and curt bow to the room before leaving. He cast a severe glance towards his brother, who only smiled in return. Flora thought she caught Erick rolling his eyes, and wondered what kind of silent conversation they must be having. The thought of someone reaching into her mind to converse was still unsettling, but she couldn't help her curiosity of the possibilities.
A derisive snort sounded next to her, and Flora turned to find Esther with a look of tired frustration on her face. "Unfortunately," Esther started, turning to face Flora. "You'll find that work always comes first for him." She cast a look over at her other brother, Balder, a frown tugging on her lips. "And it's quite the opposite for him." She nodded in Balder's direction. His sister beside her, Grace, simply laughed.
Flora soon found herself swept up in the conversations around her. Despite the absence of their king, the court quickly recovered and took up a swift and cheerful atmosphere. Flora, feeling wildly out of place, kept most of her replies to short yet polite answers and avoided starting any conversation on her own. Without Erick's presence, she found herself feeling almost claustrophobic around so many people. She had little or no interest in court gossip or modern fashion - who puts an entire bird on a hat?
What did pique her curiosity was the discussion of various inventions. Flora was able to overhear a couple of the unicorn courtiers discussing something they called an electric automobile. What does that even mean? Flora puzzled as the two continued their discussion.
"I'm telling you Martin, no one is going to buy it." Said the older of the two, pointing his fork at the young man.
The young man - Martin - waved his hand in dismissal. "I say it's a worthy investment, you're just stuck in the past." He accentuated his statement with a sharp jab of his fork, piercing a sausage more aggressive than necessary. Flora made a note not to disagree with Martin. Besides, she had little knowledge of technology to have much to say on it. Growing up on a farm meant she never even saw any of it, let alone need to use it.
Before long Flora had finished her food, finding herself itching to leave. It would be rude to be the first person to leave, but then again King Erick had already left. On the other hand, King Balder was still seated and appeared all too happy to stay all morning. Flora internally moaned, tired of being around so many people and already stressed over the work that was ahead of her. Perhaps no one will even notice. Flora thought as she quietly got out of her seat and tucked it in. Unfortunately for her, she did not go unnoticed.
"Beast Master, are you leaving us already?" King Balder called from his end of the table. Flora froze, her mind racing as panic hit her hard, taking her senses with it. She knew she had a perfectly reasonable answer, she had work to do. It was as if being confronted had taken away any answer she had planned and replaced it with a brick. A very heavy brick that left her stumbling for an answer. Thankfully, she didn't need an answer because Balder kept talking. Unfortunately, that meant Balder kept talking.
"I knew my brother kept you busy, but I didn't think he kept you that busy." Balder said with a wicked grin that had Flora's face heating. She could feel her entire face and neck turn red at the insinuation, and it did not escape the many eyes that sat at the table. This is why I should avoid them. A voice reminded her. She attempted to mumble a quick apology before turning to leave, and yet Balder kept talking.
"I have to wonder if what my brother said is true," Balder continued. "Or if he just needed an excuse to get rid of old Aunt Martha." He laughed, and a handful of other joined in. His grandmother notably, did not look amused. Flora swallowed back her rising fear. Was the question simply rhetorical, meant for entertainment purposes only? Or was there something more to this? Was this something she really wanted to answer here and now? It was bad enough Erick had all but killed his aunt over the statement, but did she really need to be put on the spot like this?
"Balder." Esther hissed from her seat at the table, disrupting Flora's spiraling thoughts.
"What?" He asked nonchalantly, a laughing grin still plastered to his face.
"Manners." She emphasized with a sharp jab of her fork. Balder rolled his eyes, earning a few laughs from the woman next to him. Esther shook her head in dismay before shooting Flora an apologetic look.
Flora, frozen to the spot, suddenly felt released from the court's attention. Most of them anyway. She blinked away her haze, no longer stuck under the spotlight of so many, and quickly made her farewells before leaving. It took everything in her not to bolt right then and there. Maybe I wasn't made for this job. She thought bitterly.
