To live amongst wolves.

~CHAPTER 1~

Kolias POV:

"Lena? Can you tell me about my mother?" I ask as she puts my hair into braids. I see Lena's reflection smile in the mirror. "Your mother, Princess Svetlana was the most beautiful and graceful woman in all of Karangalan. Even though she was a princess, your mother could use a sword just as good as any man if not better." As she went on, I drifted into a daydream about how my life would be if my mother had lived. Would she enjoy the plays I would put on with my sisters when we were younger? Would she want to help me pick what tiara to wear with what dress? So many questions, and no answers. I have always felt the love of a mother thanks to Lena, who always treats me like a daughter, but at the end of the day she isn't my mother.

Lena places a hand on my shoulder, pulling me from my thoughts, "Your father should be arriving soon, why don't you go down to the courtyard to greet him?" I nod and leave her to finish tidying the room, taking the long way to the courtyard so I can stop by the kitchen for a snack. When I come in, Esra the little milkmaid girl comes running to me with a basket. "I made this just for you, me lady! It has everything in it. Bread, milk, apples, cheese, jam, everything!" I smile as I take the basket from her. Even though Esra is only ten years old she takes her job of preparing food baskets for travel or simple picnics very seriously. "Thank you Esra, I'm sure Eftelya and Aldos will love it." I tell her as I leave the kitchen. As I walk down the hall that leads to the courtyard, I think of my father and how stressed he's been ever since the fight between the tekfurs and Turk tribes broke out. The tekfurs keep begging him to help them in their war, but Karangalan cant handle a fight against Turk armies. He was so worried that we might get caught in the crossfire that he went to renew our peace treaty with the Berke tribe early.

When I reach the courtyard my sister Eftelya and our brother Aldos are already there, Aldos chasing lizards from the rose beds while Eftelya busies herself pulling out all the little weeds. "Are Mira and Lady Melena coming down?" I ask as I set down the basket. Usually Mira will jump at the chance to have our fathers attention. Eftelya lets out a sigh, "Mother wasn't feeling well and Mira, ever the attentive daughter, stayed to take care of her." I can't help but smile. Our mutual dislike for our sister is only one of the things that make s me and Eftelya such good friends. While she can't stand her for being an arrogant suck up, I can't stand her because she seems to go out of her way to torment me simply because her mother still holds a grudge against mine. She is the only person I know who can be jealous of a dead woman. After my mother died she sent all of her belongings back to the palace in Russia. She probably would have sent me along to if my father hadn't begged my grandparents for permission to raise me.

While we wait for my father, Eftelya and I set about spreading a blanket and putting all the food Esra had packed out on it. We used to have picnics all the time when we were younger, but now we can barely do anything without Melena finding something wrong and "unladylike" about it. Aldos, tired of bothering the lizards, sits and watches us as we set it up. "Are we having lunch?" he ask. "No, just a snack." I reply. Once we're done we all sit down and enjoy our food in the morning sunlight. Just as we finish gathering the picnic things and putting them in the basket, the gates open and our father rides in followed by his closest advisers. As Eftelya and I curtsy and exchange pleasantries with the advisers, Aldos races up to father, wasting no time in giving him a full account of everything that has happened since he left." You were gone for so long!" Aldos exclaims as father dismisses the advisers. "Don't be dramatic Aldos, it was only a day or two." We all turn to see Mira following her mother down the steps. "Welcome home dear." Melena says as she glides in our direction. As much as I hate to compliment the woman, Melena has always been graceful and elegant. Always dressed in the best gowns, finest jewelry, and the Just as we finish gathering the picnic things and putting them in the basket, the gates open and our father rides in followed by his closest advisers. As Eftelya and I curtsy and exchange pleasantries with the advisers, Aldos races up to father, wasting no time in giving him a full account of everything that has happened since he left." You were gone for so long!" Aldos exclaims as father dismisses the advisers. "Don't be dramatic Aldos, it was only a day or two." We all turn to see Mira following her mother down the steps. "Welcome home dear." Melena says as she glides in our direction. As much as I hate to compliment the woman, Melena has always been graceful and elegant. Always dressed in the best gowns, finest jewelry, and the prettiest hair styles. Father smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes. "Our treaty with the Berke tribe has been renewed." he says. "Then why do you look so troubled?" Eftelya asks from beside me.

"Renewed for a price."