The winter season gusts blew through the open halls of Draiden castle, their song as light and swift as the breezes of the morning. It was just before dawn while all slept, the handmaidens and slaves of King Calira went about their duties. Some polished floors, others tended the laundry, but most stood about in conversation. Speaking of things they would not dare while the King and his men were about. Gossip, a flaw in every living creature scaled the lands like a disease. Tales of the King bedding another, rumors of war to come, stories of truth twisted and reformed into much more interesting stories. It was how they made their hard lives comfortable day by day, interesting lies passing from one ear to the next, but not all falsehoods were without some truth. And that is why every morning before even her beloved rose from bed, Queen Alexandria traveled into the midst of her four listening ears, Amariea, Paiyana, Zeo, and Kasta.
"Good morning, my sweet Songbirds. I see you have begun the preparations for the breaking meal," said the Queen, taking a seat at the table in the kitchens. The room was hot with steam and smoke of the newly lit flames. The aroma of herbs and butter filled her nose. The room was vast and round; its walls were formed of stone and mortar. A decorative overlay of cherry-colored wood laid horizontal upon its faces, each engraved with symbols of protection. Like the oven within it, the kitchen of the castle was similar to a sauna. One would find themselves sweating and fanning during their time there. Only the Queen could find it comforting, its warmth and closed area made her feel secure. But most of all, its workers held information she could never grasp alone.
"Good morning, M'lady. It is a pleasure to have your company on this morning." spoke the four young women, each breaking away from their duties to curtsy before her Grace. "As it is to be within yours, but do tell me have you girls heard anything new passing by your door?" Each of the four went back to their work, one tending to biscuits, another frying strips of Fa'Ra'Fet belly in a large skillet, while the remaining spread themselves by making tea and tending the Queen.
"Well, there is a rumor that there is a woman in the city of Lamoit who knows the witches. The King has been traveling there once a moon to meet with her." Alexandria bit her bottom lip in thought for a moment. "Well, the Tyliquins have no families. They are said to be the last remaining from the war." The girls all gave her a worried look. Then in silence returned to what they had begun. Alexandria shifted in her seat. Had her husband lied to her? If the three who resided under her roof were not the only surviving heirs to their race, how many were there? Zeo, the shortest of the four, presented Alex with a cup of Leap berry tea and an apologetic smile. "Zeo, my sweet girl. Why do you look so guilty? Surely you have not kept things from me." The young woman shook her head softly and turned away speaking. "Well, your Grace...I overheard his Majesty and the Foreseer talking about a coven of some sort." "The Foreseer? Who might that be, I have never heard my husband summon forth a man under that title."
"She speaks of the one known as Tonisa, my Queen. She is the Tyliquin who serves the closest to King Calira." Said Amariea. Paiyana turned placing the hard fried swine onto the table, her eyes meeting the Queen's as she spoke. "I heard that the King highly favors Tonisa. She is always by his side. He even allows her to travel alone without the company of his guards!" The Queen took a sip of the tea and began nervously tapping her nails upon the wooden tabletop. "So that is why he has been leaving for seven days out of the month. And to think he has been growing so close to the likes of an enemy." She thought to herself.
Such things worried her already troubled mind, a being so cold towards her yet so soft and warm towards an ancient threat. Something was wrong and unbalanced within her home. "Do you think girls that perhaps she has charmed him somehow? Maybe to keep his temper controlled while she is with him?" "I do not believe it so, M'lady. He is just simply in better spirits when she is around him. She would never be so foolish as to place a spell on a King. After all, in doing so, would mean death, would it not?" "It would indeed, but Tyliquin witches cannot be trusted. Even now I believe that in these new times they yet hold a grudge against dragons. Thank you for your ears and words, girls, return to your chores. I have a sudden need to exchange words with another." "Aye, M'lady, do have a beautiful day." Alexandria took her leave with a heavy heart. Was she to be replaced by this demon? If the King had fallen weak to the tricks of this being, would she as well?
"You should not have spoken such things. It is not our place to interfere in the business of royals," spoke Kasta, the eldest of the four. "And why not? I enjoy being the Queen's listening ear. When we tell her what she wishes, we are rewarded," said Zeo adding silverware to a nearby tray. "Because what if she speaks to his Majesty and reveals where she received such information? Are you strong enough to bear his wrath before being so hastily given to Dovium? It is this sort of activity that got our parents killed. And found us forever forced to serve these dragons."
The three girls dropped their heads and nodded. "Apologies, sister. We only meant to help The Queen." "All I voice is that perhaps you girls should stop always spying on others conversations. The three handmaidens made their way out of the kitchen and into the halls. Their sister, however, remained behind them staying firmly pressed against the back of the swinging door. Planting a knock on a nearby flour cupboard, she spoke. "You may come out now, all have left leaving only us." The door pushed open and from it came a figure cloaked in silver.
"You should be much more careful next time. If the Queen had caught me here, all plans would be lost." The woman's face remained covered only her lips were able to be seen. She placed a sack of coins into the servant's hand leaning into her ear. "See yourself from this place and do not return. If you value your life, you will never speak of the events that have come to pass. You have received your orders, see them carried out. The figure walked through the back door and into the darkness of the morning leaving Kasta to her thoughts and her coin.
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