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Hawthorne

There is no word to describe the Witch Queen other than monster. The Queen of Thayaria feels nothing, too lost in the bloodrage that comes when one starts practicing blood magic. Despite the Golden King’s unending attempts to reason with her or appeal to her emotions, she remains unphased. She lusts for more power and is too far gone to see that she has completely destroyed her kingdom. The once picturesque landscape of Thayaria now decays with rot.

The Witch Queen and Her Treachery

The journey is swift and comfortable, if a bit unnerving. We stay on well-traveled roads lined with trees that feel like they’re watching us, the eyes of the Witch Queen trained on the unwelcome guests. Even Silene is affected by the haunting environment, staying quiet and close to either Fionn or me. Every so often, one of us jumps, sure we’ve seen something move in the forest around us. At one point, Fionn swears the plants are trailing after us. Admon only smiles, neither confirming nor denying Fionn’s allegations. Toward the end of the second day, my horse pants with the strain of traveling uphill. We must be making the ascent to the capital city nestled amongst rolling hills and mountain peaks.

When we crest the final peak, the view takes my breath away. At the highest point of the city stands the palace, much smaller than the Velmaran castle. It’s difficult to tell the material the residence is made from, as almost every inch is covered in creeping vines and dark blooming flowers. Part of the structure appears to be built into the side of the rounded mountain, with windows peeking out from grassy cliff sides. There are several moss-covered towers, and in the right light I imagine the architecture would simply appear to be part of the rolling landscape. The whole effect is frightening.

We continue to ride along the ridge, and the capital city of Thayaria appears, at odds with the eldritch palace. Arberly is a sprawling city with colorful buildings dotted across the knolls and valleys, surrounded on all sides by larger mountain ranges that look almost navy in the mist, the silver fog adding intrigue to the layers of tree-lined ridges. All manner of plants cover the buildings and roads. The whole city looks like one overgrown garden that effortlessly appears both wild and manicured all at once. Next to me, Fionn and Silene are as awed as I am, their mouths open and eyes wide. This is certainly not the dark and decaying landscape children are warned of when their parents threaten to send them here if they misbehave.

Admon walks to us, and his eyes twinkle with delight. “It truly is a magnificent view. Even I never tire of entering the city from this direction.” We’re led down a steep, winding road, then up and down several more slopes. The road we travel seems to skirt the city, a direct route to the palace. When we reach tall mossy gates, several guards come out and look through our trunks before grunting to signal us to move forward. “Your quarters will be on one of the lower levels of the palace, so that you may easily enter the city without needing to trek down, and then up, the many flights of stairs this palace is known for,” Admon informs us. “You’re free to enter the city at your leisure, but you should know the Thayarian people will be extremely wary of you. Very few have left this kingdom or even this city their entire lives, and as you know, we have had no foreigners here for a very long time. Even Queen Laurel herself rarely leaves the kingdom.”

With that warning, Admon turns to lead us farther into the palace. We follow him along overgrown garden paths and through a door built into a hill. Inside, the palace walls are a dark gray, the lights dim and flickering. My skin prickles at the steep temperature drop as we trek farther into the heart of the castle. The place has an ominous feel, and I shudder to think what our rooms might look like. After several turns, we stop at two large double doors carved with various flora. Admon opens them, and we walk into a spacious and gloriously warm apartment.

“There are three bedrooms in this apartment,” Admon tells us, “all connecting to a sitting room. Each bedroom has a private bathing chamber, and water in the bathing chamber is provided by a system of pipes connected to a hot spring a few miles away. Meals will be served in your sitting room every day, though you’re free to find meals elsewhere in the city. The Council of Advisors has scheduled a formal introduction meeting tomorrow afternoon. Until then, I’ll leave you to get settled, as I’m sure you’re tired from two days of travel.” Admon pauses for a moment to see if we have any questions. When we stay silent, he bows and leaves.

“It feels very… cozy,” Silene says. The sitting room has a large bay of windows that appear to slide open onto a ground floor patio. In one corner is a fireplace, already roaring. Comfortable chairs are interspersed throughout, with a large table in another corner. Like everything in Thayaria, the space is also lined with plants that trail along the walls, adding to the pleasant ambiance.

