un cast a rosy hue across the morning sky. G

dian and on an attached extension is an open courtyard that flanks the edifice like an oversized, balcony.

ast i

I was trained to do was fight. Father taught me, as a father teaches his son. Which i

on how to be a wife, a wife of a noble or more desirably, on her pa

Regnum in a different kind of way. Not in a

by it. But I'm willing to searc

urn my face forward. I hear her steps click on the floor, gradual and each one lou

u stare out into the distance

ve rejected. All whom wish to curry favour with my father or think I am as shallow as they are to form baseless friendships. Even though I am one, I loathe noble

tivals and why I venture into town every day without failure. To the point that I have master

ages through my studies

the decree of the King Trials. Which means so does all my friends. People who are tr

thoughts, Seliah stares at me impatient

" I say, when truly

ring her satchel; the strap secured across her t

ing, " I say

own worried, and you swore to visit Reeva. She has been workin

fuses and I lock

. "You will leave all the commoners of the Prime heartbroken if you l

words shifts my w

me more real. And when I leave, either

sigh and places a comfort

n but with a new title win or lose. Yes, your life is changing, but it can be for t

loom. "Since when di

my shoulder with her own. "We

say, "Alright, you make

sent for our horses." She winks at me and spins around to walk

ur brief run in with Hector where he liberated Fre

ar faces. Some acquainted enough to only do the polite wave and s

town. Merchants to advertise the goods they have caught, grown or built by hand. Mostly carts of organic vegetables, imported from the

voice with rich caden

class townsfolk; blends of greys and browns. Passed the round bustle

eet with equa

ately haul her up into my ar

ead on my shoulder for a moment. She smells of candinian

in pairs well with her curious green eyes, h

rin. Her small hand pats my cheek and sh

poke her nose with my finger and I am rew

drags herself through the th

ants deeply towards her an

w... how... she can be, " she

I am happy to

t as lovely with her dark hair swept up in a chigno

u leave." She extends her hand and I hold o

ou ner

in my throat, but they

. "Just know that I pray to the Most High that

show my gratitude for her suppor

use." She releases my hand. "Macie might be the only g

cause as soon as her shoes hit the ground, she races out of si

almost pleadingly an

goes off to Agnes's bakery whereas I take a tri

o allow them to pass. They barely pay me att

heaves her companion with her. Both of them fl

n greeting. "It's

are to the ground and they

d on display. The two amethyst walls beside me and ahead are overshadowed by the racks of ha

ke the music of rills, but as penetrating as an

ds freeze up behind her head, it seems she was trying to tame her red flames. Locks straggling ou

about to reprimand me. "Well look at you, finally decide to

and you know it." I

isassociate yourself with us commoners before

how much it has wounded me. One thing I t

ously and severely. I hate using my official

moner, I see people and I love you all, and you know that. A

e a kicked puppy. Her inna

find it better to

ou, " I fill i

f her dress and slides her hands down, then I notice the

are for

k. "You have a w

. And the king takes care of his own, paying her a large enough sum to take care of her and her

laxes, the back of her hand rests in the in-dip of

ask, entwining my

te was not kind to him. They sent word that he suffered an injury during a defensi

to my chest. "And his father? I know that Phillip was looking to ret

time where Domuses called for his pieces, but now business has grown slow.

aroma. Seliah walks in with an oval-shaped loaf clothed

smell up my shop." She points a bony finger at Seli

he bread to her chest like a newborn. "Wel

arty guffaw. Once it fades her f

." She turns and waves us over as she disap

nest fabric in the region. Leavers lace, and with

k is clutter, clusters of torn or loose fabric and half made dresses. The only complete

n. The beauty of the dre

working on this for a long time and I could never pinpoint its

of the decree I knew then. The King Trials is going to birth the first High Quee

r poignant sentiment. Reeva and kind words are far and few in between. Thoughtlessly, I lunge for her and envelope her in

n my embrace, but instead her hand taps m

her with

itle, that much was made clear when you scolde

a fair High king, one that fights off the vultures in cour

liah and she gives

ain s

r the dress? Five hundred gold

s to you as a gift but more of an offering, a token of faith and bel

a giveaway to." I twist my torso and look down to flap my satchel open,

move forward and chuck it on her workta

h ten times more, "

ith grace and nods. "I wil

between them both. "Wait here will you

of people; the activity reaches its climax. I pass the stone str