Flora did her best to avoid any and everyone as she strode down the halls back to her rooms. She couldn't stop the nagging fear that people were talking about her. Erick had not been subtle, not since they came back from the Spring Inspection. Waking up in his room had been a shock, and everything that came after felt like a bad dream. Flora refused to let herself sit on any one part for two long, or she risked the sharp pain of anxiety that would jolt through her body at the mere mention of it. She was the Beast Master, and her current duty was animal collection. Never mind where the animals came from, or why she was doing it. She had a task at hand and that was all that mattered.
And yet she couldn't stop her thoughts from drifting back to her time with Erick, when it had been just the two of them. A time when he was no longer her king or she his servant. The memories sent a warmth through her body that wasn't entirely unwelcome, and she held onto this as she continued with her preparations for the day.
Erick was in a distinctly sour mood today, unlike his usual sour mood he held most days. He had never really anticipated performing an execution, let alone one so soon into his reign. He understood the consequences of not taking care of it himself and letting someone else do it, but he also had to consider the possibilities of what would happen if he did do it. Unfortunately, with his relationship to Flora now public, he couldn't risk appearing biased. The law was clear, and he had a duty to perform.
Erick reminded himself of this as he checked the fit of his new attire. He had a new set made for this reason. An all black set, from the undershirt to the cape, even the buttons were kept a dull black. It was not something to be proud of, and in a way was his own set of mourning clothes. While his father had done his best to minimize and reduce any form of extreme punishment, certain crimes could not be overlooked. Erick knew his reign would have a shaky start, but putting down an anti-magic resistance was not something he had anticipated.
Erick carefully buttoned everything into place, taking note of how the new fabric felt as he moved in it. Most suits of the latest fashion were terribly uncomfortable and hard to move in. It was not unusual to see someone in an ill-fitted suit move more stiffly than a carriage with a broken wheel. That was why Erick had specified for this set to be of a slightly different cut. The shoulders and elbows had been designed to allow for free mobility, and Erick ran through several motions with a practice sword to test it out. The short tail of his coat combined with the black cape created a sweeping motion behind him, reminding Erick of dragon wings in flight.
At the end he performed one mighty swing down, a chill running down his spine as he stood there, frozen in place. It was easy to swing a sword in an empty room with imaginary enemies. It was another thing to use in battle, something Erick was grateful for not having seen. Not yet. But using the large headed axe on a person in chains, in front of an audience…
Erick refused to linger upon it. He knew that if he let Harold live with anything less than death, it would not only be going against the established law but would also look like he was playing favorites. Having all but announced his relationship with Flora, it was certain to have made the rounds in several circles by now. He knew it hurt her, he could see the conflict in the way she held herself. He also saw how she tried to hide it, maybe even from herself. He just hoped she could forgive him, even if it took a lifetime.
Erick sighed in resignation, replacing the sword on its stand and undoing a few of the buttons on his jacket. I suppose there could be worse starts to being king. Erick thought bitterly, rubbing his face with both hands. As soon as he was well enough to stand they threw a crown on his head and told him to lead. Of course he could easily delegate his tasks to others, if his court hadn't been so thoroughly slaughtered that night. Replacements were easy to come by, but trust was not.
Swiftly leaving the room, Erick moved on through his agenda for the day. Like most days he was caught between meetings, paperwork, and training. Not exactly what he pictured being king would be like, but then again his father had changed many of the standards set or used by his grandparents.
Instead of dwelling on the could-have-been and never-to-be Erick pushed through with his work. He had a meeting with the Game Master - again - and an assortment of nobles and commoners alike who felt the need to bring their troubles to him. Despite having plenty of guards and law makers, there always seemed to be no end to the line of people with problems. Problems he had to deal with. Erick gritted his teeth at the thought of just how long it would take. His father may have been a little too considerate when he changed hearings from once a month to once a week. Nevertheless, he would pull through. It was his duty, and not something that could be done by halves.
Erick knew the routine by now, and was able to go through most of his meetings like clockwork. However, once he got to the hearings with the populace, he would find himself most unprepared. The usual disputes that were brought before him were easy to handle, many were very much the same with each person. But this week brought something new, and Erick was unsettled by how unprepared he was.