Nothing this comfortable exists in the Velmaran palace. It is all gilded chairs that are cold and hard, formal spaces with lifeless decor—even in the private suites. I did my best to make my own suite comfortable, but even after centuries of seeking perfectly worn leather sofas, it’s nothing compared to this sitting room.

“Do you think the plants can listen in on our conversation?” Fionn whispers, eyes wide in fear. Silene giggles, and I shake my head no, though I’m not actually confident in the answer.

“Let’s get settled. I’m exhausted,” I tell them.

Fionn peaks his head in each bedroom, then walks into the one closest to the external doors, ever the protective warrior. “This one’s mine,” he grunts. I give Silene a look that says she’s free to choose her bedroom next.

She looks into the remaining two, then gives me a maniacal grin. “One of these is clearly meant for the Crown Prince of Velmara. Too bad he was stupid enough to give his courtier first pick.” She stalks into what appears to be the larger bedroom as I follow. The room is painted gold, as if the Thayarians assumed I would want to keep the color of my country even in my sleeping chambers. The bed is massive, with a gold comforter and lush pillows. It has its own private patio, a table and chairs set there to admire the picturesque view.

I loathe the gold that covers the Velmaran palace and am more than happy to give this bedroom over to Silene. She collapses onto the bed, moaning at the soft bedding. “Thank the aether, these beds are comfortable. I could sleep for days after the chaos of last week.” With a smile, I leave her to appreciate the bed intended for me.

The last remaining bedroom is smaller, though not by much. It’s painted a deep green that relaxes my tense body the instant I step into the room. Had I taken the first pick, I would have chosen this bedroom. It feels warm, the camel leather sofa at the foot of the bed pairing perfectly with the velvet emerald comforter. The desk is a rich oak, and even the bathing chamber is dark and moody. After changing out of my dusty travel clothes, I settle into the comfortable bed and allow my exhaustion to lull me into a deep sleep.

The next morning, Fionn, Silene, and I eat breakfast together in the sitting room. We all slept well somehow, not concerned that it was our first night in a country that killed hundreds of our people the last time Velmarans were on these lands.

“What’s our strategy for this Council meeting today? Do you think the Queen will be there?” Fionn asks.

I nod. “I assume she’ll formally greet us today. I plan to be observant and do my best to keep my mouth shut.”

Silene shakes her head up and down vigorously in agreement. “Yes, Thorne, keep your mouth shut , you impulsive rake.” Fionn chuckles, and I give Silene a wink. “What of our betrothal? Are we officially engaged here?” she asks.

“What do you think?” I ask, sure she has an opinion.

She frowns, pausing to consider the options. “We let them continue to believe whatever it is they’ve heard. If they bring up the betrothal, then we’re a couple. If they don’t, then we get to finally be rid of each other,” she taunts, and I laugh before giving her my agreement. If they do think we’re betrothed, I’ll have to find a way to establish that it’s a political arrangement made by my father if my plan to charm Queen Laurel into spilling her secrets is going to work.

A knock at the door reveals Admon.

“If you’re ready,” he says from the doorway, “I’ll show you to the Council chambers.” I nod, and we follow him out the door and down the hallway we entered last night. He stops before a large staircase, then looks back at us. “I must warn you,” he says, a twinkle in his eyes, “this palace has many floors, and the Council chambers are at the very top. We are in for a vigorous walk. Since we’re at a higher elevation than you’re unused to, this may be a difficult trek.” Fionn puffs out his chest a bit, huffing at the implication that he’s not capable of conquering stairs. Silene and I trade glances in silent laughter.

Thirty minutes later, all three of us, Fionn included, are out of breath. Admon seems perfectly fine. “You weren’t kidding when you warned us about the stairs,” I barely gasp out. Admon only smiles and leads us down another dark and cold hallway and into a large Council chamber.

I’m surprised at the number of advisors here. There must be at least thirty in the room. While my father has many courtiers and nobles, his formal list of advisors is extremely short, holding only two names.

Admon notices my surprise. “Her Majesty Queen Laurel is a ruler who seeks the opinions of many when making decisions. The Council of Advisors is quite large, as you can see. Not everyone attends every meeting, but they have all shown up to meet Velmara’s Crown Prince.” I only nod, then follow him to the head of the large square table, where four seats have been arranged. He gestures for Silene, Fionn, and me to sit.

