"Leave, everyone"
She surprisingly asked in a tone that sounded calm, but they were aware it was far from it. The maids rushed off leaving only Asundi standing.
Queen Ygrette made an offhanded hand gesture and the veiled woman immediately took off her veil revealing a very brash face with many scars that looked hideous. Her face could be mistaken for a rocky plane with lines that would be imagined painful upon how they came to be.
The Queen mother sighed out loud before telling her to cover it right back and made her way to a table to retrieve what seemed like a small pouch made out of a worn out sack cloth. She tossed it to the woman who caught it like it was her lifeline.
Asundi clutched onto the sack letting her nails dig into it almost to the point of tearing. Every time Ygrette does this a small part of her dies, but at the same time she dare not complain, not after all these years and not when a glimmer of light now shines in the horizon.
She bears the mark of a night she hoped to forget but unable to do so because of the evidence left behind. The Queen had taught her the class difference between a Lycan and a regular wolf, a lesson that was imprinted on her skin causing her to be confined behind a veil like some prisoner.
And now she receives medicine to alleviate the pain that resumes every three moons. Ygrette was both the cause and the solution to her pain and for that Asundi holds a grudge.
"You've been doing exceptionally well these years and I must indeed commend you."
"It's all for you my Queen. You've been most kind to me." Asundi responded as her fingers dug deeper into the pouch.
Ygrette gulped down some wine and began to wipe her fingers clean. "I hope you no longer harbor any of those lofty dreams…?"
She threw out the question and for a few seconds the old she-wolf froze with her heart in her mouth.
Yes, the Queen mother always asks her this question every other day but somehow today was different and she knew why.
Her plans were so close to getting started and so she fears her life may come to an end if the callous Lycan gets any hint of it.
"Of course not your highness. I have long forgotten---"
"The Council of the north and south pleads for an audience!" a guard abruptly announces from behind the door, cutting off whatever she was saying of which Asundi was grateful for.
She slowly bowed her head and exited the room without waiting to be told. The veiled woman came face to face with the two old council members and their entourage upon getting out of the room and paused for some time before also giving them a bow which was not returned.
Basalom Joff and Priel Vinson entered Queen Ygrette's chambers and met her anger before they could even sit down.
"Why did you let my son come to harm? You gave me your word…you swore on your mother's grave to be my eyes and yet it may seem I have gone blind!" her voice roared and like thunder it met its mark on the two men who were the reason for them.
"Harm…? What kind of harm has the King come to?" Basalom asked calmly as if her tantrums were nothing to him, which was somehow true.
"The curse. The freaking curse Basalom!!! why do they still exist? How did it attack my boy? I need answers…answers that would only come from you"
"Please calm down your highness. It may not be exactly as you've heard. Our King is back and as healthy as the day he was born. He now addresses his warriors in the training grounds. There is absolutely nothing to fear and---"
Ygrette was in front of him faster than the speed of light and before his brain could register her presence she gave him a resounding slap that left his ears echoing.
Even the entourage and guards waiting outside heard it but none would dare enter nor utter a word.
Basalom remained still almost like a statue while his companion felt like pissing himself.
"So you didn't know…? Your answer clearly shows you weren't aware…and yet you call yourself my 'right hand'. What a load of shit!"
The furious woman dawned a full bottle of wine that sat recklessly at a shelf nearby but that still did not ease her anger.
"I am indeed sorry my Queen. My incompetence has ruined your mood and for that I greatly apologize. But if I may ask…who told you of this?" his eyes starred into her green ones hoping to find a clue but Ygrette wouldn't be who she is if her emotions could easily be read from her gaze.
"You do not deserve that piece of information but I would surely love to hear about the northern dog who follows my son around. I hear Gorah Braheri has been everywhere but in his pack…so pray tell for whatever reason he chooses to do so?" she sat back on her cushioned chair as she waited for the old man to answer.
Basalom was calculating his response and at the same time trying to figure out who cast the first dice. He wanted to know who put such thoughts into the Queen's head and for what purpose.
It was true his spies may have forgotten to tail the king but it was because they had to run another errand, one that was far more important.
Only a fool would want to protect a demi-god, of what use would it be?
Razhal was a Lycan who cannot be killed; he knows it, everyone knows it, even the land and oceans were aware of this fact. So how would he protect such a person?
"The last I heard of the man he had buried his neck deep into the affairs of his pack in readiness for summer. The rebellion had died down and his people now focus on their own personal prospects. To my own knowledge Sallow moon is no longer a disturbance, so I wonder how this 'information' came about."
His own eyes mirrored hers letting it be known that she shouldn't disrespect him in such manner, especially not in the hearing of his men.
"Where is he at the moment?"
"of course in his home…" came the swift reply and the Queen paused to think.
"Very well then, have him arrive before me three nights from now. I would love to watch the interaction between father and daughter"
"but your highness…that---"
The other man made to speak but quickly shut his mouth when Basalom cast him a warning eye.
"I do not think the Alpha would readily agree to come. He resents the king and sees the palace as a cursed fortress. Remember he had refused to even grace his own daughter's marriage along with the rest of his people, so i---"
"I wasn't asking for your opinion. I simply relayed my wish, and I would want it to be carried out immediately. Send a message to Gorah and he shouldn't allow himself to keep me waiting."
There was a note of finality in her tone and also that of curiosity.
The man could tell she was suspecting her new in-laws of plotting to harm the king. Somehow, the thought didn't sound bad, not at all. As a matter of fact he was beginning to see a much bigger picture.
Basalom submitted his neck to her along with Priel, showing the Queen that she was indeed right.
"Your word is our command my Queen."
The moment they left the room Priel began to go out of his mind, like a begrudged fellow who had been shown great wickedness.
"How could she treat you this way? She put her hands on you and you stood there and took it like a wolf bereft of his senses."
"Yes I did." Was the only reply the other fellow could give which further infuriated the shorter man.
"And why should you? Why let her act like she runs the place…when we both know that's no longer the case?"
"No Priel you are not asking the right questions. I think you should rather ask me why I shouldn't" he doubled back on his companion.
"So then, why shouldn't you?"
At this question Basalom stopped in his steps and turned to the man by his side.
"Because it is not yet time. Acting rash without having any real power is like a fly dancing its way into the grave. I am neither a fly, nor do I want to die so soon"
They were about to continue on their way when pandemonium broke out from the inner courtyard. The area was covered in smoke as people ran helter-skelter for safety, some even running towards their direction.
"Fire!"
"Water...release the drums!"
"Fire…there's fire in the courtyard."
"Run!"
The two men rushed into the smoke and just when they managed to force their way and was able to see clearly. Priel looked up and saw something that had him falling back on his bottoms with his two hands clasped over his mouth.
"oh Goddess…"