It was a short time after he had settled into the receiving room. Like the rest of the castle the walls had been patterned in decorative designs of curling plants and intricate swirls. Large paintings of previous kings and queens decorated the walls, taking up much of the otherwise empty space. Similar to the rest of the castle there were many lounge chairs and small tables set about the space where courtesans and gawkers alike took in the space. Erick found it hard not to let it grind on his nerves at the people who came simply to look. He himself sat upon a wooden chair so ornate it was just short of a throne, set on a dais at the far end of the room. Windows at his back towered from wall to ceiling and allowed light in through the drawn curtains, setting his gilded crown and golden horns alight in its shine.
It was probably overkill to wear a crown when you had a natural one, Erick reflected, but he knew it was more a statement than anything. The golden crown was made up of several strands of interwoven vines, the leaves and branches looking so lifelike Erick still wondered if someone had simply magiced it from a once living vine. He was briefly considering the nature of his crown between visitors when his problem came up.
A small human woman came up to the dais. She was much older than most who came, her hair streaked with silver and grey with age. Her back, likely once tall and proud, now stood stooped with age. She wore a large cloak-like shawl that draped down the length of her torso. She walked with a large wooden walking stick that was decorated with various trinkets and baubles. Her eyes were faded and rummy, and Erick wondered how she managed to get here on her own. She looks like she came from another age. Erick couldn't stop himself from thinking, noting that she may likely be old enough to actually be from a bygone era.
"My liege," the woman's voice sounded rough as if from disuse. "I bring an important message." The old woman slightly bowed her head as she procured a letter from underneath her shawl. Erick motioned for his attendant to take it and dismissed her. This part was not unusual, for letters to be sent like this. It was also not uncommon for them to always be claimed as important, of which was always a debatable label. "Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I've been instructed to remain until you respond." The old woman said in a gravelly tone. Erick had to refrain from rolling his eyes. Again, this was nothing new. He quickly took in the room, assessing those before him. It would be an inconvenience to all those who had come to see him, and would also appear to others as if he was in the habit of answering letters on the spot.
"No," he decided. "I will respond in due time. Until then, you may wait as a guest in the castle." Erick finished with a motion to one of the guards, who came up to help the woman away. As the guard stepped forward, Erick felt the room drop to a notable chill.
"I'm afraid I must insist, Your Majesty." The old woman said with a steady voice, his guard hesitating at the decreasing temperature and the tang of magic in the air. Erick narrowed his eyes at her, letting his shadows deepen in warning. Upon closer inspection, he noticed the small hint of gold hidden in her fading eyes. She's either an old magic user, a wolf, or a roc. Erick noted with grim certainty.
Erick motioned for the guard to stand down, opening his hand for the letter. The attendant quickly stepped up and returned to the sealed letter. Erick did not take his eyes off the old woman until then, giving her a hard stare. The shadows in the room darkened, the edges sharpening. When he finally had the letter in his hand, he scrutinized every detail.
While the woman herself seemed from an age long gone, the letter was not. It had all the formal appearances of any letter. It was addressed to him in a neat hand, with a wax seal the color of fine silver. The wax was sealed with the imprint of a mountain range, a crest that was unfamiliar to him. The only thing missing was a return address. If it was from the Wolf Clan, I would know. If it was from any of the nobility, I would also know. Erick mentally ran through all of the powerful houses and families he knew, and found that none matched the one found on the letter. He frowned, peeling it open to reveal the contents within.
To His Majesty The King,
I do hope this letter finds you well and in good health. It is with a heavy heart that I hear of your parents' passing, and I give you my utmost grievances. However, that is not to be the content of this letter.
I send this as a formal request that my granddaughter may join you in your brother's upcoming Summer Ball. You will find her to be of ample age and a most willing partner. She is my heir for Matriarch of the Roc Clan, and a most advantageous pairing to your rule.
I have sent my most trusted advisor and sister to send you this letter. I hope to recieve your response post-haste.
