An awaited meeting

Aurelia

I dreamed of failure and inadequacy. I dreamed I wasn't going to be good enough, to be able to make the changes that were needed. At first the dream was failure of defeating my aunt Adara, then if I did, I would have no supporters and be thrown in a cage as a usurper.

I was finally woken from my fears with a loud and urgent knock at the door.

"Wake up! We have to leave in an hour, get dressed quickly!" The old voice of Lyanna was loud and urgent.

I jumped out of bed confused and half asleep. Where were we going? Reality came rushing back and I flashed around the room to get dressed. Luckily someone had hung some clothing for me to change into by the floor length mirror. I washed me face and brushed my hair. I pulled it back off my face into a tight braid behind me.

I opened my door and hurried down the stairs as fast as my ladies' outfit would allow me to go. When I got to the main floor, Lyanna was already waiting for me. She looked me over and without a word made her way outside to a carriage filled with pillows and a few curtains for privacy.

"How long is the ride there?"

"It won't take very long. The maids made a small breakfast for you to eat on the way. Do not make a mess."

The carriage moved without a signal from Lyanna. As we moved along, I was grateful for the maids getting me something to eat. I needed to be focused today. I had waited to long for this moment to be ruined by my out-of-control hunger. As I ate my apples and bread with cheese, I readied myself. I tried to find a place of calm and determination.

By the time we reached the gate of the castle I was just finishing a boiled egg. The walls of the castle were half covered by a large wall. We came up to a large gate that was the entrance of the castle. They were two large wooden doors with large black metal hinges running across.

When we passed through, I could see two other carriages off to one side the courtyard. It was massive and had a cobblestone path that went in a large loop around the yard. In the center was an area with grass, some benches and a few trees for shade. There were only a few people throughout the large area.

We pulled up to the two other carriages that had already arrived. The one we stopped by was all black and had an important looking young man standing by the horses. He looked bored and annoyed to be there, as if he had been waiting for a long time for us to arrive.

His short black hair was combed perfectly in place and had a black beard that went around his mouth connecting to his moustache. His choice of clothing was odd it looked like he was wearing a dress... I had never seen a man in such clothing before.

Our door was opened and we climbed out, I was about too great the bored man when I saw the owner of the other carriage walking over to greet us. Whereas the young man was looking old in a way, the older looked younger and had an obvious love for life.

Every step he took toward us had a slight hop to it. He had long brown hair that was braided in some spots and left loose in others. He had trinkets and gems tied into those braids and each sway of his movement had them ringing a small tune and sparkling in the sunlight.

He was much more pleasing to look at, I couldn't stop taking in all of his features. One of the top buttons of his shirt was open to reveal a muscled chest that had a lush carpet of chest hair. His pants were held up by a belt that was loosely tied by a cord that hung at his hip with a feather dangling at the tips.

"My lady Lyanna, how lovely to see you still alive."

I was shocked by his greeting and the smirk he had on his full lips.

"And you as well Captain. I had not expected to see you here again since you have been accused of piracy from the merchant guild."

I couldn't help but smirk to myself at her words. She was fearless and would not back down to any man. He let out a small laugh and moved his eyes to look my way.

"I see your wit is intact at such an age. I wonder why after all these years of working alone, you now have an aid with you?"

"Nihola is here to learn and nothing else. She is a candidate to take over my businesses."

His eyes were still on me, he was about to say something but was cut off by a new voice.

"Shall we move inside now. I have a lot of work to get done and would rather spend as little time as possible with you and listening to your tired bickering." The board looking man said breaking our conversation.

Without another word he turned and walked towards the castle entrance. He didn't turn back to see if we were following, I was the first to go after him. Like he said, I too had things to do other than standing around listening to two rivals' bickering.

We walked through a large doorway that led into an even larger hallway. It was filled with light from the many windows that ran up to the ceiling. Everything was made from stone, there was a brick wall that was made of an array of white, beige and light brown mixed together. The floor was small stones so close together that they felt like one smooth surface.

The castle had a cold feel to it as we walked through to our meeting room. What should be warm and inviting, was now sending chills of discomfort down my spine. I had expected more of this place and was left with a bitter disappointment in my heart.

We didn't have to go much further before we entered a room with a long table and several chairs along it. We couldn't fill up half of the space with the amount of people that we were. At the far end of the table on a raised platform was an elegant chair. It had a tall back with red cushioning on the back, seat and arms. The top was carved into a dragon's head with its wings spread out. I realized the cushion patterns were designed to look like scales. We all sat down in time for the back door to open.