Once again, I search for the Queen, and once again, Admon informs me, “Her Majesty will not be joining us. She has delegated relations with Velmara to her Council. You will meet with sub-committees of the Council for various topics throughout your time here.” I bristle, feeling somewhat insulted that the Queen is not even attempting to meet me or welcome me herself. Before I can say anything, Admon stands and addresses the room. “As the temporary and acting chair of the Council of Advisors, I am delighted to introduce you to His Royal Highness, Prince Hawthorne Vicant, Crown Prince of Velmara. We are pleased to extend you our welcome, Prince Hawthorne. We are also pleased to meet your betrothed, Miss Silene Kalmeera, as well as your advisor, Fionn Solanum. Welcome to Thayaria.”

So much for staying silent on our betrothal. I inwardly sigh. They must have been told by my father when he wrote to Queen Laurel requesting permission for me to bring two advisors along. It seems he’s not letting me out of this betrothal, even if it would have made it easier to get her to trust me. The room of advisors claps quietly, an odd reaction to being introduced to the first strangers to enter their lands in three hundred years.

Admon continues. “Today’s meeting is an opportunity for the advisors to introduce themselves. Once the room has completed introductions, we’ll ask for a list of topics you’d like to prioritize so that we can arrange a series of meetings for your first weeks here.”

All thirty plus advisors tell me their names and the sub-committees they’re assigned to as they offer their pleasantries and welcomes. I try my best to commit every name to memory but can only keep track of a few. Aria, who leads the small business programs, is an attractive female who bats her lashes at me after I give her a dimple-revealing smirk. Lionel, a human with blonde hair and a red beard, runs the kitchens. Nathaniel, an extremely tall fae with a face that makes him look like he’s perpetually keeping a secret, is in charge of infrastructure for the kingdom.

When the Captain of the Royal Guard introduces himself, I attempt to flirt with him, not out of any real interest in the straight-laced male, but to see what boundaries may exist there. He’d prove a useful ally in getting closer to the Queen, especially if I could charm him enough to reveal her guard rotation or schedule. He wouldn’t be the first male I’ve wooed in order to get what I want. Despite my best efforts to wink and make suggestive comments, he only responds awkwardly, like he’s unsure what to do with the interest of the Crown Prince of Velmara.

The introduction takes what feels like ages and is not at all what I expected. I assumed the Queen would greet me with veiled threats and tell me to stay out of her way, then show a small bit of power to keep me in line. I certainly didn’t expect I’d have to actually work while I was here.

There are dozens, maybe more, sub-committees, all with special topics and agendas. Many of the advisors make their plea to be my priority in the first weeks. One of them, a mousy and matronly looking female fae named Margery who introduces herself as the Minister of Education for Thayaria, makes an impassioned speech about desiring my expertise in light channeling at the school in Arberly. They have several light channelers who are struggling without teachers. That piques my interest, and I make a mental note to make that one of my priorities.

When the last of the advisors is done introducing themselves, Admon looks at me expectantly. I don’t know what to do, but Silene steps on my foot to urge me to act. I stand, trying to imitate the way I’ve seen my father give speeches to his nobles.

“Thank you for the warm welcome. Silene, Fionn, and I are grateful for your hospitality and are thrilled to be here in Thayaria.” I flash my most charming grin, and I see it working on several of the younger advisors. Though I was nervous when I first began speaking, my next words surprise me. “I would like to learn more about your magical education system, your trade agreements with other kingdoms, and your programs for supporting small family-owned businesses.” I didn’t realize I cared about those topics, but I find myself excited at the prospect of learning more.

Silene steps on my foot again. “I’ll discuss this with Silene and Fionn and provide a thorough list to you by tomorrow,” I add for Silene’s benefit, and she relaxes. I’ve apparently said what she wants me to say.

Admon claps his hands. “Excellent, Your Highness. We’ll await your missive and begin setting up the additional meetings.” With that, he dismisses the Council, and the advisors all stand and begin to make their way out of the chambers.

“Admon,” I say. He turns to me. “When will I meet Her Majesty, Queen Laurel? I expected to have been introduced by now.”

“Her Majesty has many other responsibilities. As I said, she has wholly entrusted the Velmaran relationship to her Council. I am to be your primary point of contact.”

I don’t respond, reading between the lines. They don’t intend for me to meet Queen Laurel.