~ Octavia Adler, Matriarch of the Roc Clan
Erick had to read the letter twice, the hurt of mourning his parents conflicting with the shock of what was essentially a proposal. While not explicitly stated as such, Erick knew that was what Octavia meant in her letter. Lights flickered as his carefully trained restraint slackened for but a moment, his shadows a physical manifestation of his frustration. Her timing couldn't have been worse. Erick thought, a bitter taste in his mouth.
"Unfortunately," Erick started as he handed the letter back to his attendant, pulling back his magic from the room. Several guests had already left from either fear or being uncomfortable, adding to Erick's frustration. "You will have to inform your sister that I am not looking for a partner." Erick made sure to emphasize the last word, leveling a stare at her that even she should be able to see. The woman stared back, a crease in her brow the only indication of her emotion.
"Is it true then?" She asked, just a breath before Erick could dismiss her. "Have you found your selfrund?" The way she said it sounded more like an accusation than a question. Erick nearly fought to keep his calm composure, feeling something primal stir within him.
"Yes, it is true." He stated flatly. "Now, you have taken up more than an appropriate amount of time. You are dismissed." He waved, and the guard once more stepped up to assist her. This time, she did not retaliate as she was led away. Erick almost sighed in relief, grateful to continue with his very busy and now somewhat behind schedule.
The rest of his audience went through the usual, and a part of Erick was grateful for it. The other part of him was dreading what came next.
Flora was wrapping up the last of her things in the barn as she prepared to leave. She checked and double checked Condor's girth, tightening it so the saddle wouldn't slip. She and a few of the farm hands had tacked up her horse as well as some of the carriage horses and pack mules. While the journey back to the farm would only take three days at most, the trio back could be almost double the length with all of the animals they had to take back. She tried and failed to ignore the plummeting feeling in her stomach at the thought of taking the animals from her father's farm. It only led to a dizzying sickness at the thought of her father's death.
She knew the law forbade family and friends from watching the execution, a law enacted well before Erick's father had ruled. It made sense in a practical sort of way, preventing the possibility of an interruption, but her mind warred with her heart as her final moments with her father had been less than ideal.
Taking deep breaths, Flora forced these emotions down as she finished prepping Condor. He danced restlessly on the cross-ties, as if sensing her jumbled emotions. Of course he is, horses are the most sensitive to their owners, right next to dogs. The thought only brought her heart down again. Spot would be left in the care of Erick's sisters while she was gone, and while she trusted them his care she couldn't stop the anxiety she had over his well-being.
She pushed through it, grabbing Condor's bridle and throwing them over his head and removing him from the cross-ties. She then took his reins and swiftly led him out of the Royal Stables, his hooves making soft clops on the patterned cement. That was when she overheard the stable hands outside of the barn.
"-triple execution this afternoon." The young girl stated incredulously. Flora did not need to hear the full sentence to understand that she was likely talking about her father. A wave of fear and panic seized her, causing her to stand stock still just outside of the barn.
"You can't be serious." The second older girl responded, her face a shocked and disbelieving stare.
"I heard it from one of the guards, something about a group of insurrectionists." The younger girl stated with such conviction that Flora wholeheartedly believed her.
Flora's head felt heavy at the thought, her stomach threatening to remove its contents. She gripped Condor's reins tighter, using the feeling of warm leather and the soft smell of horse to ground her.
"Did they say where it would be?" The older girl asked as she tightened the hitch on the draft horse, ensuring the wagon wouldn't come loose.
"I heard it was going to be in the Main Square, down in the lower half of the city." The younger girl sounded almost conspiratorial now, and Flora could only imagine the crowds of people that would have already gathered by now. The Main Square was just that, the largest town square in the city.
"Maybe we can still catch it if we hurry." The older girl said, her tone taking on something of excitement. Flora on the other hand was feeling quite the opposite. Her heart continued to race, picking up the pace as her thoughts swam deeper into the abyss of her emotions. Condor flung his head, pulling on the reins and prancing as he tried to move away from her. In a brief moment of impulse and heightened emotions, Flora flung herself onto her horse before racing down the castle fields.