The Unraveling

Mayla

Mayla wasn't quite sure when everything went to shite.

Her mother had been running Conaly's Tavern, smuggling side and all, for years now with no problems. At least ten, the number of years her father had been "missing". Around Rheinelan people didn't just go missing, they were caught. By slavers or an unhappy King through his guards. Just as she was now. Although King Vier wasn't unhappy with her, just her mother. Mayla was thankful that he hadn't killed her mother. Smuggling was an offense worthy of torture in his eyes, but he had only asked that her firstborn daughter come to live in the castle. She wasn't sure why he had let her mother off so easily. All she knew was that she was grateful. 

Even after hours of riding with very little conversation, getting trapped into a slaver's net, freed by a mysterious woman who just happened to be in the woods, and then riding again to the nearest town in more silence. All in all it was a fairly rounded experience for someone who had never left her village. She felt more prepared to take on life in the castle. More steady.

"How much farther to Mead?" They had set off this morning, passing town after town. Surely they had to be close by now.

Leon, the guard tasked with getting her to the palace in one piece, briskly replied, "We are a short ride away from the castle. Less than an hour."

He wasn't much of a talker. Still, he had gotten them this far with little incident. She supposed she could give him a pass on the lack of conversation skills.

"Who will I be assigned to?"

Leon sighed, "I don't know. King Vier will likely tell you when we see him."

"We have to see the King?"

She hadn't even thought about an audience with the King. Of course he would want to see her. Her mother was responsible for thousands upon thousands of delin lost to his kingdom. Stupid. Stupid. She could feel her throat closing up in a panic and willed herself to breathe. In. Out. In. Out. There was no reason to panic. He had spared her and her family. He was a merciful king. Not one that she needed to be afraid of.

"We get to see the King. He spared your mother, try to remember that."

"I know." She didn't mean to snap at him and felt bad when she noticed how tense he had gone. "I'm sorry. The thought of seeing the King makes me nervous."

He didn't relax, but he did respond. "People with power tend to have that effect."

That was quite the understatement. King Vier didn't obtain his kingdom peacefully. He took it. His power was unmatched throughout the kingdoms. He was a force to be reckoned with and reckon her mother did. Now Mayla would have to pay the price to keep her mother's head. 

What could he possibly want with her? 

Surely not just to have her wait on the ladies of the court. 

None of it made sense. 

Mayla had no idea what kind of future she was riding towards. 

And that was terrifying.