DISCARDED: The Ones The World Did Not Need

Twenty eight

Although it was the middle of February, past winter season. Snow fell heavily, covering every tree, building and road in a white blanket.

Far south, the snow rarely ever stopped falling except during mid may, in violent summer and when the rain began in August.

Svetlana sat beneath the tree of life, unbothered by the snow coating her hair.

It was not really the tree of life. It was just called that because of how old and how impervious to weather it had become. The fact that it was twisted an bent to an almost unnatural state certainly helped the name to stick.

She stared at the letter she had just received.
It had the stamp of the royal seal.

The south was rarely bothered by the activities of the central or any other major territories except for trade.

The contents of the letter was even more disturbing. The second prince wished to remore his brother as heir to the throne on the grounds of tyranny...or at least predicted tyranny.

She knew of Alexander's cruel streaks, but she was skeptical that it was so bad that his brother feared that he would become a tyrant.

"My lady, if you insist of sitting outside, at least wear a jacket!" A young maid scolded, running up to her with a brown, wooly coat.

Svetlana looked around her, realizing that she was indeed freezing.

"Thank you Shanti,I can't survive without you," she laughed nervously as she took the coat.

The maid sighed knowingly and smiled.

"Just don't get another cold my lady, the south was in utter chaos the last time you got one."

Svetlana giggled, getting up and dusting off the snowfrom her dark brown hair.
She stood at a gawking 6'3ft, usually dangling awkwardly over people.

"I got a message from central. All members of the King's council have been called for an impromptu meeting."

Shanti looked up to her worried. Council meetings were never called unless it was something dire.

Svetlana was a genius when it came to trade, property management and ruling overall, but she had no clue on how to handle anything involving human interaction. Which usually led to other council members intimidating her.

"I would like to accompany you, my lady."

She sighed with relief.

"Oh good, I was too nervous to ask you to come along."

Shanti laughed, patting her back.

...

If the journey from Central to the north was a long stroll, then that same journey to the south would be an excruciating trek.

The freezing weather and hilly terrain made it a difficult journey. Plus, The cove beneath the snow; Svetlana's home was very far south, just before the mountains that served as a boarder.
None of these however bothered Svetlana. She was lost in thought about both princes. She had only met Alexander a few times and Micah even less so she had no strong personal attachment to them.

She remembered when she was first appointed the head of the south after her father had passed. She was just sixteen and had a morbid fear of talking to people she did not know, but she was already handling trade between the north and the south when her father was ill.

She stood in front of the castle terrified of being under the gaze of the old, severe, men that were the heads of other regions, and was about to turn back and flee when she sighted a head of night black hair poking out of the castle gates, staring at her.