The woman that entered was definitely the Queen, and the Aunt I'd been waiting to meet. She wore a crown with a large ruby that was circled in diamonds. She wore a dark blue dress that was tight fitting, it covered her arms and chest and fell to the floor to cover her feet. Around her neck was an intricate necklace that matched her crown.

Her face didn't look like my Mother’s at all. The years had been good to her, she didn't have a single wrinkle on her face. She wore bright red lip color that made her skin look pale and she had her hair tied behind her crown, it was a similar shade of red as my Mother's he only thing they had in common that I could see.

Her movements were swift but elegant. It was as if she drifted across the room to her chair. She had four guards follow her, two standing on either side of her chair. I wondered why she needed so much protection in her home or if it was for some kind of show?

She looked around the room meeting the eyes of each of us that was sitting at the table. She barely looked at me and the bored man. Her eyes lingered on Lyanna with a slight frown and then moved the Captain across the table from me. Her face seemed to be filled with a longing for him.

"Where are the others?" Was the first thing she said to us.

"They have left the capitol, my Queen." Said the bored looking man.

The Queen glared at the man for his answer, as if to hold him personally responsible for them leaving. She flicked her fingers at her guards and one of them left the room.

"They will be punished. Why is it Jaxson, that they have gone and you remain? They unable to pay my taxes but you are?”

"I would call it good management, but there is also the reality that I am no fool to. I would not be so callous to incur the Queen's wrath."

Liking this answer, the Queen gave a small evil smile. She then moved her eyes to look at the Captain.

"I expect good news from you Captain."

"It saddens me to disappoint my Queen. The proposed trades with Howeborough have failed. They say we ask too much and have nothing to offer in return for such costs."

The captain had said it saddened him to bring such news, but his face however told otherwise. His eyes had a sparkle to them and the corners of his lips pulled up into a mischievous smile. So other places like this Howeborough wanted nothing to do with us, this troubled me. How could this woman be so blind as to the state of things? What would be left of this Kingdom? Would any of it be worth saving after her reign?

"Well, I will enjoy the future reports from our fleet when we sail upon them with our new war ships. Then they will see what we have to offer."

"Before we draw up war plans would you like to hear my report, your Majesty?" Lyanna cut across the conversation.

At first the Queen gave her a cold stare. Her mouth opened as is to say something, then her eyes shifted to me. She stared at me for an uncomfortably long time. My skin started to crawl as the eyes I hated the most looked me over.

"Who's the girl?" Her question was clearly directed at Lyanna but her eyes still lingered on me.

"She's a potential to take over my businesses when I decide to retire. Her name is Nihola and she is only here to observe today. She will not be speaking." Her message was clear. I was to stay silent and draw no further attention to myself.

"Well, Lyanna. I am still waiting for your report."

"My land owners are reporting more and more disturbing news. Bandits are raiding everywhere; we cannot find enough men to protect our harvests. Store owners are unable to pay the new tax as well and have shut their doors and have all gone into hiding. Many of our towns are now bare and the remaining people are starving. It seems the only businesses still a float are taverns and whore houses."

"If they are so poor then where do they get the coin to attend these establishments? How can they pay there but not the taxes?"

"It would appear, your Majesty, that the customers are largely your men."

It was very hard to keep a straight face at this. The report was hilarious in the end. She ran away all business and the only coin left being spent was from what she paid her men for the crimes they committed in her name.

Her face was even more amusing to me. At first, she was confused, not understanding what was said. Then anger filled her features.

"Seeing as your so well informed, Lyanna. You will deal with this. I expect all the taxes to be paid. If the funds are not in my possession in thirty days, I will have your business stripped and sold to make up the lost money."

That knocked all the hilarity out of me. It was an impossible task with a sure consequence of failing. She would lose everything. She hadn't moved or said anything. Lyanna just met her stare. After staring each other down, Lyanna simply said

"I shall do my best, my Queen."

"Captain Galorian, you will meet me for dinner later to discuss the war ships and how we shall proceed. This meeting is over now. I will expect your return in thirty days."

As she got up from the table to leave the room, Adara met my eyes once more. I met her gaze, attempting to seem strong. There as something odd about her eyes. It was as if they weren't seeing me anymore but something behind them was looking at me. It was the most disturbing feeling of my life.