A Field For Wolves

Chapter 3

The curtains were drawn back as the warm light from the sky stretched into the halls. The shadowed pillars of heat that coloured a yellow touch of the walls and mahogany floor expanded wide. The servants followed their daily tasks without discern over their duties and demands. It had to be perfect and pristine. This was Marron, the blue gem of Arcania.

The doors to the throne room were opened and the banners were lowered over the stone walls. The plants were watered, and the carpets were changed for blue today. The throne sat by upon its elevation with a second seat by the bottom. The throne was smelted with iron and silver by its position while the second seat was styled with elm. Simple and small.

The guards changed their routines and newer knights took their place. The Lances could be heard marching in the courtyard atop their destriers and chargers while the wind gained its momentum and the banner flowed with its blue image of a cold flame amidst a black ring over a midnight blue field. Arcania. Its great and glorious strength was as true as its lands, its mountains, the large city of Marron with its Gemstone palace, the grey keeps that overlooked the various borders and towns. It was larger now. Much larger than it had ever intended.

The servants straightened themselves and lowered their heads as a figure entered the hall. They folded their hands upon themselves and lifted their elbows slightly. The page boys had instead kneeled, and the knights stamped their spears.

“Your Grace,” the words left their lips with practiced spur as the figure who had entered held a high frame with luscious golden hair held by a bun.

Alice Calgrate, Queen Alice, stood firmly amidst her slightly aged face. She waved her hand at the formalities and spoke her order with a single tone.

“Bring Princess Gwyn to the study immediately,” she said.

“Yes, Your Grace,” the words filled the space as perfect as they had been the day before and the day before that.

Alice left the hall and proceeded to the royal study as she let out a sigh. She looked to her side and found the familiar guard following her steps as he would always do everyday. On her right was her handmaiden, Janyn Morklyn, her cousin. She almost rolled her eyes at the thought as she had nearly forgotten that most of her personnel were occupied with her distant relatives.

They entered the study, and the Queen waved her hand once more. “Clear out the desk. Bring me one of Closter’s maps. The new ones. And bring the pieces.”

Janyn moved ahead to obey, but as soon as the guard moved to help, the Queen interjected. “Not you, Sir Harrow. Stand back and look like a tree if you can,” Alice said plainly.

“Y-Yes, Your Grace,” Harrow gulped slowly and nodded. A hint of embarrassment filled his cheeks and movements with a slight quiver.

Alice sighed and shook her head as she moved over to help set the table.

“Y-Your Grace?” Janyn asked with confusion.

“Quiet, Janyn. You’re too slow,” the Queen rolled her eyes freely this time.

Once the map was set, the Queen let out a soft breath of air as she overlooked the continent. The map was sketched, simple, plain. Nothing like the painted works of the earlier maps. Alice commissioned a rough map such as this to be made for her uses. The map would be updated and drawn upon by her own hand with every letter she received from her husband, King Mordred. Arcania held issues of its own with its forceful militaristic and expansionist goals. After Verrex would fall, Arcania would be hold all of the important sites and landmarks it would need to impose a new High King. At least, that was what she planned with her husband.

Alice recalled her breath and closed her eyes. She counted till five and opened her eyes again. One step at a time. Right now, she needed to focus on preparing her eldest child, her daughter Gwyn.