Chapter 16: New Friends

The first day of their journey to Canku was pretty unremarkable but the excitement within Bae did not diminish. Just as dusk was setting in, the carriage stopped at a small inn by the roadside. Stepping down from the carriage, Bae frowned, turning to Adelaide.

"There's nowhere near enough room for everyone here," she said softly. "Where will everyone sleep?"

"Kumari, the guards will stay outside."

"But it's cold," Bae started, but she knew that wasn't exactly true. The closer they got to Canku the warmer the air became. They would definitely not freeze outside but that didn't make Bae feel any better about the idea of her protectors spending a night out of doors when she would sleep in a comfortable bed. Knowing her complaints would do nothing to change the situation though, the young Queen made her way into the inn, closely followed by Adelaide and Lei.

Just inside she was met by the elderly Innkeeper and his wife. Although this was the first time Bae had ever met anyone outside of the walls of the castle, she felt perfectly at ease as she greeted them.

"Can we get you something to eat, Kumari?" Alianna, the innkeeper's wife asked. Her hair was cropped at her shoulders and streaked with grey. She had a friendly face with a wide smile.

"Thank you," she replied. "Do you not have other guests?" Looking around the inn, Bae was surprised to find it so quiet.

"We were expecting you," the innkeeper said.

As if feeling that her husband's words needed more explanation, Alianna added, "Prince Armel came by early this morning to confirm your room."

The mention of Prince Armel had Bae beaming. She followed the old lady through to a private dining room, not that she needed a private dining area when the inn was empty of guests.

"Do you have enough to feed everyone?" Bae asked. "I can help prepare the food." She was equal parts worried about the innkeeper and his wife overworking themselves as she was her protectors going hungry.

"No, Kumari," Alianna replied, "we have more than enough prepared."

Relieved, Bae thanked the elderly woman, taking a seat at the dining table. The table seated twenty and it was a good job. Bae was hardly travelling alone. Kael and Adelaide were already beside her at the table and soon they would be joined by their mother's Seven mates and Bae's Advisors.

"How far from Canku are we?" Bae asked Adelaide.

"About forty miles," the Chief Advisor replied. "We should arrive by tomorrow evening."

The others made their way into the room, taking their seats at the table. Bae's father was chuckling away at something Kael's father had said to him. Kael's father, the first of the late Kumari's mates looked more tired than Bae had ever seen him. A quick glance at her own father reminded her that each of the Seven's time was drawing to an end. She wasn't ready to say goodbye to any of them, especially not her father.

"You'll like Canku, Kumari," Kael's father, Alo told her.

"I'm really excited to see it, Uncle." She turned back to Adelaide. "Do you think we can make time in the schedule for swimming in the Kaiyo?"

Laughing, Adelaide responded, "I don't think you'll have much choice, Kumari. The Cankurians will be highly offended if you don't spend at least some of your time at the beach."

"I really can't wait to see the ocean." Her words sounded more like the words of a girl half her age and those around her laughed in response. Sometimes, it was easy to forget that as Kumari she had not had the opportunity to enjoy the wonders the realm had to offer.

The group enjoyed a meal together before retiring for the night. Lei had already laid out the Kumari's nightclothes and the Kitsune fox was sleeping on the pillow. "Oi! You there." Bae poked the fox awake.

It growled softly in response but Bae ignored it as she picked the animal up and held it against herself, stroking it softly. She'd grown quite attached to the Kitsune in the hours that had passed since her Commencement Ceremony.

The fox rubbed its head against her cheek, purring happily. Bae got into the bed and the fox curled up under the covers at her feet.