Chapter 3: The Wolves

What is required of you? She said with a chuckle and looked at her.

"The decorum!" Sakina said with a serious expression.

Aeryn stopped smiling and looked away.

"They are scared of you my queen!"

"That doesn't really seem like that."

"Then another assassination might have occurred, soon after the first one failed."

"Do you think they know it was me?"

"I believe they know it was you… that's why they didn't dare to do anything reckless again."

"Hmm… then it seem they have forgotten it." Aeryn said with a calm smile.

"Yes?" Sakina said with fear in her eyes.

"Go announce it. Tomorrow there will be a feast in the honor of the noble bloodlines. Everyone must be present."

Sakina had a troubled expression. She was looking at aeryn with confused eyes.

"What?" Aeryn said as she gave her a side eye.

"Nothing my queen! Your words are my command!" And saying this she rushed out of the observatory, her velvet trail following after her.

And aeryn looked up at sky again. Enough of the puppet play… Its time I guess… she said to herself and let out a sigh.

....

The next day, she held the feast.

An apology, she called it. A show of gratitude for the noble houses' guidance and patience. The grand dining hall was lined with gold-plated mirrors and strings of lavender glass, perfumed with crushed mint leaves and blue citrus. Dancers from the western isles twirled barefoot on silk rugs. Musicians played the double-flute and the deep-toned harp of the Wyrd Tribes.

The court arrived in full regalia, they were suspicious and curious. But lured by wine and women, and flattered by the gesture they came.

Lady Marrion sat nearest the throne, and with a haughty and pleased expression she said, "I mist say, a mature gesture, my queen."

Aeryn smiled and bowed her head slightly with agreement.

"I'm learning my ways; Lady Marrison."

By midnight, they were all drunk. Every last one of them.

And Aeryn was watching them. She watched as Lord Vael leaned too far forward and spilled mead across his belly. She watched as Innos snored into his own sleeve. She watched as Lady Marrion spoke verses to a vase, thinking it was her lover.

The girl queen stood. Raised her goblet.

"To wisdom," she said, voice loud and clear. "To guidance. To growing into my crown."

The court raised theirs. But they couldn't notice the flicker of red behind her pupils, the way her glass shimmered strangely in the torchlight. And no one heard the heartbeat of the room go slow; just a little.

Sakina immediately got close to aeryn. "Not Today my queen!" she said with a dreaded look.

She smiled and spilled the drink in front of her then got close to her, enough to be looked as if she was hugging her, another dignity wrecking practice by a royal, glass still in her hand. "Sakina, I will let them live this night. All of them. But they will remember this feast. Not for the taste of the lamb or the laughter in the hall; but for the unease that is going to crept into them afterward. The dreams that will haunt their sleep. The feeling that something had watched them from behind. I will make them hate their very bloodline, the one they are so proud of today!"

Then she moved away, a strange proud expression playing on her face. and swirled as if she was possessed and sat on her high golden chair.

Sakina didn't think more, as far as everyone is not getting killed, its fine. She thought to herself and let out a sigh of relief.

In the weeks that followed, she continued her "lessons." But she stopped smiling as much. She stopped bending, and the court, well they were seeing this change in her behavior, and they were growing warier.

Then one time it so occurred that, Lord Vael questioned a trade route order she had signed.

And then two days later, his horses bled to death in their stable. No wounds. Just... blood, vanished from their veins.

The next day she said it in the court, "I heard Lord Vael lost his precious horses the last night".

"My lady, has quite an information about the personal affairs of High Lord Vael" a minion minister of lower bloodline spoke for Lord Vael, and Lord Vael protruded his chest out with proud, as if to demand explanation from aeryn.

"I believe you are forgetting the decorum Minister Zalar! Mind yourself, who knows, when you end up like the horses!"

Lord vael immediately was taken aback while that minister Zalar, replied, "Forgive my slip of tongue My queen!"

"Whats the use of tongue that slips! Better get rid of it… No? Lord Vael?" aeryn looked at Lord Vael. Who didn't say anything in response and just bowed down, deeper, this time. Much deeper.

Then she continued, "I remember one of you asked me to appoint a steward, Lord Vael, you said, I am a child and Lord Innos you said, only what I will allow will be handled. But none of you suggested who should be appointed…."

No one of them spoke again.

Lord Innos, how about you?!

"Forgive me my queen! I am old. Instead its high time I should resign." He said with contempt while hiding his face.

Resignation Accepted!

Yes? No I meant…

Lord vael you would like to be the steward?

I am incompetent my queen. He bowed.

Lord zalar! You even forgot I am the queen! You must want to become the steward, I presume!

"I deserve death my queen! You don't need a steward!" He fell in prostration in front of her.

"Hmm… well if anyone of you ever want to suggest anyone for the position of my steward, can let me know… for now court is dismissed"

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