Page 37 of Winter Queen
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Between a quick snackfrom the kitchens, a hug with Storm (and a bit more than just a hug) and several hours in my mum’s study, I’m ready to meet Flora again. For the third time today. If this continues like that, she might soon become my best friend. Or at least my best ex-enemy.
I ring the magical bell on my mother’s desk and a moment later, a servant enters. Being a Princess does have its advantages.
I ask her to ask Flora, Gwain and Storm to join me, and to get some drinks and nibbles from the kitchen. My stomach has been growling for the past hour, and who knows how long this is going to take. Dinner might not be in the near future.
“Frost, feel free to leave, Storm will be here any moment.”
My Guardian has been sitting in a corner, reading. He must be bored by now, following me around all day. I’ve been very tempted to give in to his charm and spend some quality time with him rather than with state affairs, but I know my mother is depending on me. I’ll make sure to make up for it in bed tonight.
“I’ll stay, if that’s alright. I’ve met Flora before and would quite like to say hello.”
Yey, another Guardian to give me mental support! I wish I had all four of them here. Their presence soothes me, even if they’re just in the room like Frost right now.
Gwain and Flora arrive at the same time. Like a gentleman, Gwain pulls her chair back and waits until the Goddess has sat down before he takes a seat himself. My mother’s study is large, and not only contains the desk I’m sitting on, but also a small conference table with five comfortable chairs around it. Bookshelves line the wall, but I’ve not had any time yet to take a closer look. I assume it’s all connected to the politics and history of the Realm – I’m not really expecting my mother to read romance novels in her office. Or ever.
Maybe I should bring her some books to her bedroom. Some light fiction, something to make her smile. I wish I had my own books here with me. They’re still back in Edinburgh, if nobody has plundered the house after my parents were kidnapped. I can’t imagine demons being interested in fantasy novels – theyarefantasy, after all – but you never know. Chesca was an unusual demon, who’s to say there aren’t more like her.
Storm is the last to arrive, together with a plate of hot rolls and small cakes.
“I met the servant on the way,” he says with a large grin while munching on a cheese scone. “I decided to help him carry this.”
“That’s very kind of you,” I tease. “Such a gentleman.”
Flora is clearly trying to hide a smile. I’m not sure if she knows that Storm and I are together. Frost is back in his corner with a book, after saying hello to the Goddess when she entered. I can feel his presence however, our bond sending warmth through me.
Gwain clears his throat and lays a stack of paper on the table, together with two old-fashioned quills and a pot of ink. On my mother’s table she has normal pens and pencils, but apparently, we’re going traditional for official occasions. I hope I won’t embarrass myself by leaving ink splats all over the contract. That would be so like me.
The Master of Arms hands both me and Flora a copy and I’ll read through it. There’s a lot of different paragraphs and clauses on there, in complicated, elaborate language. I assume though that if Gwain wrote this, that it’s all in the interest of the Realm and won’t have any clauses in there that I should worry about.
“I gave a copy to your mother as well,” he says with a knowing smile. “She has approved it all and is happy for you to sign in her stead.”
I feel a twinge of annoyance at hearing that second sentence. In front of Flora, this might sound like I didn’t have full authority to negotiate with her before, and that I need my mother’s permission. She explicitly told me that I don’t – I can come to her for advice at any time, but I’m perfectly fine to make all my own decisions. I’m proud that she trusts me this much.
“This looks good to me,” Flora mutters, her eyes flicking over the document. “I’m happy to sign it, if you are, Your Highness.”
“Call me Wyn,” I say pleasantly, and sign the contract with a flourish – more accident than intentional, but they don’t need to know that the quill almost slipped from my hand. I hand my sheet of paper to Flora and take hers in return, signing it a bit more carefully this time.
Once we’ve both put the contracts on the table, I smile at the Goddess.
“You’re now officially an ally of the Winter Realm. I’ll be announcing it at the ball tomorrow, and I’ll have our Master of the Wings spread the message to our other allies and friends. Gwain, have you chosen who you’re going to send to the Spring Realm?”
He nods and hands me a list of names unfamiliar to me.
“Storm and I have agreed on all of those. One of them, Jula, has mind magic and will be able to communicate with us here in the Palace should the need arise.”
I know how rare it is for Guardians to have this magic, and by the surprised look on Flora’s face, she knows it as well. This is a big gesture and I’m sure she appreciates it.
“Thank you, Gwain. Hopefully by the time the news reaches Angus, they’ll already be in Flora’s Realm, ready to take action if needed.”
“Of course, my Princess, I’ll dispatch them as soon as we’re done with this meeting.”
I smile. “Then we better get this done quickly. Flora, you’ve got all the assurances from us you requested. Now it’s your turn.”
She nods hesitantly. “I sent one of my messengers to Angus to give him an invitation to a party Fav wanted to throw. It was something trivial, but still… it ended up being so much more.”
She pauses for a moment and I know that she must be thinking of her husband, and how this party invitation resulted in his death.
